Sarah Brightman (born 14 August 1960) is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer.
Brightman debuted as a dancer in troupes such as Hot Gossip and later released a string of disco singles. She achieved greater fame as a musical theatre performer and partner of theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom she originated several roles including Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera. Her 1984 marriage to Lloyd Webber, which ended in 1990 in divorce, attracted tabloid coverage.
After her divorce, Brightman became a crossover artist with former Enigma producer Frank Peterson. Her style, a blend of classical vocals and pop-inspired instrumentation and arrangement, earned her further success. Brightman has received over 150 Gold and Platinum awards in 34 countries and is the only artist to hold #1 spots on the Billboard Classical and Dance charts simultaneously. She has sold over 26 million albums worldwide.
At age 18, Brightman married Andrew Graham Stewart, a music manager. This marriage ended in divorce. She met Lloyd Webber while performing in Cats; Lloyd Webber later divorced his first wife, Sarah Hugill, to marry Brightman in 1984. During their partnership, the couple faced intense media and tabloid scrutiny. The marriage lasted until 1990, when they divorced. Brightman acknowledged the marriage in a 1999 interview as a "difficult time" but also one of much creative output. Currently they are on friendly terms; at the 20th London anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera, Lloyd Webber publicly pronounced Brightman a "wonderful woman" and "absolutely beloved mentor".
Later, Brightman became involved with Peterson, a relationship that lasted for several years. In 2003, Brightman split with Peterson, though he continues to act as producer on her albums. She is now currently dating Louis Oberlander Brightman has suffered several personal crises. In 1992, her father committed suicide after divorce and financial issues. Later, she experienced an ectopic pregnancy and two miscarriages with Peterson. In an interview with the British magazine Hello!, she stated that motherhood would have been "lovely", but she accepted her destiny peacefully.
