Nelly Furtado
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Nelly Furtado

Nelly Kim Furtado, born on December 2, 1978, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, is a highly acclaimed Portuguese-Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. Raised in a working-class Portuguese household, Furtado was immersed in her heritage, influencing her unique musical style. She learned to play various instruments from a young age and began writing her own songs as a teenager, incorporating diverse influences from hip-hop, pop, R&B, folk, and world music.Furtado rose to international fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly! (2000), which was a critical and commercial success, featuring hit singles like "I'm Like a Bird" (for which she won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance) and "Turn Off the Light." After the release of her more introspective, folk-infused second album, Folklore (2003), she achieved massive global success with her third album, Loose (2006). Produced largely by Timbaland, Loose became her best-selling album, spawning numerous worldwide hits including "Promiscuous," "Maneater," "Say It Right," and "All Good Things (Come to an End)," solidifying her status as a pop superstar.Beyond her English-language work, Furtado released her first full-length Spanish album, Mi Plan, in 2009, which earned her a Latin Grammy Award. She has continued to release music, including The Spirit Indestructible (2012), The Ride (2017), and 7 (2024), demonstrating her ongoing musical versatility and willingness to experiment with genres. Throughout her career, Furtado has sold over 45 million records worldwide and has received numerous awards, including a Grammy Award, a Latin Grammy Award, ten Juno Awards, and a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.While primarily known for her music, Furtado has also ventured into acting. She appeared in the action film Max Payne (2008) and has made guest appearances in television shows like CSI: NY and 90210. More recently, she made a cameo as herself in the 2024 romantic fantasy film The Greatest Hits.

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