Who is Christina María Aguilera? The world knows her as Christina Aguilera, she is an American pop/R&B singer and songwriter. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The New Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994. Aguilera signed to RCA Records after recording "Reflection"[3] for the film Mulan. She came to prominence following her debut album Christina Aguilera (1999), which was a commercial success spawning three number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] A Latin pop album, Mi Reflejo (2001), and several collaborations followed which garnered Aguilera worldwide success but she was displeased with her lack of input in her music and image.[5]
After parting from her management, Aguilera took creative control over her second studio album Stripped (2002),[7] which received mixed reviews and produced substantial sales. The second single, "Beautiful", was a commercial success and sustained the album's sales amidst controversy over Aguilera's sexual image.[8][9][10] Aguilera's third studio album Back to Basics (2006), included elements of soul, jazz, and blues music, and was released to positive critical reception. Her fourth studio album is tentatively set for release in Summer 2009.[11]
Aside from being known for her vocal ability, music videos and ever-changing image, musically, she includes themes of dealing with public scrutiny, her childhood, and female empowerment in her music.[12] Apart from her work in music, she has also dedicated much of her time as a philanthropist for charities, human rights and world issues. Aguilera's work has earned her numerous awards, including five Grammy Awards amongst eighteen nominations. She has become one of the most successful recording artists of the decade, selling more than 42 million records worldwide.[13][14]
Aguilera was born December 18, 1980 in Staten Island, New York, to Fausto Wagner Xavier Aguilera, a Sergeant in the U.S. Army at the time and Shelly Loraine Fidler, a teacher of Spanish language. Aguilera's father was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, while her mother is of Irish[15] descent (Christina's maternal grandmother emigrated from County Clare.)[16] Her father, Fausto, was stationed at Earnest Harmon Air Force Base in Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada and Japan. Aguilera lived with her father and mother until she was seven years old. When Aguilera's parents divorced, her mother took her, and her younger sister Rachel, to her grandmother's home in Rochester, Pennsylvania, a suburb outside of Pittsburgh. According to both Aguilera and Fidler, her father was very controlling, as well as physically and emotionally abusive.[17] She later wrote about her difficult childhood in the songs "I'm OK" in Stripped, and "Oh Mother" in Back to Basics. Although her father has written to Aguilera, she has ruled out any chance to reunite with him.[18] Since then, Fidler has married a paramedic named Jim Kearns, and changed her name.[19]
As a child, Aguilera aspired to be a singer. She was known locally as "the little girl with the big voice", singing in local talent shows and competitions.[20][21] According to VH1's Driven, whenever competitors learned they would be up against her in any given week, they would immediately withdraw, prompting insiders to claim it was "like sending a lamb to the slaughter." Her peers soon became jealous of her and would frequently subject her to ridicule, ostracism, and, in one gym class, attempted assault. Acts of vandalism around her house included the slashing of the tires on the family car. Eventually, the family relocated to another suburb in the Pittsburgh area (this time, Wexford) and took to secrecy about Aguilera's talent lest another backlash occur.[22] She attended Marshall Middle School near Wexford and North Allegheny Senior High School until she was later home-schooled. 
On March 15, 1990, she appeared on Star Search singing Etta James' "A Sunday Kind of Love", but lost the competition at number 2. Soon after losing on Star Search, she returned home and appeared on Pittsburgh's KDKA-TV's Wake Up with
Larry Richert to perform the same song. People remarked that the then ten-year-old "sounded 20."[22] Throughout her youth in Pittsburgh, Aguilera sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Pittsburgh Penguins hockey, Pittsburgh Steelers football and Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games. Her first major role in entertainment came in 1993 when she joined the Disney Channel's variety show The New Mickey Mouse Club.
Her co-stars included Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling, and Keri Russell, the show lasted another year until its cancellation. According to the documentary Driven, Aguilera's co-stars called her "the Diva". One of her most notable performances was of 
Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing".[22]
At the age of fourteen, Aguilera recorded her first song, "All I Wanna Do", a hit duet with Japanese singer 
Keizo Nakanishi.[23] In 1997, she represented the United States at the "Golden Stag" International Festival with a two-song set.[24]
In 1998, Aguilera sang the High "E" in full voice (and again on the Candyman song from her Back To Basics album for a full 8 seconds) (E5) on a cover of Whitney Houston's "Run to You" which she recorded with a tape recorder in her bathroom. She was then selected to record the song "Reflection" for the Disney production of Mulan (1998). Recording "Reflection" led to Aguilera earning a contract with RCA Records the same week.[7] "Reflection" peaked within the top twenty on the Adult Contemporary Singles Chart, and it was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for "Best Original Song" in 1998.
