During the early 2010s, Aguilera released the albums Bionic (2010) and Lotus (2012) which peaked inside the top ten of the US Billboard 200. She returned to mainstream success with a string of collaborations, including "Feel This Moment", "Say Something", and "Moves like Jagger"; the latter topped the Hot 100, making Aguilera one of the few artists to reach the number one spot over three decades. She found critical success with her follow-up albums Liberation (2018) and Aguilera (2022) and has since performed in two concert residencies. Outside of music, she also starred in the 2010 film Burlesque and contributed to its soundtrack, earning a Golden Globe Awardnomination. Her concurrent ventures included a role in the series Nashville (2015), roles in films The Emoji Movie (2017) and Zoe (2018), becoming an ambassador for the World Food Programme (WFP), co-founding the company Playground, and serving as a coach on the reality competition show The Voice (2011–2016).
Christina María Aguilera was born on December 18, 1980, in New York City, to Shelly Loraine (née Fidler) and Fausto Wagner Xavier Aguilera.[3] Her father is an Ecuadorian emigrant from Guayaquil while her mother has German, Irish, Welsh, and Dutch ancestry.[4][5] Fausto Aguilera was a United States Army sergeant, and Shelly Loraine was a violinist in the American Youth Symphony before becoming a Spanish translator.[6][7]
In 1986, the family returned to the United States, and settled in Pennsylvania, where they welcomed her younger sister, Rachel, in 1986.[12] Aguilera has spoken out about her father's physically and emotionally abusive behavior.[13] She noted that this is what made her turn to music, noting that, "growing up in an unstable environment and whatnot, music was my only real escape".[14] In 1987, Shelly filed to divorce Fausto and moved with Aguilera and Rachel to her mother's home in Rochester, a suburb of Pittsburgh.[15] She later married James Kearns with whom she had a son named Michael.[16] In 2012, following decades of estrangement, Aguilera expressed interest in reconciling with her biological father.[17]
Aguilera moving to her grandmother's home allowed her to explore her grandmother's records, which featured mostly soul and blues singers and increased her interest in music.[18] She also began to practice singing in public and competing in talent contests.[19] Following numerous contests, she earned reputation in her neighborhood as the "little girl with a big voice" and received widespread attention from local television and radio programs.[20][21]
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 while she made the shortlist she was ultimately rejected for not meeting the minimum age requirement.[25] One year later, in 1992, Aguilera received a call from one of the show's producers asking if she was still interested in becoming a "Mouseketeer". She once again competed for a spot (this time, against 15,000 candidates) and was selected to join the variety program the following year.[26] Her fellow cast members included Ryan Gosling, Keri Russell, Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake.[27] During the show recordings—which included Aguilera performing musical numbers and comedy sketches—she moved with her family to Orlando, Florida.[28] In 1994, it was reported the series would not return for a new season.[29]
Aiming to begin 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.[30] Their song, "All I Wanna Do", was released as a single but failed to reach commercial success.[20] 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.[31]
Seeking a recording contract, Aguilera recorded numerous demo tapes directed to record labels, including Walt Disney Records, for which she sent a cover of "Run to You" by Whitney Houston.[32] She eventually was chosen to record "Reflection", the theme song from the animated film Mulan (1998), which reached number 15 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[33] Following the attention she received with "Reflection", Aguilera caught the ear of Ron Fair, the A&R executive from RCA Records, who consequently signed Aguilera to the label.[8] In late 1998, she began to record her debut studio album into which producers reportedly invested over $1 million worth of writers, producers and vocal lessons.[8]
1999–2001: Breakthrough with debut album
In May 1999, Aguilera released "Genie in a Bottle", the lead single off her long-awaited debut album, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks and became the second best-selling single of 1999.[34] The song became an international success, increasing Aguilera's popularity worldwide, topping the charts in over 20 countries.[35] The single also attracted the attention of conservatives 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.[36][37] Due to the criticism, Radio Disney replaced the song with a censored version.[38] The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.[39]
Aguilera's self-titled debut album, Christina Aguilera, was released on August 24, 1999, to critical praise, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200.[40] It catapulted Aguilera into fame globally and sold over ten million copies in its first year.[41] It was later certified eight times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),[42] and it has sold over 17 million copies worldwide.[43][44] Originally, Aguilera's desire was to create material directly inspired by R&B and soul, but the label opted for a more teen pop production due the genre's high financial return in the late 1990s.[45] At the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, Aguilera won the Best New Artist category for which Time credited the award for "[helping] certify her credentials as a real singer".[46]
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!
