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Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Jonas Brothers
Call them precocious, call them adorable, just don't call them the second coming of Hanson. Because this brother trio is here to rock. And they don't do three-part harmony. New Jersey brothers Kevin, Joseph and Nicholas Jonas were 17, 16 and 13, respectively, when they released their debut album in 2006. They got their start when littlest bro Nicholas, in possession of a soulful prepubescent voice, finagled a solo record deal with Daylight/Columbia. When Columbia got wind that there were two other Jonas brothers who were just as cute and musically inclined, Nick's solo act quickly became a trio, with Kevin on guitar and Joe and Nick switching off on vocals, keyboards and percussion. Their first album was a collection of hyper, hook-driven pop-punk that got the attention of tweens across America. And that got the attention of Disney, which stuck them on a bazillion soundtracks and then released their sophomore effort in 2007, all before Nick was a sophomore. OK, sorry about that one. And sorry about the Hanson crack, too -- the brothers Jonas don't mind, anyway. They're so cool, they even made a joke comparing themselves to Hanson on their second album. - Rachel Devitt

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Rihanna
Talent and a dose of good luck got Barbados-born Rihanna signed to Def Jam when she was 16 years old. She was discovered by producer Evan Rogers, who was visiting Barbados in 2003, and went on to so impress Def Jam CEO Jay-Z that he grabbed her for a multi-album contract. The singer's first single, "Pon De Replay," was released in June 2005, with the full album Music of the Sun dropping in August 2005. But her big break came in 2006 with the release of the single "S.O.S." and the subsequent album A Girl Like Me. The single, which sampled Soft Cell's "Tainted Love," was one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially popular songs of that year. Though Rihanna had basically moved away from dancehall, she was moving toward a new aesthetic that married R&B, synth-pop and hip-hop. She continued in this direction with 2007's Good Girl Gone Bad, which featured the infectious singles "Umbrella" and "Shut Up and Drive." - Sam Chennault

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Miley Cyrus
Are you, do you have, or have you recently been around an eight-year-old girl? Then you know who Miley Cyrus is. In fact, we'd bet the young star of the Disney Channel's Hannah Montana has been an omnipresent part of your life since 2006, when her series about a regular girl who leads a secret double life as a pop star named Hannah Montana premiered, and Cyrus became tween America's biggest star. She has talent in spades: she sings, she dances, she wears couture. On top of all that, she's apparently the most well-adjusted celebrity in the world, thanks in part to her mom and her famous dad (one Mr. Billy Ray Cyrus of "Achy Breaky Heart" fame, who is also her Hannah Montana costar), who've helped her become an icon for how to do child stardom (and, for that matter, being a teenager) right simply by not spoiling their famous spawn rotten. So don't think Miley Cyrus is just going to be another young flame that burns out early. With several successful Hannah soundtracks, a tour opening for the Cheetah Girls and a Top 20 hit on the grownup pop charts (2007's "See You Again") under her belt at just 15, this girl's future looks bright. - Rachel Devitt

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Katy Perry
Katy Perry may or may not actually be gay, but she's certainly made her young career with coy, playful references to sexuality -- her own and her paramours'. The young Californian singer-songwriter first generated a heaping helping of online buzz in 2007 with "Ur So Gay," in which she accuses a disappointing boyfriend who "doesn't even like boys" of being, well, take a guess. Then, in 2008, she shot up the charts with the Sapphic sweet-talker "I Kissed a Girl." Kind of a surprising turn of events for the daughter of two pastors who wasn't allowed to listen to secular music as a kid and got her start in Christian music, releasing a 2001 album under then name Katy Hudson. Or maybe not -- if you believe the old saw about preacher's daughters and once you learn that Perry says her life changed when she discovered Queen as a teenager. By 2004, she'd worked with Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette) and the Matrix (Avril Lavigne), been signed to Columbia and been hailed by the likes of Blender as the Next Big Thing! But nothing really clicked until she released her debut, One of the Boys, on Capitol in 2008 and got her gay on. - Rachel Devitt