Under the exclusive representation of 
Steve Kurtz, Aguilera's self-titled debut album Christina Aguilera was released on August 24, 1999. It reached the top of the Billboard 200 and Canadian album charts, selling eight million copies in the U.S.[18] and over twelve million copies worldwide.[25] The album is also included in the Top 100 Albums of All Time list of The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) based on US sales.[26]
Her singles "Genie in a Bottle", "What a Girl Wants" and "Come on Over Baby (All I Want Is You)" topped the Billboard Hot 100 during 1999 and 2000, and "I Turn to You" reached #3. According to the album's songwriters, Aguilera wanted to display the range and audacity in her voice during the promotion of the album, and performed acoustic sets and appeared on television shows accompanied only by a piano.[22] She ended the year on MTV's New Year's Special, as she performed and was MTV's first artist of the millennium. At the 2000 Grammys Aguilera received a Best Female Pop Vocal Performance nomination for "Genie in a Bottle" and despite earlier predictions, she won the award for Best New Artist.[27] 
Later in 2000, Aguilera first emphasized her Latin heritage by releasing her first Spanish album, Mi Reflejo on September 12, 2000. This album contained Spanish versions of songs from her English debut as well as new Spanish tracks. Though some criticized Aguilera for trying to cash in on the Latin music boom at the time. The album still managed to peak at #27 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Latin album charts. In 2001, it won Aguilera a Latin Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album. The album went Gold in the US and sold 3 million worldwide.[28] She also won the World Music Award as the best selling Latin artist that year. Aguilera also released a Christmas album on October 24, 2000 called My Kind of Christmas. It peaked at #28 on the Billboard 200, and has been certified Platinum in the US.[29]
Ricky Martin asked Aguilera to duet with him on the track "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" from his album Sound Loaded; released in 2001 as the album's second single, which reached #1 on the World Chart. In October 2000, 
Aguilera filed a Breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit against Kurtz for improper, undue and inappropriate influence over her professional activities, as well as fraud. According to legal documents, Kurtz did not protect her rights and interests. Instead, he took action that was for his own interest, at the cost of hers. The lawsuit came about when Aguilera discovered Kurtz used more of her commissionable income than he was allotted, and had paid other managers to assist him. She also petitioned the California State Labor Commission to nullify the contract. After terminating Kurtz's services, 
Irving Azoff was hired as her new manager.[38]
Aguilera filed a Breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit against Kurtz for improper, undue and inappropriate influence over her professional activities, as well as fraud. According to legal documents, Kurtz did not protect her rights and interests. Instead, he took action that was for his own interest, at the cost of hers. The lawsuit came about when Aguilera discovered Kurtz used more of her commissionable income than he was allotted, and had paid other managers to assist him. She also petitioned the California State Labor Commission to nullify the contract. After terminating Kurtz's services, 
Irving Azoff was hired as her new manager.[38] Kurtz countersued later that month for breach of contract, claiming that the singer violated the same agreement she had sued to void. In the lawsuit, he included others close to Aguilera, alleging their intent to sabotage his business relationship with her. He also singled out Azoff for being in violation of the terms of Kurtz's contract.[39] During this time, while she was also working on her second album, she later revealed that she was betrayed by several friends, and hit rock bottom. She used her then-upcoming album as therapy, saying "this record saved me from insanity."
On October 29, 2002, after much delay, Aguilera's second full-length English album, Stripped, was released, selling more than 330,000 copies in the first week and peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200. Unlike previous work, the album showcased Aguilera's raunchier side.[40] The majority of Stripped was co-written by Aguilera (who had recently signed a global music publishing contract with BMG Music Publishing), and was influenced by many different subjects and music styles, including contemporary R&B, gospel, soul, balladry, pop rock, and hip hop. The majority of the album was produced by
Scott Storch and singer-songwriter 
Linda Perry who produced her more personal records. 
Rockwilder and singer
Alicia Keys also contributed a track each.[41][42] Upon initial release, the album was very well-received by critics, although Aguilera's vocals were overlooked as she began to cultivate a more sexually provocative image.[43] After the release of the album, she took part in photoshoots for magazines, many of these photographs featured her nude or semi-nude. Her cover for Rolling Stone,[44] featured the singer only wearing boots and a well-placed electric guitar. It was during this time Aguilera referred to herself as "Xtina", even getting a tattoo of her nickname on the back of her neck and several piercings.[2]
Initially, the raunchy image had a negative effect on Aguilera in the U.S., especially after the release of her controversial "Dirrty" music video.[9] She denied that this change was a matter of publicity, claiming that the image better reflected her true personality than did the image she cultivated back in 1999. While the video for "Dirrty" became very popular on MTV, it disappointed on the U.S. singles chart. However, the single was a hit worldwide, reaching number one in the UK and Ireland. The album reached the top five on the U.K., U.S. and Canadian album charts. The second single, "Beautiful" received critical praise. The classically influenced ballad reached number one in several countries and peaked at #2 in the US. "Beautiful" earned Aguilera the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Three more singles ("Fighter", "Can't Hold Us Down" featuring 
Lil' Kim, "The Voice Within") were released in the following two years and were hits that helped the album stay on the charts for the next two years. Stripped stayed on the U.S. and UK album charts well into 2004, and went on to be certified four-times platinum in the U.S. with over nine million copies sold worldwide.[45] It appeared at number ten on Billboard's year-end album chart. 
Kelly Clarkson's second single "Miss Independent" was co-written by Aguilera, having been half-finished for Stripped.
