Following the singer’s hospitalization after an apparent overdose, we look back at her ups and downs since winning ‘American Idol.’ By Jim Cantiello Fantasia Barrino performs on “American Idol” in May, 2004 Photo: Ray Mickshaw/WireImage Catapulted to superstar “American Idol” status in a few short months, then distracted by men, family trouble and alleged money problems ever since (culminating in an apparent suicide attempt Monday), Fantasia Barrino could easily be the subject of more than one “Behind the Music” episodes at the young age of 26. Let’s take a look at the highs and lows of Fantasia’s career. January 19, 2004: “American Idol” season three premieres, and 19-year-old single mother Fantasia Barrino quickly emerges as an early fave with her unique, high-pitched, gospel-tinged voice and sassy attitude. April 14, 2004: Fantasia’s gut-wrenching performance of “Summertime” ends with the young singer in tears from “feeling the song.” Randy Jackson calls it the best performance in “Idol” history. Guest judge Quentin Tarantino is equally impressed. Simon Cowell calls her the best contestant any incarnation of “Idol” has ever seen. May 25, 2004: Fantasia is crowned the “American Idol” winner , defeating 16-year-old Diana DeGarmo by 1.3 million votes. Her first words upon hearing the news? “I broke my shoe!” June 29, 2004: Fantasia’s first single, “I Believe,” debuts at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a first for a new solo artist. November 23, 2004: Fantasia releases her full-length debut, Free Yourself. The album spawns several hit singles on the R&B charts. (She has less success on Top 40 radio.) Free Yourself is later nominated for four Grammys, and the album is certified platinum. October 2005: She earns new fans with a jaw-dropping opening set on Kanye West’s fall tour. August 26, 2006: Fantasia plays herself in a wildly popular Lifetime TV-movie, “The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Not A Fairy Tale,” based on her best-selling 2005 autobiography. The film paints Fantasia’s childhood as one filled with sexual abuse, teen pregnancy, illiteracy and self-esteem issues. (Her father later files a $10 million libel lawsuit against the publisher of the book.) The inspirational film is Lifetime’s second-most-watched TV-movie in the network’s history. December 12, 2006: Her sophomore album, Fantasia, is released. Despite big hits on urban radio (including the Big Boi-assisted “Hood Boy” and the inescapable midtempo jam “When I See U”), Fantasia fails to match the sales of her debut album. February 22, 2007: Fantasia returns to “American Idol” to announce that she’ll be starring on Broadway as Celie in “The Color Purple,” produced by Oprah Winfrey. (A sit-down with Oprah also followed.) April 10, 2007: Fantasia’s Broadway debut earns rave reviews across the board, but the New York press reports that Fantasia missed over 50 performances during her nine-month run, forcing producers to refund disappointed fans. (Fantasia later blames her no-shows on vocal cysts.) May 14, 2008: Fantasia leaves “Idol” viewers (and Simon Cowell) slack-jawed with an over-the-top results-show performance that included playful choreography and bright-red hair. June 11, 2008: Rumors spread that Fantasia and her boyfriend, rapper Young Dro, are engaged. (The two never wed, and in 2010, Fantasia told MTV News that she broke things off with Dro because he was distracting her from her music career.) June 26, 2008: 19 Entertainment (“Idol” guru Simon Fuller’s management company) drops Fantasia from their roster. September 13, 2008: Inspired to prove naysayers wrong as her career struggled, Fantasia steals the show at a “UNCF’s An Evening of Stars Tribute to Patti LaBelle.” (The show is eventually broadcast on TV the following January.) December 9, 2008: A North Carolina newspaper reports that one of Fantasia’s homes is in foreclosure and will be up for public auction. Eventually, a deal is reached and Fantasia did not lose her property. (It’s rumored that Simon Cowell stepped in to help with the “Idol’s” mortgage payments.) November 2009: Fantasia is spotted with a new “Cook” tattoo. But it’s not a reference to fellow “Idol” champ David Cook, but rather Antwaun Cook, Fantasia’s new beau. Gossip blogs quickly report that he’s married with children. January 11, 2010: VH1 airs the premiere episode of “Fantasia for Real,” a reality show focusing on the pressure Fantasia is under as her family’s sole bread-winner. (Her relationship with Cook is not featured.) Fantasia tells MTV News she hopes the show helps her “rebuild her empire.” May 11, 2010: ‘Tasia’s latest single, “Bittersweet,” premieres. August 4, 2010: Cook’s estranged wife, Paula, files a complaint with the North Carolina courts, claiming Fantasia and Antwaun have been in a “covert adulterous affair” since August 2009. The paperwork lists a sex tape Fantasia made with Antwaun as proof of their illicit activity. August 9, 2010: Police respond to a 911 call from Fantasia’s manager . Officers find the singer in a closet. The former “Idol” champ was immediately taken to Mercy South Hospital at Carolinas Medical Center in Pineville, North Carolina. August 10, 2010: Fantasia’s manager confirms that the singer is recovering after overdosing on aspirin and a sleeping aid. He cites the increased media attention and lawsuit as being “overwhelming” for the “heartbroken” singer. VH1 also issues a statement showing their support for the ailing singer and that they have no plans on shelving the second season of her reality show. August 24, 2010: Fantasia’s third album, Back to Me, is scheduled to hit stores, as confirmed by her manager. Related Photos Fantasia’s Career In Photos Related Artists Fantasia
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Fantasia’s Life Is Still No ‘Fairy Tale’: A Timeline