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:58 M.I.A.
When she was little, Maya Arulpragasam, aka M.I.A., probably had no idea she'd grow up to become an underground dancehall sensation. Her father was a resistance figure in the Sri Lankan independence struggle, and Arulpragasam's family was forced to leave Sri Lanka -- for their safety -- when she was nine years old. But after growing up in a London housing estate and studying film, Arulpragasam's life changed when she picked up a Roland MC-505 for the first time and started composing songs. Skillfully weaving street slang with geo-politics, nonsense rhymes with low-tech dancehall riddims, Arulpragasam's angular, low-tech sound has struck a chord. Her debut, Arular, was released in 2005. - Sarah Bardeen

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:49 Madonna
One of the few megastars only needing a single name, Madonna's brand of dance pop began as the purest of bubblegum but has become increasingly sophisticated during the course of a career now in its third decade. Her influence has lessened a bit since the multimedia dynasty she lorded over in the 1980s and early '90s, partly because she's been busy raising children and partly because the focus of dance-oriented music has radically shifted in the years between Bedtime Stories (1994) and Confessions On A Dance Floor (2005). However her clubbing antennae remain finely tuned, and each subsequent release serves less as an indication of her musical development and more her ability to latch onto producer/writers of the moment. This, and her constant image-massaging to remain relevant to the dance community, allows a mother in her early forties to get away with acting like a club kitten without too much dissent, even less so with her triumphant 2005 return to form. A ruthless careerist and tougher than most of us, she does tend to show weakness with her lyrics, which at their best are simple ditties and at their worst just plain embarrassing. A catchy tune is usually there to save the day, however, and perhaps this is why she has failed to make it in the acting world -- she needs the music to shield her inability to deliver a really good line. And what music -- hit after hit, some still working a dancefloor just as effectively 20 years after initial release. Few other artists in the dance pop and electronica world show such staying power, and few receive such goodwill from their fan base, no matter which upheavals she drags them through as she hops and skips from fad to fad, laughing all the way to the bank. - Nicholas Baker

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Leona Lewis
The age when televised talent contests were popular kingmakers has no better poster child than Leona Lewis, an English neo-soul singer and songwriter who won the third series of a British TV talent show called The X Factor and became a huge international pop star nearly overnight. Lewis began writing songs at 12 and winning local talent contests around London a few years later. Her big pipes earned her an instant following in the UK (here toothsome good looks probably didn't hurt either) before she even released her first single, "A Moment Like This," in December of 2006. That single set records by being downloaded over 50,000 times in 30 minutes and was followed the next year by her debut LP, Spirit, which had its songs and producers selected jointly by record moguls Simon Cowell and Clive Davis. - Nate Cavalieri

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:34: Mariah Carey
Say what you may about her fashion sense or "diva-tude," but there is no doubt that Mariah Carey defined 1990s urban pop music. Carey ruled the charts during the Clinton decade -- her 1990 self-titled debut album alone spawned four No. 1 hit singles, and she would have 11 more before the new millennium. Over the years, artists from Christina Aguilera to Ciara would name her as an influence. Her albums are always expertly crafted and performed, making her MTV Unplugged EP a surprisingly warm change of pace. Her dominance of the charts in the 1990s earned her the title of Billboard's Artist of the Decade. Despite heavily publicized personal trials in the early part of the new century, Carey returned to the forefront of modern music with The Emancipation of Mimi, which spawned her 16th and 17th No. 1 hits. In 2008, Mariah returned with the hit single "Touch My Body" and the subsequent album, E=MC2. The single pushed her past Elvis into second place (behind the Beatles) for the most No. 1 singles for an artist in the modern era. - Rachel Landy