Aguilera joined Justin Timberlake that June on the final leg of his international Justified tour, held in the U.S. This portion of the tour became a co-headliner called the "Justified & Stripped Tour". In August, an overhead lighting grid collapsed from the ceiling of the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, causing major damage to the sound and video equipment below. Because the collapse occurred hours before the show, only a few stagehands were injured, but a few shows were cancelled or postponed. In the fourth quarter of that year, Aguilera continued to tour internationally without Timberlake, and changed the name of the tour to the "Stripped World Tour". She also dyed her hair black. It was one of the top-grossing tours of that year, and sold out most of its venues. Rolling Stone readers named it the best tour of the year.[46] She was a special guest performer with the 
Pussycat Doll's dance troupe and appeared on a Maxim spread alongside them.[47] Her second Maxim cover that year set record sales for the issue, by the end of the year she topped the annual Hot 100 list later saying, "We had fun working with certain clothes, or the lack thereof."[48] After much delay, Aguilera's first DVD live-recording from a concert tour, Stripped Live in the UK, was released in November 2004.
In light of the tour's success, another U.S. tour was scheduled to begin in mid-2004 with a new theme. The tour however was scrapped because of the vocal cord injuries Aguilera suffered shortly before the tour's opening date. In a tribute to
Madonna's performance at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards, Aguilera performed a kiss with the singer-actress at the 2003 edition of the ceremony in August. The incident occurred during the opening performance of Madonna's songs "Like a Virgin" and "Hollywood" with fellow popstar
Britney Spears.[18]
Aguilera later decided to embrace a more mature image; this move was met with more praise than criticism, with articles using punch lines such as "From Crass to Class."[49] She eventually dyed her hair cherry blonde and recorded a jingle, "Hello", for a Mercedes-Benz ad. Shortly after, she dyed her hair blonde and cut it short, and took on a Marilyn Monroe look; she is one of the main proponents (along with
Dita Von Teese, 
Gwen Stefani, and 
Ashley Judd) in bringing back the 1920s-1940s Hollywood glamour look.[50][51]
On October 29, 2002, after much delay, Aguilera's second full-length English album, Stripped, was released, selling more than 330,000 copies in the first week and peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200. Unlike previous work, the album showcased Aguilera's raunchier side.[40] The majority of Stripped was co-written by Aguilera (who had recently signed a global music publishing contract with BMG Music Publishing), and was influenced by many different subjects and music styles, including contemporary R&B, gospel, soul, balladry, pop rock, and hip hop. The majority of the album was produced by
Scott Storch and singer-songwriter 
Linda Perry who produced her more personal records. 
Rockwilder and singer
Alicia Keys also contributed a track each.[41][42] Upon initial release, the album was very well-received by critics, although Aguilera's vocals were overlooked as she began to cultivate a more sexually provocative image.[43] After the release of the album, she took part in photoshoots for magazines, many of these photographs featured her nude or semi-nude. Her cover for Rolling Stone,[44] featured the singer only wearing boots and a well-placed electric guitar. It was during this time Aguilera referred to herself as "Xtina", even getting a tattoo of her nickname on the back of her neck and several piercings.[2]
Initially, the raunchy image had a negative effect on Aguilera in the U.S., especially after the release of her controversial "Dirrty" music video.[9] She denied that this change was a matter of publicity, claiming that the image better reflected her true personality than did the image she cultivated back in 1999. While the video for "Dirrty" became very popular on MTV, it disappointed on the U.S. singles chart. However, the single was a hit worldwide, reaching number one in the UK and Ireland. The album reached the top five on the U.K., U.S. and Canadian album charts. The second single, "Beautiful" received critical praise. The classically influenced ballad reached number one in several countries and peaked at #2 in the US. "Beautiful" earned Aguilera the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Three more singles ("Fighter", "Can't Hold Us Down" featuring Lil' Kim, "The Voice Within") were released in the following two years and were hits that helped the album stay on the charts for the next two years. Stripped stayed on the U.S. and UK album charts well into 2004, and went on to be certified four-times platinum in the U.S. with over nine million copies sold worldwide.[45] It appeared at number ten on Billboard's year-end album chart. 
Kelly Clarkson's second single "Miss Independent" was co-written by Aguilera, having been half-finished for Stripped.
