Aaliyah

Photo of Aaliyah

Biography

After landing a record deal at age 12, glamorous singer-actress, Aaliyah became a star after working closely with mentor - and rumored husband - R. Kelly on her debut album, 1994's triple platinum Age Ain't Nothing But a Number. Cultivating a "street but sweet" persona to match her silky vocals, Aaliyah added Missy Elliott and Timbaland to her list of mentors/producers, scoring again with 1996's multiplatinum One in a Million After singing the …
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Job Title

Actor, Music

Born

January 16, 1979

Career Milestones

Had been cast in a featured role in the sequel "The Matrix Reloaded"

1984

Moved with family from Brooklyn to Detroit at age five (date approximate)

1990

At age 11, competed on "Star Search" (date approximate)

1990

Performed with Gladys Knight in a five-night Las Vegas engagement

1994

Released the album Age Ain't Nothing But a Number, featuring the hit singles "Back and Forth," "At Your Best (You are Love)" and the title track

1994

Was rocked by scandal when reports leaked that the then 15-year-old had been wed to her 27-year-old producer, R&B crooner R. Kelly

1996

Released her critically acclaimed follow up LP One in a Million on Atlantic Records, produced by Missy Elliot and Jermaine Dupri

1997

Guest starred as herself in an episode of Fox's "New York Undercover"

1997

Was invited to audition for a role in the Broadway production of "Aida" after a performance on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show"

1998

Performed the Academy Award-nominated song "Journey to the Past" from the film "Anastasia" at the Oscars telecast

1998

Scored a hit single and a Grammy nomination with "Are You That Somebody?" from the "Dr. Dolittle" motion picture soundtrack

1999

Was named one of the "21 Hottest Stars Under 21" by Teen People

2000

Made feature acting debut as co-star to Jet Li in the action-romance feature "Romeo Must Die"

2001

Released third album, the self-titled Aaliyah

2002

Played the title role in the film version of Anne Rice's "Queen of the Damned." Released posthumously

Awards

1999

MTV Movie Award for Best Song From a Movie in Dr. Dolittle

2001

MTV Movie Award for Best Female Breakthrough Performance in Romeo Must Die

2001

MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance in Romeo Must Die