Kate Martinelli

Kate Martinelli (2019)

**Kathryn Jeannie ''Kate'' Martinelli** (born December 5, 1993) is an American singer, author and vice-chairman of Austin brand.

## Biography

### Early Life

Kathryn Jeannie Martinelli was born on December 5, 1993 in San Diego, California, the only child born to dancer Natalie Mullins (born April 28, 1969), and estate agent and chairman of Austin brand, Walter Martinelli (born June 15, 1949). Her father originally from Austin, Texas is of Italian and Greek descent, while her mother is of Welsh and Irish ancestry. Her parents divorced when she was three. Through her father she has an older half-sister Kara (born July 27, 1983), a photographer and model and two younger twin half-sisters, Kayla and Kellie (born November 6, 1998). On August 3, 1996 her mother married Italian-American surgeon George Bertoli, and their daughter Jill was born on December 5, 1997 which makes that Martinelli and her, share birthday. Through her mother's marriage to Bertoli, she is a stepsister to actress Angela Bertoli and tennis player Jack Bertoli. She attended San Diego High School, where she was a member of girl volleyball team. In 2014 she graduated Italian language and literature at University of California, Los Angeles.

### Career

On August 14, 2010, Martinelli released her debut single, ''Typical Italian Song'', which was sang half in English and other half in Italian. Song was nomminated for Grammy award in the category of Best Song of the Year. As Martinelli said in one of the interviews, ''I was very suprised that my debut single received a nommination for that big award, despite I did not get it, I'm so proud of myself.'' On March 2, 2011, her second single, ''Gioco'' was released. Her first album, *Palermo* was released on June 18, 2011 and has seven songs all of which are both in Italian and English. *Palermo* received a nommination for a Grammy in the category of Album of the Year. Ceremony was held on February 12, 2012 and during show was revealed that Martinelli won an award. During her speech she said, ''I'm so happy that I have won that award for my first ever album. I decided to record this album in Italian and English because I feel it is so important to have a knowledge of our ethnicity and be proud of them. Last thing I want to say, thank you for all who supported me, my parents, half-sisters and my lovely fans, thank you so much!''. She had a break in her singer career from late 2012 to early 2014, during this time she released a book ''Debutant's Success'' and finished her studies. Her second album, *Dream Island* was released on December 1, 2014. On December 20, 2014 she released her Christmas single, ''Snow Sledges'', which later was announced the best Christmas song of the 2014. At the beginning of 2015 she became vice-chairman of Austin's brand. On March 6, 2017, she released her third album, *Italian Poetry*. On September 7, 2017 she released her second book, ''Italian Pop''. From January 6, 2018 to February 17, 2018 she had a Italian Poetry album's tour entitled Oro which is Italian for gold. She released her fourth album, *My Paradise* on July 8, 2021. She is called one of the most succesful singers in United States and the best Italian-American artist.

### Personal Life

She married model and heir of Barone brand, Kyle Barone on January 9, 2018 in Trapani, Sicily. They first met in August 2015. She wore light pink wedding dress lined with diamonds made especially for her by Spanish brand Brillo. Shortly after their wedding they bought a $2 million mansion in Los Angeles. They announced their separation in September 2020 and shortly after filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences and they divorced amicably in February 2021. After divorce they agreed that she will keep the mansion, because Barone planned move to Venice, where he moved one month after divorce. Martinelli is a vegetarian and loves animals. She also protests against the breeding of animals for fur. She has two persian cats named Verona and Rimini, and a poodle named Bologna.