Fantasia Barrino

Season 3 · Winner

Where are they now

Fantasia Barrino is set to headline The Love of Soul Tour, a 24-date U.S. arena tour with Anthony Hamilton and October London from February to May 2027, announced in September 2026. She is also in the cast of Tyler Perry's The Gospel of Christmas, a Netflix holiday film on the service's 2026 slate.

Key figures

Known for

  1. Free YourselfAlbum · 2004
  2. FantasiaAlbum · 2006
  3. When I See USingle · 2007
  4. Back to MeAlbum · 2010Sales as of date not given
  5. Side Effects of YouAlbum · 2013Sales as of date not given

Interest over time

Monthly views of the English Wikipedia article, July 2015 – September 2026.

Color Purple trailerGolden Globe nominationIdol finale appearanceIdol Have Your Way

Career

  1. 2004

    American Idol, season 3

    Winner

    January 19 – May 26, 2004

  2. Record deal

    Received a recording contract with 19 Entertainment and J Records as the season 3 winner.

  3. Television

    Won the third season of American Idol on Fox (January to May 2004), finishing first ahead of runner-up Diana DeGarmo.

  4. Chart · June 15, 2004

    Released the debut single "I Believe" on June 15, 2004; it entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number one.

  5. Release · November 23, 2004

    Released the debut studio album Free Yourself on J Records; it peaked at number 8 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified Platinum by the RIAA.

  6. 2005

    Book

    Published the memoir Life Is Not a Fairy Tale (Atria), which became a New York Times best seller.

  7. 2006

    Acting · August 19, 2006

    Played herself in the Lifetime television film based on her memoir, directed by Debbie Allen.

  8. 2007

    Broadway · April 10, 2007 – January 6, 2008

    Made her Broadway debut as Celie in the musical The Color Purple; the engagement was extended to January 6, 2008.

  9. 2010

    Television · January 11, 2010

    Starred in the VH1 reality series Fantasia for Real, which ran for two seasons in 2010.

  10. 2013

    Release · April 2013

    Released the fourth studio album Side Effects of You on RCA Records; it peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200.

  11. Broadway · November 3, 2013 – February 9, 2014

    Appeared as the first special guest star in the Broadway revue After Midnight at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre from its November 3, 2013 opening until February 9, 2014; on March 20, 2014, a second four-week stint from May 13 to June 8 was announced.

  12. 2019

    Release · October 11, 2019

    Released the studio album Sketchbook on her own label, Rock Soul, with distribution by BMG; it was her first independent release.

  13. 2023

    Acting · December 25, 2023

    Played Celie in the film adaptation of The Color Purple; the role brought Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations and an NAACP Image Award win.

  14. 2024

    Award · June 2024

    Named to the Hollywood Walk of Fame class of 2025 in the recording category.

  15. 2026

    Acting · January 2026

    Was announced as a cast member of Tyler Perry's The Gospel of Christmas, a holiday film for Netflix, when Netflix listed the cast in its 2026 film slate.

  16. Tour · September 28, 2026

    Was reported on September 28, 2026 to be set to headline The Love of Soul Tour, a 24-date U.S. arena tour with Anthony Hamilton and October London, scheduled from February 5 to May 22, 2027.

Discography

TitleTypeYearLabelRIAA certificationU.S. salesBillboard peak
I BelieveSingle2004No. 1Hot 100
Truth IsSingle2004No. 21Hot 100
Free YourselfAlbum2004J RecordsPlatinum1,839,000March 2013No. 8Billboard 200
Baby MamaSingle2005No. 60Hot 100
Free YourselfSingle2005No. 41Hot 100
FantasiaAlbum2006J RecordsGold530,000August 2010No. 19Billboard 200
When I See USingle2007J RecordsGold (Mastertone)No. 32Hot 100
BittersweetSingle2010No. 74Hot 100
Back to MeAlbum2010J Records490,000date not givenNo. 2Billboard 200
Without MeSingle2013No. 74Hot 100
Side Effects of YouAlbum2013RCA Records300,000date not givenNo. 2Billboard 200
The Definition Of...Album2016RCA RecordsNo. 6Billboard 200
Christmas After MidnightAlbum2017Concord RecordsNo. 193Billboard 200
SketchbookAlbum2019Rock Soul Inc.No. 62Billboard 200

Cover images: Cover Art Archive (MusicBrainz).

Awards

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2004Billboard Music AwardsTop-Selling R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the YearI BelieveWon
2004Billboard Music AwardsTop-Selling Single of the YearI BelieveWon
2006Grammy AwardsBest Female R&B Vocal PerformanceFree YourselfNominated
2006Grammy AwardsBest R&B AlbumFree YourselfNominated
2006Grammy AwardsBest Traditional R&B Vocal PerformanceSummertimeNominated
2007Theatre World AwardsOutstanding Broadway Debut PerformanceThe Color PurpleWon
2008Grammy AwardsBest Contemporary R&B AlbumFantasiaNominated
2008Grammy AwardsBest Female R&B Vocal PerformanceWhen I See YouNominated
2009Grammy AwardsBest R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With VocalsShared: Jennifer Hudson, FantasiaI'm His Only WomanNominated
2011Grammy AwardsBest Female R&B Vocal PerformanceBittersweetWon
2011Grammy AwardsBest R&B AlbumBack To MeNominated
2014Grammy AwardsBest R&B SongShared: Fantasia, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Al Sherrod Lambert, Harmony Samuels, Kyle StewartWithout MeNominated
2014Grammy AwardsBest Traditional R&B PerformanceGet It RightNominated
2014Grammy AwardsBest Urban Contemporary AlbumSide Effects Of YouNominated
2017Grammy AwardsBest Traditional R&B PerformanceSleeping With The One I LoveNominated
2024NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Actress in a Motion PictureThe Color PurpleWon

Sources

Compare Fantasia Barrino with others

Other season 3 finalists

Season 3: all finalists and their careers · Semifinalists