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Christina Aguilera
Aguilera in 2022
Born	Christina María Aguilera (1980-12-18) December 18, 1980 New York City, New York, U.S.
Other names	Xtina Baby Jane
Occupations	Singer songwriter actress television personality investor businesswoman
Years active	1993–present
Organization(s)	Christina Aguilera Fragrances MX Investments
Works	Discography videography songs recorded tours
Spouse	Jordan Bratman ​ ​ (m. 2005; div. 2011)​
Partner(s)	Matthew Rutler (2010–present; engaged)
Children	2
Relatives	Jim Fidler (cousin)
Awards	Over 200 wins
Musical career
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Pop R&B soul hip-hop
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Labels	RCA Legacy Sony Latin
Website	christinaaguilera.com
Signature

Christina María Aguilera (/æɡɪˈlɛərə/; born December 18, 1980), also known as Xtina, is an American singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. Referred to as the "Voice of a Generation", she has been remarkable due her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes. Aguilera rose to stardom with her eponymous debut album, for which she is credited for influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Her works, which incorporate feminism, sexuality, and domestic violence, have generated both critical praise and controversy, for which she is often cited as an influence by other artists.

After launching her career as a child star and appearing in television programs, Aguilera signed with RCA Records in 1998. Her debut album spawned three Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles: "Genie in a Bottle", "What a Girl Wants" and "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)", as well earned her the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Once established as a bubblegum pop artist, Aguilera adopted a more mature and provocative persona and sparked controversy for exploring her sexuality with the music video for "Dirrty", leading to the departure of her teen idol image. She kept achieving worldwide success with albums Stripped (2002) and Back to Basics (2006), and its singles "Beautiful", "Can't Hold Us Down", "Ain't No Other Man", and "Hurt".

Her work was expanded to the Spanish records Mi Reflejo (2000) and Aguilera (2022), whose have entered the U.S. Top Latin Albums. Throughout her career, she also reached commercial success in collaboration songs with other artists, including "Lady Marmalade", "Moves Like Jagger", "Feel This Moment" and "Say Something". Aguilera's work has broadened to roles in films such as Burlesque (2010), which earning her a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song nomination due its soundtrack, as well on television programs as a coach on reality competition show The Voice (2011–2016), and as a supporting actress in the musical series Nashville (2015). Her other activities include been a spokesperson for the World Food Program (WFP), as well ventures as a perfumes brand, a soccer team, and a wide range of investments in other companies.

With estimated sales over 100 million records, Aguilera is recognized as one of the world's best-selling music artists. In 2009, she was classified as the twentieth most successful artist of the 2000s by Billboard. Referred to as a pop culture icon, she has accumulated numerous awards and accolades, including five Grammy Awards, two Latin Grammy Award, three Billboard Latin Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), two People's Choice Awards (PCAs)—including the inaugural Music Icon Award—, one Guinness World Record and was named a Disney Legend. Aguilera was also ranked as the eighth greatest woman in music and the fourteenth greatest woman in music video era, both by VH1. In addition to being cited as one of the most influential Latin artists in the entertainment industry, she was listed among the 100 most influential people in the world by Time in 2013.

Early life

Christina María Aguilera was born on December 18, 1980, in New York City, New York, to Shelly Loraine (née Fidler) and Fausto Wagner Xavier Aguilera. Her father is an Ecuadorian emigrant from Guayaquil while her mother has German, Irish, Welsh, and Dutch ancestry. Fausto Aguilera was an United States Army sergeant, and Shelly Loraine was a violinist member of the American Youth Symphony before becoming a Spanish translator. Due Fausto's military service, Aguilera family was moving frequently, living in New Jersey and Texas. In 1983, they moved to Japan and lived in Sagamihara for at least two years. The family returned to U.S and ultimately settled in Pennsylvania, welcoming her younger sister, Rachel, in 1986. Aguilera has been spoke out about her father's physically and emotionally abusive behavior. She eventually used music to escape her turbulent household. In 1987, Shelly filed divorce to Fausto and moved with children to her mother's home in Rochester, a suburg of Pittsburgh. She later remarried to James Kearns with whom she had a son named Michael. Following decades of estrangement, Aguilera expressed interest in reconciling with her father in 2012.

During childhood, Aguilera explored her grandmother's personal records—which featured mostly soul and blues singers—whose increased her interest in music. She also began to practice singing and competing in talent contests. Followed numerous contests, she earned reputation in the neighborhood as the "little girl with a big voice" and received attention on local television and radio programs. In 1990, she performed the popular song "A Sunday Kind of Love" on the reality competition show Star Search, but was eliminated during the semi-final round. Aguilera eventually was invited to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Pittsburgh Penguins hockey, Pittsburgh Steelers football, and Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games, as well during the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals. During her youth in Pittsburgh metropolitan area, she attended North Allegheny Intermediate High School before leaving there to be homeschooled to avoid bullying she has experienced in the institution.

Career

1993–1998: Career beginnings

In 1991, Aguilera auditioned for a position on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (MMC), aired on the Disney Channel. She ran against 400 candidates and despite making the shortlist, she was not accepted due she did not meet the minimum age requirement. Aguilera received a call from one of the show's producers asking if she was still interested in becoming a "Mouseketeer" in 1992. She returned to competing against 15,000 candidates and was selected to join the variety program the following year. Her fellow cast members included Ryan Gosling, Keri Russell, Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake. During the show recordings—which included Aguilera performing musical numbers and comedy sketches—she moved with her family to Orlando, Florida. In 1994, it was reported the series would not return for a new season.

Aiming to beginning a music career, Aguilera moved to Japan in 1997. She was selected to record a duet with Japanese singer Keizo Nakanishi, with whom she performed in concert shows around the country. Their song, "All I Wanna Do", was released as a promotional single and failed to reach commercial success. In June 1997, Aguilera went on to Romania to represent the United States in a singers contest during the Golden Stag Festival, but she failed to win over the audience. Seeking for a recording contract, Aguilera recorded numerous demo tapes directed to record labels, including Walt Disney Records, for which she send a cover version of "Run to You" by Whitney Houston. She eventually was given the opportunity to record "Reflection", theme from animated film Mulan (1998), which charted on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart at number 15.

1999–2001: Breakthrough with debut album

Following the attention received with "Reflection", Ron Fair—A&R executive from RCA Records—offered to Aguilera a deal with the label. In late 1998, she started recording her debut studio album which reportedly had invested $1 million on writers, producers and voice lessons. Although Aguilera's desire to create a material directly inspired by R&B, the label opted for a teen pop production due the genre's high financial return in the late 1990s. Her self-titled debut album, Christina Aguilera, was released in August 1999, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It catapulted Aguilera's popularity globally and sold over ten million copies in its first year of release. It was later certified eight times platinum by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and sold over 17 million copies worldwide.

