Demi Lovato
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Demi Lovato |
Demi Lovato at the premiere for Hannah Montana: The Movie. |
| Background information |
| Birth name | Demetria Devonne Lovato |
| Born | August 20, 1992 (1992-08-20) (age 18)[1]
Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Genres | Pop rock |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, actress, musician, dancer, model, activist |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Hollywood, Fascination |
| Website | demilovato.com |
Demetria Devonne "Demi" Lovato[2] (born August 20, 1992)
[1] is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actress. Her earliest roles included a part on
Barney & Friends, before she became better known for her starring roles in the
Camp Rock movies, as Sonny Munroe in
Sonny with a Chance, and as the star of the 2009 movie
Princess Protection Program. She is also involved in
philanthropic activities through charity work and various
social and
environmental causes.
[3]
As a solo musical artist, Lovato released her debut album
Don't Forget on September 23, 2008. The album debuted at #2 on the
Billboard 200 selling 89,000 copies in the first week.
[4] It has since sold over 500,000 records in the United States and got certified Gold by
RIAA.
[5] Lovato stated in an interview that the album was recorded in ten days.
[6] Lovato released her second album,
Here We Go Again, on July 21, 2009.
[7] The album debuted at #1 on the
Billboard 200, selling 108,000 copies in the first week.
[8]
Early life
Lovato was born in
Dallas,
Texas on August 20, 1992
[2] to Patrick Lovato and Dianna Hart de la Garza. She is of
Mexican,
Irish, and
Italian descent.
[9][10][11] She has an older sister, Dallas Lovato, and a younger
half sister,
Madison de la Garza.
[2] Her mother was a
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and
country music recording artist;
[12] her father moved to
New Mexico after their marriage ended in 1994.
[10] Lovato earned a high school diploma through homeschooling in April 2009.
[13] She began playing piano at the age of seven.
[14]
Music career
2007–08: Musical beginnings and soundtrack appearances
Before any of Lovato's music was officially released a few of her original songs, including "Shadow," were featured on the show
As the Bell Rings. Lovato also sang a cover of "
That's How You Know" by
Amy Adams from the film
Enchanted that was released on
DisneyMania 6 on May 20, 2008.
[15]
In June and July 2008, Lovato performed at various
House of Blues and parks for her
Demi Live! Warm Up Tour in preparation for the release of her debut album and the
Burnin' Up Tour with the
Jonas Brothers. The soundtrack to the
Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock was released in June 2008. Lovato was featured on four of the tracks on the soundtrack, including "
This is Me," a duet with
Joe Jonas. The song peaked at #9 on the
Billboard Hot 100. Lovato served as the support act on the Jonas Brothers' Burnin' Up Tour from July through September 2008. Several concerts on the tour were filmed as footage for a 3-D concert film titled
Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, which was released on February 27, 2009. Lovato was featured in the film, performing "This Is Me" with Joe Jonas.
Lovato also appeared on two soundtrack albums in 2010. She recorded songs for the
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam soundtrack, which was released on August 10, 2010, and the
Sonny with a Chance soundtrack in late 2010.
2008–09: Don't Forget and Here We Go Again
On September 23, 2008, Lovato released her debut solo album,
Don't Forget. The album peaked at number two on the
Billboard 200, selling 89,000 units in its first week of release. It has since sold over 500,000 records in the US.
[16] Lovato stated in an interview that the album was recorded in ten days.
[6]
The album was preceded by the lead single, "
Get Back," which was released on August 12, 2008. The song reached #43 on the
Billboard Hot 100. In December 2008, Lovato released her second single from the album, "
La La Land," which reached #52 on the Hot 100. In March 2009, she released her third single, "
Don't Forget." Reaching #41 on the Hot 100, it became her most successful solo single at the time.
An
extended play titled
Moves Me was released in December 2008 by the Well Go USA label, but not under Lovato's support. The EP featured songs recorded by Lovato before being signed by
Hollywood Records.
In 2009, Lovato recorded "One and the Same" for the film
Princess Protection Program. Lovato's
Princess Protection Program co-star,
Selena Gomez, appeared on the song.
In early 2009, it was announced that Lovato would be embarking on the
Summer Tour 2009 to promote her sophomore album, which she stated would be released in the summer of 2009.
[17] The tour began on June 21, 2009 in
Hartford, Connecticut and concluded on August 24, 2009 in
Manchester, New Hampshire.
Lovato's second studio album,
Here We Go Again, was released on July 21, 2009. The album debuted at #1 on the
Billboard 200 with 108,000 records sold in its first week.
[18] Prior to the album's release, Lovato described the record's sound as a departure from her previous album, saying, "It's going to take a different sound, so hopefully it goes over well. I sing a lot of rock, but this time I want to do more
John Mayer-ish type of songs. Hopefully I can write with people like him."
