Pink

A multiplatinum-selling artist with a barrage of hits to her credit, Pink is living proof that breaking - rather than following - all the rules was the key to her success as an artist. The neon-haired singer consistently released commercial and critical hit albums, including Missundaztood (2001) and I'm Not Dead (2006), that showcased her powerful vocal range and introspective songwriting.

Pink's poignant, revelatory lyrics covered a variety of topics - from her troubled childhood, to her turbulent marriage with motocross athlete Carey Hart, to anti-war sentiments - that earned her a reputation as the "anti-Britney Spears" type of pop star. In 2006, Pink released the hit single "Don't Let Me Get Me," which summed up her fearless and feisty personality, and also illustrated perfectly why she was a compelling and exciting entertainer for listeners of all ages.

Unlike many of her pop contemporaries, Pink matured into a compelling pop-R&B singer, scoring hit singles and albums such as 2012's The Truth About Love and 2017's Beautiful Trauma.

Born Alecia Beth Moore on Sept. 8, 1979, to a Vietnam veteran and nurse in Doylestown, PA, Pink grew up in the shadow of her parents' divorce. She found solace in music, and by the time she was a preteen, she began performing with local bands and hip-hop troupes. Around this time, the future star also began writing introspective lyrics that reflected her tumultuous childhood.

Pink briefly joined the R&B trio, Choice, which led to a meeting with LaFace Records executive, L.A. Reid. Responsible for launching the careers of Mariah Carey and Usher, Reid's record label released Pink's debut album Can't Take Me Home in 2000, a commercial and critical hit driven by the tracks "There You Go" and "Most Girls," both of which reached the Top 10. Pink's debut album revived the R&B and New Jack Swing styles of chart-topping '90s artists such as TLC and En Vogue.

The singer's unique style - punctuated by her neon pink coif, biker-chic outfits, and sassy attitude - also caught the attention of music fans eager to anoint a new pop music princess, this time more sour than sugary sweet.

Even with her bad girl persona, Pink nevertheless endured a tidal wave of comparisons to fellow pop stars Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. While her hit-making peers exuded Lolita-esque sexuality, Pink wowed audiences with powerful vocals and a rebellious public image. She further distanced herself from Spears, Aguilera, and Jessica Simpson with her 2001 album, Missundaztood.

Pink recruited former 4 Non Blondes vocalist and songwriter Linda Perry to write the majority of the tracks on the album, including the upbeat dance track "Get the Party Started." Pink proclaimed her place in the pop music spectrum within the lyrics of the follow-up single "Don't Let Me Get Me" by singing, "Tired of being compared to damn Britney Spears. She's so pretty. That just ain't me."

The singer's confessional lyrics were also evident in the hits "Family Portrait" and "Just Like a Pill," both of which helped Missundaztood sell over 15 million copies worldwide. That same year, Pink recorded a cover version of Labelle's "Lady Marmalade" (1974), along with an all-star lineup that included fellow singers Aguilera and Mya, and rappers Lil' Kim and Missy Elliott, for the musical film "Moulin Rouge" (2001). The single earned Pink her first Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

Pink made her feature film debut in the 2003 action film sequel "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle," playing a motocross racing promoter opposite stars Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu. She released her third album Try This that year, which featured punk rock and electronic influences. The lead single "Trouble" earned Pink a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, while the album was certified platinum in sales.

Along the way, Pink dated and eventually married professional motocross racer Carey Hart, whom she first met at the 2001 X Games in Philadelphia. The couple tied the knot in January 2006, but then announced two years later that they had separated. Pink and Hart remained close friends throughout their separation - he even appeared in some of her music videos - until reconciling in 2009.

Outspoken as ever, Pink took on social and political issues in her subsequent album releases I'm Not Dead and Funhouse (2008). The former included the 2006 single "Dear Mr. President," an open letter to President George W. Bush about the singer's feelings on his stance on war, poverty, and homophobia.

Pink also embarked on several top-selling tours throughout her career, which often featured elaborate stage sets, breathtaking circus-style acts, and death-defying acrobatics done by the singer herself. In 2010, Pink released her compilation album Greatest Hits So Far!!! which landed in the Top 10. That same year, she and husband Hart announced they were pregnant with their first child.

Following a brief maternity leave, Pink returned to the top of the charts with 2012's The Truth About Love, which scored the number one single "Just Give Me A Reason." After contributing the Top 10 single "Just Like Fire" to the soundtrack of the film "Alice Through the Looking Glass" (2016), Pink ended a five-year break between albums with 2017's Beautiful Trauma.