Aaliyah.

At her funeral, 22 white doves were released from the steps of the church, one for each year of her life.

She was considered for the role of Alex in Charlie’s Angels 2000, but casting directors deemed her too young and the part went to Lucy Liu.

Graduated from Detroit High School of the Performing Arts with a 4.0 GPA.

In November 2002 it was announced that Missy Elliott would produce a tribute album to Aaliyah, including finished versions of songs from before her death; a posthumous album entitled I Care 4 U was also announced.

She cited Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Sade, En Vogue, Nine Inch Nails, Korn, Prince, Naughty By Nature, Johnny Mathis, and Barbra Streisand as musical influences.

Got her big break on the television show Star Search 1983.

Had four tattoos: the letter A on her side wrist, an Egyptian ankh on her inner wrist, a music symbol on her ankle, and a dove on her lower back.

Originally cast as Zee in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions; she had filmed many scenes but died before completing them, so the role was recast with Nona Gaye.

Was the first choice to play Valerie in Josie and the Pussycats 2001, but had already signed for Queen of the Damned; Rosario Dawson eventually got the role.

Her song Rock the Boat was the most viewed music video of 2002, averaging over 56,000 views daily.

She had a close friendship with producer Missy Elliott.

At the time of her death, Aaliyah and her boyfriend Damon Dash, co-CEO of Roc-A-Fella, had plans to wed.

Her mother Diane was once a promising solo singer but gave it up to raise Aaliyah and Rashad.

She married R. Kelly when she was 15 and he was 27.

Her parents are African-American, and she also had some Native American ancestry.

She was close friends with Nicole Richie and Beyoncé.

Her most prized possessions were a pillow named Wilson and a toy orangutan named Lina given by her grandmother.

She was recognized for her artistically well-choreographed music videos.

She auditioned for a role on Family Matters at age 9.

She expressed a desire to work with Janet Jackson, to whom she was frequently compared.

Got her dove tattoo as a tribute to her grandmother.

Was considered for the role of Maggie in Get Over It 2001, but was already committed to Romeo Must Die; Zoe Saldaña was cast.

Her most famous mega-hit songs were Back and Forth, One in a Million, Try Again, More Than a Woman, and Are You That Somebody.

Posthumous single More Than a Woman reached number one in the UK.

Her maternal grandmother was of Native American Oneida heritage.

She first heard herself on the radio while on her way to the dentist.

Took kung fu as a young child with her brother Rashad.

Was considered for the role of Juliet in Romeo + Juliet 1996 opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, but turned it down feeling it wasn’t the right time.

On July 17, 2001, her self-titled long-awaited third album was released.

She wore silver because she did not like gold.

Her uncle Barry Hankerson was formerly married to singer Gladys Knight.

Ranked 18 on BET’s 25 Best Dancers Ever list in November 2007.

At age 5, she moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she grew up.

Her most famous screen role was Queen of the Damned.

The One in a Million album was ranked number 90 on Rolling Stone’s 100 greatest albums of the 90s and listed as one of 33 essential hip-hop/R&B albums of the 1990s.

Her favorite movies were The Silence of the Lambs and The Lost Boys.

She auditioned for the Elton John produced Broadway show Aida.

Was almost the voice of Leah in Osmosis Jones 2001, but could not accept due to schedule conflicts; the part was voiced by Brandy Norwood.