Arguably the most popular American soprano of our age, superstar opera diva Renée Fleming was born in Pennsylvania to two music teachers, and raised in Rochester, New York. She began performing in school musicals at an early age, and eventually went on to study voice at SUNY-Potsdam. She then attended the renowned Eastman School of Music in Rochester and later, Julliard in New York City. As if her resume alone doesn't speak volumes about her ridiculous talent, before attending Julliard, Fleming won a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Germany with another opera legend, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.

In 1988 at age 29, Fleming was one of four winners of the prestigious Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (the other three were Susan Graham, Patricia Racette, and Ben Heppner, all of whom are also well-known among the opera circuit these days). This win effectively launched Fleming's career, and three years later she made her Met Opera debut as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, a difficult and highly coveted role. Since then, Fleming has held leading roles at all the prestigious opera houses all over the world, and has released over 30 albums, won three Grammys, had a dessert named after her, launched a perfume, been on Sesame Street and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King album, and raised two daughters. Not too shabby.

Fleming lives at 20 West 77th street when she's not jetting around the world being terribly glamorous.

[Image via Getty]