Donna Summertime was a pop icon, v-time Grammy winner, and legendary songbird who scored 42 unmarried hits on Billboard's Hot 100. Songs similar "Honey to Love Yous Baby" and "Hot Stuff" illuminate her tremendous songwriting and singing talent. Anyone growing up in the disco era is familiar with her music, but not many know her story behind the headlines.

Donna Summer: The life story you may not know
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage / Getty Images

To celebrate the "Queen of Disco," Stacker scoured news and biography sites to highlight 25 facts nigh Donna Summer that help pigment a fuller picture of her life beyond the disco ball. Summer spoke High german fluently, took up painting subsequently in life, and battled low, fifty-fifty surviving a suicide attempt. Did you know that a sleeping bathroom bellboy was the inspiration for "She Works Hard for the Money" or that she had a function in the TV series Family Matters?

Play your favorite Donna Summertime songs equally you breeze through our slideshow. You volition discover fascinating facts behind the lyrics and life of Donna Summer.

Y'all may too like: Freddie Mercury: The life story you may not know

Boston
Chansak Joe/Getty Images

1948: Born in Boston

The "Queen of Disco" was born on Dec 31, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts—as LaDonna Adrian Gaines. Her first six years were spent in the Mission Colina projects.

1948: Large loving family
Barry Chin/The Boston World via Getty Images
1948: Big loving family

Summer's father was a butcher and her female parent was a instructor. The couple had seven children, including the Grammy-winning vocalist. Their dwelling house on Parker Hill Ave. still attracts faithful fans to this mean solar day.

1958 : Debut performance

Summertime kickoff performance was at age ten at church. Her priest summoned Summer to the stage when the singer slated to perform was a no-show. The audition was in awe of Summer'southward powerful voice and talent. The seminal moment forecasted her fame.

1960s: High schoolhouse musicals

Summertime was the star of many musicals at Jeremiah E. Shush High Schoolhouse in Boston. She auditioned for a life-changing role just before she graduated.

1967: Off to perform in Germany
Rainer Binder/ullstein bild via Getty Images
1967: Off to perform in Germany

She went off to Frg to perform in the musical Hair when she was 18.While she was in Europe, she honed her craft at the Vienna Folk Opera and was role of the cast of Godspell and Show Boat. In 1968, she released her start unmarried, "Aquarius," a German language version of the song from the musical Hair.

You lot may also like: The Bestselling Anthology From the Last 65 Years

1972: Marries first husband
MSI/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
1972: Marries first married man

She wed her showtime husband, Austrian actor Helmuth Sommer, in 1972. The couple had a daughter, Mimi. They divorced in 1972, only she used the anglicized version of his name for her brand.

1974: Signs contract
Echoes/Redferns / Getty Images
1974: Signs contract

Summer inked a contract with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. The team released a few hits in Europe before launching Summer's career with the steamy striking song "Dearest to Love Yous Baby." The trio went on to define the disco music of the '70s.

1976: Suicide attempt
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
1976: Suicide endeavour

Later on "Love to Love You Baby" became a sensation in the U.s.a., Summer was celebrated as a sex goddess. She became despondent with her reputation and tried to commit suicide. Afterwards getting aid, she reconnected with her faith. In 1979, she became a born-once more Christian.

1976-1984: Top hit parade
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
1976-1984: Height striking parade

Summer had a top 40 hitting each year for eight consecutive years. I of her about favorite hits that she produced during that time was "Last Dance." NPR reported that she told them she would perform that song for the balance of her life.

1978: Number 1 trio
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
1978: Number one trio

Live and More than was her showtime album to ascend to No. ane on the Billboard album charts, featuring "MacArthur Park," her first No. ane single. In 1979 she had two more No. one singles, "Bad Girls" and "Hot Stuff," from her "Bad Girl"album. She was the first female vocalist to garner three No. one hits in the same calendar year.

You may also like: 100 Years of Land Music History

1980s: Inspired by hardworking people
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
1980s: Inspired by hardworking people

Summer'southward inspiration for "She Works Hard for the Coin" was a bathroom attendant named Onetta Johnson at L.A.'due south tony bistro Chasen'due south. She has fallen comatose and Summer accidentally jolted her awake when she went to the ladies room. The experience inspired the lyrics for the hit song.

1980: Marries fellow creative Bruce Sudano
Robin Platzer/IMAGES/Getty Images
1980: Marries fellow creative Bruce Sudano

Summer married fellow songwriter and musician Bruce Sudano in July 1980. Sudano helped manage Summer's career and was a songwriter who co-wrote "Bad Girls" also as hits for Dolly Parton and Jermaine Jackson.

1980s: Transitions to R&B

She recorded a disco duet with Barbara Steisand before branching off to a new beat. By 1983, she transitioned from her signature disco audio into an edgy R&B vibe.

1981-1982 Gives birth to two more daughters

Summer gave nascence to daughters, Amanda and Brooklyn, in the early 1980s. Singer Amanda is married to fellow musician Abner Ramirez and the couple has iii children. Extra Brooklyn is married to Mike McGlaflin and the couple has i daughter.

1983: Appears on MTV
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
1983: Appears on MTV

Donna Summertime's hit "She Works Difficult for the Money" appeared on MTV. She was the starting time Black woman in a video that was oftentimes played on the platform.

Late 1980s: Popularity wanes
Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Tardily 1980s: Popularity wanes

Although Summertime continued to produce music through the belatedly 1980s, she never regained her disco magic. She became vocal nigh her feelings about her onetime music existence sinful, and sought solace in painting.

1989: Paints the town with art
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
1989: Paints the town with art

Donna tapped into her artistic well and discovered a new passion for painting. She exhibited her works in galleries beyond the nation and established credibility as a visual artist.

1990s: Scandal erupts
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Drove via Getty Images
1990s: Scandal erupts

Summertime's popularity declined when she was embroiled in a controversy about homophobic comments she allegedly fabricated about gay fans. Although she denied making the comments, her prototype suffered.

1992: Gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Walter Cicchetti / Shutterstock
1992: Gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Summertime received the Walk of Fame'south 1,952nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March of 1992. Dick Clark and Steven Seagal joined family and fans to celebrate the milestone.

1990s: Joins cast of 'Family Matters'

Summer appeared in the popular Tv serial Family Matters. She was cast equally Aunt Oona.

Early 2000s: Tops charts in 21st century
Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Early 2000s: Tops charts in 21st century

Summertime continued to create hit songs early in the 21st century. After a 17-year hiatus, she again hitting the top. Her 2008 album Crayons produced 3 songs that ascended to the top of Billboard's music charts. The last single she created in 2010, entitled "To Paris with Honey," too topped the charts.

2003: Writes autobiography
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic / Getty IMages
2003: Writes autobiography

Summer wrote candidly about her life in her autobiography Ordinary Daughter: The Journey, which was co-written with Marc Eliot. Along with her stardom, she opened up about her battles with depression and drug addiction and spiritual journey as a born-once more Christian.

Performs for President Obama
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Performs for President Obama

Summertime performed in Oslo, Norway when President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She sang a gear up of six songs at the concert including "MacArthur Park" and "Final Dance."

2012: Dies of lung cancer
GAB Archive/Redferns / Getty Images
2012: Dies of lung cancer

Summer died on May 17, 2012 at home in Naples, Florida after a battle with lung cancer. She was 63 years one-time.

2013: Posthumously inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Kevin Kane/WireImage/ Getty Images
2013: Posthumously inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Summertime was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April 2013. Her married man and daughters accepted the award in her honor. Destiny Child'south Kelly Rowland gave a tribute to the Queen of Disco.