Grammy-winning singer Fantasia is among the women named honorary members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. at the recent Centennial Founders’ Month event.
Alexis Jones (actress and Grammy-nominated singer), Yvonne McNair (Emmy-nominated event producer and entrepreneur) and Shawn Smith (first global head of communications at Osmo) were also inducted at the ceremony.
Fantasia confirmed the induction on Instagram. “Y’all have no idea how long I been waiting to share this news!! I’ve officially been inducted as an Honorary #SigmaGammaRho 💙🐩💛. #D9 #sorority #prettypoodle THANK YOU… I am overjoyed,” she wrote in a caption.
Brownstone frontwoman Nicci Gilbert, also an honorary SGRS member, was part of the celebration, sharing a message on Instagram.
“All I have to say is last night was magical and this is just the beginning. The world just became GREATER EEEEEEEE…YIP Congratulations to my sisters who are now my SORORS! @yvonnemcnair_cmg @tasiasword I Live Y’all WELCOME to @sgrhoupdates #Sigma#sigmagammarho #PrettyPoodles #SGRHO #1922,” she wrote.
Fantasia had an eventful last few days. First, she saluted the Godmother of Soul, Patti LaBelle, in musical tribute at the 2022 theGrio Awards. LaBelle received the Music Icon Award.
Then, she joined Ciara on Sunday (Nov. 28) at the NFL week 12 game between Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.
Fantasia is currently touring nationwide. Her next show is this Friday, Dec. 2, at Township Auditorium in Columbia, South Carolina. She will conclude the scheduled concerts on March 25, 2023, in Orlando, Florida.
There is no word on Fantasia’s next studio album. She last released Sketchbook in October 2019. The album featured the radio hit “Enough,” which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart.
Sketchbook was among Rated R&B’s Best R&B Albums of 2019 list.
Music aside, Fantasia will star as Celie in the upcoming musical film The Color Purple. She previously portrayed the character in the Broadway musical.
“As I sit tonight and reflect on the journey my has taken, I believe I now understand what Redemption truly feels like,” said Fantasia.
“The last time I stepped into this character, the similarities between what I portrayed on stage and what I experienced in my own reality were too close for comfort. I’ve learned since then that my pain was only an introduction to a great purpose of meaning and assignment.”
She added, “I hope that every little black girl who is fighting to be heard and recognized also promises to never give up in spite of the costs. Now everyone who has been wondering why I’ve been missing and so quiet can see that I’ve been dedicating all of my time to All Things Purple! (Matthew 20:16).”