Aaliyah was born January 16, 1979. She isn't much of a babygirl at 5'7 1/2". Marrying R. Kelly at the tender age of 15 may have something to do with this acquired nickname, considering he was in his 20s. The marriage may have served as a reference for her first CD "Age Ain't Nothing But A Number", but as far as that theme working out for the Kelly's- it was a no go. Their marriage was annulled due to her status as a minor. Before her rise to fame Aaliyah was awing audiences at Star Search. She lived the life of a normal teenage girl, attending Detroit's Performing Arts High School where she majored in dance.( It was around this same time that Aaliyah met singer/composer R. Kelly.) By her senior year she had released her album "One in a Million." It didn't take her long to turn to acting and land the lead role in Romeo Must Die and The Queen of the Damned. Before her death on August 25th, 2001 she was cast to play leading roles in two Matrix sequels after releasing her self titled album, "Aaliyah."