Anastacia has revealed that Arnold Schwarzenegger once had her perform En Vogue’s hit “Whatta Man” a dozen times in a row at his birthday party, per bbc.com. The singer, now celebrating the 25th anniversary of her debut album Not That Kind, shared the quirky anecdote during a recent interview.
Before becoming a global pop star, Anastacia spent years singing at corporate events and private parties. One such gig was Schwarzenegger’s birthday, where she was asked to repeatedly belt out the 90s R&B classic. “Every time, I was like, ‘Oh my God, he wants it again,’” she laughed.
Anastacia’s big break came in 1998 after her powerful performance on MTV’s The Cut, which led to a record deal and her breakout single, “I’m Outta Love.” Despite early rejections from labels that didn’t know how to market her unique look and sound, she went on to sell over four million copies of her debut album worldwide.
Now 57, Anastacia is on a global tour celebrating the silver anniversary of Not That Kind. She’s noticed a new generation of fans discovering her music, especially through social media, where tracks like “Left Outside Alone” and “Paid My Dues” are gaining renewed popularity.
Despite never cracking the US charts, Anastacia has found lasting success in Europe and beyond. “I’m already working enough,” she joked when asked about pursuing fame in America. With two new albums in the works, the singer shows no signs of slowing down.
•Featured image: Anastacia/Nora Jeker
