Christina Aguilera

• 1. Introduction

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  Christina Aguilera sang "A Sunday Kind of Love" on the television contest Star Search in 1990 and was eliminated in the semi-final round. That loss decided nothing. She would go on to sell more than 100 million records worldwide, and admirers would call her the "Voice of a Generation." Her route ran through Disney television, an animated film theme song and teen pop stardom. Later came a deliberately shocking makeover, Spanish-language albums and a coaching spot on a network singing show. Several questions run through her story. How does a girl from a family that kept moving end up on the biggest stages? Why did she keep changing her look and sound, even when the public pushed back? And what do critics say about that voice, from the loudest praise to the sharpest complaints?

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• 2. Before the Fame

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  Christina María Aguilera was born on the 18th of December 1980 at Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, New York. Her father, Fausto Wagner Xavier Aguilera, was an Ecuadorian emigrant from Guayaquil who served as a United States Army sergeant. Her mother, Shelly Loraine, had German, Irish, Welsh and Dutch ancestry. Shelly had played violin in the American Youth Symphony before she worked as a Spanish translator. Because of Fausto's service, the family rarely stayed put. They lived in Grasmere, New York, and then in New Jersey and Texas. In 1983 they moved to Sagamihara, Japan, where they stayed for at least two years. Later, in the Pittsburgh area, Aguilera attended North Allegheny Intermediate High School. She left to be homeschooled because of bullying.

  In 1986 the family settled in Pennsylvania, and her younger sister, Rachel, was born that year. By 1987 Shelly had filed for divorce and moved with both girls to her mother's home in Rochester, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Aguilera has spoken about her father's physical and emotional abuse. Of that time she said, "growing up in an unstable environment and whatnot, music was my only real escape". Shelly later married James Kearns, and they had a son named Michael. In 2012, after decades of estrangement, Aguilera said she was open to reconciling with her father.

  Her grandmother's house held a stack of records, mostly by soul and blues singers, and Aguilera explored them eagerly. She began singing in public and entering talent contests. Local television and radio programs took notice, and her neighborhood knew her as the "little girl with a big voice." She was eventually invited to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Pittsburgh Penguins hockey, Steelers football and Pirates baseball games. She also sang it at the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals.

  In 1991 she auditioned for The All New Mickey Mouse Club, a variety series on the Disney Channel, against 400 other candidates. She made the shortlist but was turned down because she did not meet the minimum age. A year later, in 1992, a producer phoned to ask whether she still wanted to be a "Mouseketeer." This time 15,000 candidates competed, and she was chosen to join the show the following year. Her castmates included Ryan Gosling, Keri Russell, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez. Taping moved the family to Orlando, Florida. In 1995 came a report that the series would not return for another season.

  In 1997 Aguilera moved to Japan to start a music career. There she recorded a duet, "All I Wanna Do," with the Japanese singer Keizo Nakanishi, and the two performed in concerts around the country. The single failed to find commercial success. In June 1997 she traveled to Romania to represent the United States in a singers contest at the Golden Stag Festival. She did not win over the audience.

  Next she mailed demo tapes to record labels, including Walt Disney Records. For Disney she sent a cover of Whitney Houston's "Run to You." She was then chosen to record "Reflection," the theme song of the 1998 animated film Mulan, and it reached number 15 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The song caught the ear of Ron Fair, an A&R executive at RCA Records, meaning the person who finds and develops new artists. Fair signed her. In late 1998 she began her debut album, and producers reportedly spent over $1 million on writers, producers and vocal lessons.

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• 3. Genie and the Grammy

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  In May 1999, "Genie in a Bottle" arrived as the first single from her debut album and held number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks. It became the second best-selling single of 1999 and topped the charts in more than 20 countries. Conservatives, including the celebrity Debbie Gibson, objected to its lyrics, and some judged the song too provocative for a teen idol. Radio Disney replaced it with a censored version. The song still earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

  Her self-titled debut, Christina Aguilera, came out on the 24th of August 1999 to critical praise and entered the Billboard 200 at number one. It sold over ten million copies in its first year, was later certified eight times platinum in the US, and has sold over 17 million worldwide. Aguilera had wanted to make R&B and soul. The label chose teen pop instead, because that genre paid so well in the late 1990s. At the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards she won Best New Artist, and Time said the win helped prove she was a genuine singer.