Aguilera joined Justin Timberlake that June on the final leg of his international Justified tour, held in the U.S. This portion of the tour became a co-headliner called the "Justified & Stripped Tour". In August, an overhead lighting grid collapsed from the ceiling of the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, causing major damage to the sound and video equipment below. Because the collapse occurred hours before the show, only a few stagehands were injured, but a few shows were cancelled or postponed. In the fourth quarter of that year, Aguilera continued to tour internationally without Timberlake, and changed the name of the tour to the "Stripped World Tour". She also dyed her hair black. It was one of the top-grossing tours of that year, and sold out most of its venues. Rolling Stone readers named it the best tour of the year.[46] She was a special guest performer with the Pussycat Doll's dance troupe and appeared on a Maxim spread alongside them.[47] Her second Maxim cover that year set record sales for the issue, by the end of the year she topped the annual Hot 100 list later saying, "We had fun working with certain clothes, or the lack thereof."[48] After much delay, Aguilera's first DVD live-recording from a concert tour, Stripped Live in the UK, was released in November 2004.In light of the tour's success, another U.S. tour was scheduled to begin in mid-2004 with a new theme. The tour however was scrapped because of the vocal cord injuries Aguilera suffered shortly before the tour's opening date. In a tribute to
Madonna's performance at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards, Aguilera performed a kiss with the singer-actress at the 2003 edition of the ceremony in August. The incident occurred during the opening performance of Madonna's songs "Like a Virgin" and "Hollywood" with fellow popstar
Britney Spears.[18]
Aguilera later decided to embrace a more mature image; this move was met with more praise than criticism, with articles using punch lines such as "From Crass to Class."[49] She eventually dyed her hair cherry blonde and recorded a jingle, "Hello", for a Mercedes-Benz ad. Shortly after, she dyed her hair blonde and cut it short, and took on a Marilyn Monroe look; she is one of the main proponents (along with
Dita Von Teese, 
Gwen Stefani, and 
Ashley Judd) in bringing back the 1920s-1940s Hollywood glamour look.[50][51] 
In late summer 2004, Aguilera released two singles. The first, "Car Wash", was a remake of the 
Rose Royce disco song recorded as a collaboration with rapper
Missy Elliott for the soundtrack to the film Shark Tale. The second song was also a collaboration, but this time as a second single from one of 
Nelly's double-release albums, Sweat, titled "Tilt Ya Head Back". Both singles failed commercially in the U.S., but did considerably better in other parts of the world.Aguilera collaborated with jazz artist
Herbie Hancock on a cover of 
Leon Russell's "A Song for You" recorded for Hancock's album Possibilities, released in August 2005. Aguilera and Hancock were later nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. She helped open the 50th Anniversary for Disneyland performing "When You Wish upon a Star", and she also collaborated with 
Andrea Bocelli on the song "Somos Novios" for his album Amore.Aguilera's third English studio album, Back to Basics, released August 15, 2006, debuted at #1 in the U.S., the U.K. and eleven other countries. Aguilera described the double CD as "a throwback to the 20s, 30s, and 40s-style jazz, blues, and feel-good soul music, but with a modern twist."[52] Although critics commented on the album's length saying, "At one disc, this would have been nothing short of masterful."[53] The critically acclaimed lead single "Ain't No Other Man" was a substantial success, reaching #2 on the World Chart, #6 in the U.S., and #2 in U.K. Producers on the album included
DJ Premier, 
Kwamé, 
Linda Perry, and 
Mark Ronson. One track, "F.U.S.S.", was written as a response to the animosity between Aguilera and her former producer
Scott Storch. In an interview she said, "That's a way of burying my experience with him. When I tried to work with him again, he made uncalled-for demands. It was disappointing that someone would get affected like that."[54] She received writing credit for the album and was the executive producer. The follow-up singles did very well in different regions, "Hurt" in Europe and "Candyman" in the Pacific. She co-directed both music videos, the former with
Floria Sigismondi who directed her "Fighter" video, and the latter, "Candyman", with director/photographer 
Matthew Rolston which was inspired by 
The Andrews Sisters.[55] Back to Basics has shipped 4.5 million copies worldwide.[56]
In late 2006 Aguilera collaborated with
Sean "Diddy" Combs on a track, titled "Tell Me", from his album Press Play. She also began the "Back to Basics Tour" in Europe[57] followed by a 41-date North American tour in early 2007.[58] After this, she toured Asia and Australia, where it was supposed to end on August 3, however she canceled her dates in Melbourne and her final two in Auckland due to an illness.[59] Her extravagant arena tour included cabaret, three-ring circus and juke joint sets and 10 piece costumes designed by
Roberto Cavalli.[60] It was the most successful US tour by a female in 2007.[61] In early 2008, she released her concert DVD Back to Basics: Live and Down Under. 
At the 49th Grammy Awards, Aguilera again won the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Ain't No Other Man". She made a noteworthy performance at the ceremony paying tribute to 
James Brown with her rendition of his song "It's a Man's Man's Man's World".[62] In January 2007, she was named the 19th richest woman in entertainment by Forbes, with a net worth of US$60 million. Her rendition of "It's A Man's Man'sMan's World" at the 49th Grammy Awards ranked 3rd in the Grammy's Greatest Moments List behind Celine Dion's performance of "My Heart Will Go On". In an interview Dion described Aguilera as "probably the best vocalist in the world."[76] During the work on Back to Basics, DJ Premier explained, "She really represents true music and true singing. She can belt out notes. She has true lungs."[77] Rolling Stone ranked Aguilera at 58 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, the youngest singer on the list.[78]
Aguilera performed "Steppin' Out With My Baby" with Tony Bennett on his NBC special Tony Bennett: An American Classic and on Saturday Night Live. They performed at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards where both specials received Emmys. "Steppin' Out" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.