"Genie in a Bottle" served as the album's lead single, and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks. It also rise Aguilera's popularity worldwide, leading charts in over 20 countries. The single attracted the attention of conservative people including celebrities such as Debbie Gibson that spoke out against its lyrical content, and was eventually considered "too provocative" to be sung by a teen idol. Due to the criticism, Radio Disney replaced the original version with a censored one. Other of the album's singles, "What a Girl Wants" and "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)", also topped the Hot 100 chart, while "I Turn to You" reached number three there. At the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, Aguilera won the Best New Artist, which received wide media coverage. Time credited the award for "[helping] certify her credentials as a real singer". In mid 2000, she embarked on Christina Aguilera in Concert—which visited North America, Latin America, Europe, and Japan.

I was completely blown away, shocked, overwhelmed and thrilled. I didn't expect it. I've dreamed of that since I was eight years old. I was rambling off the top of my head, my knees were shaking and I'm still floating on air because of it!

—Aguilera on winning Best New Artist at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.

Aguilera's success continued to rise with the release of her second studio album, Mi Reflejo, in September 2000. It features Spanish-language songs and was produced as a Latin pop material. The album topped both the Billboard Top Latin Albums and Latin Pop Albums for nineteen consecutive weeks and later was certified six times Latin platinum by the RIAA. Mi Reflejo also reached the platinum stats in Argentina, Mexico, and Spain. At the 2nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards, it won Best Female Pop Vocal Album. In October 2000, she also promoted a third record, My Kind of Christmas, and later starred in a holiday special, My Reflection, which aired on ABC. Aguilera's commercial success saw her being named the 2000 Top Female Pop Act by Billboard. The same year, she filed a fiduciary duty against manager Steve Kurtz for "improper, undue, and inappropriate influence over her professional activities". She eventually hired Irving Azoff to manage her career, aiming a new artistic direction and control of her own image.

In early 2001, Aguilera reached commercial success with collaboration singles. While "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" with Ricky Martin peaked number thirteen on Hot 100, "Lady Marmalade" with Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink topped the chart for five consecutive weeks. The later, included on Moulin Rouge! soundtrack, earned her the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year, as well the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, for which she was also nominated with "Nobody's Want to Be Lonely". In August 2001, Warlock Records released Just Be Free, a demo album recorded by Aguilera between 1994 and 1995 while she was looking for a recording deal following the end of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (MMC). She filed a suit against the label and the album's producers aiming to stop the release of the album. Both parties came to a confidential settlement to release the album, in which Aguilera len out her name, likeness, and image for an unspecified amount of damages.

2002–2004: New image with Stripped

With a new management, Aguilera began working in a new project while she was moving away from teen pop niche. She later cultivated a new image by adopting the alter ego Xtina, dyeing her hair black, and debuting several tattoos and body piercings. Her fourth studio album, Stripped, was released in October 2002. Containing numerous musical genres, including R&B, hip-hop, flamenco, and rock, it was described by her as "a new beginning, a re-introduction of [herself] as a new artist", for which she also contributed as executive producer and co-wrote most of the songs. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, and eventually was certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In the UK, Stripped sold over two million copies and became the second highest-selling album by an American female artists in 2000s. Since then, it was reported the album sold 12 million copies globally.

Aguilera performing on The Stripped Tour in 2003.

The album's lead single, "Dirrty", peaked number 48 on Billboard Hot 100. Its accompanying music video generated controversy for depicting overtly sexual fetishes, attracting the attention of conservative organizations and moralists sought to have the video banned on MTV. The music video sparked protests in Thailand and eventually was banned in the country's local television. Aguilera's new persona was widely criticized by media outlets and it began to overshadow her music, while Entertainment Weekly described her image as "the world's skeeziest reptile woman". Although the backlash, "Dirrty" topped the charts in Ireland and the UK. The second single, "Beautiful", reached number two on the Hot 100. It received universal acclaim for its empowering lyrics about embracing inner beauty, and became a LGBT anthem. At the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, the single won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

The following singles of Stripped—"Fighter" and "Can't Hold Us Down"—also reached top twenty on Hot 100, while "The Voice Within" peaked number thirty three there. In Summer 2003, Aguilera co-headlined The Justified & Stripped Tour alongside Justin Timberlake, whose supported also his solo debut album, Justified (2002). The joint tour visited North America only, attracting an audience of 546,483 and grossing over $31.8 million. It ranked sixteenth on Billboard's list of Top 25 Tours of 2003. Later that year, she also embarked on The Stripped Tour which reached Europe, Asia, and Australia. In early 2004, it was expected she would return to a North America to performing in a second leg of the concert series. However, the dates were canceled last-minute due to her vocal cord injury. Her performances at the Wembley Arena were taped, broadcast on WB Network and eventually sold as a video album under the name Stripped Live in the U.K.

Aguilera received wide media coverage due her music performances on television. At the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, she jointed Britney Spears to performing "Like a Virgin" and "Hollywood", where both ended up kissing Madonna. Various media outlets retrospectively considered it one of the "most iconic" VMAs performances of all time. During the 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards—which was hosted by herself—she made a live presentation of "Dirrty". Wearing a nun's habit, Aguilera was accompanied by a choir and eventually undressed to reveal her underclothes while performing the slutdrop dance style. Late that year, she was named 2003 Top Female Pop Act by Billboard. In 2004, she recorded "Car Wash" with Missy Elliott which was released as single from Shark Tale soundtrack, and contributed vocals to "Tilt Ya Head Back" with rapper Nelly.

2005–2009: Back to Basics

In early 2005, Aguilera embraced a new image inspired by figures from the Old Hollywood, debuting blonde curly hair and retro-styled makeup. Her new persona eventually was adopted to promote her follow-up music project. Described as a "throwback with elements of old-school [music] combined with a modern-day twist", Back to Basics, was released as an double album in August 2006. Lirically inspired by Aguilera's husband, Jordan Bratman, it received generally positive reviews by critics due its retro-oriented production. AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it "catchy, exciting, and unique ... an album to build a career upon". It debuted at number one in numerous countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK. In the U.S, it scored the top on the Billboard 200, becoming her second material to lead the chart. Back to Basics was later certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and sold over 5 million units worldwide.

Aguilera performing at the Sanremo Music Festival in 2006.

"Ain't No Other Man" served as the album's lead single and was praised by music critics. The Morning Call opined that "it put [Aguilera] at Aretha Franklin's doorstep". The single peaked number six on Billboard Hot 100 and has sold 1.7 million digital copies in the U.S. Its accompanying video featured Aguilera under the alter ego Baby Jane—which was also adopted during the Back to Basics' promotion campaign. The single eventually earned her the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Other of the album's singles, "Hurt" and "Candyman", became top-ten hits on international charts, and peaked top-thirty on Hot 100. In 2006, Aguilera also contributed vocals to singles "Somos Novios (It's Impossible)" with Andrea Bocelli and "Tell Me" with rapper Diddy, which reached number eight in the UK.

