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American Idol: Fantasia Barrino
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At 19 years old, Fantasia Barrino was chosen "American Idol" for 2004 on the Fox Network reality TV show. Born on June 30, 1984, in High Point, NC, Barrino began singing at her family's church when she was just five years old, and over the years she performed with her family in a gospel group that toured throughout the Southeast. Singing soul tunes, Barrino beat some 70,000 contestants to win the grand prize, a recording contract. She released her first album, Free Yourself, in November 2004. She has one daughter.
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The third season of American Idol premiered on January 19, 2004. The winner of this season of American Idol was Fantasia Barrino, later known professionally as simply "Fantasia," and the runner-up was Diana Degarmo. This was ... the season that Golden Globe Award-winning and Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson was discovered.
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In February 2007, Barrino appeared and performed on American Idol, and there she announced that she will be starring in the Broadway musical The Color Purple beginning April 10, 2007. After Barrino performed the song, "I'm Here", on American Idol and the Oprah Winfrey Show, the musical received a boost of over two million in pre- ticket sales in one week. Leading up to Barrino's first performance the play garnered a total of 6.5 million in pre-ticket sales.
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Aiken is the latest in an ever-expanding roster of “American Idol” contestants who’ve leapt to Broadway. The list includes Fantasia (”The Color Purple”), Diana DeGarmo (”Hairspray”), Frenchie Davis and Tamyra Gray (”Rent”) and Josh Strickland (”Tarzan”).
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Fantasia Barrino