  "What a Girl Wants" then reached number one and is recognized as the first new chart-topper of the 2000s. "I Turn to You" climbed to number 3, and "Come on Over Baby (All I Want Is You)" became her third number one. In November 1999 she also released "The Christmas Song," which peaked at number 18. In January 2000 she performed at the Super Bowl XXXIV halftime show with Enrique Iglesias, Phil Collins and Toni Braxton.

  Mi Reflejo, released in September 2000, spent nineteen consecutive weeks at the top of both the Top Latin Albums and Latin Pop Albums charts. It paired Spanish-language versions of songs from her debut with new Latin pop material, including "Ven Conmigo (Solamente Tú)," the Spanish take on "Come on Over Baby." It became the best-selling Latin pop album of 2000 and was later certified six times Latin platinum in the US. It also went platinum in Argentina, Mexico and Spain. At the 2nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards it won Best Female Pop Vocal Album.

  In October 2000 she released her first Christmas album, My Kind of Christmas, which reached number one on the Top Holiday Albums chart. Reviews were polarized at first but have warmed over time. On the 3rd of December 2000, ABC aired her holiday special, My Reflection. Billboard named her the Top Female Pop Act of 2000.

  That same year Aguilera took legal action against her manager, Steve Kurtz, over his "improper, undue, and inappropriate influence over her professional activities." She then hired Irving Azoff, hoping to win control of her career and image.

  On the 16th of January 2001 she featured on Ricky Martin's "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely." It peaked at number 13 on the Hot 100 and gave her a fifth US top-20 hit. In April 2001 she joined Lil' Kim, Mýa and Pink on "Lady Marmalade," from the soundtrack of the film Moulin Rouge! The record spent five weeks at number one and became her fourth chart-topper. It won the Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals and the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year.

  In August 2001, Warlock Records released Just Be Free, a demo album Aguilera had recorded in 1994 and 1995 while she searched for a deal after the Mickey Mouse Club ended. She sued the label and the producers to stop the release. The two sides reached a confidential settlement that allowed the album out, and she lent her name, likeness and image in return for an unspecified sum.

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• 4. Xtina and Stripped

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  The alter ego Xtina marked the end of Aguilera's teen pop years. With new management behind her, she dyed her hair black and wore several tattoos and body piercings. Media outlets widely criticized the new persona. In September 2002 she released "Dirrty," which drew mixed reviews and peaked at number 48 on the Hot 100. Its video depicted overtly sexual fetishes, and conservative organizations and moralists tried to get MTV to ban it. It also sparked protests in Thailand, where local television did ban it. "Dirrty" topped the charts in the UK and Ireland and has since become a cult classic.

  Stripped, her fourth studio album, followed on the 22nd of October 2002. She executive produced it and co-wrote most of its songs. Reviews were mixed, but it debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified five times platinum in the US. In the UK it sold over two million copies, making it the second highest-selling album by an American female artist of the 2000s. Reports put its worldwide sales at 12 million.

  The second single, "Beautiful," won widespread acclaim for lyrics about embracing inner beauty, and it became an LGBT anthem. It reached number two on the Hot 100 and topped charts in the UK, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. It also hit number one on the US Adult Contemporary and Dance Club Songs charts. At the 46th Annual Grammy Awards it won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Further singles included "Fighter," "Can't Hold Us Down" and "The Voice Within."

  In June 2003, Aguilera co-headlined The Justified & Stripped Tour with Justin Timberlake. It played only in North America, drew an audience of 546,483 and grossed over $31.8 million. Billboard ranked it sixteenth among the top 25 tours of 2003. She then took The Stripped Tour to Europe, Asia and Australia. Her Wembley Arena shows were filmed, broadcast on the WB Network and sold as Stripped Live in the UK. A planned second North American leg in early 2004 was canceled because of a vocal cord injury.

