Tickled P!nk: Tribute to a 21st Century Trailblazer

Pink is arguably one of the most commercially and critically lauded artists of the 21st Century. Her music is fueled by attitude, confidence, heartbreak, and passion. There are very few things she does not sing about.

Her life did not start out so easily. Born Alecia Beth Moore on September 8, 1979 to Jim and Judy Moore, she was a troublemaker and trailblazer from the start.

Growing up in Philadelphia she did not fit in with most girls her age. She would hang out with the rougher skateboard crew and frequently got in trouble. In fact it was so bad, she would run away from home, use drugs, and sneak into clubs to sing with in house groups.

Eventually, Alecia overdosed and decided to clean up her act by teaming up with two other aspiring singers to form the all female group Choice.

After doing some promos around the country, they caught the attention of iconic label LaFace and executive L.A. Reid.

• Her favorite video director is noted visionary, Dave Myers who has directed eleven of her videos including her very first single, "There You Go" and her latest single, "Blow Me One Last Kiss."
• It's estimated she has between 22-25 tattoos, including Mr. P!nk after the inspiration for her stage name.
• P!nk has done several tours, her first as opening act on the famous No Strings Attached Tour with N'Sync and most recently the Funhouse Summer Carnival Tour
• Her primary musical influences are Janis Joplin and Madonna. Her voice has often been compared to that of the late Joplin and she was rumored to be considered for a biopic of the iconic singer.
• She's on the same label as Britney Spears- whom she famously name-checked in "Don't Let Me Get Me."
• P!nk has an older brother, Jason who followed her father's footsteps and joined the Air Force.

P!nk was courted by L.A. Reid but was quickly told that she would be the only one offered a deal. Although she had long dreamed of a performing career, she did not want to abandon her friends. But in the long run she made the decision to go solo.

In doing so, she decided not to go by her birth name as an artist. One of her nicknames was P!nk after Mr. Pink from the iconic film Reservoir Dogs and decidedly, she went with that.

Her initial offering would not be up to personal input, but label guidance. As with many popstars in the late 90s and early 2000s it was more of a demand than an option.

Her first album Can't Take Me Home still had hints of her attitude as she co-wrote some of the tracks. But as she later revealed, she was not completely happy with the mostly R&B-flavored record. It went on to sell six million copies.

So instead of trying to play by the rules, she decidedly confronted her label and asked for creative control on the next album.

In 2001, she took a break from her own work to work on a collaborative track for the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. Working with fellow songstresses Mya and Christina Aguilera as well as female MC Lil' Kim the song was an instant smash. Produced by Missy Elliott it won a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals and Video of the Year at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards.

That period was not without controversy as P!nk butted heads with Christina Aguilera and her label over who sung what parts on the record. The two would go back and forth on several issues before eventually calling a truce several years later.

After this, P!nk went to work on her follow up to her debut record with one of her favorite childhood artists, Linda Perry. As it was later recounted, P!nk sung a message on Perry's answering machine and they agreed to meet to see if something would work.

Not only did they bond musically, they formed a partnership that was one of a kind. Their first offering presented to the world in 2001 soon after the tragic 9/11 attacks. "Get The Party Started" became one of P!nk's first signature songs and sell millions of copies.

Following this new, more authentic introduction to music audiences her career took off and the album spun several hit singles including "Don't Let Me Get Me", "Family Portrait", and "Just Like a Pill." The album sold twelve million copies.

Even though Missundaztood had taken off, P!nk knew that the success of this record meant following up with a solid third album. Instead of rushing, she took some time off to live and fall in love with now-husband and Motocross star Carey Hart.

By 2003, she was ready to re-emerge and she did with the more hard-rock sound of Try This. While it sold four million copies worldwide, it was not the smash like the previous album was. Featuring singles such as "Trouble" and "God Is A DJ" the momentum was not there.

Unfortunately she had other issues such as a continuing feud with Christina Aguilera. It was alleged that P!nk claimed the Linda Perry written "Beautiful" but it went to Aguilera instead. Even though Perry said the song was not ready when P!nk commissioned it for her record, the controversy strained the relationship between P!nk and Perry.

They collaborated on Try This but the magic wasn't there. However, she became more focused on her personal life and married Corey Hart after a four year courtship in 2006.

In 2006, she released her fourth album I'm Not Dead... which featured hit singles such as "Stupid Girls," "Who Knew?" and "U+ Ur Hand." Sales reached platinum in the States but this record did especially well in Australia, selling over eleven million copies.

Still not entirely satisfied, P!nk retreated to work even harder on her next record.

By 2008, P!nk was at a crossroads. She wanted her career to go well but it was coming at the cost of her marriage. She and Carey Hart decided to separate after only two years together. With her personal life in the background, she decidedly went in the studio bolder and more empowered than ever.

What came out was Funhouse which essentially represents the best of P!nk in her most vulnerable form. The debut single, "So What" ironically featuring the recently separated P!nk and Corey in the video was P!nk's first number one smash since the days of "Lady Marmalade".

In short order other hit singles followed, "Sober" and "Please Don't Leave Me" were among them. As another worldwide smash, it sold several million copies around the world.

In 2010, she released a Greatest Hits compilation featuring two new smash singles "Raise Your Glass" and "(Bleep) Perfect."

P!nk did manage to take time off as she and Carey Hart called off their separation and pending divorce in 2010. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Willow Sage Hart.

But that didn't stop her from doing what she does best. in 2012, P!nk returned and will release her sixth studio album, The Truth About Love on September 18, 2012. The first single from that project, "Blow Me One Last Kiss" was released in July 2012.

It was also recently announced that P!nk will be the latest spokesperson for iconic makeup brand, CoverGirl. Her first commercial debuted on the same night she performed on the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards.

There is also word that she is due to star in her first feature film Thanks for Sharing alongside Mark Ruffalo and Gwyneth Paltrow. She previously voiced Gloria in the animated film, Happy Feet Two.

Personally I love P!nk because she is not the most politically correct artist, she is herself and speaks from the heart no matter how heartbreaking it may be. It may have cost her a few millions in sales but she did it her way.

Another reason fans love P!nk is that she is unafraid of politicians, fellow pop stars, or princes- that's right I said princes. P!nk wrote a letter to Prince William criticizing his love of fox hunting.

She also said what many of us were thinking on Twitter when Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift. Unafraid to court controversy she also wrote and performed one of the most endearing protest songs of the past twenty years "Dear Mr. President."

P!nk is also to be admired for her honesty. When she sings, we all feel it as her trademark rasp hits us in the heart. But she is also a brilliant songwriter who pours her tragedies through her intelligent way with words.

And she's an excellent role model, in how she is upfront about who she is and how she feels. Most of all, she is an artist of the people always thankful and giving to her fans.