Singer/songwriter Anastacia grew up in New York City, where she began her career as a dancer on Club MTV and in the Salt-N-Pepa videos "Twist and Shout" and "Everybody Get Up." In 1999, she took her freestyle pop sensibility (mixing dance, rock and R&B), her exceptional vocal ability and her original song "Not That Kind" to MTV's The Cut. She didn't take home the top prize, but Anastacia got kudos from some top music producers and a call from Michael Jackson, all which paved the way for the golden opportunity she'd been waiting for. Signed to Epic Records, Anastacia released Not that Kind internationally in 2000. The album was released in the U.S. in 2001. Her follow-up album, Freak of Nature, was released in 2002. The single, "Boom," became the anthem of the 2002 World Cup. In 2003, Anastacia, who had recorded "Love Is a Crime" for the soundtrack to Chicago, was diagnosed with breast cancer. In a statement released to the press about her disease, Anastacia said: "My doctor was insistent that I have a mammogram (during a routine checkup last week) even though it was not required. He saved my life. I appreciate all who are concerned, but please don't worry. I have no intention of letting this news get me down. I'm a fighter by nature, and nothing will ever change that."
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