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CNN Sunday Morning

Singer/Actress Aaliyah Died in a Plane Crash Yesterday

Aired August 26, 2001 - 08:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN ANCHOR: We begin with a tragedy in the entertainment world. Singer and budding actress Aaliyah is dead.

The R&B star and seven other people were killed yesterday when their small Cessna plane crashed in flames after it took off from Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas. Authorities say the singer was heading to Opa-Locka, Florida after filming a music video. Police say one man survived the crash and is being treated at a Florida hospital. The names of the other victims have not been released.

At this point, there is no word on cause of the deadly crash. There are reporters, however, that the small plane was overloaded with suitcases.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, if you didn't know the young starts music, it's certain your kids do. Aaliyah was only 22 years old, but already she was an entertainment veteran. She recently released her third album and was filming her third motion picture.

Here's a look at the self-described shy girl who was on her way to super stardom.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Grammy-nominated singer, Aaliyah, once described herself as street, but sweet, yet she grew up anything but street.

Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born in Brooklyn and raised in Detroit. She was a straight A student at a performing art school, went on "Star Search" at age 11 and released her first album, "Age Ain't Nothing But A Number," when she was just 15.

Her first project was produced by singer/songwriter R. Kelly. Soon after, unconfirmed reports surfaced that Aaliyah and Kelly had married. The relationship didn't last, but Aaliyah did go on to her multi-platinum sophomore album, "One In A Million" in 1996.

Her latest release, "Aaliyah" hit record stores only last month. Aaliyah's talent and style also earned her a string of movie offers. She received critical acclaim for her role in last year's Kung Fu fighting "Romeo Must Die," which led her to a huge Grammy-nominated hit, try again, featured on the movie sound-track. And Aaliyah was scheduled to star in two follow-ups to "The Matrix" with Keanu Reeves. The fans will get to see the strikingly pretty entertainer in the upcoming release of Anne Rice's "The Queen of the Damned."

Aaliyah, which is Arabic for the highest, most exalted one, was 22 and a rising megastar.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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