[19] The album was more inspired by
acoustic music than her debut's
pop rock-influenced sound.
The album received a score of 65/100 from
Metacritic.
[20] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of
Allmusic noted that the album was not as much fun as Lovato's previous album,
Don't Forget, but he praised several songs for being "ideally matched to Lovato's adolescent energy and spirit, which remain her most appealing qualities."
[21] Chicago Tribune also gave the album five stars, saying "No sophomore slump for these young artists". Kerri Mason of
Billboard praised the album for not relying heavily on production compared to other
Disney Channel artists and called Lovato "a natural talent who could really take flight after outgrowing Disney."
[22] Simon Vozick-Levinson of
Entertainment Weekly praised the more rock-oriented tracks such as "Got Dynamite," calling them suggestions of "a direction that might set her apart in years to come."
[23]
In December 2009, Allmusic ranked
Here We Go Again as one of the best pop albums of 2009.
[24]
In 2010, the album was nominated for 2
Teen Choice Awards, "Choice Album" and "Choice Love Song," and Lovato for "Choice Music Breakout Artist: Female."
The album was preceded by the lead single, "
Here We Go Again," which was released on June 23, 2009.
[25] It became Lovato's highest charting single as it reached #15 on the
Billboard Hot 100.
[26] The album's second single, "
Remember December," was released on November 17, 2009 but only managed to reach #6 on
Billboard's
Bubbling Under Hot 100 (number 106 on the Hot 100).
She appeared on
We the Kings's second studio album,
Smile Kid, in 2009. On the album, she contributes guest vocals to the song "
We'll Be a Dream"," which was later released as a single in March 2010.
[27] The song's accompanying music video, which also features Lovato, was released on April 22, 2010 through
MTV.com.
[28]
2010–present: Third studio album
On March 30, 2010, Lovato announced her
South American Tour through her official
Myspace page.
[29] This was her first international headlining tour. The tour commenced on May 23, 2010 in
Santiago,
Chile and concluded on May 28, 2010 in
São Paulo,
Brazil. On April 27, 2010, the Jonas Brothers announced their
Jonas Brothers Live in Concert Tour, featuring Lovato as a special guest.
[30] The tour visited several cities in North and South America. The tour began on August 7, 2010 in
Tinley Park, Illinois[31] and ended on November 13, 2010 in
Buenos Aires,
Argentina. However, Lovato dropped out of the tour on October 30, 2010 in order to enter a treatment facility to treat physical and emotional issues.
[32]
Lovato also stated in July 2010 that work on her third album had begun, describing it as "a little more pop," "more R&B," and "more soulful." She said, "It has a different sound to it so I'm really excited to see how it turns out.
Keri Hilson and
Rihanna are inspiring my sound right now. I have also written a half Spanish song. It turned out really incredible so hopefully my fans will love it too."
[33] Rapper and producer
Timbaland has spoken of interest in working with Lovato.
[34]
Acting career
Lovato began her acting career at the age of seven on the children's television series
Barney & Friends as Angela, appearing in seasons seven and eight alongside long time friend
Selena Gomez.
[35]
In 2006 Lovato guest starred on
Prison Break as Danielle Curtin in the episode "First Down." She also appeared in the second season of the television sitcom
Just Jordan as Nicole, in the episode "Slippery When Wet." In January 2007, she landed the role of Charlotte Adams on the
Disney Channel Original Short Series,
As the Bell Rings, which premiered on August 26, 2007. A few of her original songs, including "Shadow," were featured on the show. Upon leaving the show, her character was replaced by
Lindsey Black.
Lovato performing with Joe Jonas at Jonas Brothers Live In Concert, September 2010
In 2008, Lovato starred in the
Disney Channel film Camp Rock. She played Mitchie Torres, a fourteen-year-old girl with hopes of becoming a singer. The movie premiered on June 20, 2008 in the United States on the
Disney Channel with 8.9 million viewers, making Lovato a household name among young viewers.
[36] She provided vocals on four of the songs featured on the
Camp Rock soundtrack, including "
This Is Me" featuring
Joe Jonas.
[37]
In June 2009 Lovato co-starred in
Princess Protection Program as Princess Rosalinda alongside
Selena Gomez on the Disney Channel.
[38] The made-for-television movie is the third highest rated Disney Channel Original Movie, premiering on the Disney Channel with 9.8 million viewers.
Lovato later went on to star in the
Disney Channel Original Series Sonny With a Chance, which premiered on February 8, 2009.
[39] The series' second season premiered on March 14, 2010.
[40] The show starred Lovato as Sonny Munroe who becomes the new cast member of a live
sketch comedy show titled
So Random!. Lovato left the series after the second season and will not be returning for the third.
