Fantasia Barrino

Fantasia Barrino Bio

Fantasia Barrino is an R&B singer, Broadway performer and a television actress. Fantasia's rise to fame began in 2004 when she was crowned the winner of the third season of American Idol.

Fantasia began singing at her family's church when she was just five years old. Once older, Ms. Barrino performed with her family in a gospel group that toured throughout the Southeast.

All one has to do is watch a single Fantasia Barrino performance to know that the R&B singer has roots in the church! Fantasia is eccentric and flamboyant when on stage. She shakes and shimmies and screams. Some have said "she has the holy spirit," in other words, she is a captivating performer by all means.

Fantasia released her first album, Free Yourself, in November 2004.

Barrino has admitted that she can not read. She then learned to read and has also gone back to school. Utilizing her new abilities, Fantasia wrote her memoirs Life is Not a Fairy Tale, which became a New York Times Bestseller.

She played herself in a TV film based on her story and has performed in the Broadway musical production of The Color Purple. On April 16, 2009, it was reported that Fantasia will star in her own reality show.