- Hill, Faith
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▪ 2002Though American Faith Hill did not release a new album or embark on a concert tour in 2001, the country and pop singer sustained her star status. Besides contributing a song, “There You'll Be,” to the sound track for the movie Pearl Harbor, she won three Grammy Awards in country categories, including one she shared with her husband, country singer Tim McGraw; she appeared on Barbara Walters's annual Academy Award-night special on ABC; and she performed in the landmark America: A Tribute to Heroes, a cross-network TV benefit for victims and rescue workers in the September 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.Audrey Faith Perry was born on Sept. 21, 1967, in Jackson, Miss., and was the adopted daughter of Pat and Edna Perry. The family later moved to the nearby town of Star, Miss. Influenced by Elvis Presley, Reba McEntire, and Tammy Wynette, Hill left home at the age of 19 to pursue a career as a professional singer in Nashville, Tenn.In 1993 she released her first album, Take Me as I Am, which included two country chart-topping singles, “Wild One” and “Piece of My Heart.” Her second album, It Matters to Me, appeared in 1995 and produced a number one single of the same title. It was her third album—Faith—issued in 1998, that propelled Hill to major stardom; helped by the crossover success of “This Kiss,” a romantic up-tempo song, the album sold five million copies. In the fall of 1998 Hill began appearing as a headliner, and in April 1999 she launched her first major tour as a solo artist. Her four-month This Kiss tour traveled to 50 cities.Hill's fourth album, Breathe, appeared in November 1999 and set the stage for a spectacular run of media exposure, touring, and industry awards. It debuted at the number one spot on the Billboard country album chart and on the Billboard 200 chart, which measured all music genres. During 2000 Hill sang the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXIV, and she performed at the Academy Awards, during which Pepsi premiered a commercial featuring her. People magazine named Hill one of the 50 most beautiful people of 2000, and she served as a celebrity spokesperson for Cover Girl cosmetics and Pepsi.Hill also starred in the VH1 Divas 2000, together with Diana Ross, Mariah Carey, and Donna Summer. Hill's first network TV special, Faith!, aired Thanksgiving Day 2000 on CBS, and her recording of “Where Are You Christmas” was featured in the film How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). When Hill and McGraw combined talents for their Soul 2 Soul Tour 2000, more than one million fans turned out for more than 60 shows. Both the Los Angeles-based Academy of Country Music and the Nashville-based Country Music Association named Hill top female vocalist for 2000. She had reportedly sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, including more than 7 million copies of Breathe.Jay Orr
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▪ American singeroriginally Audrey Faith Perryborn Sept. 21, 1967, Jackson, Miss., U.S.American country music singer known for her commercial success on both the country and pop music charts.Hill grew up in Star, Miss., where she began singing at an early age. Her first public performance was at a 4-H luncheon at age 7. Influenced by Elvis Presley (Presley, Elvis), Reba McEntire (McEntire, Reba), and Tammy Wynette (Wynette, Tammy), Hill formed a band that played at local rodeos while in high school. At 19 she dropped out of college and moved to Nashville, Tenn., to pursue a career as a professional singer.In 1993 Hill released her first album, Take Me As I Am, which included two country chart-topping singles, "Wild One" and "Piece of My Heart" . Her second album, It Matters to Me, appeared in 1995 and produced a number one single of the same title. The following year, Hill embarked on the Spontaneous Combustion Tour with fellow country singer Tim McGraw (McGraw, Tim). The two were married within months.It was Hill's third album—Faith—issued in 1998, that propelled her to major stardom. Helped by the crossover success of "This Kiss," a romantic up-tempo song, the album sold five million copies. In the fall of 1998 Hill began appearing as a headliner, and in April 1999 she launched her first major tour as a solo artist.Hill's fourth album, Breathe, appeared in 1999. It debuted at the number one spot on the Billboard country album chart and on the Billboard 200 chart, which measured all music genres. In 2000 Hill sang the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXIV, and she later performed at the Academy Awards. When Hill and McGraw combined talents for a tour that same year, more than one million fans turned out for more than 60 shows. Both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association named Hill top female vocalist for 2000.After the success of Breathe, Hill released Cry in 2002 and Fireflies in 2005—her fifth and sixth studio albums. Both debuted at the number one spot on the Billboard country album chart. Continuing her crossover success, Cry also debuted at the number one spot on the pop chart. To promote Fireflies, Hill teamed up with McGraw for another tour in 2006, which became the highest-grossing country music tour of all time.* * *
Universalium. 2010.