  At the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards in August, Aguilera and Britney Spears opened the show with "Like a Virgin" and "Hollywood." Halfway through, Madonna joined them and kissed both singers. The moment drew enormous publicity. In 2008 MTV ranked it the best opening moment in the history of the awards. In November 2003 Aguilera hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards. She dressed as a nun and was undressed to reveal her underclothes during a performance, which brought wide media attention. Billboard named her the Top Female Pop Act of 2003.

  In August 2004 she recorded a cover of "Car Wash" with rapper Missy Elliott for the DreamWorks Animation film Shark Tale. She also voiced a Rastafarian jellyfish in the movie. That September she featured on "Tilt Ya Head Back" with rapper Nelly. The two songs reached numbers 63 and 58 on the Hot 100, respectively.

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• 5. Retro Glamour and Burlesque

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  In early 2005, Aguilera debuted burlesque-style curly blonde hair and makeup inspired by Old Hollywood figures. The look soon became the face of her next project. In March 2006 she released the duet "Somos Novios (It's Impossible)" with Andrea Bocelli and sang it with him at the Sanremo Music Festival. She also featured on Herbie Hancock's "A Song for You," which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

  In June 2006, "Ain't No Other Man" opened her fifth album campaign to critical acclaim. Reviewers compared her vocals to those of Etta James and Aretha Franklin. The song peaked at number six on the Hot 100, sold 1.7 million digital copies in the US and won the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

  Back to Basics arrived in August 2006 as a double album inspired by music from the 1920s to the 1950s. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, her second chart-topping album, and also opened at number one in Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and the UK. It was certified double platinum in the US, sold over 5 million copies worldwide and earned a nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. "Hurt" and "Candyman" followed as singles.

  The Back to Basics Tour began at the end of November 2006 and ran until October 2008 across North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Its acts were themed around juke joints and the circus. With earnings around 48.1 million, it was the highest-grossing tour by a woman in 2007. Rolling Stone traced her journey from bubblegum starlet to dirrty vixen to retro soul siren. Her shows at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre were taped for VH1 and sold as Back to Basics: Live and Down Under.

  In November 2006 she sang "Steppin' Out with My Baby" as a duet with Tony Bennett on his NBC special. They repeated it on Saturday Night Live and at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards, and the live performance earned a Grammy nomination at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. In February 2007 she performed "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. It was widely praised, and a CBS special voted it the third most memorable Grammy performance of all time. That month she also performed at the halftime show of the 2007 NBA All-Star Game.

  In April 2008 she appeared in Martin Scorsese's documentary Shine a Light, which captured a two-day Rolling Stones concert at the Beacon Theatre. There she sang "Live with Me" with Mick Jagger. In September 2008 she released "Keeps Gettin' Better," which debuted at number seven on the Hot 100, her highest debut on the chart at that time. The compilation Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits followed in November 2008, debuted at number nine and later went gold. It added two new songs, the title track and "Dynamite," plus remakes of "Genie in a Bottle" and "Beautiful."

  By the end of 2009 Billboard had ranked her the twentieth best Artist of the Decade. Her sixth album, once titled Light & Darkness, was retitled Bionic in early 2010. "Not Myself Tonight" peaked at number 23 in April 2010, and "Woohoo," with rapper Nicki Minaj, followed the next month. Bionic itself came out on the 6th of June 2010, debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and topped the European and UK charts. She called it a project "about the future," inspired by her son, who made her "want to play and have fun." Reviews were mixed, and Kitty Empire of The Observer called it "very strong, but only in parts." A planned tour was postponed and then canceled because of prior commitments.

  Her first starring film role came in November 2010 in Burlesque, directed by Steven Antin. She played a waitress who becomes a burlesque performer. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame the same week the film premiered. Reviews of the film were mixed, though her performance drew praise, and it grossed US$90 million. It earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy. She recorded eight tracks for the soundtrack, while Cher performed the other two. The album reached number 18 on the Billboard 200 and went gold. Her song "Bound to You" was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Soon afterward she performed "Express" on the finale of the seventh series of The X Factor UK, and its raunchy staging drew criticism.

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• 6. Coach, Collaborator, Comeback

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  In April 2011, Aguilera became a coach on NBC's The Voice. She coached the first season and returned for the second, third, fifth, eighth and tenth. In season one her duet of "Beautiful" with finalist Beverly McClellan debuted at number 74 on the Hot 100, helped by 42,000 first-week downloads on iTunes. A year later "The Prayer," sung with contestant Chris Mann, reached number 85. She left the show in May 2016 after the tenth season, which her contestant Alisan Porter won.