In November 2006, Aguilera embarked on the Back to Basics Tour—which visited North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania—and ran until October 2008. Being divided in acts such as juke joint and circus, Rolling Stone hightlighted its "numerous sets and costumes changes" emphasizing Aguilera's "evolution from bubblegum starlet to dirrty vixen to her current incarnation as retro-styled soul siren". With earnings around 48.1 million in 2007, it eventually became the highest-grossing concert tour by a female of the year. Aguilera's image and "overtly sexual themes" on tour demanded the concert show in Shanghai was submitted for a prior approval by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China. Her performances at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre were taped, broadcast on VH1 and sold as a video album under the title Back to Basics: Live and Down Under.

In 2008, Aguilera appeared in the Martin Scorsese documentary Shine a Light, chronicling a two-day concert by The Rolling Stones at the Beacon Theatre. Her cameo was on the stage performing "Live with Me" with the band's lead vocalist Mick Jagger. Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits, Aguilera's first greatest hits compilation album, was released in November 2008. It also added two original songs, including its title track. The compilation reached number nine on Billboard 200 and was later certified gold by the RIAA. "Keeps Gettin' Better" eventually served as the compilation's lead single and debuted at number seven on the Hot 100, becoming her highest debut on the chart. By the end of the 2000s, she was named as the twentieth "Artist of the Decade" by Billboard, as well was nominated to the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Act Ever.

2010–2017: Bionic, acting debut with Burlesque, and Lotus

Aguilera stated that she began working in a new music material while pregnant in 2008. Her sixth studio album, Bionic, was released in June 2010. Directly inspired by electronic music, it was described by her as a project "about the future [...] my son in my life, motivating me to want to play and have fun". It received generally mixed reviews by critics which called it "very strong, but only in parts". Leah Greenblatt from Entertainment Weekly reproved it due Aguilera's "penchant for stock step-class beats and an aggressive, exhausting hypersexuality". The album peaked number three on the Billboard 200, and topped European and the UK charts. It was later certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and sold around 1 million copies globally. "Not Myself Tonight" served as the album's lead single and peaked number twenty three on Billboard Hot 100. The following singles of Bionic—"You Lost Me" and "Woohoo"—failed to reach commercial success.

Aguilera attending the Burlesque premiere at the Leicester Square in 2010.

In late 2010, Aguilera made her acting debut in the backstage musical Burlesque, alongside Cher and Kristen Bell. She was cast as Ali Rose, an "aspiring performer from a small city who moves to Los Angeles to chase her dreams of becoming a star". Directed by Steve Antin, the film met with mixed reception from critics which described it as "campy and clichéd", although Aguilera's acting was praised. San Francisco Chronicle film critic Mick LaSalle opined that her acting was "jaw-droppingly good in several numbers", and concluded: "Aguilera knows how to listen her fellow actors, to react and be spontaneous, and it makes all the difference". She also contributed to its soundtrack, whose song "Bound to You" earned her a nomination to the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

In early 2011, Aguilera received wide media coverage for ommiting a few lines while performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XLV. She apologized for the incident, saying: "I got so caught up in the moment of the song that I lost my place [...] I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through". In April 2011, she became a coach on reality competition show The Voice, aired on NBC. Aguilera later returned to its second, third, fifth, eighth, and tenth season. In late 2011, she contributed vocals to single "Moves Like Jagger" with band Maroon 5. It topped the Hot 100 for four non-consecutive weeks, and was later certified diamond by the RIAA. The collaboration sold 14.4 million copies worldwide as of 2014.

Aguilera seventh studio album, Lotus, was released in November 2012. Described as an album "about self-expression and freedom" due the personal struggles she had overcome, it mixed electropop with numerous genres. Contemporary critics called it "generic and conventional", and criticized its "digitally smothering production" which "drains all the emotion of her voice". The album peaked number seven on the Billboard 200, and produced the top-forty single "Your Body".

In 2013, Aguilera reached commercial success in collaboration songs "Feel This Moment" with rapper Pitbull and "Say Something" with duo A Great Big World. Both singles peaked top-ten on the Hot 100, and later reached multi-platinum stats by the RIAA. "Say Something" eventually won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. She also contributed vocals to single "Hoy Tengo Ganas de Ti" with Alejandro Fernández, which became an instant hit in Mexico. In 2015, Aguilera starred on the third season of musical drama series Nashville, aired on ABC. She was cast as Jade St. John, an recurring role, and contributed to its soundtrack with songs "The Real Thing" and "Shotgun"—which reached number twenty-eight on Hot Country Songs chart. Her following work was performing a voice role in The Emoji Movie (2017).

2018–present: Liberation, return to touring, and Aguilera

Aguilera performing at the VinFuture Prize in 2022.

In early 2018, Aguilera starred in the romantic sci-fi film Zoe, directed by Drake Doremus. Premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, it was a commercial and critical failure. Followed a six-year music hiatus, she released her eighth studio album, Liberation, in June 2018. It debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, and received generally positive reviews. The Observer columnist Alim Kheraj complimented it as "her most artistically emancipated album". "Accelerate" was released as the album's lead single and topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs, becoming her tenth number one song on the chart. "Fall in Line" and "Like I Do" was also promoted as singles and eventually was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, respectively.

From September to November 2018, Aguilera embarked on The Liberation Tour—her first concert series in ten years—which ranked among Pollstar's list of Top 200 North American Tours. An follow-up European concert tour, The X Tour, ran from July to December 2019. She also headlined the Christina Aguilera: The Xperience (2019–2020), a concert residency at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas. Billboard praised it for "truly delivering on the promise to touch all the senses with an intensely theatrical experience". It eventually grossed over $10.2 million.

In November 2020, Aguilera ended her long-time management contract with Irving Azoff and signed a new deal with Roc Nation and Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Her following music contributions was to Mulan and The Addams Family 2 soundtracks. In 2021, she performed on the Christina Aguilera with the LA Phil with Gustavo Dudamel, and during the induction tribute for Tina Turner at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Aguilera also was presented with the inaugural Music Icon Award by Becky G at the 47th People's Choice Awards.

Her second Spanish language album, Aguilera, was released in May 2022. Received with generally positive reviews, it eventually won a Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards. The album's singles—"Pa Mis Muchachas" and "Santo"—peaked top-forty on Hot Latin Songs, and was later certified Latin platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In late 2022, Aguilera embarked on the EU / UK Summer Series, and released a new edition of Stripped for its 20th anniversary featuring two new songs. In February 2023, she headlined the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile, which held its largest audience since 2017.

Upcoming projects

In November 2022, TIME Studios announced the production of an upcoming documentary about Aguilera's life and career. It had been quietly producted for 18 months and will "provide a look into [her] life story through exclusive previous unseen footage". She later confirmed that she began working in a new music project in English.

Artistry

Influences

Musicians such as Etta James (left) and Whitney Houston (right) have influenced Aguilera and her music, whose she also learned to shape her singing voice during childhood.