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:49 ABBA
More a phenomenon than a band, Abba's international stardom is untouchable. Their lush instrumentation and perfect vocal harmonies shine like disco lights reflecting off of lip gloss, patent leather pumps and sequins. Their ubiquitous, exuberant sound symbolized the glamour, hedonism and excesses of the 1970s. Their hits create moments of pure joy for losing yourself in the movement, sights and sounds of the crowded disco. But amidst the ecstasy came overwhelmingly sorrowful songs that brought you sympathy while you buried your lonely tears in a pillow. While their orchestrations are complex, their lyrics are written in the international pop language of English that "anyone" can sing, expressing sentiments everyone feels. - Marc Kate

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Michael Jackson
It doesn't really matter if Michael Jackson bullied the world's media into calling him the King of Pop in the early 1990s or if they just started using that sobriquet on their own. Either way, he earned it. Whether singing "I Want You Back" as the 11-year-old frontman of the Jackson 5, breaking the MTV color line with the explosive "Billie Jean" or defending the world's downtrodden and misunderstood (himself, that is), Jackson set the standard for pop singing, songwriting, dancing and, let's face it, weirdness for the better part of a quarter century. He came of age in the Jackson 5, then moonwalked out of the family's clutches and into his own universe with three groundbreaking albums made with producer Quincy Jones. Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad blended soul, funk and rock influences into a taut dance-pop that transformed the sound of radio for the rest of the century. Singers and producers from Madonna to Timbaland are still trying to catch up. Prosecutors and paparazzi have been playing catch-up, too, with some of Jackson's questionable life choices, and since the late 1990s, he has seemingly spent more time in the tabloids than on the pop charts. On June 25th, 2009, Michael Jackson passed away at the age of 50. - Matty Karas

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys seemingly came out of nowhere in the summer of 2001, storming up the charts with her braids and heaping servings of soul. But Keys is no pre-fab diva; she's been studying music since age five and began writing songs at age 14. She wrote (or co-wrote) and produced most of the songs on her debut, Songs in a Minor, and subsequent singles have proven she's no one-hit wonder. She took home five Grammy Awards in 2002 (including Best New Artist and Song of the Year), and returned triumphantly with The Diary of Alicia Keys the following year, racking up more hit singles ("You Don't Know My Name," "If I Ain't Got You"), and winning four more Grammys. 2007's As I Am spawned the unstoppable "No One" and the Prince-infused "Like You'll Never See Me Again." One of the most talented and likeable R&B superstars in the game today, Keys shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Britney Spears
Britney. Over the past decade the name has dominated pop charts and tabloids. Uttered with a mix of adoration and repulsion, the first name of Britney Spears exists as shorthand for the magnificent mess of contemporary pop culture. It's been quite a ride for the former Mouseketeer, who first appeared in pearly smile and short skirt on the cover of 1999's ...Baby One More Time, with a glut of sugary singles. By 2000's Oops! I Did It Again, she was a household name and a pop-music icon, and not yet 20 years old. Two more LPs -- Britney and In the Zone -- were increasingly inflected with RnB and hip-hop, though flagging chart performances and record sales soon made her as much media sensation as music maker. Fueled by a messy breakup with Justin Timberlake, two sensational marriages (one commenced in Vegas and ended only 55 hours later; the other was to former backup dancer Kevin Federline) and rumors of drug and alcohol abuse, Britney's public image was in nonstop tailspin through much of the mid '00s. By 2007, the 'tween audience that squealed about her debut was engorged by tales of panty-less partying, drug-treatment programs and a custody battle over her two children with Federline. - Nate Cavalieri

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:55 Jordin Sparks
You might call Jordin Sparks an amateur talent contest professional, although prodigy is perhaps more accurate. In 2007, the 17-year-old Sparks won American Idol. But before that, she appeared twice on America's Most Talented Kids, received two awards from the Gospel Music Association Academy and finished second at Music in the Rockies, a competition for aspiring contemporary Christian artists. The year before she won Idol, the multitalented Sparks also won Torrid's search for the "Next Plus Size Model" and appeared in a Seventeen magazine ad for the clothing line. So winning Idol was just the big, fat cherry on top of a talent show sundae -- and the culmination of a life spent working towards performance career.