In 2008 Aguilera was featured on the soundtrack to the film, Shine a Light, from a live recording of the song "Live With Me" with the Rolling Stones. The film's soundtrack was released on April 1, 2008. To commemorate Aguilera's ten years in the music industry, RCA Records released, Keeps Gettin' Better - A Decade of Hits on November 11, 2008 exclusively at Target stores.[64] The greatest hits included her first three number one singles, and other songs released from her previous three albums. The album's lead single, "Keeps Gettin' Better" was premiered at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards and was her highest debut peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Since her debut in 1999 Aguilera has been compared to the likes of 
Mariah Carey and W
hitney Houston.[79] A review in the Los Angeles Times compared Aguilera's vocal stylings to 
Barbara Streisand, 
Gladys Knight, and 
Aretha Franklin adding, "Aguilera's Streisand-esque tendencies are a good thing; they’re helping her figure out how to become the "great singer" she's been dubbed since she released her first single, the wise-beyond-its-years "Genie in a Bottle", at 18."[80] Although praised for her vocals, Aguilera has been labeled for oversinging in her songs and concerts.[81] Longtime producer and writer, 
Linda Perry, commented on working on the record, "Beautiful", saying, "I tried to keep it straight. I told her to get rid of the finger waves. Every time she'd start going into "hoo-ha", I'd stop the tape. I'm like, 'You're doing it again.'" Perry ended up using the first take saying, "She had a hard time accepting that as the final track. It's not a perfect vocal -- it's very raw. She knows her voice really well, and she knows what's going on. She can hear things that nobody else would catch."[82] see videos belowT
he constant theme in Aguilera's music and lyrics is love, although she has written on other subjects including spirituality, female empowerment, and grief. Aguilera has also written about her childhood in two of her records which dealt with domestic abuse. In an interview Aguilera admitted she feels responsible to reveal her most vulnerable feelings and to share the darker sides of her life adding "People that can relate might not feel as alone in the circumstance."[83] She has been noted to constantly changing her sound in her music and lyrical content. Originally marketed as a bubblegum pop singer during the late 90's pop scene, she quickly departed into a broad range of musical genres for her follow-up album Stripped. A review states, "Clearly afflicted with Premature Serious Artist Syndrome, Aguilera wants to demonstrate the range of her interests - vampy soul, quasi-metal, piano-bar intimacy, quiet-storm R&B, bounce-bounce hip-hop, and semi-exotic rock, all of it dutifully accomplished."[84] Although by many she is still considered a pop and contemporary R&B singer despite her range of genres. A review in Allmusic states, "no other teen-pop singer of her era has a better track record than Christina."[85] The majority of the songs are characterized by Aguilera's loud vocals, though she has used breathy and soft vocals.[86]Aguilera has often cited that she prefers working with producers that other artists haven't approached, saying "I don't necessarily go to the main people that are the No. 1 chart-toppers in music."[87]
One of Aguilera's major influences and idol is blues singer
Etta James, whose classic song, "At Last" has been covered by Aguilera throughout her career. Aguilera says, "Etta is my all-time favorite singer. I've said it for the last seven years — since I had my first debut record out — in every interview. I mean, all of Etta's old songs, countless songs I could name, I grew up listening to."[88] The majority of her album, Back to Basics, pays tribute to James and other pop standard singers who many originated from the 1950s. In her early years she listened to vintage jazz, blues, and soul music.[89] The album included an unreleased song, "Slow Down Baby", which sampled a 
Gladys Knight & the Pips song. A review in The Guardian declared, "Practically everything recorded before Aguilera was born blurs into one amorphous genre, which she categorises, somewhat inadequately, as "fun music".[90] Her other musical influences include 
Aretha Franklin,[91] 
Whitney Houston,[92] 
Nina Simone,[93] and 
Madonna.[94]Aguilera cites the musical The Sound of Music and its lead actress, 
Julie Andrews as an early inspiration for singing and performing.[95] She mentioned the "Golden age of Hollywood" as another inspiration in which she says, "I'm referencing Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Carole Lombard, Greta Garbo, Veronica Lake".[96] In her music video for "Ain't No Other Man" she plays her alter ego, "Baby Jane" in reference to the film Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?[97] The film's stars included actresses
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
In 1991 Aguilera auditioned for a role on
The New Mickey Mouse Club, however she didn't meet the age requirements. Two years later she joined the cast performing musical numbers and sketch comedy until the show's cancellation in 1994.[98] Since then Aguilera has done numerous television appearances, in 1999 she made a cameo appearance performing on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. She hosted a Saturday Night Live episode in 2004, which included a Sex & The City skit where she portrayed Samantha Jones revealing to everyone she was a man the entire time.[99] In regards to acting in film, she's mentioned in several interviews that she intends to pursue edgy acting roles similar to 
Angelina Jolie.[100] She voiced a small singing part in the animated film Shark Tale playing a rastafarian jellyfish in the film's closing musical number. The film's stars included, among others, Jolie herself.[101]
Julie Andrews as an early inspiration for singing and performing.[95] She mentioned the "Golden age of Hollywood" as another inspiration in which she says, "I'm referencing Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Carole Lombard, Greta Garbo, Veronica Lake".[96] In her music video for "Ain't No Other Man" she plays her alter ego, "Baby Jane" in reference to the film Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?[97] The film's stars included actresses
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.In 1991 Aguilera auditioned for a role on
