Fantasia

Fantasia, born Fantasia Monique Barrino, is an American singer from High Point, North Carolina, who rose to national fame after winning the third season of American Idol in 2004. Her journey to the show, marked by personal hardship including teenage pregnancy, made her victory especially resonant, and her raspy, gritty, soulful voice set her apart as a singer rooted in gospel and classic R&B tradition rather than pop polish.

Her first single, «I Believe», released with fellow Idol alum Tamyra Gray, became the first debut single by an American Idol winner to top the Billboard Hot 100. She went on to release acclaimed albums built on emotionally raw, church-inflected R&B, with songs like «Free Yourself», «Truth Is» and «When I See U» showcasing her powerful, expressive delivery.

Fantasia has been compared to soul greats such as Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle, earning her the nickname Baby Patti LaBelle, and has worked alongside artists including Missy Elliott. In 2006 she portrayed herself in the television film The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale. Her career has been recognized with a Grammy Award, multiple Billboard and NAACP Image Awards, and continued acclaim for her theatrical and vocal performances, including songs such as «Lose to Win», «Without Me» and «Sleeping With the One I Love».