Christina Milian Life Story

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Christina Milian is a multi-talented phenomenon whose resume includes film, television, theater and music. With starring roles in two upcoming feature films this year and hard at work on her highly-anticipated debut album, Milian is poised to take the entertainment industry by storm.

You know her from the infectious single “AM To PM” which hit the top position on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart in 2001, yet that was just a taste of what this multi-faceted young woman is capable of. An accomplished singer, songwriter, dancer, TV personality and actress, Christina has become a star of international proportions. 

She’s gone platinum, written hits for a slew of international acts, hosted MTV’s ‘Wannabes,’ enjoyed two Top 5 hits on the UK charts, recorded a smash that was #1 on RadioDisney for 12 weeks, had roles in several feature films and brought her intoxicating pop/R&B grooves world wide.

Add to Christina’s amazing list of accomplishments this; her long-awaited Island release It’s About Time. Featuring production from some of the heaviest hitters in R&B including Warryn Campbell (Alicia Keys, Brandy), Corey Rooney (Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey), Polli Paul (Black Eyed Peas), Bryan Cox (Usher, Lil Bow Wow) and songs co-written by Christina, It’s About Time is a sizzling indication of who Christina is and where she’s at.

As Christina explains it, “Obviously the title refers to the length of time that it took me to complete this and finally have an album available in the US. But the other meaning is that I’ve learned that everything in my career has to do with timing. Clearly I could have rushed to put an album out two years ago when I first had a hit single, but because I had to wait, it worked out for the best. Everything happened for a reason, and it’s made me who I am. Which means that this album is really a reflection of me.”

One listen to It’s About Time and it is clear that Christina is in a decidedly more mature space. “I’m older now. When “AM To PM” came out I was a teenager. Now I’m 22 and so songs on this album have a little more depth to them.” The depth is evident by the album’s R&B vibe and lyrics that have a bit more edge. You can feel the sexy point of view on cuts like the uptempo “Love.” Produced by Warryn Campbell and featuring labelmate Joe Budden, “Love” vibrates with a retro 80′s dance club feel.

Another track guaranteed to make you move is the rhythmic “Peanut Butta and Jelly,” produced by KP and EZ Tommy. “I love that song,” Christina offers. “It’s got this real energized beat; it totally makes you wanna dance. It’s gonna be a great song for my live shows”. Equally propulsive is the first single “Dip It Low,” which came via new comer Polli Paul. Although Christina is one of the industry’s most in-demand songwriters (she co-wrote Jennifer Lopez’s hit “Play”), sometimes she seeks out inspiration elsewhere. With her album nearly completed Christina knew that something was missing and as fate would have it a friend turned her on to a hot producer. “When I met Polli and he played me “Dip It Low” I just flipped. The song was crazy, so I just went right back into the studio to record it and everyone just loved it.”

Yet it’s not just on up-tempo jams where Christina shines. Listen to the lovelorn ballad “Someday Oneday,” produced by Corey Rooney or the emotional “Oh Daddy,” and you will hear an introspection that can only come with growth.” I’ve been through a lot these past few years, both good and bad, so it’s natural that my songs are going to reflect my thoughts.”

Born to Cuban native parents in New Jersey and raised in Maryland, Christina has had her eyes on the prize since she was only four years old. “I remember as a kid watching TV and I’d try to get inside of the television. That’s how much I wanted to be a star!”

While still young, Christina landed a role in a musical theater play and later parlayed that into a recurring part on the Disney Channel’s ‘Movie Surfers.’ At 13 Christina and her mom (who she cites as a major support) moved to Los Angeles so that Christina could pursue acting. Christina landed guest spots on TV shows such like ‘Charmed’ and ‘Sister Sister’ and provided voice over work for the #1 film A Bug’s Life.

In 2000 Christina gained worldwide fame when her girlish vocals were showcased on Ja Rule’s #1 hit “Between Me and You”. Soon everyone was wondering who was that girl singing the hook and Christina’s star began to rise.

Propelled by the overwhelming success of the Bloodshy produced “AM To PM” Christina started recording the collection that was slated to be her debut. Suddenly, Christina was a huge star in places she’d only dreamed of and her music was loved by fans that didn’t speak English. “I’d grown up watching people like Michael and Janet Jackson. People who were universal superstars, so for me, being able to conquer different territories was a very big deal. The whole experience made me more confident and proud that I could reach so many people. Sure it was hard not having an album available back home but in the end it all worked out for the best. I had the chance to tour (she hit 17 countries between 2001-2002) and work on my songwriting. So everything happens for a reason and I know I’m blessed.”