In September 2009, production began for
Camp Rock's sequel,
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. The Disney Channel Original Movie premiered on September 3, 2010, upon which it gained 8 million viewers.
[41][42]
In March 2010, Lovato was one of the many stars featured in a public service announcement for Voto Latino in order to promote the organization's "Be Counted" campaign for the
2010 United States Census.
[43]
Lovato appeared as a guest star in an episode of the
medical drama series
Grey's Anatomy as a teenage patient named Haley, whose parents brought her in for schizophrenia.
[44] The episode, titled "Shiny Happy People," aired May 13, 2010 on the
ABC television network.
[45][46] In a review of the episode,
EW.com praised her performance, stating, "I still believe that even an unbiased observer would conclude that the Disney princess did a fine job acting it up as a suicidal 16-year-old who was admitted after trying to claw her own eyes out."
[47]
Demi Lovato made a surprise appearance on
America's Next Top Model on the September 15, 2010 episode to speak out about bullying.
[48] Lovato also appeared on
CNN on September 7, to speak out about bullying.
[49]
Philanthropy and activism
Demi Lovato has been involved in extensive
philanthropic activities. She partnered with mall proprietor GGP as the face of Shop Til You Rock, a music-inspired series of public events, which kicked off at malls around the United States in the summer 2010. It combines fashion with popular musical artists in a series of interactive events.
[50] Lovato is also the spokesperson for anti-bullying organization PACER. Lovato explained to the
New York Post about becoming a spokesperson against bullying, saying, "Bullying is a very serious thing to me; I’ve witnessed it first hand. I was bullied myself when I was 12. I want to be able to help other girls around [my sister's] age come into their own with a strong confidence in their skin, their size, who they are, and everything about themselves."
Lovato is also the spokesperson for the Join the Surge Campaign.
Do Something and
Clean & Clear launched Joining the Surge, which is a national campaign that empowers teenagers to take action in their communities.
[51]
Lovato is involved in
Disney's Friends for Change, an organization which promotes "environmently-friendly behavior," and appears in its public service announcements to raise awareness for the cause on the
Disney Channel.
[52] Lovato,
Selena Gomez,
Miley Cyrus, and the
Jonas Brothers recorded "
Send It On," a
charity single that served as the theme song for the organization in 2009. The song debuted on the
Billboard Hot 100 at #20.
[53][54] Disney's Friends for Change directed all of its proceeds from "Send It On" to environmental charities to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund.
[53] Lovato and
Joe Jonas recorded a new song called "
Make a Wave," the second charity single that currently serves as the theme song for Disney's Friends for Change.
Lovato is also apart of the "A Day Made Better" School Advocacy Campaign.
[55] "The campaign is giving a deserving teacher with $1000 in school supplies on behalf of OfficeMax’s “A Day Made Better” school advocacy campaign"
[56]
Lovato has also supported the following notable charities:
[57]
Image and personal life
In an interview with
Ellen DeGeneres, Lovato admitted to going through painful experiences with bullying in the seventh grade.
[58] According to Lovato, the bullying was so bad that one day, in a fit of frustration and distress, she requested her mom give her a home-schooled education.
[59] She wrote the song "
For the Love of a Daughter" about her estranged father. Lovato is a
Christian and prays with her band before they perform. After Lovato and
Selena Gomez, the two of whom first met several years previous at the
Barney & Friends auditions, posted a video blog on
YouTube in March 2008,
Miley Cyrus and her friend Mandy Jiroux uploaded a parody of that video, which caught the interest of entertainment media. Reports included the theory that Lovato and Gomez might replace Cyrus. Gomez clarified there was no feud.
[60]
In 2010, on her eighteenth birthday, Lovato bought her family a Mediterranean style house in Los Angeles. She said, "For me to give that to my family on my birthday, that was the best present." She then added, "It's got pretty much everything you could possibly imagine in it. It's the most beautiful, homey-feeling house. I love it."
[61] Lovato also purchased their past $1.88 million home in
Toluca Lake, Los Angeles. She bought the house when she was 16 years old.
[62]
Lovato is a
vegetarian.
[63] She has been honored the Honorary Ambassador of Education award from the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders.
[64]
She is a fan of
heavy metal music, such as
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster,
Abigail Williams,
The Devil Wears Prada, and
Job for a Cowboy.
[65]
Treatment center stint
On November 1, 2010, Lovato's publicist announced that she had left the
Jonas Brothers'
Live in Concert tour early during the preceding weekend in order to enter a treatment center and "seek medical treatment for emotional and physical issues she has dealt with for some time." The tour was not scheduled to be complete until November 13, 2010. Lovato's publicist stated that "she regrets not being able to finish her tour, but is looking forward to getting back to work in the near future."