In October 2000, Aguilera also released her third studio album, My Kind of Christmas, her first Christmas album, which reached number one on the US Top Holiday Albums chart.[61][62] The album received generally polarized reviews at the time but has since gone on to retrospectively receive praise.[63] Aguilera starred in a holiday special, My Reflection, which aired on December 3, 2000, on ABC.[64] Aguilera's commercial success saw her being named the 2000 Top Female Pop Act by Billboard.[65] The same year, she also filed a fiduciary duty against manager Steve Kurtz for "improper, undue, and inappropriate influence over her professional activities".[66] She eventually hired Irving Azoff to manage her career, aiming for control of her career and image.[66]
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).[76] She filed a suit against the label and the album's producers aiming to stop the release of the album; however, both parties came to a confidential settlement to release the album, in which Aguilera lent out her name, likeness, and image for an unspecified amount of damages.[77]
2002–2004: New image with Stripped
With a new management, Aguilera started moving away from her teen pop niche and began working on a new project.[78] She cultivated a new image by adopting the alter ego Xtina, dyeing her hair black, and sporting several tattoos and body piercings.[79] Aguilera's new persona was widely criticized by media outlets.[80][81][82] In September 2002, she released the controversial song, "Dirrty", which garnered mixed reviews and peaked as number 48 on Billboard Hot 100.[45] The song's accompanying music video generated controversy for depicting overtly sexual fetishes,[83] and attracted the attention of conservative organizations and moralists who sought to have the video banned on MTV.[84] The video also sparked protests in Thailand and was eventually banned on the country's local television.[85][86] "Dirrty" topped the charts in the UK and Ireland,[87] and has gone on to become a cult classic.[88]
Aguilera's fourth studio album, Stripped, followed with a release on October 22, 2002.[89] She also executive produced and co-wrote the majority of the songs.[89][90] Upon release, the album received generally mixed reviews but found commercial success and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, and eventually was certified five times platinum by the RIAA.[91][42] In the UK, Stripped sold over two million copies and became the second highest-selling album by an American female artists in the 2000s.[92][93] Since then, it was reported the album sold 12 million copies globally.[94][95]
In June 2003, Aguilera co-headlined The Justified & Stripped Tour alongside Justin Timberlake.[100] The joint tour visited North America solely, attracting an audience of 546,483 and grossed over $31.8 million.[101] It ranked sixteenth on Billboard's list of Top 25 Tours of 2003.[102] Later that year, she also embarked on The Stripped Tour in Europe, Asia, and Australia.[103] 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.[103] In early 2004, it was reported that she would return to North America to perform a second leg of her tour but was eventually canceled due to a vocal cord injury.[104]
In August 2003, at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, Aguilera opened the show singing "Like a Virgin" and "Hollywood" alongside Britney Spears.[105] Halfway through the performance, she was joined by Madonna whom they both kissed, consequently making the performance highly publicized.[106] Various media outlets retrospectively considered it one of the "most iconic" VMAs performances of all time.[107] In 2008, MTV listed the performance as the number-one opening moment in the history of MTV Video Music Awards,[108] while Blender magazine cited it as one of the twenty-five sexiest music moments on television history.[109] In November of that year, Aguilera hosted the 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards.[110] She received widespread media attention for dressing up as a nun and being undressed to reveal her underclothes while performing the slutdrop dance style.[111] She was later was named Top Female Pop Act of 2003 by Billboard.[112]
In June 2006, Aguilera released "Ain't No Other Man" as her then-forthcoming fifth studio album's lead single, which received critical acclaim and was praised by music critics.[67] Critics compared her vocals on the songs to older singers such as Etta James and Aretha Franklin.[119] The song achieved commercial success, peaked at number six on Billboard Hot 100 and has sold 1.7 million digital copies in the US[120] The single eventually earned her the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.[121]
