Wexford native Christina Aguilera’s wish came true 20 years ago after being dubbed Best New Artist at the 42nd Grammy Awards.
The award, which came after the release of the single “Genie in a Bottle” and her first self-titled studio album, pitched her against other ’90s and early 2000s icons — including the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and Kid Rock.
“I seriously do not have a speech prepared whatsoever because I thought with one single out in time for the cutoffs for the Grammys …” Aguilera trailed off while addressing the Grammy crowd on Feb. 23, 2000. “Thank you so, so much, you guys. Thank you to all the Grammy voters. Thank you to the fans. I would not be up here right now.”
She continued to thank her parents, “my God,” and the record label RCA.
Since her Best New Artist win, the 1997 graduate of North Allegheny High School has gone on to receive 20 Grammy nominations, securing five wins — including best female pop vocal performance for “Ain’t No Other Man” and for “Beautiful,” best pop duo/group performance for “Say Something” and best pop collaboration with vocals for “Lady Marmalade.”
Born in New York but growing up in Pittsburgh’s North Hills, Aguilera — much like her fellow teen sensations in Spears and Justin Timberlake — started her career on “The New Mickey Mouse Club” on the Disney Channel. By 1998, she had released the single “Reflection” for Disney’s animated film “Mulan,” leading to a major record deal with RCA and her first studio album.
Aguilera, now 39, looked back to her roots in the release of her second album “Mi Reflejo,” which secured her best female pop vocal album at the Latin Grammy Awards in 2001. She recently hinted at a second Latin album while kicking off her “Xperience” residency in Las Vegas last June, iHeart Radio reported.
Following a third album, Aguilera’s persona took a turn when she released “Stripped” in 2002, featuring songs like “Dirrty” and “Beautiful.”
Over 20 years, her career has taken her to the big screen when she starred in “Burlesque,” and to “The Voice,” a television series where she worked as a coach for six seasons, according to USA Today.
In March, the singer was honored by the Human Rights Campaign, a LGBTQ civil rights organization, with its Ally for Equality award, the Associated Press reported. The group says Aguilera has raised money to fight HIV/AIDS, advocated marriage equality and spoken out against LGBTQ bullying.
“Twenty-year anniversary of winning the Best New Artist Grammy,” Aguilera posted on her Instagram account in late January around this year’s Grammy Awards — though her win came 20 years ago Sunday. “What a ride it’s been! Since this particular category can never be won again, it makes an extra special award to me, looking back amongst all the amazing Grammy moments and wins over the years.”