The child of NFL player Phillippi Sparks (formerly of the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys), the baby-faced belter grew up singing and doing children's theater. She got a string of gigs singing the national anthem at professional sporting events in her home state of Arizona, toured with CCM star Michael W. Smith and recorded an EP (2003's For Now) at age 13. Despite all her experience, Sparks did not initially make the cut when she auditioned for Idol in Los Angeles. She did, however, win the local Arizona Idol contest, which earned her the right to audition again in Seattle and, eventually, to become the youngest ever American Idol. Following her win, she toured with the other Idols and began work on her debut album. - Rachel Devitt

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Pink
If cultivating an iconoclast status is a career, then Pink is one serious go-getter. Since her 2000 debut, the husky-voiced singer has overhauled her sound several times, changed her hair color even more often, married motocross star Carey Hart and taken George Bush to task. Then there's "Stupid Girls," the 2006 single in which Pink skewered tabloid perennials like Jessica Simpson and Paris Hilton.

She's abandoned the sugar-coated pop-soul of her first album, but Pink got her start in RnB and hip-hop. Born Alecia Moore, she started dancing and singing backup at club nights in Philadelphia at age 13 and eventually went solo with Can't Take Me Home. Pink recruited Linda Perry to co-write her second album, 2001's M!ssundaztood, a collection of soulful pop-rock that spawned the hit "Get the Party Started." She then collaborated with Rancid's Tim Armstrong on 2003's Try This. The album didn't do well, and Pink took some time off to regroup and get married, getting back to the business of spitfire sass with 2006's I'm Not Dead. She has produced many of her own albums, built side careers in both songwriting and horror-film acting, and won a pair of Grammy Awards. - Rachel Devitt

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:39 Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha Bedingfield is straight out of the U.K. school of "pop" pop star: antipodean, Anglophile and enviably attractive. Lay that alongside the fact that her career took off after brother Daniel's "Gotta Get Thru This" had shot its way to legendary status in the U.K.'s burgeoning 2-step scene (not to mention the top of the charts), and it's easy to see how the London-bred New Zealander struggled to be taken seriously at the outset, despite her debut release "Single" making it to No. 3 in the U.K. in May 2004. But then "These Words" hit the airwaves and any residual doubts about Natasha's staying power evaporated as she stormed to the top of the British charts. Her debut album Unwritten embraced a diverse number of genres and is held together by Bedingfield's evident interest in pop songwriting (and much vaunted studies of psychology). 2008's Pocketful of Sunshine features a radio-friendly duet with the lovable Sean Kingston, and is Bedingfield's reentry back onto the American pop music radar. - Jamie Dolling

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Justin Timberlake
From his adolescence on Disney's The Mickey Mouse Club through his coming of age in the hugely popular boy band *NSYNC, Justin Timberlake became one of the 1990s' biggest heartthrobs, and everything from his romance with Britney Spears to his love of fast cars turned into headline fodder. Unlike so many ex-boy band boys before (and after) him, *NSYNC's most popular member managed to parlay his teen-idol status into credible adult stardom. And how: Two phenomenally successful albums and four Grammys into his solo career, Justin Timberlake is arguably the world's most celebrated pop star; his frequent collaborations with super-producers like the Neptunes and Timbaland and his undeniable knack for white-hot blue-eyed soul-pop have earned the respect of the hip-hop community, while his dreamy looks and wounded-puppy falsetto still make the little girls ... and their sisters ... and their mothers swoon. Wardrobe malfunctions? Messy breakups? JT skates past them all, a designer fedora cocked to one side. Not too shabby for a former child star from Millington, Tennessee, who got his start singing country (and losing) on Star Search. - Rachel Devitt

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:29 Sting
In his post-Police years, Sting's songwriting ambitions have grown both artistically and commercially. He consistently delivers platinum-selling albums to his all-grown-up audience, always making sure to surround himself with exceptional musicians. Along with Peter Gabriel, he's made Adult Contemporary a slightly jazzier, more worldbeat-friendly spot on the radio dial. - Jessy Terry

