Mỹ Linh

Mỹ Linh (born Đỗ Mỹ Linh; 19 August 1975) is a Vietnamese singer, lyricist, and vocal coach. Dubbed the "Queen of Vietnamese R&B", she is widely regarded as one of the most culturally significant Vietnamese figures of the late 20th and 21st centuries. Considered the national diva, Mỹ Linh is among the best-selling Vietnamese music artists of all time. She has also been dubbed the "Queen of Spring" by media for the enduring popularity of her Tet holiday music, particularly her first single Thì Thầm Mùa Xuân and "Khúc Giao Mùa (2000). Mỹ Linh is widely recognized for her powerful, technically skilled vocals, and her best-selling album Tóc ngắn (1998), which is considered a cultural milestone, credited with revolutionizing music production, creating the cultural phenomenon "Mỹ Linh Hair", and making her one of the greatest Vietnamese pop stars of all time.

Tóc ngắn and her latter album Chat với Mozart (2005) respectively hold the titles of best-selling R&B album and crossover album of all time in Vietnam. Her 2003 critical and commercial success album Made in Vietnam topped the Japanese album monthly chart in 2007. It was the first Vietnamese album to be officially distributed in international markets, featuring English and Spanish versions.

Early life and education My Linh was born in a working-class family in Hanoi on 19 August 1975. Her father was a literature school-teacher, then worker and building constructor. Her mother was a worker in a pharmaceutical factory. She has an older brother and a younger sister.

My Linh exhibited musical and performing talents at a very young age, gathering awards at various local children music contests. She attended Elementary and Middle School in Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi. In 1994, she graduated from Bạch Mai High School and came first in the entrance exam to the Hanoi Conservatory of Music. She graduated in 1997, having become a famous pop singer.

Music career In August 1993, My Linh and the Hoa Sữa band won second place at the National Pop Music Festival. Mỹ Linh herself won the Best New Artist award with the song Thì Thầm Mùa Xuân written by Ngọc Châu. My Linh started her professional music career after the Festival and became one of the best-loved Vietnamese singers.

In 1998, My Linh married composer and producer Anh Quân. This was an important step in her music career. She began to perform Soul and Funk music. She went on a Vietnam tour Tiếng Hát Mỹ Linh in 1998, performing in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Following the success of the tour, in 1999, she released Tóc Ngắn album, which has become her trademark.

In 2003, My Linh signed a contract with the American record company, Blue Tiger, to release an English-language album, attracting wide media attention in Vietnam. Coming to America was released in 2004.

In 2006, My Linh was one of the judges for Sao Mai Điểm Hẹn, a singing contest hosted by Vietnam Television to discover young music talents.

My Linh has performed in many countries, including China, Thailand, Korea, Russia, Germany, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Cuba, United States, Canada and Australia. In 2006, she is the only Vietnamese artist performing in Asian Divas night in Nagoya, Japan.

In 2023, My Linh participated in the reality TV show , the Vietnamese version developed from the Chinese format Sisters Who Make Waves.

During the show's broadcast, My Linh was recognized as one of the contestants who attracted much attention thanks to her adaptability to performance challenges, especially in those requiring high-intensity choreography and physical activity. The press commented that her image on the show showed a change from her familiar stage style, and helped her connect more closely with a younger audience. On social media, many of My Linh's performance moments were widely shared and associated with "memes," further highlighting her approachable and charming personality on the show.

At the end of the 2023 season, My Linh was one of seven artists named to form the "Đạp Gió" group, along with Trang Pháp, Ninh Dương Lan Ngọc, MLee, Thu Phương, Lệ Quyên, and Diệp Lam Anh. At the final night, she also received the "Most Beautiful Woman of the Year" award, a title recognizing her inspiring image and groundbreaking spirit throughout the program.

This success is considered a significant milestone in My Linh's later career, helping her expand her presence in the television industry.

In 2024, My Linh returned to the show in Chị đẹp đạp gió 2024. According to the producers, she and Thu Phuong are two artists from the first season returning for the second season. This return demonstrates My Linh's appeal after the 2023 season, while also affirming her increasingly prominent role in the program format, not only as a veteran singer but also as a face capable of adapting to the performance and competition model on reality television.

In the early stages of the 2024 season, My Linh and Thu Phuong were introduced as two direct rivals, participating in the head-to-head structure of the show. The program's opening episode aired on October 26, 2024. Her continued prominent presence in the show demonstrates that My Linh has become a central figure in the Chị đẹp đạp gió brand. After the finale on December 22, 2024, she was mentioned by the media as one of the two "beautiful sisters" who have been with the program for two consecutive seasons.

Overall, the period of 2023–2024, spanning two seasons of Chị đẹp đạp gió, marked a significant transition in My Linh's career. From her image as a pop diva, she has gradually expanded her activities into television entertainment, building a dynamic, inspiring, and accessible stage persona for the modern audiences.

Personal life My Linh married composer and producer Anh Quân in 1998. They have two children, Anh Duy and Mỹ Anh. Anna (Vietnamese name Mỹ Hà) is Anh Quân's daughter from his first marriage. Her favourite singers are Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Brian McKnight and Babyface.

Activism In 2004, My Linh recorded a public service announcement about the threats that people's consumption of bear bile posed to wild bear populations and to the welfare of bears that are farmed for their bile. The short film, which was broadcast on several Vietnamese TV stations, and included footage shot at bear farms in Hanoi. The film was produced by Education for Nature Vietnam, the country's first non-governmental organization to focus on conservation, with assistance from the London-based Environmental Justice Foundation.

Discography

Studio albums 10 Tình Khúc Bảo Phúc – Anh Thoa (1995) Vẫn Hát Lời Tình Yêu (1996) Xin Mặt Trời Ngủ Yên (1996) Cho Một Người Tình Xa (1996) Mỹ Linh (1997) Mùa Thu Không Trở Lại (1998) Chiều Xuân (1998) Còn Mãi Tìm Nhau (1999) Tóc Ngắn (1998) Tóc Ngắn Vol. 2: Vẫn Mãi Mong Chờ (2000) Made in Vietnam (2003) Chat Với Mozart (2005) Để Tình Yêu Hát (2006) Tóc Ngắn Acoustic: Một Ngày (2011) Chat Với Mozart Vol. II (2018)

Video albums Mỹ Linh (1998) Tóc Ngắn (2000) Mỹ Linh Tour '06 (2007) Cảm Xúc Mùa Thu (2012)

Shows WeChoice (27/1/2024) Chị Đẹp Đạp Gió Rẽ Sóng (28/10/2023) Chị Đẹp Đạp Gió 2024 (26/10/2024)