  Also in 2011, she featured on Maroon 5's "Moves like Jagger." It topped the Hot 100 for four non-consecutive weeks, making her the fourth woman to lead the chart across three decades: the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. It earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and in July 2021 the RIAA certified it diamond.

  In September 2012, during the third season of The Voice, she debuted "Your Body," the lead single of her seventh album. It hit number one on the Dance Club Songs chart and reached 34 on the Hot 100. The album, Lotus, followed in November 2012, and she described it as a "rebirth" after personal struggles. Reviewers found it generic and conventional next to her earlier experiments. It peaked at number 7 and has sold 303,000 copies in the US as of 2019. "Just a Fool," with Blake Shelton, was the second single.

  The 22nd of February 2013 brought Pitbull's "Feel This Moment," featuring Aguilera. It peaked at number eight on the Hot 100 and became her tenth top-ten song. In May 2013 she joined Alejandro Fernández on a cover of Miguel Gallardo's 1976 song "Hoy Tengo Ganas de Ti," which earned a diamond certification in Mexico. In October she sang "We Remain" for the soundtrack of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and she performed it on The Voice with her contestant Jacquie Lee. On the 4th of November 2013 she released a duet of "Say Something" with A Great Big World. It peaked at number 4, earned a six-time platinum certification and won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world that year.

  On the 1st of January 2014, Aguilera appeared on a remix of Lady Gaga's "Do What U Want," which replaced the version with R. Kelly after sexual abuse allegations against him. In February 2015 she opened the NBA All-Star Game with The Rockettes and Nas in a New York-themed medley. In April 2015 she starred in the third season of the ABC musical drama Nashville. Her song "Shotgun" from the series reached number twenty-eight on the Hot Country Songs chart. In June 2016 she released "Change," dedicated to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting. She also recorded the disco song "Telepathy" with Nile Rodgers for the Netflix series The Get Down, and it reached number one on the Dance Club Songs chart. In July 2017 she voiced a video-game dancer in The Emoji Movie. That November she paid tribute to Whitney Houston at the American Music Awards. Fans and critics praised her vocals, though some questioned why she was chosen over a Black artist.

  Liberation was released on the 15th of June 2018, after work that began in the summer of 2015. It added R&B and hip-hop elements and debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, her seventh US top-ten album. Its lead single, "Accelerate," with Ty Dolla Sign and 2 Chainz, became her tenth number one on the Dance Songs chart. "Fall in Line," with Demi Lovato, and "Like I Do" earned nominations at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. The Liberation Tour, her first in 10 years, ran in the US from September to November 2018 and grossed $8.7 million with an attendance of 77,854. She also starred in the science fiction romance Zoe, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and opened in July 2018.

  In May 2019, Aguilera began her first concert residency, Christina Aguilera: The Xperience, a 25-date show at the Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. It ended in March 2020. From July to December 2019 she also toured Europe and Latin America on The X Tour. In October 2019 she released "Haunted Heart" for the animated film The Addams Family, and it topped the Kid Digital Song Sales chart. That year Disney named her a Disney Legend. In early 2020 she recorded "Loyal Brave True" for the live-action Mulan, and it made the shortlist of fifteen potential Academy Award nominees for Best Original Song. She also re-recorded "Reflection" for the film. In November 2020 she signed a management deal with Roc Nation. On the 7th of December 2021 she received the People's Music Icon award at the 47th People's Choice Awards. By then she had five Grammy Awards from twenty nominations.

  Her ninth studio album, Aguilera, appeared on the 31st of May 2022 as a double album in three parts: La Fuerza, La Tormenta and La Luz. The complete album followed on the 30th of September 2022. It paid tribute to different genres of Latin music, with singles including "Pa Mis Muchachas," "Somos Nada," "Santo," "Suéltame" and "No Es Que Te Extrañe." Critics gave it widespread acclaim. It received seven nominations at the 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards and won Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. It also earned Grammy nominations for Best Latin Pop Album and Best Immersive Audio Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. In October 2022 Stripped was reissued for its 20th anniversary, adding "I Will Be," the b-side to "Dirrty."

