Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani

Gwen Renée Stefani (born October 3, 1969) is an American singer and the frontwoman of the band No Doubt who launched a successful solo career in late 2004.

Beginnings

Stefani was born in Fullerton, California. Her father, Denis, is Italian and her mother Patti is of English and Scottish descent. She has a sister, Jill, and two brothers, Eric and Todd. She attended Cal State Fullerton, and at Loara High School (class of 1987), she was on the swim team. Her first job was scrubbing floors at a Dairy Queen, and she once worked at a department store. Her brother Eric founded No Doubt in 1986 with his friend John Spence, but eventually left the band to pursue a career in animation on The Simpsons. He was the keyboardist for No Doubt. Gwen became the group's lead singer after original frontman John Spence committed suicide in December 1987.

First success

Stefani on the cover of Tragic Kingdom

The band's second studio album, Tragic Kingdom, took three years to make. During this time, the band almost split up. The album was released in 1995 and spawned several hits, beginning with "Just a Girl". Following the success of Tragic Kingdom, Stefani became highly popular and recognizable; the tension this produced with the other members of the band was touched on by their video for the song "Don't Speak". Many of the album's songs, including "Don't Speak" and "Spiderwebs", were inspired by Stefani's relationship and breakup with fellow band member Tony Kanal. Gwen had dated Kanal for eight years until he ended the relationship because he needed more space. She slipped into depression after touring for Tragic Kingdom.

The album also spun off the moderate successful hits, "Excuse Me Mr." and "Sunday Morning", which were released as singles fourth and fifth, respectively.

Stefani met Bush guitarist Gavin Rossdale in 1996 at a concert she was playing with No Doubt. On September 14, 2002, they were married.

Solo career

Stefani on the cover of Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

Gwen duets with The Artist formerly known as Prince on the song "So Far, So Pleased" from his 1999 album Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic. The same Prince produced album features rap by Eve of Ruff Ryders, who later collaborated with Gwen. Stefani's solo efforts found early success in a pair of popular 2001 duets, the "Southside" remix with techno artist Moby and "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" with rapper Eve. In fact, Stefani became the first artist in history to win both Best Male Video and Best Female Video awards at the MTV VMAs, for "Southside" (credited as "Moby featuring Gwen Stefani") and "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (credited as "Eve featuring Gwen Stefani") respectively, both in 2001.

Stefani's first solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. was released in the U.S. on November 23, 2004. It managed to sell more copies in its first week than any No Doubt album (350,000), debuting at number seven, impressive for a debut solo artist. (Although her previous status is what most likely debuted it at such a high number.) Her album was certified platinum (1,000,000 copies sold) after only four weeks of sales.

The first single released was "What You Waiting For?" It debuted at number one on the Australian ARIAnet singles chart and at number four on the UK chart, and peaked at number forty-seven on the U.S. chart, making it a relative American flop for Stefani. In Canada, it managed to climb to number eleven, but dropped out of the top thirty quite rapidly.

The second single, "Rich Girl", another duet with Eve, was produced by Dr. Dre. It is partly a cover of the song "If I Was A Rich Man" from the musical Fiddler on the Roof, written by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. It shot its way into the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number seven, and number three on the Pop 100. It was also featured on a Pepsi commercial, starting on Super Bowl Sunday, 2005.

Love.Angel.Music.Baby.'s third single, "Hollaback Girl", was released in April of 2005 and became one of the fastest rising songs of the year. In only its sixth week, it hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making Stefani the first white, non-urban or non-American Idol artist to reach the top spot since Nickelback in 2001/2002 with their hit, "How You Remind Me". The song held this position for one month, until "We Belong Together", a ballad by Mariah Carey, overtook it. Since its tenth week, and currently the thirteenth week, "Hollaback Girl" sits at number two, due to "We Belong Together". In Australia, "Hollaback Girl" debuted at number one, where it hailed for one week, selling over 5,000 copies.

When the song was released in the UK, it debuted at number eight. The following week, it duplicated the same position, to the confusion of many. In its third week, it fell to number eleven, unable to climb to a higher peak. Despite not being as successful as predicted due to the large audience "Hollaback Girl" received across the rest of the globe, it did manage to sell in excess of 50,000 copies, illustrating that Stefani wasn't going to be halted so easily. "Hollaback Girl" also helped Love.Angel.Music.Baby. climb to a new peak of four in the UK.

