For anyone who was a teen during the late '80s, the name Tiffany is probably instantly recognizable. Seemingly out of the blue, the pop star sprung onto the airwaves with pop hits like "I Think We're Alone Now" and "Could've Been" that — let's face it — still slap today. The former teen icon is still busy as ever in the studio, having just released a 2017 single "Can't Stop Falling" and her 2016 album "A Million Miles." She'll likely be playing her new single and songs from that album as well her multiple chart-topping '80s hits when she headlines this year's Motor City Pride at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 9. But, before rushing out to Hart Plaza to hear her perform, check out these highlights from her 30-year career.
1.) "I Think We're Alone Now" was a cover.
Born Tiffany Renee Darwish, Tiffany's mononym became a household name when, at 16, she embarked on a mall tour that shot her to stardom seemingly overnight. On that tour, she debuted her song "I Think We're Alone Now," and its success broke many a record. So much so that in 1987 she held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for two weeks, and another two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in January 1988.
The song was actually a cover of a song done originally by Michigan-based band Tommy James and the Shondells. The group debuted it on their 1967 self-titled album and made it to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. The group is is also famous for songs like "Crimson and Clover" and "Mirage."
2.) She briefly dated a gay member of New Kids on the Block.
One of the biggest pieces of drama in the early '90s pop culture scene was when New Kids on the Block's Jonathan Knight began dating Tiffany. Later, in 2009, it was revealed that Knight was gay. When asked about her relationship with Knight in a 2012 piece by the Washington Blade, Tiffany said, "Obviously I didn't know he was gay when I was dating him. We were just two young kids that were not born wealthy and suddenly seemed to have the world at our feet. Our friendship continued even after we broke up."
3.) She was once a boutique owner.
In 2015, the Nashville-based artist decided to take her longtime love of fashion and turn it into a boutique store aimed at a variety of women. In an interview with ABC News she said this about the store:
"I thought, 'Wouldn't it be cool to open up a boutique that is a little bit of glamour, and a little bit different?'" she told the magazine. "I'm a real girl. I get it. I gain weight, I lose weight. My styles change. My goal is to provide fashion for real women – any size, any age." Although the boutique itself no longer exists, the singer said via Twitter that fans can expect a "fashion and merchandise truck" soon.
4.) Tiffany posed in Playboy.
In 2002 the pop star made an appearance in a 10-page spread in Playboy. The singer said in a 2002 interview with ABC News that her reasons were ultimately because she wanted to have more attention drawn to her music.
"I did it to break down those barriers so people couldn't say, 'Aww, she's still 14,' and I also did it because I couldn't get booked on shows and it was a chance for me to say, 'Hey, if that phone rings, yes, it'll be because of Playboy, but I can talk about my music.'"
5.) She has a fear of flying.
Chances are that Tiffany will be making the drive from Nashville to Detroit before her performance, because according to her website's online bio she has an "extreme fear of flying."
"Consequently the singer is always in her car and it's in the car where she gets her inspiration and does most of her writing," the bio continued. "Those personal journals and stories inspired both the new music and to name her album after all those miles she's driven … 'A Million Miles.' In 2016 Tiffany will continue touring in the U.S. and Europe and some of this will require airplane rides. Nobody knows how to break this to her."
To find out more about Tiffany and her upcoming tour schedule, visit tiffanytunes.com. More information about Motor City Pride artist lineups and stagetimes can be found online at motorcitypride.org.
