Dido Performs Live on 'GMA' Concert Series

June 18, 2004 -- As Dido has swept through the United States on her second North American tour, the British pop star with girl-next-door appeal continues to win new fans on this side of the pond.

To date, she has amassed global sales of more than 22 million worldwide for her current album, Life for Rent, and her 1999 debut, No Angel. The initial release of No Angel made Dido a star in her native England, but her real breakthrough onto the North American music scene came courtesy of an unlikely ally: Eminem.

The controversial rapper sampled part of Dido's song "Thank You" on his 2000 hit song "Stan." Though Eminem's song included only about six lines of Dido's song, listeners were clamoring to hear more from the blond chanteuse, who also appeared in the music video.

From her ballads to her dance tracks, Dido combines smooth beats with a singer-songwriter sensibility. She has told reporter that she works on potential lyrics every day, either by writing on her laptop or recording ideas on a tape recorder.

Getting away from it all helps her creatively, too. To prepare for Life for Rent, Dido rented a house in a remote area, installed a home studio and went to work.

Born Florian Cloud De Bounevialle Armstrong, the singer is nicknamed after the mythical queen of ancient Carthage.She got started in the music business thanks to her brother, Rollo Armstrong, who is still her songwriting partner.

Dido received a Grammy nomination for best female pop vocal performance for her hit song "White Flag," but didn't win. At the end of May, however, she won a prestigious Ivor Novello Award in London, where "White Flag" was named "International Hit of the Year" by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.

She is slated to appear on Regis & Kelly on July 9.

For further information on Dido, visit www.arista.com and www.didomusic.com.