Aguilera's fifth studio album, Back to Basics, was released as a double album in August 2006.[122] The album was inspired by 1920s–1950s music and was described as a "throwback with elements of old-school [music] combined with a modern-day twist".[123] The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, making it Aguilera's first album to top the chart since 1999.[124] It also debuted atop the charts in numerous countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK.[125] The album received positive reviews and was nominated a Best Pop Vocal Album at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.[126][127][128][129] The album was later certified double platinum by the RIAA,[42] and sold over 5 million units worldwide.[130][131] "Hurt" and "Candyman" were released as singles following the album's release and reached the topten on various international charts, and peaked top-thirty on Hot 100.[132][67]
At the end of November 2006 until October 2008, Aguilera embarked on the Back to Basics Tour which visited North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.[138] The tour received positive reviews and was divided into acts inspired by juke joints and the circus.[139]Rolling Stone highlighted 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".[140] With earnings around 48.1 million, the tour was the highest-grossing concert tour by a female in 2007.[141] Additionally, the 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.[142]
In April 2008, Aguilera appeared in Martin Scorsese's documentary, Shine a Light (which chronicled a two-day concert by The Rolling Stones at the Beacon Theatre), where she performed "Live with Me" with Mick Jagger.[150] In September, she released "Keeps Gettin' Better" set to feature on her first then-upcoming greatest hits album of the same name.[151] The song received mixed reviews and debuted at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, making it her highest debut on the chart at the time,[152] and has since sold 1.156 million digital copies in the US.[120] She performed the song live at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards alongside a medley.[153]Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits was released in November 2008 to positive reviews, debuting at number nine on Billboard 200 and was later certified gold by the RIAA.[154][42] The compilation added two original songs (its title track and "Dynamite") and also featured remakes of "Genie in a Bottle" and "Beautiful".[155][156] By late 2008, Aguilera stated that she had begun working on a new album.[157]
2009–2011: Bionic, Burlesque and The Voice
In 2009, at the end of the 2000s, Aguilera was named the twentieth best "Artist of the Decade" by Billboard, and was nominated for the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Act Ever.[67][158] At the end of 2009, Aguilera stated that her then-forthcoming sixth studio album originally titled Light & Darkness would be released in March 2010.[159] However, by February 2010, Aguilera stated that the album would be retitled and released in June.[160] In April 2010, Aguilera released the lead single, "Not Myself Tonight" which peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.[161][67] She performed the song live on The Oprah Winfrey Show.[162] This was followed by the album's second single, "Woohoo" featuring rapper Nicki Minaj.[161]
Aguilera released her sixth studio album, Bionic, on June 6, 2010 which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, and topped the European and the UK charts.[163][164] The album was inspired by electronic music, and was described by her as a project "about the future" noting that it was inspired by her son who motivated her to "want to play and have fun".[165] The album received generally mixed reviews by critics,[161] with Kitty Empire of The Observer calling it "very strong, but only in parts".[166] It was later certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and sold approximately over one million copies globally.[42][167] "You Lost Me" and "I Hate Boys" were released as singles in the following month of June.[161] A tour was planned for the album but was postponed and later cancelled due to prior commitments.[168]
During the third season of The Voice in September 2012, Aguilera debuted "Your Body" as the lead single from her then-upcoming seventh studio album.[195] The song received critical acclaim and reached number one on the US Dance Club Song chart and 34 on the Billboard Hot 100.[196] The album, titled Lotus, followed in November 2012, in which Aguilera described the record as a "rebirth" of herself after the personal struggles she overcame.[197] Reviewers found the album generic and conventional, as opposed to Aguilera's previous experimental ventures.[198][199]Lotus peaked at number 7 on the Billboard 200 and has sold 303,000 copies in the US as of 2019.[200] "Just a Fool" with Blake Shelton was released as the album's second single and received positive reviews.[201] The two performed the song live on The Voice and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[202]