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne first appeared as a spunky teenager crafting surprisingly sharp alternative pop-rock that sounded great on the radio and fit very well in your CaseLogic (right between that Alanis Morissette stuff you'd gotten a little sick of and the Fiona Apple album you held so dear). She was one of many tender-aged smart-popsters who came up in the early 2000s, a group that included Michelle Branch, Norah Jones and Vanessa Carlton. She first hit with the acousti-groove of "Complicated," but it was the charging alt-rock of second single "Sk8er Boi" that showcased the range of Lavigne's impressive talents. She released her second album, Under My Skin, in 2004, expanding upon her catalogue of sharp, smart radio tunes and leaving the teenager thing behind. After marrying Sum 41's Deryck Whibley in 2006 in a storybook wedding wherein Lavigne shocked Hot Topic shoppers and sk8er kids everywhere by rocking the big, white dress, she released her third album, a collection of more mature ballads and some of her poppiest material yet called The Best Damn Thing, in 2007. - Mike McGuirk

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:39 Sara Bareilles
Sara Bareilles (pronounced bar-rell-is) is a singer and songwriter from Eureka, Calif., who grew up singing in the high school choir and playing piano. After gigging around Los Angeles' open mic circuit as a student at UCLA, she caught the eye of Epic and signed her first major record contract in April 2005. Bareilles spent the next year working out a set of piano-based rockers that might sound at home filed next to Regina Spektor. These would make their way to Bareilles' 2007 debut Little Voice, produced by Eric Rosse (best known for his long association with Tori Amos). The album enjoyed wide distribution, in part because it was as a song-of-the-day selection for Starbucks, a Seattle-based coffee franchise. - Nate Cavalieri

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Prince
In this age of musical genre ghetto-ization, Prince stands alone. The Artist can get funky, he can rock up a storm, he can croon a soulful ballad, he can spin out webs of jazz piano, he can hip and he can hop. He can do it all, often brilliantly. Prince takes chances and often fails -- especially on the (hopefully abandoned) film front -- but every one of his albums is chock full of gems. Prince hasn't sustained the massive popularity he earned in the Purple Rain-crazed '80s, but that seems due more to bad publicity surrounding his tabloid lifestyle than his musical output. He can't hide the fact that he is an odd, fuzzy little man, but genius doesn't come in perfect packages. While legions of Prince's contemporaries crash and burn, he sits in his Minneapolis tower and continues to expand the boundaries of popular music. - Nick Dedina

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Christina Aguilera
A former star of The New Mickey Mouse Club who hit it big with an innuendo-laden single, then traded in her implicitly not-so-good-girl image for an explicitly not-so-good-girl image. Where have we heard this one before? The child of an Ecuadorian-American father and a Caucasian mother, Christina Aguilera started her career as a professional performer at age ten with a 1990 appearance on Star Search. Her subsequent Mickey Mouse Club stint led to Disney using her "Reflection" on the 1998 Mulan soundtrack, and RCA released her self-titled debut in 1999. Dance-pop smashes like "Genie in a Bottle" and "What a Girl Wants" showcased her big voice, which, along with her Spanish-language version of the album (Mi Reflejo), set her apart from the late-'90s crowd of pop-star ingenues.

Yet Aguilera was still coming in second to Britney. Her appearance on the sexy 2001 remake of "Lady Marmalade" suggested a way into the spotlight. She radically altered her image for 2002's Stripped and became Xtina, widely mocked for her look even as her voice proved soulful and mature. But in 2006 she released the acclaimed Back to Basics, a tribute to the jazz and soul she says inspires her, and cemented her status as a grown-up diva. - Rachel Devitt

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Kelly Clarkson
The first-ever American Idol, Kelly Clarkson won over America with her soulful voice, bubbly personality, and "small-town girl makes it big" story. After a dismal run at Hollywood after high school, the native Texan hightailed it back to Burleson, where she hawked Red Bull, movie tickets, and vacuum cleaners until friends convinced her to audition for Idol. The show catapulted Clarkson into the kind of career she'd spent years working (unsuccessfully) towards, but her debut album proved that America had voted correctly. The Idol-created "A Moment Like This" was a colossal hit, of course, and the album itself went multiplatinum and won Clarkson her first Grammy (for "Miss Independent").