Aguilera has named Etta James as a "role model", and said "At Last" made a major impression on her. She later stated, "I'll still be as raunchy as I wanna be, and I'll have [Etta]'s memory to back me up. She's what I want to be someday". As a young girl, The Sound of Music (1959) and its lead actress, Julie Andrews, became her early references to sing and perform, in addition to broadening her interest in Broadway. Other Aguilera's major influences include Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald. She has also cited rock bands as an influence, specifically The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Nirvana, and Radiohead.

Aguilera also was influenced by Latin music. She later recalled singing her first songs in Spanish language during childhood, "I grew up hearing [Spanish] being spoken in my household [and] hearing a lot of Julio Iglesias on the record player". Her other inspirations in Latin music include Chavela Vargas, Vicente Fernández, and younger artists such Rosalía. As performers, Aguilera credits Madonna and Janet Jackson as major inspirations for being "positive female artists [who] aren't afraid to take chances, be daring, experimental and sexy". Cher also encouraged her to being performer and "a woman who has guts to do [everything]".

Aguilera's childhood visiting records stores molded her taste by blues and soul artists, called by her as "music that really had heart". Many artists from the genres also have been referenced in Aguilera's music, including Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone, and Otis Redding. Her album Back to Basics (2006) features inspirations of musicians from early 20th century, as she later commented: "I was just so drawn to that [kind of music] ... Has so much pain, so much beauty of raw emotion and passion". Her other influences in the genre was added for Liberation (2018), including Michael Jackson in "Maria" and Janis Joplin in "Sick of Sittin'".

Influences also came to her from actress from the Old Hollywood. She credits it for inspiring her image, stating, "I'm fascinated with the golden age of film. I wanted to capture the authenticity of the glam era". Aguilera's references includes Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo, Veronica Lake, and the pin-up models. Her "Tilt Ya Head Back" music video recreated Monroe's signature look, while the video for "Your Body" includes a directly reference to Lucille Ball. The video for "Ain't No Other Man" also presents Aguilera under the alter ego "Baby Jane", which was inspired by Bette Davis character in psychological horror film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). Her other inspirations came from the contemporary art, being an appreciator of works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Banksy.

Voice

Aguilera is known by her melismatic singing technique, yielding comparisons to Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

Critics have described Aguilera as soprano, possessing a four-octave vocal range (from C₃ to C♯₇). She is also able to perform the whistle register. Maura Johnston, author from Slate, opined that Aguilera's voice can be defined as "an instrument that despite its ability to leap octaves has a low-end grounding similar to that possessed by opera singers". The Boston Globe columnist Joan Anderman featured her vocal versatility, stating, "[She] is a real singer ... blessed with the sort of breathtaking elasticity, golden tones, and sheer power that separate the divas from the dabblers". In addition to sustain high notes, Aguilera is recognized for making use of the melismatic technique. Jon Pareles from The New York Times emphasized that "she can aim a note as directly as aa missile or turn its trajectory into an aerobatic spiral of leaping, quivering, and scalloping melismas". RCA Records music executive Ron Fair praised her "perfect intonation", and opined she has "pipes to be the next Barbra Streisand or Céline Dion".

Aguilera's voice also yielded comparisons with other singers. Journalist David Browne wrote that, alongside Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, she "form the team of the main proponents" from the melismatic technique. Richard Harrington from The Washington Post shared the point of view, commenting, "She has a genuinely powerful voice that's evoked comparisons [to] Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, though it for the most part avoids those singers' ornamental mannerisms". Sasha Frere-Jones, columnist of The New Yorker, also credited the technique by making her become "a serious singer without needing to reincarnate the Sarah Vaughan", while songwriter Steve Kipner featured her vocal dexterity, being "able to internalized all the riffs from Chaka Khan". Los Angeles Times music critic Ann Powers wrote that Aguilera posses a "voice purely powerful as that of Etta James [...] and she's moving toward the expressiveness of Gladys Knight, if not Aretha Franklin". Powers also associated her vocal ability with Donna Summer when she performs records influenced by rhythm and blues.

Aguilera, however, has also been criticized for the excessive use of melisma, as well for oversinging during her concerts shows. The Huffington Post columnist John Eskow called her as "the main proponent of oversouling". Eskow recognizes Aguilera's voice as a "great instrument", although she "[doesn't] seem to know when to stop" with the use of "gratuitous and confected melisma". Lucy Davies, music critic from BBC Music, opined that she has "a stunning voice", but indicated: "She could be more varied, simply by cutting out some of the 'ye-e-eeeh, woah' in her songs". Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Chris Willman credits Aguilera's tendency to oversinging as an influence of Mariah Carey, noting "her slightly nasal tone that really only becomes obvious when she's overselling a song". Alexa Tietjen from VH1 acknowledged that Aguilera "does tend to take it to the extreme at times [...] but her vocal prowess is what's gotten her so far. Love them or hate them, the riffs are a part of who she is as performer".

Composition and musical style

The themes in her music portrays women as full human beings with subjectivity and renders women agency in owning their thoughts, speaking their mind, and practicing self-empowerment. This empowering cultural narrative acknowledges and empowers women to embrace their subjectivity, realize their value, and own their power in controlling their life.

—Chin Wai Wong from Hollins University on Aguilera's music themes.

Aguilera's music has been the subject of analysis. Critics acknowledged domestic violence experienced during childhood as one of the main topics in her music. Mary Anne Donovan, author of Christina Aguilera: A Biography (2010), noted that she "channeled her fear and sadness away from the abuse in her family to instead create the music that became her art and her livelihood". It also influenced Aguilera's transition to adulthood and impacted many of her songs, whose lyrics references female empowerment. In a 2006 interview, she commented: "I feel a responsibility to share some of these things that aren’t kind of the brighter sides of my life [...] People that can relate might not feel as alone in the circumstance".

Aguilera also has often defended sex-positive movement and denounced social double standards in her music. Reviewing Stripped (2002), Sophie Wilkinson from Vice opined that its music "explores nuanced articulations of sexual desires and fears all while highlighting the social double standards", in addition to give "any woman the confidence to take charge of her sexuality and ownership of her body". Jennifer K. Armstrong, author of Sexy Feminism: A Girl's Guide to Love, Success, and Style (2013), opined that her music has "reject[ed] the double standards set forth by sexism and patriarchy".

Chin Wai Wong from Hollins University also observed topics such as romance, introspection of vulnerability, gratitude for support, and sexual liberation in Aguilera's music, representing "multi-dimensional aspects of life [and] different social responsibilities a woman experiences". While critics noted the feminist message in her works, Aguilera was acknowleged due her "refusal to sanitize her own sexuality to meet either the norms of mainstream gender politics or mainline Feminism's resistance". The Guardian journalist Hermione Hoby opined that she "incites a sisterly spirit of collaboration [and] not shy of the odd feministic declaration herself". Other themes boarded in her lyrics includes self-respect, body image, and LGBT rights, in addition to "fighting for creative freedom and gender equality".

