Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart, born September 13, 1977, is an American singer-songwriter known for her musical career. All five of her studio albums have reached the top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart, and as of 2021, she has sold over 15 million records worldwide. Three of her albums appear on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." Her accolades include three Grammy Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, and a Billboard Music Video Award.

Apple was born in New York City to singer Diane McAfee and actor Brandon Maggart. She grew up alternating between her mother's home in New York and her father's home in Los Angeles. She studied piano as a child and began writing songs at eight years old. During her youth, she transcribed guitar tablature into standard notation and played along with jazz standards by Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Since childhood, Apple has struggled with depression, anxiety, obsessive–compulsive disorder, complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and an eating disorder.

Apple entered the music industry in 1994 after a demo tape containing her songs reached Sony Music executive Andy Slater, who signed her to a record deal. Her debut album, Tidal, was released in 1996 by Work Records and Columbia Records. Inspired by a recent breakup, the album sold 2.7 million copies in the United States and was certified three times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The single "Criminal" won Best Female Rock Performance at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards, and Apple received the Best New Artist award at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards for "Sleep to Dream."

In 1999, Apple released her second album, When the Pawn..., produced by Jon Brion. The album featured expressive lyrics, drum loops, and the Chamberlin, earning RIAA Platinum certification and producing the hit "Fast as You Can." For her third album, Extraordinary Machine, initial 2002 recording sessions produced by Brion leaked online. Unhappy with the results, Apple remade the record with producers Mike Elizondo and Brian Kehew. Released in October 2005, Extraordinary Machine was certified Gold and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album.

Apple released her fourth studio album, The Idler Wheel..., in June 2012. It peaked at number three on the Billboard 200, making it her most successful album on that chart, and was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. Her fifth studio album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters, was released in 2020 and won two Grammy Awards, including Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Performance for its lead single, "Shameika."