Dido

Biography

Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong, known professionally as Dido, is an English singer and songwriter born on December 25, 1971, in London, England. She received formal musical training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Her career began in 1995 when she joined the trip-hop group Faithless, led by her brother Rollo Armstrong. She contributed vocals to the band's albums, including the successful "Reverence" and "Sunday 8pm".

Breakthrough with 'No Angel'

Dido's solo career launched with her debut album, "No Angel," released in 1999. The album's success was gradual, gaining significant momentum after American rapper Eminem sampled the first verse of her song "Thank You" for his hit single "Stan" in 2000. This exposure propelled "No Angel" to international fame, making it the best-selling album of 2001 in the UK. The album sold over 21 million copies worldwide and included the hit singles "Here with Me" and "Thank You". "No Angel" earned her several awards, including Best British Female Artist and Best British Album at the 2002 Brit Awards.

'Life for Rent' and Continued Success

Her second album, "Life for Rent," was released in 2003 and continued her mainstream success. It featured the popular singles "White Flag" and the title track "Life for Rent". The album was a commercial triumph, selling over 12 million copies worldwide and becoming one of the best-selling albums in UK chart history. For "White Flag," Dido received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and won an Ivor Novello Award for International Hit of the Year. Dido's first two albums are among the best-selling albums in the UK charts for the 2000s.

Subsequent Albums and Hiatus

Dido's third studio album, "Safe Trip Home," was released in 2008. While it received critical acclaim and a Grammy nomination, it did not match the commercial success of her previous works. Following this album, Dido took a significant break from the music industry. She released her fourth album, "Girl Who Got Away," in 2013, which reached the top 5 in the UK. After another hiatus, she returned with her fifth album, "Still on My Mind," in 2019, and embarked on her first tour in 15 years.

Personal Life

After the release of "No Angel," Dido ended her engagement to entertainment lawyer Bob Page. In 2010, she married author Rohan Gavin. They have one son, Stanley, born in 2011.