Recently Stefani announced on the popular radio station Z100 that "Cool" will be the fourth single, and that its video will be shot in Italy.

Harajuku

The release of her solo album has also brought attention to Stefani's entourage of four harajuku girls. Named Love, Angel, Music, and Baby respectively by Stefani, the 'harajuku' girls are named for the area around the Harajuku Station of Tokyo, Japan, known as a popular shopping destination and fashion center for teenagers. Following their namesake area, Stefani's harajuku girls are usually flamboyantly dressed (sometimes in a somewhat "Gothic Lolita" style), and they have been featured in her music videos, press coverage, on the album cover for Love. Angel. Music. Baby., and have a song dedicated to them on the album.

However, Stefani's adoption of this component of Japanese culture has drawn criticism from some quarters; for example, Mihi Ahn at Salon.com writes: 'Stefani has taken the idea of Japanese street fashion and turned these women into modern-day geisha, contractually obligated to speak only Japanese in public, even though it's rumored they're just plain old Americans and their English is just fine... she's swallowed a subversive youth culture in Japan and barfed up another image of submissive giggling Asian women.' [1] (http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2005/04/09/geisha/)

Certification

  • "What You Waiting For?" is certified platinum.
  • "Rich Girl" is certified double platinum.
  • "Hollaback Girl" is certified platinum.
    • Love.Angel.Music.Baby. is certified 5x platinum worldwide.

Unreleased Tracks from L.A.M.B.

"Parental Advisory": Produced by Rich Harrison who worked on Beyoncé Knowles' "Crazy In Love". The song pokes fun at dancers with moves better suited for the strip clubs than the dance clubs.

"Wonderful Life for Him": Written with Linda Perry. Gwen first abandoned this song as it was very personal to her. Then she rediscovered it six months later and thought it was great! The song is written about a boy that she dated in high school that recently died.

"You Started It": Written with Pharrell Williams.

"Fine by You": Written with Linda Perry. The song is about not being inspired. It was one of the first songs written for the album. As if coincidental in some sort of way, "What You Waiting For?" was written the following day.

Trivia

Gwen has created a successful fashion line, named L.A.M.B, which showcases clothing which Gwen would wear herself. The line also includes handbags and purses. Celebrities such as Nicky Hilton, Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, Nicole Richie, Jenny McCarthy, Alicia Keys and Halle Berry have been seen sporting her fashion line and LeSportsac bags.

Stefani's nicknames are Sunshine and G-loc.

Her height is 1.68m.

She is dyslexic.

Stefani likes to listen to bands like 311, Blur, Radiohead and Jamiroquai.

Stefani lent her voice to the title character of Malice, a PS2 and Xbox video game; before completion, however, the company opted not to use No Doubt band-members' voices.

Girls and young women who imitate Stefani's distinctive style of dress are sometimes referred to as "Gwennabes" or "Gwenabees".

Stefani made her acting debut playing Jean Harlow in the 2004 Martin Scorsese movie The Aviator, but made a quick cameo appearance in the movie "Zoolander".

When not touring, or working on her other projects, she shares two homes with her husband, Gavin Rossdale, in Los Feliz, California (a suburb in Los Angeles), and London.

Her vinyl red gown that she wore on the cover of No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom was stolen from the Fullertown Museum Centre in Orange County, United States. Speculation circulates that the dress might have been sold.

Stefani's natural hair colour is brown, though she has coloured it blue and pink before. Her two trademarks include her famous platinum blonde hair, and her extremely red lipstick.

