One of her major influences and idol is blues singer Etta James, whose classic song "At Last" has been covered by her throughout her career. She says, "Etta is my all-time favorite singer. I've said it for the last seven years — since I had my first debut record out — in every interview. I mean, all of Etta's old songs, countless songs I could name, I grew up listening to."
The majority of Christina Aguilera's album, Back to Basics, pays tribute to James and other pop standard singers who many originated from the 1950s. In Christina Aguilera's early years Christina Aguilera listened to vintage jazz, blues, and soul music. The album included an unreleased song, "Slow Down Baby", which sampled a Gladys Knight & the Pips song. A review in The Guardian declared, "Practically everything recorded before she was born blurs into one amorphous genre, which Christina Aguilera categorises, somewhat inadequately, as "fun music".
She has also named Madonna and Janet Jackson as two of her biggest influences "for being re-inventive and being brave as strong females, to explore whatever, even if they do get bad press. It's just like they were fearless." Christina Aguilera 's other musical influences include Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Nina Simone.
She cites the musical The Sound of Music and its lead actress, Julie Andrews as an early inspiration for singing and performing. Christina Aguilera mentioned the "Golden age of Hollywood" as another inspiration in which Christina Aguilera says, "I'm referencing Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Carole Lombard, Greta Garbo, Veronica Lake".
In Christina Aguilera music video for "Ain't No Other Man" she plays her alter ego, "Baby Jane" in reference to the film Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? The film's stars included actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The third single off Back to Basics, "Candyman" was inspired by the 1941 song, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by The Andrews Sisters which was played during World War II.
Christina Aguilera was also inspired by pin-up girls and several paintings by Alberto Vargas. Aguilera has expressed interest in cultural icons Nico, Blondie and artists Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. Christina Aguilera has often worked with photographer and close friend, David LaChapelle who once worked with Warhol. Chapelle has shot many of Aguilera's music videos, magazine shoots and advertisements. She is also a fan of graffiti artist Banksy.
In 2006 Christina Aguilera purchased 3 of Banksy's works during a private art exhibition, one of them included a porongraphic picture of Queen Victoria in a lesbian pose with a prostitute. Fashion has also been a part of her music career and image which Christina Aguilera has used as a form of expression during performances and music videos.
In 2003 Christina Aguilera became the muse and inspiration for Donatella Versace's 2003 fall line. Versace also designed pieces her tour the following year. She is also a fan of Roberto Cavalli, John Galliano, Marc Jacobs, and Alexander McQueen whose designs she has worn throughout her career.