Aguilera's discography is generally categorized as pop, contemporary R&B, soul, and hip-hop. According to critics, she also have experimented with other musical genres in her works. In a 2008 interview, she explained about "always [being] inspired by new things" in music and "experimenting with [her] voice". Alexis Petridis from The Guardian considered the "boldness in reinventing" continually her music as "one of her most impressive facets" as an artist. Initially established as a bubblegum pop singer, she mixed teen pop and dance-pop on her first records, Christina Aguilera (1999) and Mi Reflejo (2000)—which also takes inspiration in numerous genres from Latin music.

Moving away from the teen niche, Aguilera's post-2000 material mainly incorporated R&B and hip-hop. Listed as an executive producer on Stripped (2002), she mixed both genres with Latin pop, rock, neo-soul, gospel, among others, while Back to Basics (2006) was described as a "throwback with elements of old-school genres combined with a modern-day twist [and] hard-hitting beats". She continued merging both R&B and hip-hop with other musical styles on Burlesque (2010) and Liberation (2018), which also features soul and blues elements.

The show tune "Lady Marmalade" is noted as Aguilera's first musical transformation. Referred to as "too urban" by RCA Records executives, the song transitioned her music "from teen pop to a more mature sound". Despite the renewal in her repertoire, Aguilera continued producing power ballads—which became a signature in her discography—in between her uptempo material. Kelefa Sanneh, music critic from The New York Times, observed the continuous modification in her music, in addition to highlight her "decision to snub some of the big-name producers on whom pop stars often rely". Her notable sonically drastic ventures include the subversive futurepop on Bionic (2010), electropop club on Lotus (2012), and Mexican ranchera numbers on Aguilera (2022).

Performances and music videos

Aguilera performing "Genie in a Bottle" on The X Tour in 2019.

Referred to as a triple threat entertainer, Aguilera's performative skills also featured various costume changes, provocative visuals, and connection with audience. Rolling Stone columnist Barry Walters wroted about her performance on the Back to Basics Tour, stating that "moving more confidently [and] with classier choreography, Aguilera demonstrated that her once-uncertain stage presence has nearly caught up with her famed vocal dexterity". Reviewing The X Tour in 2019, Kirsten Rawlins of Express & Star called her "a true profession; born to be a performer", while highlighted her "stupendous energy, outstanding choreography, and costume changes". Music critics also noted Aguilera's "intimately connection" with audience, and message of self-love and female emporwerment. Evan Real from The Hollywood Reporter described Christina Aguilera: The Xperience as an "forceful display of female empowerment".

It has been widely reported that Aguilera often provides live vocals in concerts and performances. At the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, Aguilera appeared in an Arabian Nights-inspired surrounding, complete with belly dancers and fire-eaters, performing "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)". MTV News later noted that "Aguilera's voice showed little signs of strain", while she "demonstrably belted out the tune [and] left no doubts as to which of the evening's performers were live singers and which were lip-syncers". Her performance of "It's a Man's Man's Man's World at the 2007 Grammy Awards—in a posthumous tribute to James Brown—received widespred media attention, in addition to being retrospectively named as one of the "most memorable" Grammy performances of all time. L'Officiel called it as "one of the most powerful tributes in music history", cementing "Aguilera as one of the greatest singers of this generation".

The main themes of Aguilera's videography are sex, power, and independence. Her performative identities has often included the "sex-positive seductress [and] fierce feminist". "Dirrty" and "Not Myself Tonight" music videos explores bondage and sadomasochism while addresses feminist themes. Both videos eventually was banned in Thailand and the United Kingdom's national television, in addition to being censored on MTV and YouTube. "Dirrty" was later added on lists of "greatest" and "most controversial" music videos of all time by numerous media organizations. Other Aguilera's music video also address feminism and "expression[s] of women having power over the boys". In Feminism, Inc.: Coming of Age in Girl Power Media Culture (2009), author Emilie Zaslow mentioned specifically "Can't Hold Us Down" and concluded: "Aguilera wears her sexuality as a badge of power; she controls her image in ways that she has never been able to before".

Kelefa Sanneh from The New York Times described Aguilera's music as "full of mildly rebellious rhetoric", while she "demands to make mildly smutty music videos [and] freedom to wear lingerie outside of her clothes". Author Justin D. Edwards, in his book The Gothic in Contemporary Literature and Popular Culture (2013), analyzed part of her videography, opining that she enacted "tropes figures who themselves are from popular culture and gay iconography", including a "metatextual evocation of The Andrews Sisters and of Madonna's performative reinscriptions [that] refracts beyond Hollywood, cultural constructions of music and movie stars to incorporate the self-reflexive and self-constructive performances of earlier queer icons". Billboard columnist Stephen Daw highlighted Aguilera's numerous visuals and "perfectly choreographed high-production numbers, stripped-down [and] emotionally devastating performances" in her music videos collection.

Public image

Aguilera's wax figure at the Madame Tussauds featuring her classic, Old Hollywood-style signature side swept hair and bold red lips.

Upon launching her music career, Aguilera was established as a bubblegum pop singer and was labeled as a teen idol. In 2000, Time journalist Christopher John Farley proclaimed "Aguilera [is] pioneering a different type of teen stardom", while states "Christina—with her youthful charm and bare, toned midriff—appears to fit right in. [Her] rise is a lesson in how to market a 21st century star". In the late 1990s, Aguilera's music and image received comparions to Britney Spears. Megan Turner, columnist from New York Post, analyzed the "media battle" of both singers and drew a parallel with the previous one between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Turner also emphasized their differences, adding, "While Britney has a va-va-voom sexuality [...] Aguilera has more charm and a youthful appeal".

Aguilera has been described as a sex symbol. She was placed at number one on the Maxim Hot 100 in 2003 as the "most sexiest woman in the world", in addition to made the VH1's lists of the "sexiest artists" in entertainment industry in 2002 and 2013. Aguilera received similar titles on FHM and Complex's listicles in 2004 and 2012. She also was ranked among the People's roll of the "most beautiful people" in the world in 2003 and 2007. In August 2015, Aguilera expressed satisfying with her figure and continuous embracing of her own sexuality during career. The Daily Telegraph journalist Adam White later stated that "her embracing of an overtly sexual image in the ake of adolescent stardom was a tried and tested route to adult success".

Aguilera's also has been a prominent figure on social media—where she often refers to her fans as "Fighters". She was classified among the most followed musicians on Twitter in 2013 and 2015. On Facebook, she placed as the eighth most followed Latin celebrity in 2013. Aguilera also ranked among the most popular searches in the world in 2002, 2004, and 2010 by Google, as well the tenth top search in 2003 by Yahoo!. She eventually was listed fifty-seventh most popular internet celebrity in 2013.

Once included in the original panel of coaches from reality competition show The Voice in 2011, Aguilera has been recognized by her contributions to American television and music competitions. The New York Times later proclamed: "She should also be remembered as the person who almost single-handedly reshaped music competition reality programming". Journalist Jon Caramanica eventually observed numerous pop stars becoming coaches and judges from American Idol and The X Factor followed by Aguilera's inclusion on the show. As a coach on The Voice, she also was listed among the highest-paid American television stars, receiving $225,000 per episode in 2011, $10 million per season in 2012, $12 million in 2013, $12.5 million in 2014, and $17 million in 2016.