The New Mickey Mouse Club, however she didn't meet the age requirements. Two years later she joined the cast performing musical numbers and sketch comedy until the show's cancellation in 1994.[98] Since then Aguilera has done numerous television appearances, in 1999 she made a cameo appearance performing on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. She hosted a Saturday Night Live episode in 2004, which included a Sex & The City skit where she portrayed Samantha Jones revealing to everyone she was a man the entire time.[99] In regards to acting in film, she's mentioned in several interviews that she intends to pursue edgy acting roles similar to 
Angelina Jolie.[100] She voiced a small singing part in the animated film Shark Tale playing a rastafarian jellyfish in the film's closing musical number. The film's stars included, among others, Jolie herself.[101] In 2008 she appeared in the 
Martin Scorsese documentary Shine A Light which chronicles a two day Rolling Stones concert in New York City's Beacon Theatre. The film features Aguilera performing "Live With Me" alongside 
Mick Jagger. Shine A Light premiered at the Berlin Film Festival on February 7 and was released worldwide on April 4, 2008.[102] She will appear as herself in the upcoming 
Judd Apatow film, Get Him to the Greek.[103][104]
In 2000, Aguilera was the face for make-up line Fetish where she worked in choosing colors and packaging for the line. She ended her contract the following year.[105] Throughout her career Aguilera has endorsed several brands, including Skechers, Mercedes-Benz, Verizon Wireless, and soft drink giants Coca-Cola in 2001, and Pepsi in 2006.[106] She became the muse and model for fashion house Versace appearing in a campaign for the 2003 fall line.[107] In 2004 Aguilera earned £200,000GBP (about $500,000USD)[108] for opening the summer sale at London's Harrods store which took in record breaking profits during the four week period.[109] Aguilera signed a contract with European cell phone operator Orange to promote the new Sony Ericsson Walkman phone during the 2006 World Cup. In 2008 jewelry designer
Stephen Webster and close friend of Aguilera released "Shattered", a collection of sterling silver pieces, through Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Aguilera, who inspired the collection, was featured as a Hitchcock heroine saying, "Working together on this campaign and collection has been an incredible experience. I am honored to be a part of it all."[110][111] They reprised their work together for Webster's upcoming 2009 spring line. Aguilera added that the campaign will be retro inspired.[112]
Martin Scorsese documentary Shine A Light which chronicles a two day Rolling Stones concert in New York City's Beacon Theatre. The film features Aguilera performing "Live With Me" alongside 
Mick Jagger. Shine A Light premiered at the Berlin Film Festival on February 7 and was released worldwide on April 4, 2008.[102] She will appear as herself in the upcoming 
Judd Apatow film, Get Him to the Greek.[103][104]
In 2000, Aguilera was the face for make-up line Fetish where she worked in choosing colors and packaging for the line. She ended her contract the following year.[105] Throughout her career Aguilera has endorsed several brands, including Skechers, Mercedes-Benz, Verizon Wireless, and soft drink giants Coca-Cola in 2001, and Pepsi in 2006.[106] She became the muse and model for fashion house Versace appearing in a campaign for the 2003 fall line.[107] In 2004 Aguilera earned £200,000GBP (about $500,000USD)[108] for opening the summer sale at London's Harrods store which took in record breaking profits during the four week period.[109] Aguilera signed a contract with European cell phone operator Orange to promote the new Sony Ericsson Walkman phone during the 2006 World Cup. In 2008 jewelry designer
Stephen Webster and close friend of Aguilera released "Shattered", a collection of sterling silver pieces, through Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Aguilera, who inspired the collection, was featured as a Hitchcock heroine saying, "Working together on this campaign and collection has been an incredible experience. I am honored to be a part of it all."[110][111] They reprised their work together for Webster's upcoming 2009 spring line. Aguilera added that the campaign will be retro inspired.[112] Aguilera released two fragrances throughout Europe, the first one 
Xpose, was released in late 2004 and sold relatively well.[113][114] Through Procter and Gamble Aguilera released her signature fragrance, Simply Christina in 2007.[115] In Christmas 2007, the fragrance became the number one perfume in the UK,[116] and Germany where it topped sales for the year.[117] The perfume won as the people's choice for favorite celebrity fragrance at the annual UK Fifi Awards 2008.[118] She released her third fragrance, Inspire, accompanied with a body care collection, on September 1, 2008.[119][120] The perfume hit shelves in the US, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Northern and Eastern Europe. It is Aguilera's first fragrance released outside of Europe.[121] Her worldwide ad campaign included a television ad shot by 
David LaChapelle and was released in the US through Macy's department stores. The release coincided with Macy's 150th anniversary which featured Aguilera in commemorative photos.[122][123]
Throughout her career, Aguilera has been involved with certain charities. She signed a letter from PETA to the South Korean government asking that the country stop its alleged killing of dogs for food.[124] She also supports Defenders of Wildlife, Missing Kids, National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations,[125] Women's Cancer Research Fund,[126] and Cedars-Sinai Women's Cancer Research Institute.[127] She has also worked alongside nonprofit organization Do Something saying, "Every individual has the power to inspire young people across the country."[128] She was featured in the campaign for photographer, Brie Childers with the goal of helping women of all ages, races and lifestyles feel beautiful and confident about themselves and the body and skin they were born with. Proceeds from benefit several women's charities
nationwide.[129]
Aguilera is still a major contributor in her hometown of Pittsburgh contributing regularly to the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. According to her official website, she toured the center and donated $200,000 to the shelter. She also has auctioned off front row seats and back stage passes for the Pittsburgh-based charity.[130] She has continued her donations and visits to the shelter, and plans to open an additional one.[131] She also supports the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Refuge UK.[125] Since then she has worked with Lifetime Television's 'End violence against women' campaign. Her work there included a public service announcement which aired on the network and during her 2007 tour.[132]