In July 2017, Aguilera voiced a video-game dancer in The Emoji Movie (2017), with the film also featuring her song "Feel This Moment".[236][237][238] She also lent her vocals to the Served Like a Girldocumentary film for a song titled "America".[239] In November, Aguilera performed a tribute to Whitney Houston at the 2017 American Music Awards.[240] The tribute received polarized views from fans and critics who praised her vocals but criticized why she was selected over a black artist.[241][242]
In March 2018, Aguilera announced the completion of her then-upcoming eighth studio album alongside a Paper Magazine cover which received media coverage.[243] In April, Aguilera starred in the romantic science fiction Zoe, which premiered at the Tribeca Film festival and was released in July of that year.[244][245]
To further promote Liberation, Aguilera embarked on her first tour in 10 years, The Liberation Tour, which ran from September to November 2018.[260] The tour was set in the US and received positive reviews from critics who praised Aguilera's vocals and stage presence.[261]Billboard named the tour one of the best 2018 live shows, and it was ranked at 132 on Pollstar's 2018 Year-End Top 200 North American Tours chart with a total gross of $8.7 million with an attendance of 77,854.[262][263] This tour was followed by The X Tour, which served as the international counterpart to its predecessor, running in Europe and Mexico from July to December 2019.[264] In between the tour, Aguilera headlined her first concert residency, Christina Aguilera: The Xperience,[265][266][267][268][269] a 25-date show at the Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, beginning in May 2019 and concluding in March 2020.[270]
On June 11, 2022, Aguilera headlined the Los Angeles Pride festival with guests Mýa, Kim Petras and Paris Hilton.[312] The use of a strap-on dildo during the set was the subject of polarized reception.[313][314][315] In October 2022, Stripped was reissued for its 20-year anniversary, featuring "I Will Be" (the b-side to "Dirrty") and Benny Benassi's remix of "Beautiful".[316] A new music video for "Beautiful" was also released.[317][89] On November 10, 2022, Time Studios announced a partnership with Roc Nation to produce an upcoming documentary about Aguilera.[318][319]
Musicians such as Mariah Carey (left), Etta James (center), and Whitney Houston (right) were cited among Aguilera's main influences. She later recalled shaping her singing voice after them in her early years.[328]
Aguilera was also influenced by Latin music. She later recalled singing her first songs in Spanish during childhood, saying: "I grew up hearing [Spanish] being spoken in my household [and] hearing a lot of Julio Iglesias on the record player".[336] Some of her other inspirations in Latin music include Chavela Vargas, Vicente Fernández, and younger artists such Rosalía.[337][338] As a performer, 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".[339]Cher also encouraged her to be a performer and "a woman who has the guts to do [everything]".[340]
Aguilera's childhood visits to records stores moulded her taste and led to an appreciation for blues and soul music, which she called "music that really had heart".[341] Her music has also paid homage to many artists from this genre, including Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone, and Otis Redding. Her album Back to Basics (2006) features inspirations of musicians from the early 20th century. As she later commented: "I was just so drawn to that [kind of music] ... [It] has so much pain, so much beauty of raw emotion and passion".[13] Her other influences in the genre was added for Liberation (2018), including Michael Jackson in "Maria" and Janis Joplin in "Sick of Sittin'".[342][248]
Critics have described Aguilera as a soprano,[14][352] possessing a four-octave vocal range.[353] She is also able to perform the whistle register.[354]Maura Johnston, a journalist with Slate, called Aguilera's voice "an instrument that despite its ability to leap octaves has a low-end grounding similar to that possessed by opera singers".[355]The Boston Globe columnist Joan Anderman highlighted her vocal versatility: "[She] is a real singer ... blessed with the sort of breathtaking elasticity, golden tones, and sheer power that separate the divas from the dabblers".[356] In addition to sustain high notes, Aguilera is recognized for making use of the melismatic technique.[350]Jon Pareles from The New York Times emphasized that "she can aim a note as directly as a missile or turn its trajectory into an aerobatic spiral of leaping, quivering, and scalloping melismas".[248]Ron Fair—A&R executive from RCA Records—was impressed by her "perfect intonation", and concluded: "She's got the pipes to be the next Barbra Streisand or Céline Dion".[332]
