Dana Dawson skillfully balanced a musical career with work as an actor. Making her theatrical debut at the age of seven with a national touring production of Annie, she joined the national tour of Rent in October 2000. She continued to perform in the musical show when it made its Broadway premiere in August 2001. Dawson was equally successful as a vocalist, releasing her debut album, Paris, New York and Me, in 1991. Her second album, Black Butterfly, released during the summer of 1996, included the dance hit "3 Is Family." Released in England, her 2001 single, "Nice Life," was featured on the soundtrack of the Disney Channel show Lizzie McGuire. Dawson battled colon cancer for years, and died from the disease on August 10, 2010 at the age of 36.