Selena Marie Gomez is an American singer, actress, producer, and businesswoman. She began her career as a child actress, starring on the children's television series Barney & Friends, and rose to prominence as a teen idol, leading as Alex Russo on the Disney Channel sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place. As a singer, she signed with Hollywood Records in 2008 and formed the pop rock band Selena Gomez & the Scene. The band released three studio albums, all of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA.