Melody Thornton

Thornton performing live in 2009.

In 2003 Thornton traveled to Burbank, California to audition for the The Pussycat Dolls and was chosen to join the group, along with Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts, Carmit Bachar, Kimberly Wyatt and Jessica Sutta.[7] She was the only one who wasn't a professional dancer, but was hired for her vocal skills as an additional vocalist, taking dance classes.[7] The group achieved worldwide success with the singles "Don't Cha", "Stickwitu", "Buttons", and their multi-platinum debut album PCD (2005).[8] During that time, she was a featured artist on the Jibbs' 2007 hit single "Go Too Far", reaching number seventeen in New Zealand, and was a judge in the financial investment program Bank of Hollywood.[9]

The group's second and final studio album Doll Domination (2008) contains hit singles "When I Grow Up", "I Hate This Part" and "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)".[8] Despite their commercial success, the group was plagued by internal conflict due to the emphasis on Scherzinger and the subordinate treatment of the other members.[10] In February 2010, for these reasons, Thornton, Roberts, Wyatt and Sutta had announced their departures from The Pussycat Dolls and the group disbanded.[11] Thornton and Sutta said they was tired of living in "the shadow of Scherzinger".[12]

Thornton at American Music Awards.

In June 2010 Rap-Up announced that Thornton was working on her solo album with Cee Lo Green, Lil Wayne, Polow da Don and Dre & Vidal.[13][14] She said the album was focused on R&B and fun pop acquired in The Pussycat Dolls.[15] Despite this, she failed to sign a record deal and the album was cancelled.[16] Thornton would appear on Cee Lo Green's album The Lady Killer as a featured artist on the song "Love Gun", but she was replaced by Lauren Bennett for no apparent reason.[17][18] On June 16, 2011, Thornton released her debut solo single, "Sweet Vendetta", as an independent artist.[19] On March 15, 2012, Thornton released her debut mixtape, P.O.Y.B.L, produced by Kanye West, Mike Dean and Andre Harris and focused on R&B, hip hop and soul sounds.[20] The mixtape served as singles a cover of La Roux's "Bulletproof", "Smoking Gun", "Someone to Believe" and "Lipstick & Guilt" – about her relationship with Scherzinger and the time in the group.[21][22]

In 2015, after a three-year hiatus, she released two singles with Bobby Newberry: "Goodbye" and "Serial Killer".[23]

In 2017 Thornton debuted on stage playing the protagonist Rachel Marron in the musical The Bodyguard – played by Whitney Houston in the 1992 original film.[24] She also competed in the survival reality show Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls, part of a charity campaign for Stand Up to Cancer UK.[25] In 2019, Thornton was placed fifth on the eleventh series of Dancing on Ice.[26] She also starred in two musicals: Rip It Up – The 70s, a show inspired by 70's music, and Cinderella, playing the title character in the New Wimbledon Theatre production.[27] That year, Thornton declined to join The Pussycat Dolls reunion, saying that she wouldn't give up her solo career to go back to becoming a background dancer for Scherzinger without any spotlight.[28] On August 7, 2020 she released Lioness Eyes, a seven-songs EP inspired by 90's R&B artists like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Toni Braxton.[29]

The EP served as singles "Love Will Return", "Phoenix Rise", "I Will Wait" and "Goodbye to Happiness".[30] In 2022, Thornton competed and won the fourth season of the The Masked Singer Australia as Mirrorball character.[31] In 2023 she reprised the role of Rachel Marron in the UK and Ireland production of the musical The Bodyguard.[24]