Comes from a musical family: her teacher-mother played piano; her management consultant-father sang at weddings and family events; and her older brother played several instruments.
Formed the Tranzlator Crew, a rap group, with Wyclef Jean and his cousin Prakazrel ("Pras") Michel in the late 1980s; they eventually renamed themselves the Fugees.
Appeared on Showtime at the Apollo's "Amateur Night" when she was 13, singing Smokey Robinson's "Who's Lovin' You."
Was friends with Zach Braff during high school.
Was head cheerleader, class president and a straight-A student in high school.
Pursued acting during her early teens, appearing on the soap opera As the World Turns and in the movie Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.
Her 1998 solo debut,The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, sold more than eight million copies.
Rolling Stone ranked The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill as the No. 5 best album of the 1990s, and the No. 312th best album of all time.
Influences include Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Roberta Flack and Marvin Gaye.