  On the 22nd of September 2023, she released "Learning to Fly" for the soundtrack of PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie. In December 2023 she began her second residency, Christina Aguilera at Voltaire, at The Venetian Las Vegas, and it ran until August 2024. In May 2024 she parted ways with RCA Records and signed with 5020 Records, a division of Sony Music Latin. A stage adaptation of Burlesque, which she executive produced, debuted in 2024 and reached London's West End in July 2025. In September 2024 she staged a Spotify Anniversaries performance for the 25th anniversary of her debut, with appearances from Machine Gun Kelly and Sabrina Carpenter. It was released on the 23rd of September as a recording on YouTube and a live extended play on Spotify. In October 2025 Deadline Hollywood reported that she would star in the concert film Christina Aguilera: Christmas in Paris, directed by Sam Wrench. It marked the 25th anniversary of her Christmas album and played theaters on the 14th and the 21st of December.

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• 7. Voice and Influences

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  Critics classify Aguilera as a soprano with a four-octave vocal range, and she can sing in the whistle register, the very highest notes a voice can reach. Maura Johnston of Slate described an instrument that leaps across octaves yet keeps a low-end grounding like an opera singer's. Joan Anderman of The Boston Globe praised her "breathtaking elasticity, golden tones, and sheer power." Rolling Stone ranked her among the greatest singers of all time. Ron Fair of RCA admired her "perfect intonation" and said, "She's got the pipes to be the next Barbra Streisand or Céline Dion."

  Melisma is the habit of bending a single syllable across many notes, and it defines her sound. Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that she can aim a note "as directly as a missile" or twist it into an aerobatic spiral. Journalist David Browne placed her with Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston as a leading practitioner. Richard Harrington of The Washington Post found her power comparable to theirs but free of their ornamental mannerisms. Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times heard a voice as powerful as Etta James's, moving toward the expressiveness of Gladys Knight.

  Not everyone applauded. John Eskow of HuffPost called her "the main proponent of oversouling" and complained of "gratuitous and confected melisma." Lucy Davies of BBC Music loved the "stunning voice" but suggested she cut some of the "ye-e-eeeh, woah." Alexa Tietjen of VH1 conceded that she goes to extremes at times, then added, "Love them or hate them, the riffs are a part of who she is as a performer."

  Etta James is the singer Aguilera names as a role model, and she says "At Last" made a major impression on her. As a girl she took her first cues from The Sound of Music and its star, Julie Andrews. Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey are named as her most apparent influences, alongside Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. She also cites the rock bands Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana and Radiohead. Madonna and Janet Jackson, she says, are positive female artists unafraid to be daring and experimental. Cher encouraged her to perform.

  Latin music shaped her too. She recalled, "I grew up hearing Spanish being spoken in my household and hearing a lot of Julio Iglesias on the record player." Chavela Vargas, Vicente Fernández and the younger artist Rosalía are among her Latin inspirations. She has also been noted for honoring her Ecuadorian roots throughout her career.

  The golden age of film gave her a visual vocabulary. She said, "I'm fascinated with the golden age of film," and named Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo and Veronica Lake. Her "Tilt Ya Head Back" video recreated Monroe's signature look, while "Your Body" nods to Lucille Ball. The video for "Ain't No Other Man" introduced the alter ego Baby Jane, inspired by Bette Davis in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Her other visual sources include works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Banksy. On Liberation she added tributes to Michael Jackson in "Maria" and Janis Joplin in "Sick of Sittin'."

  Her catalog is generally filed under pop, R&B, hip-hop and soul, but her reinventions kept stretching it. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian called the boldness of her continual reinvention one of her most impressive facets. RCA once thought "Lady Marmalade" was too urban, yet she kept placing power ballads between faster songs. Her sonic detours include the "galactic pop" of Bionic, the electropop club sound of Lotus and the Mexican ranchera numbers on Aguilera. Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times singled out her decision to snub some of the big-name producers on whom pop stars often rely.