Stefani has been quoted saying, "I think I've been able to fool a lot of people because I know I'm a dork. I'm a geek." [2] (http://www.nodoubt.com/band/Articles/07Axcess.htm)

Solo Discography

Studio albums

  • 2004: Love. Angel. Music. Baby. — #5 US; #4 UK; #5 CAN; #1 AU — Worldwide sales: 5 million

Singles

  • 2004: "What You Waiting For?" — #47 US; #4 UK; #11 CAN; #1 (2 weeks) AU
  • 2005: "Rich Girl" (feat. Eve) — #7 US; #4 UK; #4 CAN; #2 AU
  • 2005: "Hollaback Girl" — #1 US (4 weeks); #8 UK; #2 CAN; #1 (1 week) AU

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I'm a geek." [2] (http://www.nodoubt.com/band/Articles/07Axcess.htm). Richest Places in Utah. Stefani has been quoted saying, "I think I've been able to fool a lot of people because I know I'm a dork.
. Her two trademarks include her famous platinum blonde hair, and her extremely red lipstick. See also: Music of Utah. Stefani's natural hair colour is brown, though she has coloured it blue and pink before.
.

Speculation circulates that the dress might have been sold. See: List of cities in Utah. Her vinyl red gown that she wore on the cover of No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom was stolen from the Fullertown Museum Centre in Orange County, United States. The gender makeup of Utah is:. When not touring, or working on her other projects, she shares two homes with her husband, Gavin Rossdale, in Los Feliz, California (a suburb in Los Angeles), and London. The age distribution in Utah is:. Stefani made her acting debut playing Jean Harlow in the 2004 Martin Scorsese movie The Aviator, but made a quick cameo appearance in the movie "Zoolander". The religious affiliations of the people of Utah are:.

Girls and young women who imitate Stefani's distinctive style of dress are sometimes referred to as "Gwennabes" or "Gwenabees". The five largest ancestry groups in Utah are:. Stefani lent her voice to the title character of Malice, a PS2 and Xbox video game; before completion, however, the company opted not to use No Doubt band-members' voices. The racial makeup of Utah is:. Stefani likes to listen to bands like 311, Blur, Radiohead and Jamiroquai. Utah has a higher percentage of people sharing a single religious denomination than any other American state. She is dyslexic. The rest of the state is mostly rural or wilderness.

Her height is 1.68m. Much of the population lives in cities and towns along the Wasatch Front, a metropolitan region that runs north-south with the Wasatch Mountains rising on the eastern side. Stefani's nicknames are Sunshine and G-loc. The population of Utah in 2000 was 2,233,169. In 2003, the population was estimated at 2,351,467 people, a growth of more than 120,000 since 2000. Celebrities such as Nicky Hilton, Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, Nicole Richie, Jenny McCarthy, Alicia Keys and Halle Berry have been seen sporting her fashion line and LeSportsac bags. A commuter rail is planned to also eventually run the length of the Wasatch Front. The line also includes handbags and purses. The Legacy Highway is a controversial freeway that is planned to eventually run down the entire length of the Wasatch Front.

Gwen has created a successful fashion line, named L.A.M.B, which showcases clothing which Gwen would wear herself. Several bus companies provide access to the ski resorts in winter, and local bus services also serve Logan and Saint George. As if coincidental in some sort of way, "What You Waiting For?" was written the following day. The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) operates a bus sytem stretching across the Wasatch Front and into Tooele, and also provides winter service to the ski resorts above Salt Lake City. It was one of the first songs written for the album. A light rail system in the Salt Lake Valley known as TRAX provides access between downtown Salt Lake City and Sandy and the University of Utah. The song is about not being inspired. The stretch of I-70 between Salina and Green River is the longest stretch of interstate in the nation without any services.

"Fine by You": Written with Linda Perry. Interstate 70 begins at Cove Fort and heads east through mostly uninhabited areas, providing access to many of southern Utah's recreation areas before entering Colorado. "You Started It": Written with Pharrell Williams. I-80 enters Nevada at Wendover and heads east through Salt Lake City, briefly merging with I-15 before climbing into the mountains and weaving through canyons and across plateaus into Wyoming just before reaching Evanston. Then she rediscovered it six months later and thought it was great! The song is written about a boy that she dated in high school that recently died. I-84 then heads southeast through the mountains, terminating at Interstate 80 at Echo. Gwen first abandoned this song as it was very personal to her. Interstate 84 enters from Idaho at Snowville and merges with I-15 at Tremonton, staying merged until Roy.

