Cheryl Ann Cole ( born 30 June 1983) is an English singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, model, and television personality.
Cole rose to fame in 2002 after becoming a member of pop group Girls Aloud through ITV's reality television programme Popstars: The Rivals. They have become one of the few UK reality television acts to achieve continued success, amassing a fortune of £25 million by May 2009. With Girls Aloud, Cole has been successful in achieving a string of 20 consecutive UK top ten singles (including four number ones), two UK number one albums, and received nominations for five BRIT Awards, winning Best Single in 2009 for "The Promise".
In 2008, Cole became a judge on the British reality television show The X Factor. Propelling her fame to new heights, Cole has been called "the nation's new sweetheart." Her first solo single, "Fight for This Love", was the fastest-selling single of 2009 up to that point when it entered the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Chart at number one, becoming the fourth best-seller of the year. Her debut solo album 3 Words achieved similar success.
She has also become recognized as a style icon, appearing on the covers of British Vogue and Elle. In 2009, Cole became the new face of L'Oréal.
Cole is married to the Chelsea and England football player Ashley Cole. It was reported on 24 February 2010 that the couple are to separate, and on 22 March 2010 Cheryl Cole said she would wait six months before deciding whether to pursue a divorce.
Early life
Cole was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England and grew up in poverty on council estates in the inner city districts of Walkerand Heaton. She is the fourth of five children of Joan Callaghan,and the elder child of Gary Tweedy. Cole has a brother, Garry (born 1987, Newcastle) and three elder maternal half-siblings – Joseph, Gillian and Andrew. Cole's parents never married each other; they split up when Cole was 11.
Interested in dancing from an early age, Cole joined the Royal Ballet's summer school at the age of nine. In addition to dancing, Cole won many modelling competitions, including Boots Group's bonniest baby, Mothercare Happy Faces Portrait competition, Best Looking Girl of Newcastle, The Evening Chronicle "Little Miss and Mister", and "Most Attractive Girl" at the MetroCentre. She also appeared in two British Gas adverts, an SCS advert, and an Eldon Square Christmas advert with younger brother Garry. Cole also appeared in dance recitals on some television shows.
Career
Girls Aloud
Cole auditioned for Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, singing S Club 7's "Have You Ever". Cole joined Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts, and Kimberley Walsh to comprise the new girl group Girls Aloud, formed through the show by a public vote on 30 November 2002.
The group's debut single "Sound of the Underground" peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the 2002 Christmas number one. Girls Aloud hold the record for the shortest time between formation and reaching number one. Since 2003, Girls Aloud have released twenty additional singles, with all but one charting within the top ten. Their singles "I'll Stand by You", "Walk This Way", and "The Promise" have charted at number one. "The Promise" won Best British Single at the 2009 BRIT Awards. Their greatest hits album The Sound of Girls Aloud and 2008's Out of Control entered the UK Albums Chart at number one, with over one million copies of the former being sold.
In 2009, it was announced that Girls Aloud would partake in a year-long hiatus to pursue solo projects, but would reunite for a new studio album in 2010.
Solo music artist
Cole's first foray into a solo music career occurred when she featured on will.i.am's "Heartbreaker". After taking streetdancing classes during the filming of Passions of Girls Aloud series, Cole was picked to appear in the song's music video. She was later asked to sing additional vocals on the track.
In April 2009, it was confirmed that Cole was working on solo material.Her debut album, 3 Words, was released in the UK on 26 October 2009. Cole reunited with will.i.am for a majority of the album, in addition to collaborating with Fraser T. Smith, Syience, Danish production team Soulshock & Karlin, singer-songwriter Taio Cruz, and Wayne Wilkins. The album spent two weeks at number one. On 6 November 2009, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified the album Platinum denoting shipments of 300,000+ units. The first single from the album, "Fight for This Love", was written by Andre Merritt and produced by Steve Kipner and Wilkins. According to Cole it was released as the lead single because she "connected with the song so well". Following a performance on The X Factor live results show, "Fight for This Love" became the fourth fastest-selling single of 2009 in the UK up to that point. It charted at number one on both the Irish and UK Singles Chart. Cole's second single "3 Words", which features will.i.am, was a top five hit.
In January 2010, it was announced that she would be the opening act for the UK and selected European dates of the Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D. World Tour. Along with this ir was revealed in the early months of 2010 Cole had recorded new music whilst in Los Angeles escaping the media after the breakup of her marriage. She revealed that she hoped fans would be able to hear the new music soon but said that she had to be sure the fans would really like the album. It is unknown if the new project will be a re-release of 3 Words or a completely new album. She has also revealed she would like to duet with Gary Barlow (of Take That).
