Fantasia Monique Barrino-Taylor (born June 30, 1984),[2] known professionally by her mononym Fantasia, is an American singer and actress. She rose to prominence in 2004 for her performance of the Porgy and Bess standard "Summertime" during the third season of American Idol, and eventually became that season's winner.[3] Following her victory, Barrino became the second woman to have their first single debut at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100, following Lauryn Hill, when her debut single "I Believe", launched atop the chart.[4]

Her debut album Free Yourself (2004), went on to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and garnered her three nominations at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards. In 2006, Barrino released her second album Fantasia, that featured the single "When I See U", which topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for eight weeks. Afterwards, she released the duet "Put You Up on Game" alongside Aretha Franklin. Her third studio album Back to Me (2010), spawned the hit single "Bittersweet", which won her a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Barrino's fourth album Side Effects of You (2013), debuted at number-two on the Billboard 200, and included the song "Lose to Win".In 2006, Barrino was nominated for three Grammy Awards for her debut album. Though she did not win any awards, she performed at the 48th annual telecast with several artists including Aerosmith, Joss Stone, John Legend, Maroon 5, and Ciara in an all-star tribute to Sly and the Family Stone during the Grammy Award show. In August 2006, Barrino played herself in a Lifetime Television film based on her autobiography Life Is Not a Fairy Tale. The film was directed by Debbie Allen and debuted on August 19, 2006. The movie received nineteen million viewers throughout its debut weekend.[25] The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale has also become the network's second most viewed program of all time.[26]

Barrino had many musical collaborations during the fall of 2006 including a remake of The Clark Sisters' "Endow Me" which featured Faith Evans, Lil' Mo, and Coko of SWV; a remake of Stevie Wonder's 1976 song "I Wish" with Patti LaBelle and Yolanda Adams for the soundtrack to the 2006 computer-animated film Happy Feet;[27] and most notably her duet with Aretha Franklin "Put You Up on Game", which was recorded at that time and later released in 2007.[28][29]Barrino has said from childhood she has been influenced by soul singers Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, and Chaka Khan,[112] as grew up listening to jazz singers Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway and Nina Simonearrino will reprise her role as Celie in the 2023 movie musical adaptation of The Color Purple.[83][84][85] The film will be directed by Blitz Bazawule and will also star Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Colman Domingo with Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones and Steven Spielberg producing. The film is set to be released on December 25