Alessandra Amoroso

Alessandra Amoroso (Italian pronunciation: [alesˈsandra amoˈroːzo, -oːso]; born 12 August 1986) is an Italian singer. She was the winner of the 2009 edition of the Italian talent show Amici di Maria De Filippi. Since then, she has published nine studio albums and two live albums, topping the Italian Albums Chart eight times. Amoroso has also released successful singles and collaborations, including three number one hits, selling over 3 million records in Italy.

Amoroso has collaborated and worked with notable Italian artists, including Loredana Bertè, Elisa, Emma Marrone, J-Ax, Fedez, Tiziano Ferro, Francesco Renga and Fiorella Mannoia.

In 2014, she became the first female Italian artist to win the MTV Europe Music Award for Best European Act, winning overall three MTV Europe Music Awards, seven Wind Music Awards, and received several nominations at the Kids' choice awards and World Music Awards.

She also acted in Io che amo solo te by Marco Ponti in 2015 and she co-hosted with Gianni Morandi the TV program Grazie a tutti in 2009.

Since her youth, Amoroso participated in numerous local competitions, obtaining good results. In June 2007, she participated in a contest, Fiori di Pesco, singing the song Amor mio, and placed first among the competitors, and was rewarded by Mogol. When she was seventeen, she auditioned for Amici but she failed.

On 5 October 2008, Amoroso passed the audition for the eighth season of Amici di Maria De Filippi, singing the Alicia Keys single, "If I Ain't Got You". She participated in the recording of the compilation disc of the programme, Scialla. "Find a Way" reached number four on the singles charts, while "Immobile" topped the chart. During the program, the singer distinguished herself thanks to her voice: all the teachers, especially Luca Jurman, recognized a sandblasted timbre. On 25 March 2009, Amoroso was proclaimed winner of Amici di Maria De Filippi, winning the first prize of 200,000 euros. On the same evening, she also received the critics' prize, a scholarship worth 50,000 euros. With this money, Amoroso said that she would continue to study with voice teacher Luca Jurman.

After presenting the song during the final of Amici di Maria De Filippi, Alessandra released her first single, "Stupida" on 27 March 2009. The song achieved great success, topping the Italian singles chart. Her debut extended play, Stupida, was released on 10 April 2009 via Sony Music Italy. The EP was certified gold in pre-order, due to pre-orders in excess of 35,000 copies. On 6 June 2009, in Verona, Alessandra received two Wind Music Award for the sales of Stupida and the compilation Scialla, both certified multiplatinum.

From 19 June to 22 September 2009, Amoroso embarked upon a summer tour in promotion of the Stupida EP in stadiums and theatres throughout Italy. Her concert at Arena Ciccio Franco in Reggio Calabria was recorded on 20 August 2009. In addition to the various stages of the main tour, Alessandra participated in several other tours, including Radio Norba Battiti Live and Trl On Tour, in addition to the tour organized by Amici di Maria de Filippi. On 21 June 2009, she performed at the concert "Amiche per l’abruzzo", organized by Laura Pausini, at the San Siro stadium in Milan. As of 2010^[update], Stupida has sold over 200,000 copies in Italy, thus obtaining a double platinum certification.