The X Factor and television
On 10 June 2008, it was announced Cole would replace Sharon Osbourne as a judge for the fifth series of The X Factor.[ Cole was given the girls category, subsequently ending up as the victorious judge when Alexandra Burke was crowned the fifth X Factor winner on 13 December 2008. Cole returned for the sixth series in 2009 and was given the boys category. Cole ended up as the victorious judge for a second consecutive year after Joe McElderry was crowned the sixth X Factor winner. Simon Cowell, the show's creator, said, "I knew she was going to be good because she speaks like normal people speak. People can relate to that. And I think that is the best sign of a judge." Cowell referred to Cole as "one of the best I've ever worked with."
Cole was given a one-off television programme for ITV1, Cheryl Cole's Night In, which aired on 19 December 2009. Alexandra Burke, Rihanna, Will Young, Snow Patrol and will.i.am made appearances. Cole told the press, "I couldn't be happier that ITV have asked me to round off the year with my own show, working with some of my favourite artists." The programme attracted 5 million viewers on its first airing, substantially less than the 8.1 million viewers which Strictly Come Dancing received during the same time slot.
As a member of Girls Aloud, Cole has also appeared in the fly on the wall documentary Girls Aloud: Home Truths, the E4 documentary series Girls Aloud: Off the Record, an episode of Ghosthunting with..., and a one-off variety show entitled The Girls Aloud Party.
Books
Cole contributed to the book Dreams that Glitter - Our Story, an autobiography with her Girls Aloud bandmates, in October 2008. The book was written with a ghostwriter and published by the Transworld imprint Bantam Press. The book featured unseen photographs and included insights into the members' personal lives, their success together, style tips, and "everything we've learned about life, love and music." The book was previewed and serialised by OK! prior to its release. Girls Aloud held a book signing at Waterstones in Piccadilly, London to promote the release.The title Dreams that Glitter comes from a line in the group's 2007 single "Call the Shots".
In April 2009, it was reported that Cole signed a £5million deal with HarperCollins to author five romantic novels for the company.
Cole rose to fame in 2002 after becoming a member of pop group Girls Aloud through ITV's reality television programme Popstars: The Rivals. They have become one of the few UK reality television acts to achieve continued success, amassing a fortune of £25 million by May 2009. With Girls Aloud, Cole has been successful in achieving a string of 20 consecutive UK top ten singles (including four number ones), two UK number one albums, and received nominations for five BRIT Awards, winning Best Single in 2009 for "The Promise".
In 2008, Cole became a judge on the British reality television show The X Factor. Propelling her fame to new heights, Cole has been called "the nation's new sweetheart." Her first solo single, "Fight for This Love", was the fastest-selling single of 2009 up to that point when it entered the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Chart at number one, becoming the fourth best-seller of the year. Her debut solo album 3 Words achieved similar success.
She has also become recognized as a style icon, appearing on the covers of British Vogue and Elle. In 2009, Cole became the new face of L'Oréal.
Cole is married to the Chelsea and England football player Ashley Cole. It was reported on 24 February 2010 that the couple are to separate, and on 22 March 2010 Cheryl Cole said she would wait six months before deciding whether to pursue a divorce.
Early life
Cole was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England and grew up in poverty on council estates in the inner city districts of Walkerand Heaton. She is the fourth of five children of Joan Callaghan,and the elder child of Gary Tweedy. Cole has a brother, Garry (born 1987, Newcastle) and three elder maternal half-siblings – Joseph, Gillian and Andrew. Cole's parents never married each other; they split up when Cole was 11.
Interested in dancing from an early age, Cole joined the Royal Ballet's summer school at the age of nine. In addition to dancing, Cole won many modelling competitions, including Boots Group's bonniest baby, Mothercare Happy Faces Portrait competition, Best Looking Girl of Newcastle, The Evening Chronicle "Little Miss and Mister", and "Most Attractive Girl" at the MetroCentre. She also appeared in two British Gas adverts, an SCS advert, and an Eldon Square Christmas advert with younger brother Garry. Cole also appeared in dance recitals on some television shows.
Career
Girls Aloud
Cole auditioned for Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, singing S Club 7's "Have You Ever". Cole joined Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts, and Kimberley Walsh to comprise the new girl group Girls Aloud, formed through the show by a public vote on 30 November 2002.
