It’s been nearly two decades ago R&B singer Aaliyah Dana Haughton passed away and for fans of the superstar dubbed “Queen of Urban Pop”, author Kathy Iandoli is turning light on the singer’s life before her tragic passing on August 25, 2001, aged 22.
Author Kathy Iandoli’s Baby Girl: Better Known As Aaliyah book, which has taken years in the making will finally be released on August 21, 2021 – four days before the 20th anniversary of her tragic plane crash in the Bahamas.
Through Simon & Schuster/Atria Books, the author explores the life and musical career of Aaliyah, taking a deep-dive into her endeavors outside music in Hollywood and as a fashion icon. A press release explains the book will also explore Aaliyah’s “volatile entanglement with R. Kelly and an intense investigation on the crash that ended her life.”
“I wrote this book as an Aaliyah fan,” Iandoli said. “This is for all of us who for the last twenty years can spot her influence everywhere, while wishing she was still here. I left no stone unturned, and I hope I’ve added to her legacy properly.”
Exclusive interviews, never before told stories and so much more from Baby Girl, which according to press release is “the book Aaliyah fans have been waiting for, for nearly 20 years.”
On Friday October 23, Iandoli revealed the official cover to Baby Girl: Better Known As Aaliyah with the pre-order link on Amazon.
“Like so many of you, I remember exactly where I was when I learned that Aaliyah was killed,” she wrote to Instagram. “It’s one of those moments that has stuck with me forever, and through my writing career I have written about Baby Girl a lot—I guess to fill the void of never getting to interview her.”
Addressing why the book talks about R.Kelly, she adds:
“I just want to make something very clear; with regard to R. Kelly, I have chosen to discuss despite his abusive patterns, Aliyah Survived and became an icon. The book in no way glorifies his predatory behavior, nor does it take up a large chunk of the book. Quite frankly he does not deserve it. I know news outfits have chosen to make that tiny piece their whole headline, but trust that’s not what the book will reflect. The book is about a musical genius who is the reason why most artists of today even have a career, but in order to discuss her enduring strength, I had to discuss a little bit of what made her strong.”
