Christina Maria Aguilera was one of several US teen pop stars to rise to huge popular acclaim in the late 90s. Of Irish and Ecuadorian descent, her mother played violin and piano professionally while her father's position in the military resulted in the family travelling extensively around the world. Finally settling in Wexford, Pittsburgh, Aguilera began performing at school talent shows, before making her first professional appearance at the age of eight on the nationally syndicated Star Search show. When she was 10 she sang the national anthem for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates. She joined [Walt] Disney's Mickey Mouse Club at the age of 12, appearing alongside future pop stars JC Chasez and Justin Timberlake of 'N Sync, and Britney Spears. Aguilera spent two years with the Mickey Mouse Club before moving to Japan to record "All I Wanna Do", a hit duet with local pop star Keizo Nakanishi.

Back in the USA in early 1998, Aguilera recorded "Reflection" for the soundtrack of Disney's full-length animation Mulan. Her rapid ascent to stardom continued when she signed to RCA Records shortly afterwards. Her debut album was recorded with a host of leading songwriters and producers. "Genie In A Bottle", a lightweight swingbeat number with an infectious hookline, went to the top of the US charts in July 1999. Written by UK-based songwriter Pam Sheyne, the single stayed at the top for 5 weeks, making it the biggest selling US single of the year. The other tracks on Aguilera's self-titled debut included upbeat dance anthem "Love Will Find A Way", soulful ballad "So Emotional", and the requisite Diane Warren blockbuster, "I Turn To You". The album entered the US album chart at number 1 in September. A month later "Genie In A Bottle" entered the UK singles chart at number 1.

Aguilera proved herself a genuine rival for Spears' teen pop crown when she returned to the top of the US charts in January 2000 with "What A Girl Wants" and again in October with "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)". In a shrewd marketing ploy, she then released a Spanish-language collection of her hits, Mi Reflejo, and the seasonal My Kind Of Christmas. Aguilera enjoyed a transatlantic chart-topper the following summer with a cover version of LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade', recorded with Lil' Kim, Mya and Pink for the soundtrack of the movie Moulin Rouge. The singer unveiled a new sexually-charged image on her second studio album, 2002"s Stripped. The set was a commercial flop on both sides of the Atlantic, although Aguilera enjoyed surprise UK chart-toppers with the singles "Dirrty" (featuring Redman) and "Beautiful" (written by Linda Perry of 4 None Blondes fame). The latter also broke into the US Top 5.

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