Aguilera is a supporter of the LGBT community. She was honored at the GLAAD Awards for using gay and transgender images in her music video for "Beautiful". When accepting the award Aguilera said, "My video captures the reality that gay and transgender people are beautiful, even though prejudice and discrimination against them still exists."[133] In 2005 she appeared on a compilation album titled, Love Rocks, proceeds benefit the Human Rights Campaign, an organization dedicated to fighting for equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. In 2008 she publicly spoke out against California's Proposition 8 which eliminates same-sex marriage in California saying, "Why you would put so much money behind something [aimed at] stopping from people loving each other and bonding together? I just don't understand it. It's hard for me to grasp. But I would've been out there with my rally sign as well."[134]
Aguilera contributes in the fight against AIDS, by participating in AIDS Project Los Angeles' Artists Against AIDS "What's Going On?" cover project. In 2004, Aguilera became the new face for cosmetic company M·A·C and spokesperson for M·A·C AIDS Fund. Aguilera appeared in advertisements of the M·A·C's Viva Glam V lipstick and lipgloss, and was featured on Vanity Fair in recognition of her campaign work. In addition, Aguilera contributed to YouthAIDS by posing for a joint YouthAIDS and Aldo Shoes campaign for "Empowerment Tags" in Canada, the U.S. and the UK. She was featured with one of three ubiquitous slogans, "Speak No Evil?" and stated, "HIV is something that people don’t want to talk about, hear about, or face."[135][136] Singer Elton John featured Aguilera in his charity book titled "Four Inches" benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation.[137] Elton also hand-picked Aguilera, for his annual "Fashion Rocks" charity concert which accompanies music and fashion to benefit the fight against AIDS/HIV.[138]
In the run-up to the 2004 United States presidential election, Aguilera was featured on billboards for the "Only You Can Silence Yourself" online voter registration drive run by the nonpartisan, non-profit campaign "Declare Yourself". In these political advertisements, shot by David LaChapelle, Aguilera was shown with her mouth sewn shut, to symbolize the effects of not voting. She appeared on
The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss the importance of voting. In late 2007 Aguilera became the spokesperson for "Rock the Vote" where she urged young people to vote in the 2008 presidential election.[139] In partnership with "Rock the Vote", she appeared in a public service announcement which aired in summer 2008.[140] The advert showed Aguilera with her son, Max Bratman, wrapped in an American flag, while singing "America the Beautiful".[141]
In late 1999, Aguilera was rumored to have dated MTV VJ
Carson Daly.[148] The relationship was the subject of much discussion after the release of
Eminem's song "The Real Slim Shady", in which Eminem satirically suggests that Aguilera had performed fellatio on both Daly and Fred Durst, the lead singer of 
Limp Bizkit, and had given the rapper himself a venereal disease. Aguilera called the song's innuendo "disgusting" and "untrue."[149] Aguilera and Eminem reportedly resolved the issue three years later backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards.[150]
Xpose, was released in late 2004 and sold relatively well.[113][114] Through Procter and Gamble Aguilera released her signature fragrance, Simply Christina in 2007.[115] In Christmas 2007, the fragrance became the number one perfume in the UK,[116] and Germany where it topped sales for the year.[117] The perfume won as the people's choice for favorite celebrity fragrance at the annual UK Fifi Awards 2008.[118] She released her third fragrance, Inspire, accompanied with a body care collection, on September 1, 2008.[119][120] The perfume hit shelves in the US, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Northern and Eastern Europe. It is Aguilera's first fragrance released outside of Europe.[121] Her worldwide ad campaign included a television ad shot by 
David LaChapelle and was released in the US through Macy's department stores. The release coincided with Macy's 150th anniversary which featured Aguilera in commemorative photos.[122][123]Throughout her career, Aguilera has been involved with certain charities. She signed a letter from PETA to the South Korean government asking that the country stop its alleged killing of dogs for food.[124] She also supports Defenders of Wildlife, Missing Kids, National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations,[125] Women's Cancer Research Fund,[126] and Cedars-Sinai Women's Cancer Research Institute.[127] She has also worked alongside nonprofit organization Do Something saying, "Every individual has the power to inspire young people across the country."[128] She was featured in the campaign for photographer, Brie Childers with the goal of helping women of all ages, races and lifestyles feel beautiful and confident about themselves and the body and skin they were born with. Proceeds from benefit several women's charities
nationwide.[129]Aguilera is still a major contributor in her hometown of Pittsburgh contributing regularly to the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. According to her official website, she toured the center and donated $200,000 to the shelter. She also has auctioned off front row seats and back stage passes for the Pittsburgh-based charity.[130] She has continued her donations and visits to the shelter, and plans to open an additional one.[131] She also supports the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Refuge UK.[125] Since then she has worked with Lifetime Television's 'End violence against women' campaign. Her work there included a public service announcement which aired on the network and during her 2007 tour.[132]