For second album Breakaway, Clarkson did just that, cutting back on the good-girl bit, distancing herself from Idol's ickier aspects (From Justin to Kelly, anyone?) and striking off in a new direction: adult contemporary-approved rocker chick. Schlocky balladeering was usurped by hipper, edgier tracks cowritten with the likes of Ben Moody (formerly of Evanescence). The wildly successful album also earned Clarkson a reputation as a bona fide pop star.

With 15 million album sales under her belt, Clarkson released My December in 2007. Co-written by Clarkson, the album features her husky voice in darker contexts and presents a more honest reflection of the AI heroine. In fact, RCA tycoon Clive Davis deemed it too negative and offered her $10 million to scratch some of the songs. Nonetheless, Clarkson refused the sweetening and managed to keep all 14-tracks with RCA, standing by her efforts, even after she fired her manager and cancelled her summer 2007 tour because of flagging ticket sales. - Rachel Devitt

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:34: Jesse McCartney
Jesse McCartney has made a name for himself through TV appearances, movie soundtracks, stints on Radio Disney, as a character on the TV soap All My Children, as a member of a boy band called Dream Street and, as of late 2003, a solo artist in the mold of Nick Carter or Justin Timberlake, albeit a bit lighter. McCartney's debut album, Beautiful Soul, will appeal to pretty much every single preteen girl in the United States unless they are one of those weird kids who like Marilyn Manson. His second record, Right Where You Want Me, appeared in 2006, and in 2008 the not-so-young-anymore McCartney put out Departure. - Mike McGuirk

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Janet Jackson
While the rest of her illustrious family was making music history, Janet Jackson spent her childhood on sitcoms. Under her father Joe's supervision, she released two unsuccessful albums in the early '80s. At 18, she eloped with James DeDarge, but annulled the marriage the next year. She called on producer/writer team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to record her true debut, the phenomenally successful Control. By the time she followed that up with Rhythm Nation 1814 in 1989, Michael's little sister had recreated herself as a sexy (but sweet), self-sufficient pop success in her own right. A bracing combination of dance pop, modern R&B and hip-hop that buoyed Jackson's thin voice, it set the stage for the rest of her career. With her 1993 self-titled album, she properly introduced the world to Janet the romantic sex kitten, a persona she's brought back with each subsequent album. Since then, other facets of Janet's life (her physique, breakdowns and, yes, wardrobe malfunctions) have often earned more notice than her music, but a steady flow of successful, diverse singles shows Janet continuing to explore her musical identity while her siblings continue to get more eccentric. - Rachel Devitt

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: John Mellencamp
Long before Prince decided he had it with his regal name, Mellencamp was the original "artist formerly known as." He started his career with the record label-chosen moniker Johnny Cougar before his success allowed him to return to his family name. Early in his career he could have gone by Bruce or Bob, since his first recordings sounded more like Springsteen or Seger than something original. It wasn't until he produced a bushelful of radio hits before he started to mine a territory that was uniquely his own. Mixing '50s rock with more than hint of the blues, soul and R&B, Mellencamp's middle career records stand out not only for music maturity, but also because of his direct populist voice. Starting with 1983'sUh-huh, building with Scarecrow and then becoming fully realized with 1987's The Lonesome Jubilee, Mellencamp told stories of those on the fringes. While perhaps not as subtle as others, Mellencamp's message that all was not well in Regan's America powered him to the top of the charts and into political consciousness. In 1985, along with Willie Nelson and Neil Young, Mellencamp helped found the Farm Aid concert series that provides financial assistance to struggling farmers.

