Pink - Biography

Early career

Pink at the Teen Choice Awards in crop top

Born Alicia Moore in 1979, the pop singer started out in a Philadelphia gospel choir aged 13, before moving on to a punk band and later an R&B outfit called Basic Instinct, although the group ended up not releasing any music.

Unfazed and armed with a powerful singing voice, Pink, who reportedly gained the nickname for her constant blushing, kept following her dream while working at fast food restaurants and gigs at Philadelphia hip-hop nightclubs. After a failed bid with another R&B group signed to the LaFace record company, she stayed with the label to record her first solo project, Can't Take Me Home, aged 19.

The record put the singer on the musical map, and led to three top-ten-hits in the US: There U Go, Most Girls and You Make Me Sick. The MTV best new artist nominee's chart clout was solidified in 2001, when her remake of the classic Patti LaBelle anthem Lady Marmalade, alongside fellow divas Christina Aguilera, Mya and L'il Kim, went to number one.

Continued career

Though her first album had an R&B slant, Pink took the reins on her second album as songwriter and executive producer, her varied musical background making Missundaztood a blend of dance, R&B, rock and pop. Just before she began work on the record there came a blast from the past when she "stumbled across" the phone number for 4 Non Blondes' front woman, Linda Perry, in her makeup artist's address book.

"I handled the situation the only way I knew how," she says. "I stole her number and called her. I am a firm believer in signs, that everything happens for a reason." After a call from Pink, Linda collaborated with the rising star on co-writing and co-producing many of the tracks on the album, including the first hit, Get The Party Started.

Unwilling to be pigeonholed, Pink followed the release of the peppy pop song with the introspective hits Don't Let Me Get Me and Like A Pill and took on a spiky-haired, leather-wearing persona. "Some people think I'm an angry girl, a boykiller, or are just plain confused by me," she wrote. "As for the ethnic thing, I'm just Pink, man. If everyone believes in this whole crayon box thing where we have to be colours, well then I should at least get to pick my own, don't you think?"

She followed up the international hit album with Try This in 2003, a disc that spawned hit single Feel Good Time - which was used as the soundtrack to Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. Pink made a cameo in the film too, as a motorcross race ramp owner. In 2006, Pink scored her fourth consecutive hit album with I'm Not Dead.

The singer has since released a further five legendary albums including Funhouse, which included hits like So What and the titular track. A sixth album, The Truth About Love contains ballads like Just Give Me a Reason and Blow Me (One Last Kiss). Meanwhile, her seventh album, Beautiful Trauma spawned hits like the titular track and What About Us.

Her eighth album was titled Hurts 2B Human, while she released her ninth album, Trustfall earlier in 2023.

Personal life

Pink standing with Carey Hart and their two children

She wedded motorcross racer Carey Hart on a Costa Rican beach in January 2006 witnessed by 100 guests including Lisa Marie Presley. "We're spiritual, but we're not religious," said the groom. "It was about being with our closest friends and family and having a fun, loose party."

However, in February 2008 the pair revealed they were planning to divorce after almost two years together. The seperation was amicable, though, with Pink insiting: "This decision was made by best friends with a huge amount of love and respect for one another."

But this was not the end of their love story, as in 2010, following sessions of marriage counseling, the couple confirmed that they were back together, with her husband even going on to appear in three of her music videos.

In 2011, the couple welcomed daughter Willow, who is already following in Pink's footsteps, and in 2016 they welcomed son, Jameson.