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• 8. Family, Business and Causes

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  From 2000 to September 2001, Aguilera dated the dancer Jorge Santos, whom she met while filming a music video. She began dating the music executive Jordan Bratman in late 2002, and they became engaged in February 2005. On the 19th of November 2005 they married at an estate in Napa County, California, in a private traditional Jewish ceremony. Raised Catholic, she had learned about Judaism in the mid-2000s. Their son, Max Liron Bratman, was born in 2008. They separated in September 2010, she filed for divorce that October, and it was finalized in April 2011 with joint custody.

  In November 2010 she began dating the production assistant Matthew Rutler, whom she met while filming Burlesque. They became engaged on Valentine's Day in 2014, and their daughter, Summer Rain Rutler, was born later that year. In 2022 Aguilera spoke openly about her mental health. She said, "I've definitely had struggles in the past with depression and anxiety. It's a constant battle to overcome a mind that is anxious, a mind that is always second-guessing."

  In 2007 she signed a long-term deal with Procter & Gamble and created Christina Aguilera Fragrances, sold in North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe. The brand also makes body lotions, body sprays and deodorants, which ranked among UK best-sellers in 2007-2009 and 2010. By January 2016 the line had reportedly sold over $80 million. In 2008 she became co-owner of the LAX nightclub at the Luxor Las Vegas, alongside DJ AM. At São Paulo Fashion Week in 2011 she debuted her first clothing line, sold mostly in Brazilian department stores C&A. In 2015 she founded MX Productions & Investments with Rutler, and the pair joined investor groups in Pinterest, DraftKings, Lyft and MasterClass. She also joined the ownership group of the National Women's Soccer League expansion team Angel City FC and the sexual wellness brand Playground. In 2022 she was named chief culture officer of The Fun Wine Company.

  Endorsements added to her income. In 2001 she starred in Coca-Cola television advertising in Latin America and the United States, and media outlets reported a deal worth up to £50 million. In 2006 she appeared with South Korean singer Rain in a worldwide Pepsi campaign tied to the FIFA World Cup. On the 28th of June 2004 she received £200,000 to open the summer sale at Harrods in London. In 2008 she was paid $1.5 million to give People pictures of her first child, the ninth most expensive celebrity baby photograph ever taken. VH1 reported that in 2000 she earned over £65 million from album sales, merchandising and licensing. In January 2008 Forbes ranked her 19th among top-earning women in music, with earnings of $20 million. Her net worth was reported at $160 million in August 2022.

  In 2003 Aguilera visited the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh and donated over $200,000 for victims of domestic violence. In 2007 she starred in Lifetime network advertisements calling for an end to violence against women, and in 2015 she partnered with Verizon on a domestic violence awareness campaign. She directed proceeds from her Xperience residency to The Shade Tree, a women and children's center in Las Vegas. In October 2019 that work earned her the Bonnie Polley Community Hero Award.

  In 2009 she became a global spokesperson for the World Food Programme, a branch of the United Nations. She visited countries with high rates of malnutrition, including Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti and Rwanda. By 2013 she had reportedly helped raise over $148 million for the organization and other hunger relief agencies in 45 countries. She received the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award and the George McGovern Leadership Award, which was presented at the White House by Hillary Clinton. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005 she donated her wedding gifts to charities supporting affected families. After Hurricane Sandy in 2012 she held concerts urging donations to the American Red Cross. In 2010 she auctioned concert tickets through Christie's for environmental groups, including Conservation International and the Natural Resources Defense Council. After the 2010 Haiti earthquake she auctioned a Chrysler 300 and appeared on the Hope for Haiti Now telethon.

  Aguilera has also campaigned as an LGBT rights activist. She was praised for challenging myths about HIV/AIDS and raised funds for the Mac AIDS Fund and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In 2008 she spoke out for same-sex marriage and against Proposition 8, telling MTV News, "Why would you put so much money behind something aimed at stopping people from loving each other? I just don't understand it." During The X Tour in 2019 she visited Russia and "blessed" a gay marriage proposal backstage, despite the country's laws against "gay propaganda." In 2024 she performed at the Harris-Walz rally to endorse Kamala Harris. In January 2026 she performed at the Gala des Pièces Jaunes in Paris, an event raising funds for young patients and children's hospitals.

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