Aguilera is a supporter of the LGBT community. She was honored at the GLAAD Awards for using gay and transgender images in her music video for "Beautiful". When accepting the award Aguilera said, "My video captures the reality that gay and transgender people are beautiful, even though prejudice and discrimination against them still exists."[133] In 2005 she appeared on a compilation album titled, Love Rocks, proceeds benefit the Human Rights Campaign, an organization dedicated to fighting for equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. In 2008 she publicly spoke out against California's Proposition 8 which eliminates same-sex marriage in California saying, "Why you would put so much money behind something [aimed at] stopping from people loving each other and bonding together? I just don't understand it. It's hard for me to grasp. But I would've been out there with my rally sign as well."[134]
Aguilera contributes in the fight against AIDS, by participating in AIDS Project Los Angeles' Artists Against AIDS "What's Going On?" cover project. In 2004, Aguilera became the new face for cosmetic company M·A·C and spokesperson for M·A·C AIDS Fund. Aguilera appeared in advertisements of the M·A·C's Viva Glam V lipstick and lipgloss, and was featured on Vanity Fair in recognition of her campaign work. In addition, Aguilera contributed to YouthAIDS by posing for a joint YouthAIDS and Aldo Shoes campaign for "Empowerment Tags" in Canada, the U.S. and the UK. She was featured with one of three ubiquitous slogans, "Speak No Evil?" and stated, "HIV is something that people don’t want to talk about, hear about, or face."[135][136] Singer Elton John featured Aguilera in his charity book titled "Four Inches" benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation.[137] Elton also hand-picked Aguilera, for his annual "Fashion Rocks" charity concert which accompanies music and fashion to benefit the fight against AIDS/HIV.[138]
In the run-up to the 2004 United States presidential election, Aguilera was featured on billboards for the "Only You Can Silence Yourself" online voter registration drive run by the nonpartisan, non-profit campaign "Declare Yourself". In these political advertisements, shot by David LaChapelle, Aguilera was shown with her mouth sewn shut, to symbolize the effects of not voting. She appeared on
The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss the importance of voting. In late 2007 Aguilera became the spokesperson for "Rock the Vote" where she urged young people to vote in the 2008 presidential election.[139] In partnership with "Rock the Vote", she appeared in a public service announcement which aired in summer 2008.[140] The advert showed Aguilera with her son, Max Bratman, wrapped in an American flag, while singing "America the Beautiful".[141]In late 1999, Aguilera was rumored to have dated MTV VJ
Carson Daly.[148] The relationship was the subject of much discussion after the release of
Eminem's song "The Real Slim Shady", in which Eminem satirically suggests that Aguilera had performed fellatio on both Daly and Fred Durst, the lead singer of 
Limp Bizkit, and had given the rapper himself a venereal disease. Aguilera called the song's innuendo "disgusting" and "untrue."[149] Aguilera and Eminem reportedly resolved the issue three years later backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards.[150] She dated Puerto Rican dancer 
Jorge Santos, he appeared on her tour and music videos throughout 2000. They dated for nearly two years until the relationship ended in September 2001. He remained her dancer well into 2002.[153] She was reportedly linked to producer 
Dallas Austin who had contributed tracks to her then upcoming Stripped album but were never included, Aguilera never confirmed the relationship.[154]
Jorge Santos, he appeared on her tour and music videos throughout 2000. They dated for nearly two years until the relationship ended in September 2001. He remained her dancer well into 2002.[153] She was reportedly linked to producer 
Dallas Austin who had contributed tracks to her then upcoming Stripped album but were never included, Aguilera never confirmed the relationship.[154]
In 2003, Aguilera was in several public feuds with other musicians including 
Pink who had worked with her on "Lady Marmalade", the singer mocked Aguilera on stage by using a blow-up doll during her tour.[155] 
Kelly Osbourne also remarked that Aguilera was, "one of the most disgusting human beings in the world."[156] Later that year at the MTV Europe Awards where Aguilera was hosting, Osbourne commented on the red carpet calling her a "cow", Aguilera was later seen throwing darts at a picture of Kelly during the telecast.[157] Several years later however Aguilera purchased The Osbourne house from 
Sharon and Ozzy which seemed to have ended their feud.[158]Aguilera began dating music marketing executive
Jordan Bratman in 2002. Their engagement was announced in February 2005,[159] and they married on November 19, 2005, in a Napa Valley estate.[160] In an interview with 
Ellen DeGeneres, Aguilera revealed that she and Bratman enjoy being nude on Sundays, saying, "You have to keep marriage alive, spice it up".[161][162] The story received so much attention that following the news supermodel 
Heidi Klum told Degeneres that she and her husband Seal would consider doing the same ritual.[163]In May 2006, she posed nude for a Marilyn Monroe-inspired photoshoot in
GQ magazine where she re-created several photographs done by Monroe and spoke about her marriage to Bratman. In the issue she also expressed disappointment in fellow singer 
Mariah Carey, saying that Carey "was never cool to me", and that "one time we were at a party, I think she got really drunk, and had really derogatory things to say to me." Carey then released a statement saying, "It is sad yet predictable that she would use my name at this time to reinvent past incidents for promotional gain." Aguilera responded saying, "My intentions were not to upset Mariah with any statements published or taken out of context. I have all the respect in the world for her."[164][165]On September 9, 2007,
Paris Hilton claimed that the singer was pregnant. 
Aguilera, however, had not yet publicly confirmed her pregnancy at the time.[166] Aguilera later confirmed this on November 4 in an interview with Glamour magazine.[167] On January 12, 2008, Aguilera gave birth to her son, 
Max Liron Bratman, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.[168] His name translates to "My Greatest Song" in Hebrew.[169] Aguilera was reportedly paid $1.5 million USD by People magazine for her baby pictures, which according to Forbes places fifth on the list of the most expensive celebrity baby photos.[170]more
Christina Aguilera - At Last
Christina Aguilera - What A Girl Wants
Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle
Christina Aguilera - Beautiful
Impossible - Christina Aguilera ft. Alicia Keys