Anastacia Lyn Newkirk is a talented singer and songwriter originally from the United States. The woman has a strong voice and an attractive appearance. She became a well-known and popular performer after releasing a number of hit singles in the 2000s. According to chicagoka.com, her concerts continue to gather large stadiums, and her songs remain at the top of the world charts.
Early years and youth
Anastacia Lyn Newkirk was born in Chicago on September 17, 1968, to a family whose occupation was closely connected to the entertainment industry. Her father, Robert, sang at a local bar, and her mother was a Broadway theater performer. This is perhaps why the girl was interested in dancing and music from a young age.
The future star watched her parents’ work with keen interest. She fantasized about one day achieving the same success as them. Anastacia used to secretly put on her mother’s stage clothes, paint her eyelids with bright shadows and stand in front of the mirror for a few hours.
Anastacia’s parents divorced when she was a teenager, and she relocated to New York with her mother. The girl then enrolled at the prestigious Manhattan Professional Children’s School. Here, the aspiring performer started developing her artistic skills. However, the girl’s fantasies about the scene were quickly shattered when she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.
Doctors strongly advised her to keep a quiet life. Anastacia followed the instructions for a while but eventually became tired of it. Despite the warnings, she decided to join a dance section a few months later.
Her health gradually improved, inspiring Anastacia to continue dancing, as a result of which she quickly became one of the best students in the group. Following such professional success, the future celebrity joined the musical group Salt-N-Pepa.
With her bright appearance and frequent performances, Newkirk drew the attention of many artists, who started inviting her to dance in their music videos. Famous New York producers also approached the girl with professional offers. Following that, Anastacia’s creative life changed dramatically.
Musical career
Newkirk’s first big success came after appearing on the show “Comic View,” where she performed a cover of the song “Get Here” by soul singer Oleta Adams. At that time, Anastacia also participated in the television show “Club MTV”, where she established herself as a bright and interesting individual.
In 1998, the woman gained significant stage experience, taking part in the talent show “The Cut”. The singer was eventually able to make it to the project’s final stage. Soon, the musician began to receive favorable cooperation offers from various labels. In 1999, Anastacia chose to sign a contract with Daylight Records.
The company quickly began actively promoting the rising star, and in early 2000, music shops in the United States began selling her debut album “Not That Kind”. This album peaked at number three in Australia, Austria and Germany, and earned excellent reviews from critics.
Newkirk frequently collaborated with solo artists and musical groups. She has also performed with Celine Dion, Paul McCartney, Lenny Kravitz and others on several occasions.
The singer’s second album, “Freak of Nature,” was equally successful, bringing her international recognition. In 2004, Anastacia delighted her fans with new hits: “Left Outside Alone” and “Heavy on My Heart”.
The next record “Heavy Rotation” was released in 2008. However, it could not replicate the success of prior works.
2010 saw the release of the fifth compilation album, “It’s a Man’s World,” which was produced by musician Glen Ballard. The soloist’s repertoire included covers of songs by rock artists.
The album “Resurrection” was released in May 2014 and received positive reviews from both critics and fans. This work reached the top five on the Swiss and German charts.
In 2021, Newkirk won the third season of the Australian television show “The Masked Singer”. This made her the first American vocalist to win the show.
Personal life and interesting facts
The singer had a romance with Wayne Newton, her former bodyguard. They married in 2007. The wedding ceremony took place in Mexico. However, in 2010, the media published the news of the couple’s divorce. Anastacia initiated the breakup, although the reason for it remained undisclosed.
The celebrity survived breast cancer. She underwent two operations. During the second surgery, both mammary glands were removed. In her interviews, Anastacia stated that the condition and her struggle with it influenced her work.
After defeating cancer, the woman established the Anastacia Fund. This organization raises awareness about breast cancer and the importance of mammography for women under the age of 35. The artist also sold her stage outfits and donated some of the proceeds to the independent nonprofit BCRF, which fights the disease.
Newkirk’s discography continues to expand. In 2022, she released the track “American Night,” which served as the theme song for the film “American Night”. The vocalist also has a cameo appearance in this picture.