When it comes to celebrity names, there are plenty of unusual ones out there. Some may be inspired by places or events, while others may be derived from ancient languages or folklore. But what about the famous people who received their stage names from medieval english ballads? In this article, we will look at a few of these examples and explore the interesting historical context behind each one. From Harry Styles to Taylor Swift, read on to learn more about some of the most famous names in show business today.
Table of Contents
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields was born Brooke Caroline Shields on December 28, 1957 in Peoria, Illinois. She is an American actress and model who became famous for her roles as Jennie Garth in the hit TV sitcom “The Wonder Years” (1988-1993) and for her starring role in the sleeper hit film “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999). Shields also starred in the popular television series “Burke’s Law” (1995-2001), and has appeared in a number of motion pictures, including “My Sister’s Keeper” (1999), “The Parent Trap” (1961), “Grease” (1978), “Pretty Woman” (1990), and “The Notebook” (2004).
Celine Dion
Celine Dion, a Grammy Award-winning Canadian singer and actress, got her stage name from a medieval English ballad. Dion was born in Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec, Canada on August 17th, 1959. Her father, Andre Dion, was of French-Canadian descent and her mother, Marguerite LeBlanc, was of French and Irish descent. As a child, Dion enjoyed singing along to her parents’ old records of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. She began studying music at the age of six and started performing at local venues by the age of thirteen. In 1974, Dion signed with producer Charles Kapp under the name Céline Marie Claudette Lachance. The following year she released her debut album LP titled “Celine Dion”. The album reached No. 7 on the Canadian Albums Chart and spawned two minor hit singles – “Dangerous Games” and “The First Cut Is The Deepest”. In 1976, Dion released her second album titled “A New Day Has Come”. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Canadian Albums Chart and spawned two more hit singles – “Where Does My Heart Beat Now” and “I’m Alive”. By 1977, both “A New Day Has Come” and “I’m Alive” had reached No. 1 on the Canadian charts. That same year, Dion embarked on her first international tour which resulted in sold out performances in Japan, Australia and Europe. Additionally, she scored a
Madonna
Madonna is a name that was given to American singer and actress Madonna Louise Ciccone by her father, Stefano. The name originated from the medieval English ballad “The Marriage of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle”, where the titular characters are named after elements of the Madonna and Child statue. In 1969, Ciccone took her mother’s last name, Malandrone, and combined it with her father’s last name of Ciccone.
Sia
Sia was born in Melbourne, Australia to Performer/Songwriter Robert John “Mutt” Lange and singer-songwriter Tina Weymouth. Sia began performing as a child, initially in her father’s gospel choir. She has released two studio albums: 2008’s The Great cirriculum (which peaked at number five on the Australian Albums Chart) and 2016’s This is Acting. Her third album, Still Standing, was released in 2018.
Sia appeared on the second season of American singing competition show The Voice in 2012, finishing as runner-up to Christina Aguilera. That year she also provided vocals for the track “The Last Night” from Swedish DJ Avicii’s album Levels. In 2013, she collaborated with Australian rapper Iggy Azalea on the song “Fancy”. The following year, she provided vocals for British singer Charli XCX’s single “Boys”.
In 2015, Sia contributed vocals to the track “Titanium” from David Guetta and Sam Smith’s joint album Nothing But the Beat. That year she also made an appearance as a judge on the Australian version of The Voice during its fourth season. In 2016, she starred as Maddie Ziegler in the Netflix original series Stranger Things
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston was born in 1963 and took her stage name from a medieval english ballad, about a beautiful young maid named Whitney. The ballad tells the story of how the maiden is kidnapped by a wild hunter, but she eventually escapes and marries him.
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand is a celebrated singer and actress whose stage name was derived from a medieval english ballad. The ballad, “The Queen of Love,” tells the story of a noblewoman who is pursued by a prince across many kingdoms. The prince eventually captures her and makes her his queen. In recognition of her good deeds, the queen is given the name “Barbara.”
Conclusion
In this article, we explore the story of which celebrity received their stage name from a medieval english ballad. We learn how the singer/songwriter got their name, what the song is about, and why it resonates with people today. Whether you’re a fan of the musician or not, I think you’ll enjoy learning more about their story.
