The Charlotte Observer and other media sources are reporting......
Fantasia Barrino the former American Idol and single mother with an amazing voice will take her life to the world of reality television.
You might remember that Fantasia Barrino moved from High Point to Charlotte after her "Idol" victory in 2004.
But Cedar Posts doubts the Charlotte Chamber will be including Fantasia as proof that relocating to the Queen City is a good career move and an example of the best that Charlotte has to offer.
Barrino strikes a pose behind her Piper Glen home.
Her reality show began filming last summer at the south Charlotte home she owns and shares with six extended family members. The first episode of Fantasia Barrino's VH1 reality series, "Fantasia for Real," debuts at 10p.m. tonight. Episodes will air for eight weeks.
Inside her Bevington Place home in Charlotte's Piper Glen
Despite a successful autobiography, a made-for-TV movie, a Broadway role in "The Color Purple" and a platinum album, Barrino fell into money problems soon after moving Charlotte.
According to Lance Chitwood, Old St. Andrews at Piper Glen Homeowners Association president, liens were filed against her first home, in Piper Glen in south Charlotte, over unpaid homeowner association fees.
Fantasia Barrino's home on Seton House Lane in Piper Glen
Then creditors filed suit for debts of more than $240,000.00 owed on several Mercedes. Her second Piper Glen home, with reported sales price of more than $1.2 million, and formerly owned by L.L. Cool Jay, was threatened with foreclosure over unpaid property taxes in 2009.
Fantasia Barrino's Bevington Place home in Piper Glen
In the first episode of the VH1 series, "Fantasia For Real," Barrino, 25 acknowledges having her extended family of six living with her can be a financial burden, and moves to get things back on track.
A check of property record indicate that Barrino still owns both Piper Glen homes, but that the Bevington Place home uses a Sherman Oaks California address.
In the series, which began taping in June, she confronts her brother, Joseph "Teeny" Barrino, for overspending and demolishing the interior of the home's pool house to put in a recording studio. At the same time, she tries to revive her career with a new song, "Move on Me."
Barrino said in an interview that her financial problems stemmed from poor management after she hit the spotlight.
Barrino says she regrets not being more involved with the direction of her career after her win on "Idol." But the bad press about debts and struggles with money have taught her valuable lessons about show business, and given her some harsh life experience.
Sadly a check of Mecklenburg tax records shows Fantasia lives a pipe dream and is again delinquent on her property taxes. Owing more than $14,000.00. With a family of blood suckers, massive weight gain and a flop song "move on me" she's headed for rock bottom.
Fantasia poses for a more classic look