[66][67]
The day after the announcement, a Disney spokesperson told
People that Disney "support[s] Demi's decision to put her health first and [they] send her [their] best wishes".
[68] Lovato's publicist denied persistent media speculation that Lovato's treatment was for
substance abuse.
[69] Other sources reported that she "went into a rehab for
eating disorders and
cutting and other sorts of things."
[70]
In particular, many media sources immediately reported that Lovato had decided to enter treatment right after punching a Jonas Brothers back-up dancer, Alex Welch, on a flight out of
Bogotá,
Colombia, allegedly because Lovato believed that Welch had informed tour managers of inappropriate behaviour on Lovato's part the previous night, causing Lovato to be confronted by her managers and her stepfather, Eddie de la Garza.
[71] Days after Lovato entered rehab, photos circulated on the internet showing Welch sporting a
black eye.
[72] Welch subsequently confirmed that the story was true, noting that she had been blindsided by the assault. Although Lovato had pulled aside the tour's back-up dancers prior to the flight and threatened, "If I find out who told on me...", Welch was not concerned because she had not witnessed what had happened the previous night and was not the dancer who had informed on Lovato. Welch claimed that she "didn't get a call or text from Demi or a 'hey, you got a problem with me,' nothing." She said Lovato simply approached her during the flight, punched her, and then "literally walked away and got in her seat." Lovato's representatives responded by saying, "We are in the process of engaging with Alex's lawyer and hope to resolve this as quickly as possible."
[73] Lovato's camp reached a financial settlement with Welch in late December 2010, with Welch stating that the agreement stipulated for a portion of the settlement to be donated to charity.
[74]
On January 28, 2011, it was reported that Lovato had completed her inpatient treatment at the rehab facility and returned home to Los Angeles, where she "will continue to see doctors" to "help her work on the issues she confronted in treatment."
[75] On March 8, 2011 an exclusive video was released on Cambio.com in which Lovato thanked her fans for their support during what she described as "the darkest time of my life" and also stated that she was excited to get back to work.
[76] Lovato granted her first post-rehab interview to
ABC newscaster
Robin Roberts, which aired on
Good Morning America and
20/20 on April 22, 2011. During the interview, Lovato confirmed reports that her treatment was for
bulimia and
self-injury, and had taken place at the Timberline Knolls facility in
Illinois after the aforementioned confrontation between her and Welch led to an intervention by her family and management team. Lovato stated that the incident came after having had a "really unhealthy relationship with food" since age 8 due to bullying experienced as a child, and self-mutilating her wrists to cope with her emotions and depression since age 11. Her condition came to a head during the tour because Lovato "was performing concerts on an empty stomach...I was losing my voice from purging. I was self-medicating. I was not taking medication for depression, and I literally was so emotionally whacked out that I took it out on someone that meant a lot to me." Lovato expressed regret at her actions towards Welch, stating "I take 100 percent, full responsibility...I feel horrible. [She] was my friend."
[77] In another interview, Lovato added that she had "basically had a
nervous breakdown",
[78] and was also diagnosed with
bipolar disorder during her treatment.
[79] As part of her efforts to raise awareness about issues similar to her own, Lovato was announced in April 2011 as a Contributing Editor to
Seventeen magazine. She will discuss her personal issues as a part of a larger campaign called "Love is Louder than the Pressure to Be Perfect", directed towards teen girls.
[80]
During Lovato's absence, the
Disney Channel revamped
Sonny with a Chance, temporarily restructuring it to focus on the
show-within-a-show,
So Random!. The move allowed the show to resume filming in January 2011, even though Lovato remained in treatment.
[81] "This allows her the time she needs to get well, without distraction or pressure," a Disney Channel spokeswoman said. "Again, we extend our ongoing support to Demi and her family as she works to overcome personal issues."
[82] However, Lovato announced in April 2011 that she will not return to the show and will instead focus on her music career, stating that "it's kind of sad for me that a chapter of my life has ended but there couldn't be a better time for me to move on...I don't think going back to
Sonny would be healthy for my recovery...Being in front of a camera would make me nervous." The show will therefore be permanently reinvented as the sketch comedy show
So Random!.
[83]
Relationships
Lovato briefly dated former
Metro Station guitarist
Trace Cyrus in 2009.
[84]
In 2010, Lovato began dating
Joe Jonas, whom she first met while filming
Camp Rock in 2007.
[85] On May 24, 2010, Lovato confirmed via her official Twitter that she and Jonas were no longer together. In an interview with
Us Weekly, Jonas stated, "Demi and I knew that going into our romantic relationship it may not be an easy one. I realize that over the time we have spent together that I feel I care more about our friendship right now. It was my choice to break up, but I love her as a friend. She's been there for me when I needed her. I will continue to be her friend and be there for her."
[86]
Filmography
Discography
See also
Awards
