Aug. 20: Actress & singer Demi Lovato is 18 today.

Born Demetria Devonne Lovato in Dallas, Texas, "Demi" is both an actress and a singer-songwriter.

Her earliest roles included a part on Barney & Friends, before she became better known for her roles as Mitchie Torres in the Camp Rock movies, as Sonny Munroe in Sonny with a Chance and as the star of the 2009 movie Princess Protection Program.

As a solo musical artist, Lovato released her debut album Don't Forget on September 23, 2008. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 selling 89,000 copies in the first week. It has since sold over 473,000 records in the US.

Lovato stated in an interview that the album was recorded in ten days.

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Lovato released her second album, Here We Go Again, on July 21, 2009. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 selling 108,000 copies in the first week.
Demi's mother was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and country recording artist. She began playing piano at the age of seven.

Before any of Lovato's music was officially released a few of her original songs, including "Shadow," were featured on the show As The Bell Rings. Lovato also sang a cover of "That's How You Know" from the film Enchanted that was released on DisneyMania 6 on May 20, 2008.

In June and July 2008, Lovato performed at various House of Blues and parks for her "Demi Live! Warm Up Tour" in preparation for the release of her debut album and the Burnin' Up Tour with the Jonas Brothers. The soundtrack to the Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock was released in June 2008. Lovato was featured on four of the tracks on the soundtrack including "This is Me," a duet with Joe Jonas.

"This Is Me" peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. Lovato served as the opening act in the Jonas Brothers' Burnin' Up Tour from July through September 2008. Several concerts on the tour were filmed as footage for a 3-D concert film titled Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience which was released on February 27, 2009. Lovato was featured in the film performing "This Is Me" with Joe Jonas.

Lovato also appears on two soundtrack albums in 2010. She recorded songs for the Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam soundtrack, which was released on August 10, 2010, and the Sonny With a Chance soundtrack in late 2010.

Her debut album Don't Forget was preceded by the lead single "Get Back," which was released on August 12, 2008 and reached number forty-three on the Hot 100. In December 2008, the second single "La La Land" was released and reached number fifty-two on the Hot 100.

In March 2009, the third single "Don't Forget" was released and reached number forty-one on the Hot 100, becoming her most successful solo single at the time.

An EP, Moves Me, was released in December 2008 by the Well Go USA label, but not under Lovato's support. The EP featured songs recorded by Lovato before being signed by Hollywood Records.

In 2009, Lovato recorded "One and the Same" for Princess Protection Program as a duet with Selena Gomez. They both appear in the film.

Lovato's second studio album, Here We Go Again was released in July 2009. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 108,000 records sold in its first week. The album was more inspired by acoustic music than her debut's pop rock-influenced sound.

In 2010, the album was nominated for 3 Teen Choice Awards, "Choice Album," "Choice Love Song" and Lovato for "Choice Music Breakout Artist: Female."

In July 2010 it was announced that work on her third album had begun. The album is scheduled for release in Spring 2011.


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