"Wonderful Life for Him": Written with Linda Perry. Interstate 15 is the main interstate highway in the state, stretching from Arizona to Idaho and serving such cities as Saint George, Provo, Salt Lake City, and Ogden. The song pokes fun at dancers with moves better suited for the strip clubs than the dance clubs. In addition, Utah contains several notable state parks and monuments:. "Parental Advisory": Produced by Rich Harrison who worked on Beyoncé Knowles' "Crazy In Love". National Monuments in Utah include:. she's swallowed a subversive youth culture in Japan and barfed up another image of submissive giggling Asian women.' [1] (http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2005/04/09/geisha/). U.S.

However, Stefani's adoption of this component of Japanese culture has drawn criticism from some quarters; for example, Mihi Ahn at Salon.com writes: 'Stefani has taken the idea of Japanese street fashion and turned these women into modern-day geisha, contractually obligated to speak only Japanese in public, even though it's rumored they're just plain old Americans and their English is just fine.. National Parks:. Baby., and have a song dedicated to them on the album. The desert plateaus of Southern Utah contain five U.S. Music. The record high temperature in Utah was 117 °F (47 °C), recorded at Saint George on Friday, July 5, 1985, and the record low was −69 °F (−56 °C), recorded at Peter's Sink in the Bear River Mountains of northern Utah on Friday, February 1, 1985. Angel. Days over 100 °F (38 °C) can be expected in most areas below 5,000 ft (1,500 m) at least once per year, and are expected frequently in the south.

Following their namesake area, Stefani's harajuku girls are usually flamboyantly dressed (sometimes in a somewhat "Gothic Lolita" style), and they have been featured in her music videos, press coverage, on the album cover for Love. In the summer, high temperatures average between 85 °F (29 °C) and 100 °F (38 °C). Named Love, Angel, Music, and Baby respectively by Stefani, the 'harajuku' girls are named for the area around the Harajuku Station of Tokyo, Japan, known as a popular shopping destination and fashion center for teenagers. Mountains to the north and east of the state serve as barriers to Arctic air. The release of her solo album has also brought attention to Stefani's entourage of four harajuku girls. Days below 0 °F (−18 °C) can be expected in many areas at least once a year, but they are usually short in duration and not terribly severe. Recently Stefani announced on the popular radio station Z100 that "Cool" will be the fourth single, and that its video will be shot in Italy. High temperatures average between 25 °F (−4 °C) and 50 °F (10 °C) across the state.

"Hollaback Girl" also helped Love.Angel.Music.Baby. climb to a new peak of four in the UK. Temperatures during the winter across much of Utah are below freezing. Despite not being as successful as predicted due to the large audience "Hollaback Girl" received across the rest of the globe, it did manage to sell in excess of 50,000 copies, illustrating that Stefani wasn't going to be halted so easily. Spring is the wettest season across the north while late summer and early fall are the wettest times in the south and winter is the wettest season in most of the mountain areas. In its third week, it fell to number eleven, unable to climb to a higher peak. Most precipitation during the rest of the year is received from the Pacific Ocean. The following week, it duplicated the same position, to the confusion of many. During summer and fall, most of the precipitation is received from the monsoon coming from the south and consists of short, sporadic, and intense thunderstorms that can cause wildfires and flash floods.

When the song was released in the UK, it debuted at number eight. Fog and haze often caused by temperature inversions are common in the valleys and basins during winter, especially the Uinta Basin, just south of the Uinta Mountains. In Australia, "Hollaback Girl" debuted at number one, where it hailed for one week, selling over 5,000 copies. The mountains often remain snow-covered into July. Since its tenth week, and currently the thirteenth week, "Hollaback Girl" sits at number two, due to "We Belong Together". Snowfall is common from late November through March in the lower elevations and from October through May in the mountains. The song held this position for one month, until "We Belong Together", a ballad by Mariah Carey, overtook it. Many mountain areas receive in excess of 350 in (900 cm) of snow in a year, while portions of the Wasatch Range receive up to 500 in (1,250 cm).