Aguilera's singing technique also yielded comparisons to other singers. Journalist David Browne suggested that, alongside Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, she "forms the team of the main proponents" of the melismatic technique.[351] Richard Harrington from The Washington Post also noticed similarities with both artists: "She has a genuinely powerful voice that's evoked comparisons [to them], though it for the most part avoids those singers' ornamental mannerisms".[357]The New Yorker columnist Sasha Frere-Jones also credited the technique by making her become "a serious singer without needing to reincarnate the Sarah Vaughan".[358] Songwriter Steve Kipner praises Aguilera's vocal dexterity, including her ability to "internalize[d] all the riffs from Chaka Khan".[332]Los Angeles Times music critic Ann Powers wrote that she possesses 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.[359]
However, Aguilera's has also been criticized for the frequent use of melisma, as well for her style of singing live during concerts.[360][127]HuffPost columnist John Eskow called her "the main proponent of oversouling". Eskow praised Aguilera's voice as a "great instrument", though complained she did not "seem to know when to stop" with the use of "gratuitous and confected melisma".[361] Lucy Davies, music critic from BBC Music, raved about her "stunning voice", but offered that "she could be more varied, simply by cutting out some of the 'ye-e-eeeh, woah' in her songs".[362] Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Chris Willman credits Aguilera's singing style as an influence of Mariah Carey, noting "her slightly nasal tone that really only becomes obvious when she's overselling a song".[363] 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".[364]
Aguilera's discography is generally categorized as pop, contemporary R&B, soul, and hip-hop.[366][367] According to critics, she has also experimented with other musical genres in her works. In a 2008 interview, she explained that she is "always inspired by new things" in music and enjoys "experimenting with [her] voice".[155] Alexis Petridis from The Guardian considered the "boldness in [continually] reinventing" her music as "one of her most impressive facets" as an artist.[368] 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), with the latter also taking inspiration from numerous genres in Latin music.[357][369]
Moving away from the teen niche, Aguilera's post-2000 material mainly incorporated R&B and hip-hop.[366][78] 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".[122] She continued merging R&B with other musical styles on Burlesque (2010), as well on Liberation (2018), which also features hip-hop, soul and blues elements.[370][371]
The show tune "Lady Marmalade" is noted as Aguilera's first musical transformation, which RCA Records initially felt was "too urban".[115][372] Despite the renewal in her repertoire, Aguilera continued producing power ballads—which became a signature in her discography—in between her uptempo material.[373]Kelefa Sanneh, music critic from The New York Times, observed the continuous modification in her music, in addition to highlighting her "decision to snub some of the big-name producers on whom pop stars often rely".[374] Her sonically drastic ventures include the subversive "galactic pop" on Bionic (2010),[161]electropop club on Lotus (2012),[375] and Mexican ranchera numbers on Aguilera (2022).[376]
Lyrical themes
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.
Aguilera's music has been the subject of analysis. Critics have acknowledged domestic violence experienced during childhood as one of the main topics in her music.[378][379] 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".[380] It also influenced Aguilera's transition to adulthood and impacted many of her songs, whose lyrics reference female empowerment.[381][382] 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 [who] can relate might not feel as alone in the circumstance".[383]
Aguilera has also often defended the sex-positive movement and denounced social double standards in her music.[95] Reviewing Stripped (2002), Sophie Wilkinson from Vice opined that its music "explores nuanced articulations of sexual desires and fears while highlighting the social double standards", in addition to giving "any woman the confidence to take charge of her sexuality and ownership of her body".[384] 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".[385]
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".[377] While critics noted the feminist message in her works, Aguilera was acknowledged for her "refusal to sanitize her own sexuality to meet either the norms of mainstream gender politics or mainline Feminism's resistance".[386]The Guardian journalist Hermione Hoby opined that she "incites a sisterly spirit of collaboration [and] is not shy of the odd feministic declaration herself".[387] Other themes addressed in her lyrics include self-respect, body image, and LGBT rights, in addition to "fighting for creative freedom and gender equality".[388]
