The Transformation Of Pink From 21 To 41 Years Old

With a career spanning more than two decades, Pink is one of music's most famous faces (and most unique stage names). Born Alecia Beth Moore on September 8, 1979, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, the singer became the voice for a generation. However, her claim to fame wasn't an overnight success story.

According to Britannica, the "Walk Me Home" hitmaker signed a record deal after an executive recruited her to sing in an R&B band called Basic Instinct. After that didn't work out, she became a member of the short-lived girl group Choice. Around that time, the aspiring star discovered her stage name. In a CNN interview, Pink explained how she got her moniker. "It was a mean thing at first; some kids at camp pulled my pants down and I blushed so much, and they were like, 'Ha ha! Look at her! She's pink!'" she explained, per Hollywood.com. "And then the movie 'Reservoir Dogs' came out and Mr. Pink was the one with the smart mouth, so it just happened all over again."

After Choice called it quits, Pink (pictured above at 21 years old) was ready to be a solo star. In 2000, she dropped her debut album, "Can't Take Me Home." The record was certified double-platinum by RIAA after selling more than 2 million copies in the U.S. alone. The album spawned three hit singles: "There You Go," "Most Girls," and "You Make Me Sick." However, this was just the beginning of Pink's chart domination.

Pink's first album, "Can't Take Me Home," saw the singer debut on the scene as an R&B artist, something she didn't want to continue being. During Pink's VH1 documentary "Behind The Music," she admitted she wanted to make more "timeless" music and didn't want to "repeat" herself with future material.

For Pink's 2001 sophomore album, "Missundaztood," she worked with 4 Non Blondes singer Linda Perry. When Pink came up with the idea to collaborate with Perry, her record executive, Antonio "L.A." Reid, wasn't crazy about the choice. However, Pink was adamant about reinventing herself and wasn't going to compromise. "Missundaztood" separated Pink from her earlier sound and was a lot rockier than her debut record. Reid was concerned that Pink would lose fans or that listeners wouldn't identify with her new persona. After handing in her album to her label, Pink explained in her documentary that Reid called her, saying, "OK, I'm going to give you the opportunity to fail," to which she replied, "Thank you, I can't wait." 

Pink (pictured above at 23 years old) proved Reid wrong as "Missundaztood" morphed her into a global star. The new material helped the "There You Go" hitmaker gain and connect with fans as she had never done before. According to Chart Masters, "Missundaztood" was far from a failure and remains Pink's most successful album to date, selling more than 11.5 million copies worldwide.

As fans know, Pink is very honest. Whether it's the lyrics in her songs or the opinions she shares in interviews, she keeps it real, no matter what. Over the years, the award-winning star has found herself caught up in a few spats after giving certain celebrities a piece of her mind.

Her beef with fellow singer Christina Aguilera has been well-documented and been a topic of discussion many times. As noted in her documentary "Behind The Music," Pink and Aguilera first clashed while collaborating on the hit single "Lady Marmalade" in 2001. After Pink worked with Linda Perry on her second album "Missundaztood," Aguilera did the same for her sophomore release, "Stripped." Her hugely successful single, "Beautiful," was written by Perry, and Pink had something to say about the situation: "I don't think imitation is the highest form of flattery, I think it's annoying." The duo has since made up, but their feud reportedly lasted a long 16 years, per The Sun.

Another high-profile musician Pink (pictured above at 24 years old) gave a piece of her mind to was Kanye West, after the 2009 Taylor Swift MTV VMAs incident. The "Try" chart-topper took to Twitter and bluntly wrote, "Kanye west is the biggest piece of sh** on earth. Quote me." With that being said, she also had words for his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, after she kept sharing nude photos and came for Bette Midler, according to Business Insider.

Along with being a phenomenal singer and songwriter, Pink (pictured above at 31 years old) is also a seasoned performer. At the 2010 Grammy Awards, she blew everyone away with her stunning performance of "Glitter in the Air." While spinning around in the air soaking wet, Pink was still able to provide flawless vocals. 

When reflecting on the performance with Billboard in 2019, Pink admitted that she can't believe the Grammys allowed her to perform a song that wasn't a single. She also informed fans that she had no harness on while off the ground, making the performance even more impressive. 

Pink's aerobatic performances have since become her signature style of performing, something which fans look forward to seeing during her concerts. Her most recent "Beautiful Trauma" world tour in 2018 and 2019 saw the powerhouse entertainer singing in arenas and stadiums. Not only that, but she also managed to sell more than 3 million tickets and grossed $397.3 million. According to Billboard, it became the biggest tour from a woman in over a decade.

According to People, Pink and Carey Hart's relationship goes way back. The couple started dating in 2001 and have since started a family of their own. As noted by the publication, the duo tied the knot in 2006 in Costa Rica but separated for nearly a year in 2008. Despite their ups and downs, they've managed to make it work and seem happier than ever.

In June 2011, the pair welcomed their first child, daughter Willow Sage Hart. Over five years later, Pink (pictured above 39-years-old) gave birth to son Jameson Moon Hart in December 2016, per US Weekly. In a 2019 interview with Carson Daly on "Today," the Grammy Award-winner explained why becoming a mom has changed her as a person and as a musician. "I'm much more open, I'm much more accepting of myself, I'm much more thoughtful," she revealed. "I think about the world more, and what we're leaving for these kids, and the direction we're headed in. And so I guess it changes your music."

As for taking the kids with her on tour, she said she enjoys it. "I don't know, it's fun, I like noise," she expressed. "The kids bring a levity to the situation that wouldn't otherwise exist. They make everything fun, they bring so much joy, they're entertainment, they're thoughtful. It's just — it's rad."

Pink's longevity is proof that if you stay true to yourself, you will succeed in life. As of this writing, Pink's career remains in demand. To date, she has earned herself three No. 1 albums on the U.S. Billboard 200, three Grammy Awards, and the MTV VMA Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

In 2021, Pink was chosen to receive the Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards after years of hard work. "As a little girl, I always dreamed about being a singer and sharing my love of music with the world," she said in a statement, per Billboard. "Years later, to receive the Billboard Music Awards Icon Award is hard to fathom! I feel so honored to join the ranks of music idols like Cher, Garth Brooks, Janet Jackson, and Stevie Wonder. It's a true 'pinch me' moment and I feel humbled and blessed." 

2021 isn't a quiet year for Pink (pictured above 41-years-old). Along with releasing a documentary, "Pink: All I Know So Far," she has also found herself collaborating with her daughter, Willow Sage Hart, and British singer Rag'n'Bone Man on singles. She's been in the spotlight for more than 20 years, but she's not slowing down anytime soon.