In only its sixth week, it hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making Stefani the first white, non-urban or non-American Idol artist to reach the top spot since Nickelback in 2001/2002 with their hit, "How You Remind Me". Saint George averages about 3 in (7.5 cm) of snow per year, while Salt Lake City receives almost 60 in (150 cm) a year (amplified by the lake effect from the Great Salt Lake). Love.Angel.Music.Baby.'s third single, "Hollaback Girl", was released in April of 2005 and became one of the fastest rising songs of the year. Snowfall is common in winter everywhere except the southern border and the Great Salt Lake Desert. It was also featured on a Pepsi commercial, starting on Super Bowl Sunday, 2005. The Great Salt Lake Desert is especially dry, receiving less than 5 in (130 mm) a year. It shot its way into the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number seven, and number three on the Pop 100. Much of western Utah receives less than 10 in (250 mm), while the Wasatch Front receives approximately 15 in (380 mm).

It is partly a cover of the song "If I Was A Rich Man" from the musical Fiddler on the Roof, written by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. Most of eastern and southern Utah receive 12 inches (300 mm) or less of precipitation per year, while many mountain areas receive more than 40 in (1000 mm) per year, with some areas receiving up to 60 in (1500 mm). Dre. Most of Utah is arid and high in elevation. The second single, "Rich Girl", another duet with Eve, was produced by Dr. See also List of Utah counties. In Canada, it managed to climb to number eleven, but dropped out of the top thirty quite rapidly. 2 of the United States Constitution, the federal government has plenary and supreme--although concurrent--civil and criminal jurisdiction over these federal lands within the borders of each state.

chart, making it a relative American flop for Stefani. Under Article IV, § 3, cl. The first single released was "What You Waiting For?" It debuted at number one on the Australian ARIAnet singles chart and at number four on the UK chart, and peaked at number forty-seven on the U.S. National Monument, National Recreation Area or U.S. Wilderness Area area. (Although her previous status is what most likely debuted it at such a high number.) Her album was certified platinum (1,000,000 copies sold) after only four weeks of sales. National Forest, park, U.S. It managed to sell more copies in its first week than any No Doubt album (350,000), debuting at number seven, impressive for a debut solo artist. In Utah over seventy percent of the land is either BLM land or U.S.

on November 23, 2004. Like most of the west and southwest states, the federal government owns much of the land in Utah. Music. Baby. was released in the U.S. The most popular destination within eastern Utah is Dinosaur National Monument. Angel. Much of eastern Utah is covered in the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. Stefani's first solo album, Love. It has an economy mostly driven by mining and ranching.

In fact, Stefani became the first artist in history to win both Best Male Video and Best Female Video awards at the MTV VMAs, for "Southside" (credited as "Moby featuring Gwen Stefani") and "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (credited as "Eve featuring Gwen Stefani") respectively, both in 2001. These areas are snowy, cold, and for the most part very barren. Stefani's solo efforts found early success in a pair of popular 2001 duets, the "Southside" remix with techno artist Moby and "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" with rapper Eve. Eastern Utah is a high elevation area covered mostly by plateaus and basins. The same Prince produced album features rap by Eve of Ruff Ryders, who later collaborated with Gwen. It is known as Dixie because early settlers mistakenly believed that cotton could grow there. Beaverdam Wash in far southwestern Utah is the lowest elevation in Utah, at an elevation of exactly 2,000 ft (610 m). Gwen duets with The Artist formerly known as Prince on the song "So Far, So Pleased" from his 1999 album Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic. Southwestern Utah is low in elevation and is the hottest spot in Utah.

On September 14, 2002, they were married. This terrain is accentuated in protected parks such as Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion national parks, Cedar Breaks, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Hovenweep, and Natural Bridges national monuments, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (site of the popular tourist destination, Lake Powell), Dead Horse Point State Park, and Monument Valley, a popular photographic and filming site. Stefani met Bush guitarist Gavin Rossdale in 1996 at a concert she was playing with No Doubt. Canyons, gullies, arches, pinnacles, buttes, bluffs, and mesas are the common sight throughout south-central and southeast Utah. The album also spun off the moderate successful hits, "Excuse Me Mr." and "Sunday Morning", which were released as singles fourth and fifth, respectively. Wind and rain have also scuplted the soft sandstone over millions of years. She slipped into depression after touring for Tragic Kingdom. The Colorado River and its tributaries wind their way through the sandstone, creating some of the most striking and wild terrain in the world.