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:08 The Cheetah Girls
Disney's other phenomenally successful movie-musical/cross-marketing cash cow, the Cheetah Girls have evolved from their humble -- OK, totally auspicious -- beginnings as the protagonists of a best-selling series of young-adult books about an all-girl pop band. In 2003, the Disney Channel made the very wise decision to turn the stories of Galleria, Chanel, Aquanetta and Dorinda into a made-for-TV movie starring tween princesses Raven-Symone, Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams and Sabrina Bryan. Two more films (with a fourth promised in 2010), their incredibly lucrative soundtracks and a Christmas album followed. In 2006, the Cheetah Girls (sans Raven-Symone) went live, for real this time, becoming an actual touring act (opening for Vanessa Hudgens). In 2007, the trio released TCG, their first non-soundtrack, non-holiday studio album. - Rachel Devitt

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:29 Demi Lovato
So you've seen Camp Rock, right? No? OK, then you've at least watched Barney once or twice. You haven't? What are you, some kind of grown-up? Well, then, chances are you've yet to come in contact with young Ms. Demi Lovato, who got her start showing her gums on the purple dino's cute-fest at age six and her big break as a star of Disney's 2008 rock-camp-themed movie-musical. But you're going to be seeing a lot more of her: The Dallas, Tex., native will star in the new Disney Channel series Mollywood in fall 2008. And her buddies the Jonas Brothers (who also star in Camp Rock) worked with Lovato, a longtime singer-songwriter, to put together her debut album in 2008. - Rachel Devitt

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:07 Estelle
Though Estelle (nee Estelle Swaray) is a beautiful new face for U.S. audiences, the Londoner has established herself as one of the top talents in U.K. hip-hop. Her sweet voice, knack for soulful beats and propensity to break into raps will probably remind some of Lauryn Hill. Her first album, 2004's U.K.-only The 18th Day, featured Talib Kweli and John Legend; it was championed by British tastemaker Tim Westwood and heralded by British critics. Her long-awaited follow-up, Shine, is slated for a 2008 release and features some of the most distinguished producers in hip-hop. - Sam Chennault

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:36: Nelly Furtado
Although she grew up in Canada, Nelly Furtado's parents were Portuguese immigrants, and she was raised surrounded by the rhythms of traditional Portuguese music. Still drawn to the beat years later, Furtado gravitated toward the popular rap and contemporary R&B groups of the day. Like many teenagers, she used music not only as a means of escape, but also as a way to fan the flames of her dreams. After graduating from high school, Furtado headed to Toronto, where she formed the hip-hop duo Nelster. Still working a day job, Furtado haunted clubs at night, until being spotted by Brian West and Gerald Eaton of the Philosopher Kings. The pair produced a demo that landed the chanteuse her deal with Dreamworks, and continued to turn the knobs on Furtado's 2000 debut, Whoa, Nelly!. Three years later, she issued the more reflective album, Folklore. Three years after that (and after giving birth to her daughter), Furtado took off in a completely different direction with Loose, a collection of sleek, sexy, hip-hop-infused dance pop (much of it, including the huge hit "Promiscuous," produced by Timbaland) aimed at conquering the top 40 -- which she certainly did. Another three years went by and it was time for -- you guessed it -- another new direction, this time with Mi Plan, a collection of Spanish-language pop. - Linda Ryan

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:16 Danity Kane
Just like their self-titled debut's cover depicts them strutting out of nowhere into some fantasy desert sunset, Danity Kane are a spontaneously-generated, fairy tale pop product. Diddy's pet project (ie. the winners of Making the Band 3) is a ten-legged R&B girl group who you better believe can dance, pose and even hold a tune. These hotties are talented, for sure, and slick, bouncy production by Timbaland, Scott Storch and more -- veering from club-ready snap tracks to synth driven pop to sultry ballads -- ensure they sound ready for their shot at the bigtime. - Jonathan Zwickel

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: George Michael
George Michael's brand of over-sexed, white boy soul defined the fantasy life of an entire generation of teenage girls. From the poppy, bubblegum lyricism of Wham! to later, more ambient fare, Michael has always had a finger on the pulse of pop (despite some lengthy hiatuses), sliding his silken vocals into a series of arousing, danceable albums. - Mike McGuirk

