Fantasia Book In Stores

(Fantasia does her thing. Photo by DK Perryman).

Fantasia was born in High Point , N.C. into a musical family (which includes her cousins K-Ci and Jo Jo Hailey, members of the 90"s super group Jodeci). 

She met with fame and fortune two years ago when she made first place on the reality TV show American Idol. Initially, she had her first musical performance at the Mercy Outreach Church of Deliverance when she was just five years old. 

Three year later, she was performing at churches, weddings and other events with the Barrino Family Singers - a gospel group that consisted of her mother; Diane, Father; Joseph and three brothers. For Fantasia, R&B idols like Aretha Franklin were her inspiration.  However, she listened to a range of music from jazz to country to gospel. Fantasia combined those influences to create her own vibrant vocal style - one that allowed her to perform diverse repertoire of songs that even includes Willie Nelson's "Always on My Mind." Despite rumors about her literacy, her brilliance is unquestionable. 

With her book Life is Not a Fairy Tale out in stores September 27, 2006 , and four Grammy nominations most, her success certainly did not come without hard work and dedication.  This past June, she won Billboard's R&B Hip Hop Awards for Top R&B/Hip Hop Singles Sales for "I Believe" which is from her album "Free Yourself."  Enter Fantasia world online and visit www.fantasiabarrinoofficial.com/host.htm

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