The group's debut single "Sound of the Underground" peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the 2002 Christmas number one. Girls Aloud hold the record for the shortest time between formation and reaching number one. Since 2003, Girls Aloud have released twenty additional singles, with all but one charting within the top ten. Their singles "I'll Stand by You", "Walk This Way", and "The Promise" have charted at number one. "The Promise" won Best British Single at the 2009 BRIT Awards. Their greatest hits album The Sound of Girls Aloud and 2008's Out of Control entered the UK Albums Chart at number one, with over one million copies of the former being sold.
In 2009, it was announced that Girls Aloud would partake in a year-long hiatus to pursue solo projects, but would reunite for a new studio album in 2010.
Solo music artist
Cole's first foray into a solo music career occurred when she featured on will.i.am's "Heartbreaker". After taking streetdancing classes during the filming of Passions of Girls Aloud series, Cole was picked to appear in the song's music video. She was later asked to sing additional vocals on the track.
In April 2009, it was confirmed that Cole was working on solo material.Her debut album, 3 Words, was released in the UK on 26 October 2009. Cole reunited with will.i.am for a majority of the album, in addition to collaborating with Fraser T. Smith, Syience, Danish production team Soulshock & Karlin, singer-songwriter Taio Cruz, and Wayne Wilkins. The album spent two weeks at number one. On 6 November 2009, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified the album Platinum denoting shipments of 300,000+ units. The first single from the album, "Fight for This Love", was written by Andre Merritt and produced by Steve Kipner and Wilkins. According to Cole it was released as the lead single because she "connected with the song so well". Following a performance on The X Factor live results show, "Fight for This Love" became the fourth fastest-selling single of 2009 in the UK up to that point. It charted at number one on both the Irish and UK Singles Chart. Cole's second single "3 Words", which features will.i.am, was a top five hit.
In January 2010, it was announced that she would be the opening act for the UK and selected European dates of the Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D. World Tour. Along with this ir was revealed in the early months of 2010 Cole had recorded new music whilst in Los Angeles escaping the media after the breakup of her marriage. She revealed that she hoped fans would be able to hear the new music soon but said that she had to be sure the fans would really like the album. It is unknown if the new project will be a re-release of 3 Words or a completely new album. She has also revealed she would like to duet with Gary Barlow (of Take That).
The X Factor and television
On 10 June 2008, it was announced Cole would replace Sharon Osbourne as a judge for the fifth series of The X Factor.[ Cole was given the girls category, subsequently ending up as the victorious judge when Alexandra Burke was crowned the fifth X Factor winner on 13 December 2008. Cole returned for the sixth series in 2009 and was given the boys category. Cole ended up as the victorious judge for a second consecutive year after Joe McElderry was crowned the sixth X Factor winner. Simon Cowell, the show's creator, said, "I knew she was going to be good because she speaks like normal people speak. People can relate to that. And I think that is the best sign of a judge." Cowell referred to Cole as "one of the best I've ever worked with."
Cole was given a one-off television programme for ITV1, Cheryl Cole's Night In, which aired on 19 December 2009. Alexandra Burke, Rihanna, Will Young, Snow Patrol and will.i.am made appearances. Cole told the press, "I couldn't be happier that ITV have asked me to round off the year with my own show, working with some of my favourite artists." The programme attracted 5 million viewers on its first airing, substantially less than the 8.1 million viewers which Strictly Come Dancing received during the same time slot.
As a member of Girls Aloud, Cole has also appeared in the fly on the wall documentary Girls Aloud: Home Truths, the E4 documentary series Girls Aloud: Off the Record, an episode of Ghosthunting with..., and a one-off variety show entitled The Girls Aloud Party.
Books
Cole contributed to the book Dreams that Glitter - Our Story, an autobiography with her Girls Aloud bandmates, in October 2008. The book was written with a ghostwriter and published by the Transworld imprint Bantam Press. The book featured unseen photographs and included insights into the members' personal lives, their success together, style tips, and "everything we've learned about life, love and music." The book was previewed and serialised by OK! prior to its release. Girls Aloud held a book signing at Waterstones in Piccadilly, London to promote the release.The title Dreams that Glitter comes from a line in the group's 2007 single "Call the Shots".
In April 2009, it was reported that Cole signed a £5million deal with HarperCollins to author five romantic novels for the company.