With all the recent hubbub about American Idol and the unfortunate exit of Kellie Pickler, I wonder what happened to the juggernaut that was Fantasia? ???

I just did a Yahoo! News Search and here is what I got:


Fantasia Barrio: 107 hits
Carrie Underwear: 613
Ruben Stuttered: 160
Clay Achin' : 163
Kelly Claxon: 684


Looks like Fantasia's media team has gone to sleep.   :-\\   Any thoughts out there?  ???

2005-Present

Through Spring and Winter of 2005, Fantasia made many television appearances to promote her album. She played Aretha Franklin in an episode of the series American Dreams, singing "Respect", and guest voiced on The Simpsons episode "A Star is Torn". Fantasia appeared three times as a musical guest on Jay Leno's The Tonight Show.

On March 25th, 2005, Fantasia performed at the 36th NAACP Image Awards in honor of Illinois Senator Barack Obama after winning the image award for Most Outstanding Female Artist. In May and June 2005 Fantasia went on her first tour with her own live band, supporting soul singers Kem and Rahsaan Patterson. She also appeared as a headliner at several music festivals including the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival and the Reggae Sumfest on Jamaica. In October 2005, Fantasia received good notices as an opening act for Kayne West's Touch the Sky Tour.

In the late summer of 2005, Fantasia collaborated with Lyfe Jennings on his single "Hypothetically".


Life is Not a Fairy Tale

In September 2005, Fantasia published her memoir (which she dictated to a freelance writer), Life is Not a Fairy Tale. In it she revealed that she is functionally illiterate. She discussed this in an interview on ABC's 20/20 , saying she hadn't been able to read contracts, and she simply memorized the songs she was told to perform and sing on her records. Life is Not a Fairy Tale became a New York Times Best Seller. In July 2006, Fantasia is scheduled to appear as the star of a made-for-TV movie adaption of the book, on the Lifetime cable network.

As of 2005, she was being taught to read by tutors, so she can read to her daughter and read contracts. She was also pursuing her GED.

In 2006, Fantasia was nominated for four Grammy Awards, making her the first Idol to receive that many nominations, although she did not win any of those awards. Fantasia performed with several well-known artists including Steven Tyler and Ciara in an all-star tribute to Sly and the Family Stone during the Grammy Awards.

Sophomore Album

Fantasia has already begun working on her second studio album, which is rumored to be released in 2006. She wants to write some of her own music, and plans on experimenting with different genres of music, including country and rock. Missy Elliot will return as one of the writers on her second album, and Ne-Yo, who wrote Mario's "Let Me Love You", will be writing a song or two for Fantasia as well.

Barrino has received critical lauds from a variety of respected and noted individuals including Donna Summer, Dallas Austin, India Arie, Anita Baker, Ellen DeGeneres, Elton John, The Pointer Sisters, Star Jones, Stevie Wonder, Patti Labelle and Ghostface Killah.

Fantasia Barrino currently resides in Charlotte.