Fantasia Is Rebuilding Her Post American Idol Life
"American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino gets her house back in order on the first episode of her VH1 reality series, debuting at 10 p.m. tonight.
Despite a successful autobiography, a made-for-TV movie, a Broadway role in "The Color Purple" and a platinum album, Barrino fell into money problems after moving from High Point to Charlotte following her "Idol" win in 2004.
Liens were filed against her first home, in Piper Glen in south Charlotte, over unpaid homeowner association fees. Creditors filed suit for her $240,000 Mercedes. And her second home, a $1.2 million mansion off Elm Lane, was saved from auction after fees were paid on back taxes in 2009.
In the first episode of the VH1 series, "Fantasia For Real," Barrino, 25 acknowledges having her extended family of six living with her can be a financial burden, and moves to get things back on track.
"I think I created a monster for letting it go on so long," Barrino said in an interview with the Observer last week. "I kind of spoiled them, always handing things out... It took me a long time to stand up because I have such a soft spot in my heart."
In the series, which began taping in June, she confronts her brother, Joseph "Teeny" Barrino, for overspending and demolishing the interior of the home's pool house to put in a recording studio. At the same time, she tries to revive her career with a new song, "Move on Me."
Barrino and her mother lived in Charlotte when she was in the ninth grade and decided to move back to the city after "Idol" because she loved the area and knew her mother would be comfortable here.
Barrino said in the interview that her financial problems stemmed from poor management after she hit the spotlight.
"I wasn't handled the way I should have been and I lost a lot of shows because of management. When someone realizes you're green, new to the game, they can easily take advantage of you.
"Now that I'm getting older I know what to look for," she said. "If I don't understand it, then doggone it, somebody needs to break it down."
Barrino said she regrets not being more involved with the direction of her career after her win on "Idol." But the bad press about debts and struggles with money have taught her valuable lessons about show business, and given her some harsh life experience.
"You won't be able to do good music if you don't go through some things," she said. "I had to come back swinging."
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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, Charlotte Observer, Youtube, VH1, Google Maps
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