In the early 2000's, Aguilera rose to fame with her bubblegum popeponymous debut album and went on to reinvent herself several times.[400] Various images she took on included a provocative image following the release of her single "Dirrty", an old Hollywood image, and a futuristic look.[400] During this time, Aguilera was also involved in a highly publicized feud with American rapper Eminem.[401][402] In the 2010s, Aguilera saw moderate success while spending six seasons as a coach on The Voice.[403]
Aguilera has also been a significant figure in helping reshape the "Latin explosion" in the late 1990s and contributed to the Latin pop boom in American music.[404] She has also heavily incorporated controversial themes in her music.[405] The impact of her videography has also been analysed by music critics.[406] Subsequently, Aguilera has influenced and inspired several acts and artists in industries worldwide.[407]
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, Latin America, Asia and Europe.[422][423] 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.[424] In January 2016, the line was reported to sold over $80 million.[425] Her fragrances also received numerous accolades, including at the Duftstars Awards and FiFi Awards.[426][427] During São Paulo Fashion Week in 2011, Aguilera debuted her first clothes line which was mostly sold in Brazilian department stores C&A.[428] In partnership with American Greetings, she featured in customized birthday video cards which was sold online in 2021 and eventually won a Clio Awards.[429]
As a LGBT rights activist, Aguilera was lauded for calling out myths around HIV/AIDS, in addition to raising awareness about the virus and raising funds for the Mac AIDS Fund and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.[456][457] 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".[458] In June 2016, Aguilera released single "Change", which was aimed to raise proceeds to the victim's families and survivors of the Orlando nightclub shooting.[459] During The X Tour (2019), Aguilera visited Russia and "blessed" a gay marriage proposal in the backstage, contrary to the country's laws against "gay propaganda".[460]
Personal life
Aguilera met dancer Jorge Santos backstage, while filming one of her music videos in 2000 and dated him until September 2001.[461] She began dating music executive Jordan Bratman in late 2002. Their engagement was announced in February 2005.[462] On November 19, 2005, they married in a private ceremony on an estate in Napa County, California, during a traditional Jewish ceremony.[463] Aguilera wore a flamenco-style wedding dress by Christian Lacroix and they exchanged wedding bands designed by jeweller Stephen Webster.[464][465] She gave birth to their son in 2008.[466] In September 2010, the couple had separated. She filed for divorce in October 2010,[467] which was finalized in April 2011 and included joint custody of their son.[468]
In November 2010, Aguilera began dating production assistant Matthew Rutler, whom she met while filming the musical Burlesque.[469] Aguilera was arrested for public intoxication in March 2011, while Rutler was booked for driving under the influence.[470] However, the charges were dropped against Rutler the following month.[471] In 2014, they became engaged on Valentine's Day.[472] Later that year, Aguilera gave birth to their daughter.[473]
After being raised Catholic, she was learning about Judaism in the mid 2000s.[474] In 2022, she opened up 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".[475] Aguilera has also been sharing about insecurity and struggling with body image early in her career.[476]
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.[477] Shortly afterwards, she acquired a house in the Mulholland Estates' private enclave, at the Santa Monica Mountains, for $10 million and currently resides with her family.[478] 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 to VH1.[479] In January 2008, she was ranked 19th on Forbes' list of Top-Earning Women in Music of 2007 with earnings of $20 million.[480] The previous year, she was also included on their list of richest women in entertainment industry, with an estimated net worth of $60 million.[481] In August 2022, Aguilera's net worth was reported to be $160 million.[482]
^Hampp, Andrew (September 21, 2012). "Christina Aguilera: Billboard Cover Story". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2023. As a vocalist it brought me back to, "Yeah, that's what I used to do to my Whitney Houston record and my Mariah Carey record and my Etta James record." It brings you back to a place where it becomes your personal responsibility to infuse the next generation with more information about learning every intricate note. That's why a song called "Sing for Me" is a special song. It's one of those singer's songs where if you're not a vocalist you can't mess with that song.
^Pinfold, Michael (2006). "Christina Aguilera". In Gerstner, David A. (ed.). Routledge International Encyclopedia of Queer Culture (1 ed.). Routledge. p. 16. ISBN9780415306515. Retrieved June 15, 2022.