'80s star Tiffany steps into dream role after leaving Hollywood behind
'80s pop icon Tiffany is stepping back into the spotlight as she fulfills a dream she had prior to becoming a teen idol.
The 54-year-old singer, who rose to fame in 1987 after her song "I Think We're Alone Now" became a massive hit, made her Off-Broadway debut in "Spandex the Musical" last week.
During a July interview with People magazine, Tiffany reflected on why taking the stage felt like a "true full-circle moment for me."
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"Before music came into my life, I was a dancer and an actor, and those dreams were put on hold when ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ took off and my recording career began," she said.
Tiffany, whose full name is Tiffany Darwish, launched her career with the now-legendary Shopping Mall Tour '87, performing free concerts at malls across the country beginning in June 1987. The grassroots campaign helped turn the then-15-year-old into a teen sensation before she became a chart-topping artist.
In September 1987, Tiffany's cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' 1967 hit "I Think We're Alone Now" climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 less than two months after its release and made her a household name.
"I Think We're Alone Now" was the second single released from her self-titled debut album. She followed up with "Could've Been," the third single released from "Tiffany," which also topped the Billboard Hot 100. In addition, the album produced her Beatles cover "I Saw Him Standing There," which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Feelings of Forever," which reached the No. 50 spot.
At 16, Tiffany became the youngest female artist to top the Billboard 200 with a debut album. She went on to headline her first major tour in 1988, with New Kids on the Block opening for her before the boy band's own meteoric rise.
However, Tiffany's chart dominance proved difficult to sustain. While her 1988 sophomore album, "Hold an Old Friend's Hand," was certified platinum by the RIAA and produced the Top 10 hit "All This Time," it fell short of matching the success of her debut. As the teen-pop landscape shifted in the early 1990s, her third album, "New Inside," failed to gain commercial traction.
In 1993, Tiffany released her fourth album, "Dreams Never Die," which was issued only in Asian markets. Afterward, Tiffany largely stepped back from the mainstream music scene to focus on raising her son Elijah, whom she shares with her ex-husband, makeup artist Bulmaro Garcia. The two were married from 1992 to 2003.
In the early 2000s, Tiffany left Hollywood behind and moved to Nashville. During a 2023 interview with Fox News Digital, she explained why she decided to embrace a simpler life in Tennessee.
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"I came to Nashville for the first time when I was 10," the California native recalled. "I’ve been coming back ever since. I love being out in the country – I’m a country girl at heart. I’ve toured all over the world and this place has always been home for me. There’s just something about coming home to my little ranch… I’ve never looked back."
Since the days of her teenage stardom, Tiffany has continued to tour and release music as an independent artist. She has also made appearances in movies and television shows and starred in several reality TV series.
During a June interview with Fox News Digital, Tiffany detailed how she spent the past several years building a culinary brand that combines her love of cooking, entertaining and connecting with fans. Through her platform, "Let's Food With Tiffany," she offers recipes, virtual cooking experiences and food-focused events that showcase the same energy and creativity that made her a pop sensation.
Earlier this year, Tiffany released her second cookbook, "POP LIFE: The Ultimate ‘80s Kitchen Encore," which she created with Las Vegas celebrity chef Alicia Shevetone. "POP LIFE: The Ultimate ’80s Kitchen Encore" followed her first cookbook, "Breakfast with Tiffany," which she released independently.
In July, Tiffany announced that she would make her New York theatrical debut in "Spandex the Musical," in which she plays Linda Gustafson, a housewife who competes in the fictional 1988 Crystal Light National Aerobics Championship.
"I’ve always believed the right role would find me, and the moment I read the script, I knew Linda was that character," she told People magazine at the time.
"Just as Linda discovers a new passion through aerobics that changes her life, I’ve found exciting new passions beyond music through my ‘Pop Life’ cookbook, ‘Let’s Food With Tiffany’ events, and now returning to acting on stage," she continued. "It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself."
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"Spandex: The Musical" is a 10-day limited Off-Broadway engagement which runs through Sept. 27. After each performance, Tiffany performs "I Think We're Alone Now" during the curtain call.
"There are so many wonderful parallels between Linda’s journey and my own, and I’m thrilled the producers have even woven in some fun Tiffany Easter eggs that I know longtime fans are going to love," she told People.
Tiffany said the project is especially meaningful because a portion of the show's proceeds will benefit Children's Miracle Network, a nonprofit organization that raises money for 170 children's hospitals across the United States and Canada.
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"Making my Off-Broadway debut with such a funny, heartfelt and uplifting show is truly a dream come true," Tiffany said. "I’m also incredibly proud that ‘Spandex The Musical’ is partnering with Children’s Miracle Network, with a portion of the proceeds helping children and families in need."
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"Giving back has always been close to my heart, so being able to combine my love of performing with a cause that means so much to me makes this experience even more special," she added.
"I can’t wait for audiences to experience the laughs, the music, the ‘80s nostalgia and, of course, plenty of spandex!"