Anastacia Lyn Newkirk (born September 17, 1968), known professionally as Anastacia, is an American singer and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. Recognized for her powerful, raspy voice, she has built an international career that combines pop, soul, rock and dance music. She has described her sound as "sprock," a blend of soul, pop and rock. Although her success in the United States was comparatively limited, she became a major star in Europe, Australia, Asia and South America.
Anastacia began performing as a dancer in the 1980s and later worked as a backing vocalist. Early appearances included roles in music videos, among them videos by Salt-N-Pepa. Her profile grew after she appeared on MTV's talent program *The Cut* in the late 1990s. A recording contract with Epic Records followed, leading to her debut album, *Not That Kind*, in 2000.
The album established Anastacia as one of the most distinctive new voices in turn-of-the-century pop. Its lead single, "I'm Outta Love," became a worldwide hit, topping charts in several countries and reaching the upper regions of the charts across Europe. The album also produced "Not That Kind," "Cowboys & Kisses" and "Made for Lovin' You." *Not That Kind* became a substantial commercial success, particularly in Europe and Australia, and earned Anastacia the World Music Award for World's Best-Selling New Female Pop Artist in 2001.
Her second album, *Freak of Nature* (2001), continued her rise with singles including "Paid My Dues," "One Day in Your Life" and "Why'd You Lie to Me." The record displayed a more assertive vocal and lyrical approach, while retaining the polished pop production of her debut. Anastacia also contributed "Love Is a Crime" to the soundtrack of the film *Chicago*.
In 2003, Anastacia was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following treatment, she returned with the self-titled album *Anastacia* in 2004. The record marked a significant artistic and commercial turning point. Its lead single, "Left Outside Alone," introduced a darker, more rock-oriented sound and became one of her signature songs. Further successful singles included "Sick and Tired," "Welcome to My Truth" and "Heavy on My Heart." The latter was connected to the Anastacia Fund, which supported breast cancer research.
She consolidated her early achievements with the compilation *Pieces of a Dream* (2005), featuring new material including "Pieces of a Dream," "Everything Burns" with Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody, and "I Belong to You (Il Ritmo della Passione)," a duet with Eros Ramazzotti. Extensive touring, including the Live at Last and Encore tours, established her as a strong live performer.
Later studio albums included *Heavy Rotation* (2008), *It's a Man's World* (2012), *Resurrection* (2014) and *Evolution* (2017). *Resurrection* drew on her experience overcoming a second breast cancer diagnosis in 2013, while *Evolution* returned to the pop-rock style associated with her best-known work. She also appeared as Killer Queen in the Dutch production of the musical *We Will Rock You* in 2019.
In 2023, Anastacia released *Our Songs*, an album of English-language interpretations of well-known German songs. The project reflected her particularly strong connection with German-speaking audiences and included a duet with Peter Maffay. The album reached the top ten in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. She continued touring internationally, including the Not That Kind 25th Anniversary Tour in 2025. A symphonic album project, *Symphonic Revolution*, has been announced for release in November 2026.