Gwen had dated Kanal for eight years until he ended the relationship because he needed more space. Much of the scenic southern landscape is sandstone, more specifically Kayenta sandstone and Navajo sandstone. Many of the album's songs, including "Don't Speak" and "Spiderwebs", were inspired by Stefani's relationship and breakup with fellow band member Tony Kanal. West of the Great Salt Lake, stretching to the Nevada border, lies the Great Salt Lake Desert, the driest, most arid area in Utah. Following the success of Tragic Kingdom, Stefani became highly popular and recognizable; the tension this produced with the other members of the band was touched on by their video for the song "Don't Speak". The Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake are the only two significant remains of this ancient freshwater lake which once covered most of the eastern Great Basin. The album was released in 1995 and spawned several hits, beginning with "Just a Girl". However, the Bonneville Salt Flats are an exception, being comparetively flat. Most of western Utah was once covered in Lake Bonneville.

During this time, the band almost split up. Small mountain ranges and rugged terrain punctuate the landscape. The band's second studio album, Tragic Kingdom, took three years to make. Western Utah is mostly arid desert with a basin and range geology. Gwen became the group's lead singer after original frontman John Spence committed suicide in December 1987. The major cities of Salt Lake City, Layton, Ogden, West Valley City, Sandy, West Jordan, Orem, and Provo are located within this region. He was the keyboardist for No Doubt. At the base of the Wasatch Range is the Wasatch Front, a series of valleys and basins that are home to the most populous parts of the state.

Her brother Eric founded No Doubt in 1986 with his friend John Spence, but eventually left the band to pursue a career in animation on The Simpsons. Popular recreational destinations within the mountains besides the ski resorts include Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Timpanogas Cave National Monument, Bear Lake, and Jordanelle, Strawberry, and Rockport reservoirs. The mountains are popular camping, rock-climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and hiking destinations. Her first job was scrubbing floors at a Dairy Queen, and she once worked at a department store. The highest point in the state, Kings Peak, at an elevation of 13,526 feet (4,123 meters), lies within the Uinta Mountains. She attended Cal State Fullerton, and at Loara High School (class of 1987), she was on the swim team. In the northeastern section of the state, running east to west, are the Uinta Mountains, which rise to heights of 13,000 feet or more. She has a sister, Jill, and two brothers, Eric and Todd. Portions of these mountains receive 500 or more inches of snow a year and are home to world-renowned ski resorts, made popular by the light, fluffy snow, which is considered good for skiing.

Her father, Denis, is Italian and her mother Patti is of English and Scottish descent. Running down the center of the state is the Wasatch Range, which rises to heights of about 12,000 feet. Stefani was born in Fullerton, California. One of Utah's defining characteristics is the variety of its terrain. Gwen Renée Stefani (born October 3, 1969) is an American singer and the frontwoman of the band No Doubt who launched a successful solo career in late 2004. It covers an area of 84,899 sq miles (219,887 sq km). 2005: "Hollaback Girl" — #1 US (4 weeks); #8 UK; #2 CAN; #1 (1 week) AU. Utah is one of the Four Corners states and is bordered by Idaho and Wyoming in the north, by Colorado in the east, by New Mexico to the southeast across the Four Corners, by Arizona in the south, and by Nevada in the west.

Eve) — #7 US; #4 UK; #4 CAN; #2 AU. On November 2, 2004, Amendment 3 was approved by 66 per cent of Utah's citizens. 2005: "Rich Girl" (feat. In 2004, three proposed amendments [1] (http://elections.utah.gov/ConstitutionalAmendments.htm#AmendmentThree) were put on the Utah election ballot, including the controversial Amendment 3, which defines marriage as a civil union between one man and one woman, and provides no legal recognition for other forms of civil union. 2004: "What You Waiting For?" — #47 US; #4 UK; #11 CAN; #1 (2 weeks) AU. Notably, the constitution outlawed polygamy and continued the territorial practice of women's suffrage. Baby. — #5 US; #4 UK; #5 CAN; #1 AU — Worldwide sales: 5 million. The constitution of Utah was enacted in 1895.

