Melody Thornton

Melody Thornton (born September 28, 1984) is an American singer and television personality. After graduating high school, Thornton became one of the main vocalists of the girl group the Pussycat Dolls and released the albums PCD and Doll Domination (2008) becoming one of the world's best-selling girl groups. As part of the group, she has received a Grammy Award nomination.

Following her departure from the group in 2010, Thornton independently released a mixtape, P.O.Y.B.L (2012), and an EP, Lioness Eyes (2020). Outside her music, she has competed on reality shows, Popstar to Operastar (2011), Dancing on Ice (2019) and won the fourth season of the Australian version of The Masked Singer (2022). She has also done several stage works, including playing Rachel Marron in the musical The Bodyguard.

Early life

Melody Thornton is a native of Phoenix, Arizona and was born on September 28, 1984, to a family of Mexican and African-American descent. She was educated in Camelback High School. Her first performance was at her school, where she sang "This Little Light of Mine" at the age of six, and continued to perform at local talent shows in Arizona. After high school, she majored in music engineering for one semester.

Career 2003–2010: The Pussycat Dolls

Thornton (second to the right) with the Pussycat Dolls performing onstage in 2007. At the age of 19, Thornton traveled to Burbank, California to audition for the Pussycat Dolls. and signed a contract with the Pussycat Dolls partnership, receiving a percentage of the group's revenues. Thornton along with Bachar supplied vocals as secondary vocalists, while Scherzinger assumed the majority of the vocals as the lead singer. Thornton was the youngest and the only member who did not have a background in dance. The group released their first single, "Don't Cha" (featuring Busta Rhymes), which stands as the group's most successful single to date peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and reaching the top in 15 other countries. Thornton didn't like the song in the beginning, as she found too controversial. They released their self-titled debut album in September 2005. Subsequent singles, "Stickwitu and "Buttons" also reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Thornton was featured on Jibbs' single "Go Too Far", which was released in March 2007; it entered the top-twenty on the New Zealand Singles Chart. Doll Domination included the singles "When I Grow Up" and "I Hate This Part", which reached the top twenty on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In January 2009, the group embarked on the Doll Domination Tour, their second headlining concert tour, which highlighted stops in Europe, Oceania and Asia, and grossed over $14 million. Following the release of the group's single 2009 "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)", tensions in the group rose due to Scherzinger being billed as a featured artist on the release. This would go on to lead to a public outburst by Thornton during the group's tour appearance while opening for The Circus Starring Britney Spears. The group would then announce a hiatus towards the end of the year.

Thornton then appeared as a panelist on E!'s Bank of Hollywood in which contestants must appeal to a celebrity panel to receive money. It lasted for one season.

2011–present: Solo music, television, and stage work

Since her departure from the group, Thornton has remained an independent artist. In June 2011 she participated in the second series of Popstar to Operastar, a British television programme in which pop stars were trained to sing opera; she was eliminated in the third week. The same month she released her debut single "Sweet Vendeta" which preceded the release of her debut mixtape, P.O.Y.B.L (Piss On Your Black List), the following year. It contains ten tracks which consist of five covers and four songs solely written by Thornton. In 2013 she collaborated with Bizzy Crook, LL Cool J, and Prince Kay One for their respective albums released that year.

In 2017, Thornton returned to British television by appearing on the second series of Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls. In 2019, Thornton was eliminated on the eight-week and placed fifth on the eleventh series of Dancing on Ice. She collaborated with UK DJ producer Harrison on the dance track "Freak Like Me" and released her first solo track in seven years, "Love Will Return". A ballad that is a nod to her heritage and serves as the lead single for her debut EP, Lioness Eyes. The EP, which includes seven songs was released on August 7.

Artistry and musical style

Thornton was inspired to sing after her father's favorite artists, B. B. King, Aretha Franklin, and The Jacksons. Her vocals were likened to Christina Aguilera's,

Discography

Extended plays

+ List of extended plays, with track listings Title Album details Lioness Eyes Released: August 7, 2020 Label: Self-released Formats: Streaming

Mixtapes Title Details P.O.Y.B.L Released: March 15, 2012 Label: Independent Formats: Digital download

Singles

+ List of singles, showing album name and year released Title Year Album "Sweet Vendetta" 2011 P.O.Y.B.L "Phoenix Rise" 2020 "I Will Wait"

Featured singles + List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing album name and year released Title Year Peaks Album NZ UK "Go Too Far" (Jibbs featuring Melody Thornton) 2007 17 126 Jibbs Featuring Jibbs "Freak Like Me" (Harrison featuring Melody Thornton) 2019 – –

Album appearances

+ List of album appearances, showing album name and year released Title Year Other artists Album(s) "Space" 2008 The Pussycat Dolls Doll Domination "Ease Off the Liquor" 2009 TimbalandShock Value 2 "Something About You (Love The World)" 2013 LL Cool J Charlie Wilson Earth, Wind & FireAuthentic "Smoking Gun" "Someone to Believe" Yaro "Bulletproof" Bobby Newberry Don Tyler "Goodbye" 2015 Noel Maitland Guest appearances "Slow Dance" 2009 Keri Hilson "Don't Wanna Go Home" 2010 Jason Derulo "Ballin" 2013 Fat Joe Wiz Khalifa Teyana Taylor

Filmography

Film + Title Year Role Notes Be Cool Herself Uncredited cameo Holiday Twist Brenda

Television + Title Year Role Notes Keeping Up with the Kardashians Herself Episode: "Birthday Suit" Bank of Hollywood Judge Season 1 Popstar to Operastar Contestant Series 2 Celebs Go Dating Contestant Series 2 Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls Contestant Series 2 Dancing on Ice Contestant Series 11 The Masked Singer Australia Mirrorball Season 4 The Masked Singer UK Maypole Series 5 Cinderella 2019–2020 Cinderella New Wimbledon Theatre The Bodyguard Rachel Marron UK and Ireland tour