Fashion

Aguilera wearing a variation from the leather chaps, one of her most iconic outfits. First used in "Dirrty" (2002) music video, Vice credits it to "redefined the 21st century pop star image".

The New York Times journalist Jon Caramanica stated that "Aguilera will be remembered for her glamour and her scandalous take on femme-pop", while she is often referred to as a fashion icon. Aguilera emerged as a fashion trendsetter in the early 2000s, popularizing bikini tops, scarf tops, leather chaps, and colored highlights. Zoë Kendall, editor of Vice magazine, lauded Christina by "her musical stylings, pioneering artistry, and personal style", as well credited her leather chaps for "redefined the 21st century pop star image". While revisiting her 2002 style, The Daily Telegraph columnist Adam White shared the same point of view, and concluded that she is "one of the few [this century] pop icon to rival Madonna when it comes to repeatedly transforming her image".

Revisiting Aguilera's hair trend in early 2000s, Charlie Teather from Glamour analyzed the colored highlights trend impact and revival in the later decades, adding that "pioneered by Aguilera [...] unsurprisingly it caught on, with the likes of Avril Lavigne and Gossip Girl star Taylor Momsen quickly catching on and replicating the icon's layered look". In 2020, during noughties style revival, she was credited for popularing scarves and bandanas, which trend was described as a "pop princess vibe". Both also was eventually wore by her as tops and received wide media attention by fashion critics. W magazine recalled that Aguilera "took over the news cycle" followed her appearance at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards in a "scandalous infinity scarf-turned-top".

Fashion magazines has been observed how Aguilera's outfits and styling trends impacted and continue to inspiring the later decades, being worn by a range of top models, musical artists, and influencers such as Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, Addison Rae, and Saweetie. Vogue columnist Liana Satenstein credits her fashion influence today due to her "bold style", solidifying "Aguilera as a pop artist with staying power". Satenstein conclued that "[Christina]'s expression of her sexuality through clothing is right in step with today's push for women to be unafraid to wear what they want or show as much skin as they like". Marianna Cerini from CNN Style proclaimed that Aguilera "sparked quite the debate for her provocative stance, while helping to define the new century's post-Girl power style".

Although she has topped numerous 'Worst Dressed' lists by fashion magazines in the early 2000s, Aguilera was declared by researchers as the "main fashion influence" for Americans in 2006. Robert Thompson, professor at Syracuse University, credited it due to her "aggressive [and] mercurial style that's ranged from extraterrestrial to slutty". Followed by her appearence on fashion week events, Dazed magazine's editors ranked her among "the most stylish people" of 2018. Her multiple styles and trends has been inspiring clothes lines by fashion designers including Donatella Versace, Olivier Rousteing, and Bobby Abley. Referring to Aguilera as "one of the pioneers of 2000s aesthetic", Christian Allaire from Vogue magazine also observed that her trends are often revived by brands such as Balmain, Dion Lee, Tom Ford, and Vivienne Westwood. In 2012, Aguilera's most iconic costumes and clothes were displayed at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

As a gay icon

Referred to as a gay icon, Aguilera has been referenced by members of the LGBT community for being a "longtime supporter of queer people, having raised funds to help the fight against HIV/AIDS, advocating for marriage equality and against anti-LGBTQ bullying", in addition to donate proceeds to its organizations and enterprises. Her sense of style, persona in pop music and performances also has often been imitated by drag queens. Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO of Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), lauded Aguilera for "using her voice to speak out against anti-LGBTQ legislation [and] creating songs and music videos that showcase LGBTQ love".

Writing for W magazine, Fan Zhong noted Aguilera's music efforts and contributions to brought visibility to marginalized groups. Zhong named specifically "Beautiful" (2002) music video as a "taboo buster", in addition to molded her image as a gay icon. The music video eventually was cited among the most important LGBT moments in history. Hermione Hoby from The Guardian opined about its popular culture impact, "[Featuring] a close-up of two men kissing in slow motion it was so much more shocking in 2002. [Its] welcome implication is that homossexuality and difference are to be celebrated, rather than just endured". Kelley Dunlap from BuzzFeed acknowledged Aguilera's efforts through the video, proclaming: "She was advocating for LGBTQ rights when George W. Bush was president and marriage equality wasn't a given". Aguilera's status as a LGBTQ ally was also recognized with special achievements honors at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and GLAAD Media Awards.

Legacy

Many of her fans were just kids during the Total Request Live (TRL), some of whom have grown up to be today's pop stars. [She]'s been cited as an inspiration by the likes of Camila Cabello, Sam Smith, Alessia Cara, Jessie J, Meghan Trainor, and Demi Lovato [...] We're only now realizing how the icons of our youth influenced our outlook on music, feminism, and sexuality.

—Billboard columnist Kristen S. Hé on Aguilera's legacy and music impact.

Aguilera's legacy in the entertainment industry have been analyzed by music critics and authors. Deemed as one of the greatest artists in pop music, she was ranked among the most influntial people in music by The Independent, as well the eighth greatest woman in music according VH1. Aguilera is generally credited for influencing the revival of teen-pop in the late 1990s. Rolling Stone called her "one of the biggest stars to emerge from the teen-pop explosion", and concluded: "[She] initially stood out from her fellow teen poppers thanks to her operatic, rafter-rattling voice and its huge range; later she would delve into pre-rock sounds and make attempts at adult-pop classiness in a way her contemporaries didn't".

Initially established as a teen idol, Wanna Thompson from Vice opined that "[she] and Britney Spears dominated mainstream pop-related discussions. Their perfectly packaged music and looks appealed to tweens and teens who wanted to be like the pretty, chart-topping pop stars plastered everywhere". Music journalists eventually observed the impact of their image and the commercial success of their works in catapulting new artists, including Jessica Simpson and Mandy Moore, as well others marketed as their anti-personas such as P!nk and Avril Lavigne.

Aguilera is often cited as one of the greatest singers in contemporary pop music. Classic FM wroted, "She's all about vocal gymnastics and high drama — and her growl is one of the most iconic things to come out of '00s pop music". She eventually was added on Rolling Stone and Consequence of Sound lists of greatest singers in music history. Critics also acknowledged Aguilera's works impact in popular culture. Upon launching her music career in the late 1990s, she has been cited among the artists who shaped the "Latin explosion", in addition to contributed to the Latin pop boom in American music in the early 21st century. While Christina Aguilera (1999) was included to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's definitive list of "history's most influential and popular albums", Stripped (2002) was called "the blueprint for divas making the transition from teen idol to adult pop star". Her influence in the music and remarkable voice earned her honorific titles in the media, including "Princess of Pop" and "Voice of a Generation".