Music. In large part due to the influence of the Mormon church, Utah is one of the most conservative and Republican states in the nation. Angel. The capital and largest city of the state of Utah is Salt Lake City. 2004: Love. The fastest-growing city between 1990 and 2000 was Draper, located in southern Salt Lake County. Love.Angel.Music.Baby. is certified 5x platinum worldwide. Today, new communities are being constructed in Utah County (Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs) and old, previously tiny communities (such as Ivins, Herriman, and Cedar Hills) are seeing phenomonal growth.

"Hollaback Girl" is certified platinum.

    . Beginning in the late 1960s, the suburbs began to see phenomenal growth. "Rich Girl" is certified double platinum. The fastest-growing areas have been Utah County, western and southern Salt Lake County, eastern Tooele County, northern Davis County, Summit County, and Iron and Washington counties in Southern Utah. "What You Waiting For?" is certified platinum. During the late 1900s, the state has been growing quickly. This also spurred the development of the light-rail system in the Salt Lake Valley, known as TRAX, and the re-construction of the freeway system around the city.

    The ski resorts have increased in popularity and many of the Olympic venues scattered across the Wasatch Front continue to be used for sporting events. Salt Lake City won the bid for the 2002 Winter Olympics in 1995, and this has served as a great boost to the economy. The dry, powdery snow of the Wasatch Range is considered some of the best skiing in the world. Beginning in 1939, with the establishment of Alta Ski Area, Utah has become world-renowned for its skiing.

    During the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, with the construction of the Interstate highway system, accessibility to the southern scenic areas was made easier. Southern Utah became a popular filming spot for arid, rugged scenes, and such natural landmarks as Delicate Arch and "the Mittens" of Monument Valley are instantly recognizable to most national residents. Beginning in the early 1900s, with the establishment of such national parks as Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park, Utah began to become known for its natural beauty. Statehood of Utah was officially granted on January 4, 1896.

    One of the conditions to granting Utah's statehood was that a ban on polygamy be written into the Utah Constitution. This was a condition required of other western states that were also admitted later into the Union. When Utah applied for statehood again, it was accepted. During the 1870s and 1880s a number of laws were set to punish polygamists, and in the 1890 Manifesto the LDS Church finally agreed to ban polygamy. The railroad brought increasing numbers of non-Mormons into the state, and several influential non-Mormon businessmen would make fortunes in the territory.

    On May 10, 1869, the First Transcontinental Railroad was completed at Promontory Summit, north of the Great Salt Lake. The war is unique among Indian Wars because it was a three way conflict, with mounted Timpanogos Utes led by Antonga Black Hawk exploiting the mutual distrust between federal and LDS authorities. Chief Antonga Black Hawk surrendered in 1867, but fights continued to break out until additional federal troops were sent in to suppress the Ghost Dance of 1872. Beginning in 1865, Utah's Black Hawk War developed into the deadliest conflict in the territory's history.

    Minerals were discovered in Tooele County, and miners began to flock to the territory. Connor established Fort Douglas just three miles east of Salt Lake City, and encouraged his men to discover mineral deposits to bring more non-Mormons into the state. Connor arrived with a regiment of California volunteers in 1862. Due to the Civil War, federal troops were pulled out of Utah Territory, leaving the territory in LDS hands until Patrick E.

    Brigham Young was among the first to send a message, along with Abraham Lincoln and other officials. Salt Lake City was the last link of the transcontinental telegraph, completed in October of 1861. By agreement with Young, Johnston established Fort Floyd 40 miles away from Salt Lake City, to the southwest. A steady stream of presidential-appointed governors quit the position, often citing unresponsiveness of their supposed territorial government.

    Although wagons and supplies were burned, eventually the troops arrived and Young surrendered official control to Cumming, although most subsequent commentators claim Young retained true power in the territory. Before troops led by Albert Sidney Johnston entered the state, Brigham Young ordered all residents of Salt Lake City to evacuate southward to Utah Valley and sent out a force, known as the Nauvoo Legion, to delay the government's advance. Lee was executed for the massacre. Twenty years later one man, John D.

    The Massacre became a point of contention between LDS leaders and the federal government for decades. As troops approached, Mormon settlers and Paiutes attacked and killed 120 immigrants from Missouri, an event called the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The resulting conflict is known as the Utah War. In 1857, after news of a false rebellion spread, the government sent troops in the "Utah expedition" to quell the supposed rebellion and to replace Brigham Young as territorial governor with Alfred Cumming.