The blessings also manifested itself when it came to Christina’s acting career. In 2002 Christina was tapped to host MTV’s widely popular ‘Wannabes’ and it was on an episode that she met director Joseph Kahn. Kahn asked her to audition for his highly-anticipated feature film Torque opposite Ice Cube. She secured the part, which subsequently landed her the coveted lead role opposite Nick Cannon in Love Don’t Cost a Thing. Christina’s star continues to rise on the silver screen with a lead role in Cheer Up opposite Tommy Lee Jones. With a thriving film career, Milian continues to be passionate about making music. “Singing and acting are both my passions and they go hand in hand.”

She might have undergone a circuitous route, but it seems that in 2004 Christina Milian is ready to stand in the spotlight and go for hers. As her album title would indicate, in the end it’s often about timing and with Christina Milian, that time is now.

Milian has been described as a role model to young girls, which she feels good about. She has said that there are a lot of people who young girls look up to, but “at the end of the day you have to be your own person and love yourself.” Milian worked with the Children Uniting Nations charity, in which she was a big sister to foster children, and says her favorite charity is the Penny Lane Foundation.

Milian was awarded with a humanitarian award at The Reign fundraiser from the Elton John AIDS Foundation for being a role model for young children. Milian said, “I’ve never been rewarded that way and never been acknowledged like that. That was really nice of them, and I was happy I was able to show up for the kids.” Milian co-hosted The Reign event with singers Eric West and Mariah Carey,[84] and soon after, various media outlets reported that Milian was dating West. Both denied they were dating, and Milian posted on her MySpace that she has no idea who Eric West is.

Milian met actor Nick Cannon on the set of their film, Love Don’t Cost a Thing, in 2003, and they began dating. After being together for two and a half years, Milian ended her relationship with Cannon in 2005 when she found out he was cheating on her. Cannon revealed that he refused to stay faithful to Milian because their relationship was becoming too much like a “Christian romance”. When Cannon married Mariah Carey on April 30, 2008, Milian said, “regardless of what I felt in the past at the time, I actually forgive him and I’m very much over that.” After the production of So Amazin’ in 2006, Milian began dating Andre Lyon from the production group Cool & Dre.

The pair dated until February 2009, when they decided to go on a break. Milian said that they were still really close, and decided to break up because it was “hard to grow together when you live on two different coasts”. The singer wanted to take more opportunities and learn more about herself, which she often let go when in a relationship, but felt that she was in a now-or-never situation. Milian described Lyon as an amazing guy, and said that although there was a chance for the couple in the future, she needed to focus on herself. Reports soon emerged that Milian was dating The-Dream, who denied any romantic relationship with Milian, but said that he loved the attention.

In March 2009, Milian was photographed with The-Dream with a new blonde hairstyle. Soon afterward, Jermaine Dupri’s “Oceans 5 crew”, including his assistant, Tyrone, Usher, Bryan-Michael Cox and Johnta Austin, expressed their dislike of Milian’s new hairstyle. Austin said that “this picture that we’re looking at is probably the ‘that ain’t it’ moment for probably the year [...] This is what happens when people fall out of the game. That’s Christina Milian looking like a damn fool.” There was also speculation that the remarks were not directly aimed at Milian, and that the Oceans 5 crew had a dispute with The-Dream.

The-Dream responded by saying that he loved the controversy because they were “controlling the airwaves”, and found that those who “can’t hate on me are going to hate on her”. He defended Milian’s decision to change her hair color, and called the crew members individually and told them to leave her alone. Later the same month, Milian was pictured kissing The-Dream in Hawaii.

Dre said that he supported Milian’s relationship with The-Dream, “I think it’s gonna be a good fit for her”. He stated that he had “nothing but love for her and her family”, and that he “wished her the best and we’re definitely looking forward to what she’s got going on”. In late May 2009, it was reported that Milian and The-Dream were getting married, and the couple celebrated their engagement party in Las Vegas in June. On September 4, 2009, Milian and The-Dream eloped at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The-Dream said he was eager to start a family with Milian, saying, “you have to do your work — then whenever she makes that time for herself, she’ll make that time to have a baby. In the next couple of years, there’ll be something around.” MTV reported that Milian and The-Dream will get married again in Rome, Italy, and then renew their vows in the US in front of family and friends. On September 11, 2009, it was announced that Milian and The-Dream were expecting their first child together. The Daily Mail reported that “the pregnancy was a surprise, but they were getting married regardless”. Milian said that although she was nervous about giving birth, “as long as Dream is right next to me, I’ll be fine!”.

On February 26, 2010, Milian gave birth to their daughter Violet Madison Nash, who had “a full head of hair.” Violet was Milian’s first child, and the fourth for The-Dream, who had three children with ex-wife Nivea. In July 2010, The-Dream announced that he and Milian had separated in late 2009, only three months after their wedding in September of that year.