Aguilera's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Aguilera's use of sexual imagery has benefited her career and catalyzed public discourse on feminism and sexual liberation. Gerrick D. Kennedy from Los Angeles Times opined, "For a generation who hit puberty during the 2000 pop explosion, Aguilera was an essential voice with music that tackled self-empowerment, feminism, sex, and domestic violence — subject matter her contemporaries were shying away from". The Irish Times journalist Tony Clayton-Lea analyzed her music impact and wroted: "She gained no small respect for her use—some would say pioneering—of sexual imagery that has advanced conversations on feminism and sexuality". Lamar Dawson from The Huffington Post recognized that "while Christina isn't the first pop star to place feminist rhetoric into pop culture", she led the charge at the beginning of the 21st century influencing the next generation "who were too young for Janet [Jackson] and Madonna's curriculum".

Aguilera's impact was broaded to her videography, as she was ranked among the greatest women of the video era by VH1. While "Dirrty" (2002) has been described by critics as "one of the most controversial videos in pop music history" and the forerunner of the slutdrop dance style, it was recognized for inspiring other artists videos. Issy Beech from i-D credited it to "paved a path for videos like 'Anaconda' and 'Wrecking Ball' [...] paved the way for open sexuality from women in pop". Her other videos, "Lady Marmalade" (2001) and "Beautiful" (2002) also was eventually named one of the greatest music videos of the 21st century by Billboard magazine editors. In 2012, Aguilera's videographic collection and most notable outfits were part of an exhibition at the National Museum of Women in the Arts aimed at illustrating "the essential roles women have played in moving rock and roll and American culture forward".

Once mentioned as a pop music pioneer, Aguilera and her works have influnced various recordings artists. Vice columnist Nick Levine analyzed her career and proclamed: "Aguilera is [one of] the most iconic pop star of her era, an artist who's been hailed as an influence by Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Tinashe, Sam Smith, and Demi Lovato". Other musicians who cited her as an inspiration includes Ava Max, Britney Spears, Doja Cat, Halsey, Karol G, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, Rosalía, Sabrina Carpenter, and Whitney Houston. Aguilera has also influenced frontmens such as Olly Alexander of Years & Years and Matty Healy of The 1975. Her music influence broaded to artists from other entertainment branch. The Other Two (2019–21) creators Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider credited Aguilera as an inspiration for the series, while Rosie Perez studied her live performances to star Goomie Gomez on The Ritz (2007) which played on Broadway.

Awards and achievements

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Christina Aguilera

Aguilera holding the plaque with her signature and handprints after being honored as a Disney Legend at the D23 Expo, in 2019.

Aguilera has accumulated numerous awards and honorary accolades throughout her career. At the age of 19, she won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, becoming one of the youngest artists to earned such honor. Aguilera received other four trophies from twenty nominations by The Recording Academy. She is also a recipient of two Latin Grammy Award, three Billboard Latin Music Awards—including the Spirit of Hope Award—, two MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), two People's Choice Awards—including the inaugural Music Icon Award—, three World Music Awards, and one Guinness World Record. Among other of her honors, Aguilera received a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in "recognition of her achievements in the recording industry" and was immortalized as a Disney Legend due "her remarkable contributions to the Walt Disney Company". Referred to as one of the most proeminent Latin artists in the entertainment industry, she was also elected as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time in 2013.

With estimated sales around 100 million records, Aguilera is recognized as one of the world's best-selling music artists. In the United States, she has sold 41.9 million albums and singles until 2014, according to Nielsen SoundScan. As of 2022, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified over 54.2 million records, of which 17.5 million units came from her albums. While Christina Aguilera (1999) is certified eight times platinum, it was listed as one of the best-selling in the country. In 2013, Aguilera's sales reached 9.4 million records in the United Kingdom, according to the Official Charts Company. Stripped (2002) was also recognized as one of the few to surpass 2 million copies sold, becoming one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century in the country. Her collaboration with Maroon 5, "Moves Like Jagger", also was ranked among the best-selling singles in Australia, Canada, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well one of the best-selling digital singles with over 14.4 million units.

Elected as top female artist in 2000 and 2003, Aguilera was classified as the twentieth most prosperous artists of the 2000s, according Billboard. She was also listed as one of the most successful singers of the decade on Billboard 200, Hot 100, and Mainstream Top 40 charts—whose she also was ranked among the greatest of all time. With a total of 10 Dance Club Songs chart-toppers, Aguilera became the thirty-fifth most successful artist in the chart history. In addition to being recognized as the second best-selling singles solo artist on Billboard charts, she is one of the few female artists to lead the Hot 100 chart in three consecutive decades. Mi Reflejo (2000) also remains as one of the longest albums to chart at number one on Top Latin Albums. Aguilera had earned over US$113.8 million from tickets sales of her concert tours throughout her career. In 2020, she was classified among the top female artists of the 21st century in the concert industry, having sold more than 1.8 million tickets for her performances, according Pollstar. Her largest audience concert was held during Mawazine Festival, in Morocco, attracting 250,000 people which eventually became the record in the event's history.

Other activities

Investments and endorsements

See also: Christina Aguilera Fragrances

As a businesswoman, Aguilera has been selling her own products and invested in multiple companies. In 2008, she was reported as co-owner of LAX nightclub at the Luxor Las Vegas alongside DJ AM. In 2015, she founded the MX Productions & Investments in partnership with fiancée Matthew Rutler, for which they was included in the investors' group of Pinterest, DraftKings, Lyft and MasterClass enterprises. Aguilera also joined the ownership group of Angel City FC, a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) expansion team, and was named chief culture officer (CCO) from alcoholic beverage company Fun Wine. In March 2015, Aguilera and Rutler signed a deal with Lions Gate Entertainment to developed both scripted and unscripted projects which eventually was acquired by ABC Family and Spike TV networks.

In 2007, Aguilera signed a long-term deal with Procter & Gamble (P&G) and created the Christina Aguilera Fragrances, which has been sold in North America, South America, Asia and Europe. In addition to scents, the brand manufactures body lotions, body sprays, and deodorants whose products was ranked among the United Kingdom best-sellers in 2007, 2009 and 2010. In January 2016, the line was reported to sold over $80 million. Her fragrances also received numerous accolades, including at the Duftstars Awards and FiFi Awards. During São Paulo Fashion Week in 2011, Aguilera debuted her first clothes line which was mostly sold in Brazilian department stores C&A. In partnership with American Greetings, she featured in customized birthday video cards which was sold online in 2021 and eventually won a Clio Awards.

During her career, Aguilera was also involved in brand marketing initiatives. She endorsed numerous brands, including Sears, Levi's, Skechers, Mercedez-Benz, Virgin Mobile, Orange UK, Sony Ericsson, Oreo and SweeTarts. In 2000-01, she starred in a series of television advertising to Coca-Cola which was aired in Latin America and the United States. Media outlets reported the deal signed by Aguilera to worth up £50 million. Aguilera also shooted a global scale advertsing campaign alongside South Korean singer Rain to promote Pepsi during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Other Aguilera's endorses included a clothing line by Versace in 2003, and a collection of sterling silver peaces designed by Stephen Webster in 2008. On June 28, 2004, she received £200,000 to open the summer sale at the London's department store Harrods.