    After news of their polygamous practices spread, the members of the LDS Church were quickly viewed as un-American and rebellious. The US Government, which was reluctant to admit a state the size of the proposed Deseret into the union, opposed the polygamous practices of the Mormons. Disputes between the Mormon inhabitants, who had settled in the area in 1847 and were pushing for the establishment of the State of Deseret, and the US Government, intensified after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints publicly admitted to the practice of polygamy among their members. In 1856, Salt Lake City replaced Fillmore as the territorial capital.

    In 1850 the Utah Territory was created with the Compromise of 1850, and Fillmore was designated the capital. The Treaty was ratified by the United States Senate on March 10. As a consequence of the Mexican-American War, the land became the territory of the United States upon the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848. At the time, Utah was still Mexican territory.

    Mormon settlers first came to the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. The city of Provo, Utah was named for one such man, Étienne Provost, who visited the area in 1825. Fur trappers—including Jim Bridger—explored some regions of Utah in the early 1800s. The expedition travelled as far north as Utah Lake and encountered the native residents.

    A group led by two Roman Catholic priests—sometimes called the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition—left Santa Fe in 1776, hoping to find a route to the California coast. Francisco Vásquez de Coronado may have crossed into what is now southern Utah in 1540, when he was seeking the legendary Cibola. Some left petroglyphs and pictographs which exist throughout the state. Native Americans have lived in Utah for several thousand years; most archeological evidence dates such habitation about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.


    . Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics, which gave a significant boost to the state's tourist industry (especially the ski resorts). Residents are called Utahns. The LDS Church has a strong cultural influence on the state and helped Utah to become one of just two states where gambling is illegal.

    Utah is the center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon Church), of which approximately 60% of the residents are members. The Paiute, Navajo, and Goshute nations also inhabit portions of the state. The name Utah is from the Southern Ute language and means "higher up". Salt Lake City, the ski resorts in the Wasatch Range, and the national parks of the south are the most popular destinations.

    It is a popular summer and winter tourist destination. The state is generally rugged and arid, and has spectacular natural scenery. The state had a population of 2,351,467 in 2003 according to a Census Bureau estimate. Its capital is Salt Lake City.

    Utah is a western state of the United States, in the Rocky Mountains region. In the series Futurama, Utah was described as being a wasteland, compared to Mars. The USS Utah was named in honor of this state. The 2002 Winter Olympics were hosted by Salt Lake City.

    Utah native John Moses Browning designed a number of popular firearms like the M2 .50 caliber machine gun and the Colt Model 1911 .45 semi-automatic handgun. Utah native Philo Farnsworth invented the electronic television in 1927. The continental meeting of the railroads happened at Promontory Summit, Utah. Utah Warriors of the Arena Football League, to begin play in the 2006 season.

    Utah Grizzlies of the American Hockey League. Provo Angels of the Pioneer League. Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League. Utah Snowbears of the American Basketball Association.

    Salt Lake Stingers of the Pacific Coast League. Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. George.

    Tuacahn Summer Festival of Theater, which takes place in the Tuacahn Amphitheater in Snow Canyon, near St. Utah Ballet. Utah Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City. Sundance Film Festival.

    Utah Symphony Orchestra, which performs in Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City. 50.1% male. 49.9% female. 8.5% 65 or older.

    32.2% under age 18. 9.4% under age 5. Non-Religious – 9%. Other Religions – 1%.

    Roman Catholic – 6%. Protestant – 12%. Mormon – 70%. 6.1% Mexican.

    6.5% Danish. 6.8% American. 11.6% German. 29.0% English.

    0.8% Black. 1.3% American Indian. 1.7% Asian. 2.1% Mixed race.

    9.0% Hispanic. 85.3% White non-Hispanic. This Is The Place State Park. Snow Canyon State Park.

    Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument. Dead Horse Point State Park. Timpanogos Cave National Monument. Rainbow Bridge National Monument.

    Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Dinosaur National Monument. Capitol Reef. Arches.

    Canyonlands. Zion National Park. Bryce Canyon.