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YouTube singer and The Voice finalist
She became famous as a YouTube sensation whose cover of Nelly's "Just a Dream" with Sam Tsui garnered over 190 million views and propelled her to finish third on The Voice season six.
Christina Grimmie was an American singer, songwriter, and internet personality born March 12, 1994, under the Pisces zodiac sign. She began posting song covers to YouTube in 2009 at age 15, quickly amassing over one million subscribers and reaching viral fame with her cover of Nelly's "Just a Dream" alongside Sam Tsui. She released her debut EP Find Me in 2011, finished third on The Voice season six in 2014, and released her studio album With Love in 2013. On June 10, 2016, Grimmie was tragically shot and killed at age 22 while signing autographs after a concert in Orlando, Florida.
Grimmie grew up in Marlton, New Jersey, where her father noticed her singing talent at age six and she began playing piano at age 10. She attended Cherokee High School and was homeschooled during her junior year in 2010. Her first YouTube video in 2009 was a cover of Hannah Montana's "Don't Wanna Be Torn," uploaded under the username zeldaxlove64, and she gained early recognition with her cover of Miley Cyrus's "Party in the U.S.A." in August 2009.
Grimmie was born to Tina and Albert Grimmie and had an older brother Marcus who served as her road manager and heroically confronted her attacker. She was of Italian and Romanian descent and grew up attending Bethel Baptist Christian School and Marlton Middle School. On June 10, 2016, she was shot three times by Kevin James Loibl, 27, while signing autographs at the Plaza Live in Orlando; Marcus tackled the shooter with his bare hands, and Loibl then killed himself. Christina died from her injuries at the hospital several hours later at age 22, and her funeral drew thousands of mourners who celebrated her musical legacy.
Her YouTube channel reached over three million subscribers and 576 million total views, making her one of the top musicians on the platform.
Adam Levine, her coach on The Voice, promised to sign her to his label 222 Records regardless of competition results, and Lil Wayne also offered her a contract.
Her cover of "Just a Dream" with Sam Tsui and Kurt Hugo Schneider became available on iTunes and Spotify after going viral with over 190 million views.
She played piano by ear despite receiving formal lessons and taught herself to perform complex arrangements.
Her YouTube username was zeldaxlove64, reflecting her passion for video games and internet culture.
I began a musical YouTube channel so that people could connect with my music.
The video is about a guy that I start liking in school, and he's sort of a dangerous kid, and I am the type of girl that tells my mom about everything.
My friend persuaded me to post my videos on YouTube, and I'm so grateful she did.
Born March 12 in Marlton, New Jersey to Tina and Albert Grimmie
Began posting song covers to YouTube at age 15 under username zeldaxlove64
Cover of "Just a Dream" with Sam Tsui and Kurt Hugo Schneider went viral
Released debut EP Find Me, which debuted at number 35 on Billboard 200, and YouTube channel reached one million subscribers
Performed at 39th American Music Awards pre-show and won her first award
Released debut studio album With Love and opened for Selena Gomez's Stars Dance Tour
Competed on The Voice season six and finished in third place, earning record deal offers from Adam Levine and Lil Wayne
Released Side A EP and made her only film appearance in The Matchbreaker
Shot and killed June 10 at age 22 by Kevin James Loibl after a concert in Orlando, Florida
Posthumous releases Side B EP and final album All Is Vanity were made available