Philanthropy and activism

Aguilera attending a fundraising event promoted by Montblanc in 2010.

Referred to as a humanitarian, Aguilera has done philanthropic works during her career. In 2003, she visited the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh and provided a donation over $200,000 in support for victims of domestic violence. In addition to starred in television advertsings on the Lifetime network calling for the end of violence against women in 2007, she partnered with Verizon in a campaign to awareness about violence domestic in 2015. She later destined proceeds from the Christina Aguilera: The Xperience (2019–2020) residency to The Shade Tree, a women and children's center in Las Vegas, Nevada. In October 2019, Aguilera efforts against domestic violence earned her the Bonnie Polley Community Hero Award.

In 2009, Aguilera became the global spokesperson for the World Food Program, a branch of the United Nations (UN). She visited countries with high rates of malnutrions, including Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti and Rwanda. As of 2013, it was reported she helped raise over $148 million to the organization and other hunger relief agencies in 45 countries. Aguilera's efforts eventually earned her the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards and George McGovern Leadership Awards—which she received in the White House from the former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. Her other philanthropy initiatives included donations of her wedding gifts to charities in support of families affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and concerts to urges donations to the American Red Cross due Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

In 2010, Aguilera auctioned tickets to her concerts through Christie's, earmaking the proceeds to non-profit environmental organizations, including Conservation International and the Natural Resources Defense Council. In response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, she auctioned off a Chrysler 300 and destined proceeds to support disaster victims and their families. Additionally, Aguilera appeared on the Hope for Haiti Now telethon, whose donations directly benefited Oxfam America, Partners In Health, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and UNICEF. She also was praised by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for signed an open letter destined to Government of South Korea appealing to the ban of consumption of dogs and cats, and for using fake fox fur in concerts costumes.

As a LGBT rights activist, Aguilera was lauded for called out myths around HIV/AIDS, in addition to awares about the virus and raising funds for the Mac AIDS Fund and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In 2008, she advocated for same-sex marriage and spoke out against Proposition 8. During an interview with MTV News, she stated "Why would you put so much money behind something [aimed at] stopping people from loving each other? I just don't understand it". In June 2016, Aguilera release single "Change", which was aimed to raise proceeds to the victim's families and survivors of the Orlando nightclub shooting. During The X Tour (2019), Aguilera visited Russia and "blessed" a gay marriage proposal in the backstage, contraring the country's laws against "gay propaganda".

Personal life

Aguilera was raised Roman Catholic, although she was learning about Judaism in mid 2000s. In 2022, she opened about depression and anxiety, stating "I experienced a lot of trauma in my childhood [...] I've definitely had struggles in the past with depression and anxiety. It's a constant battle to overcome a mind that is anxious, a mind that is always second-guessing". Aguilera has also been sharing about insecurity and struggling with body image early in her career.

Aguilera met dancer Jorge Santos in the backstage of one of her music videos in 2000 and dated him until 2001. She began dating music executive Jordan Bratman in late 2002. Their engaged was announced in February 2005. On November 18, 2005, they married in a private ceremony in an estate in Napa County, California, during a traditional Jewish ceremony. Aguilera wore a flamenco-style wedding dress by Christian Lacroix and they exchanged wedding bands designed by jeweller Stephen Webster. She gave birth to their son, Max, on January 12, 2008. In September 2010, it was reported the couple had separated. She filed for divorce on October 14, 2010, which was finalized in February 2011, resulting on joint custody of their son.

In November 2010, Aguilera began dating production assistant Matthew Rutler, whom she met while filming musical Burlesque. Aguilera was arrested for public intoxication in March 2011, while Rutler was booked for driving under the influence (DIU). However, the charges were dropped against Rutler the following month. In 2014, they became engaged on Valentine's Day. Posteriorly, Aguilera gave birth to their daughter, Summer Rain, on August 16.

In 2007, Aguilera purchased a Mediterranean-style mansion in Beverly Hills for $11.5 million, which she sold for 13.5 million in March 2013. She shortly acquired a house in the Mulholland Estates' private enclave, at the Santa Monica Mountains, for $10 million and currently resides with family. In 2000, Aguilera was among the biggest moneymakers in the music business with over £65 million earned with albums sales, merchandising and licensing deals according VH1. In January 2008, she was ranked nineteenth on Forbes' list of Top-Earning Women in Music of 2007 with earnings of $20 million. The previous year, she was also included on their list of richest women in entertainment industry with an estimated net worth of $60 million. In August 2022, Aguilera's net worth was reported to be $160 million.

Discography

Main articles: Christina Aguilera discography and List of songs recorded by Christina Aguilera

• Christina Aguilera (1999)
• Mi Reflejo (2000)
• My Kind of Christmas (2000)
• Stripped (2002)
• Back to Basics (2006)
• Bionic (2010)
• Lotus (2012)
• Liberation (2018)
• Aguilera (2022)

Filmography

See also: Christina Aguilera videography

• Burlesque (2010)
• Zoe (2018)

Tours and residencies

Main article: List of Christina Aguilera concert tours

Headlining tours

• Christina Aguilera in Concert (2000–2001)
• The Stripped Tour (2003)
• Back to Basics Tour (2006–2008)
• The Liberation Tour (2018)
• The X Tour (2019)
• EU / UK Summer Series (2022)

Co-headlining tours

• The Justified & Stripped Tour (2003) (with Justin Timberlake)

Residencies

• Christina Aguilera: The Xperience (2019–2020)

Enterprises

• Christina Aguilera Fragrances (2007)
• MX Productions & Investments (2015)
• Angel City FC (2020)
• Playground (2023)

See also

• List of best-selling female music artists
• List of highest paid American television stars
• Time 100

References

Book sources

• Dominguez, Pier (2003). Christina Aguilera: A Star Is Made: the Unauthorized Biography. Amber Books Publishing. ISBN 0-9702224-5-9.
• Donovan, Mary Anne (2010). Christina Aguilera: A Biography. ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-0-313-38319-9.
• Govan, Chloé (2013). Christina Aguilera: Unbreakable. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-857-12994-9.
• Davis, Clive (2013). The Soundtrack of My Life. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-476-71479-0.
• R. Mead, Margaret (2012). Christina Aguilera. Chelsea House. ISBN 978-1-438-14118-3.
• Greenberger, Robert (2008). Christina Aguilera. Rosen Publishing. ISBN 978-1-435-84864-1.
• Worth, Richard (2015). Christina Aguilera: Pop Singer. Enslow Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7660-7180-3.
• K. Armstrong, Jennifer (2013). Sexy Feminism: A Girl's Guide to Love, Success, and Style. Mariner Books. ISBN 978-0-547-73830-7.
• Zaslow, Emilie (2009). Feminism, Inc.: Coming of Age in Girl Power Media Culture. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-230-10153-1.
• D. Edwards, Justin (2012). The Gothic in Contemporary Literature and Popular Culture. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-80676-3.
• Folkard, Claire (2005). Guinness World Records 2005. Jim Pattison Group. ISBN 1-892051-22-2.