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:49 Fergie
Born Stacy Ferguson in 1975, the woman now simply known as Fergie rose to fame as essentially a set-piece for one of the most popular pop-rap bands of the new millennium. But things weren't always so rosy for the California native. Her first go around in the music industry, with group the Wild Orchid, left her confused and depressed. After Orchid was dropped from their recording contract in the late-'90s, Fergie struggled with addiction and mental instability. But then she landed a role as a temporary background singer for up-and-coming hip-hop act the Black Eyed Peas. In 2003, she was offered a permanent position. And when their songs "Where Is the Love" and "Let's Get It Started" rocketed up the charts, she quickly became a star, appearing in music-related journals such as Blender and FMH. The runaway success of 2005's "My Humps" -- Fergie's meditation on female anatomy -- led to a solo career. Her 2006 album, The Duchess of York, was her debut. - Sam Chennault

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Bryan Adams
With his sandy vocals and blue-collar songwriting skills, crafty Canadian hitmaker Bryan Adams' pop-friendly take on rock 'n' roll basics found a niche that lasted through much of the 1980s and into the early '90s. Just about anyone who turned on a radio during those years will remember songs like "Cuts Like a Knife," "Summer of '69," and "Run to You." He remains active today, working the ballad territory that yielded the 1991 mega-hit "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You." - Will York

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:18 Enrique Iglesias
As the son of Julio Iglesias -- perhaps the most famous singer in the Spanish-speaking world -- Enrique was born to stardom. He recorded his demo tape under a false name, not wanting to be seen as the son of Julio, but the relationship was ultimately a factor in the blockbuster success of his first record in 1995. Possessing a strong natural voice that is well suited to both romantic and dance material, he sings confidently in Spanish and English. His first monster hit, the power ballad "Experiencia Religiosa," topped the charts in every Spanish-speaking country. Teaming up with top writers and producers, he continued with eleven No. 1 hits in a row on the Billboard Latin charts. His song "Bailamos" began his crossover career, and soon after he was performing at the Superbowl. The ultimate marker of success is that three Spanish soap operas are named after his songs. Although his father is still revered, Enrique's popularity has now eclipsed his father's, as any Latina teenager can testify. - Robert Leaver

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:17 Seal
In this age when marketers prefer to direct music at narrow audiences, Seal combines pop, R&B, hip-hop and moody rock with a down-tempo dance vibe. The wide appeal and wide range of his sound is, in many ways, a product of the British singer's multifaceted background. Born Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Ongowe' Bongota Adelo Samuel to a Nigerian father and Brazilian mother, Seal earned a degree in architecture and worked as a leather clothing designer before joining the English funk band Push in the 1980s and, later, a blues band in Thailand. His most fortuitous collaboration was with house and techno producer Adamski, with whom Seal created 1990's "Killer." The No. 1 hit earned him a solo record contract. His eponymous 1991 debut produced the smash hit "Crazy," as well as a fruitful partnership between Seal and famed producer Trevor Horn. Over the next 16 years, Seal released four more albums, including his (also eponymous) 1994 sophomore effort (which featured Batman Forever hit "Kiss from a Rose") and 2007's System (which featured a duet with wife Heidi Klum). Like Sade, his fellow uni-named Brit, Seal takes long breaks between recordings, letting his hits build over time. - Rachel Devitt

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:07 Gnarls Barkley
Marketing gimmicks aside, pinning down the raw facts on Gnarls Barkley is easy. The group's origins can be traced to an afternoon in 2005 when producer Danger Mouse played a few tracks for soul singer/rapper Cee-Lo. The former Goodie Mob member was impressed with the producer's tracks and suggested that the Athens, Ga. native submit tracks for Cee-Lo's new album. Danger Mouse -- whose production credits include Gorillaz and last year's Danger Doom -- replied matter-of-factly that he doesn't make tracks, he makes albums. The rest, as they say, is history.

While it's a clear enough story, the music that Gnarls Barkley makes is more prickly and diverges from anything that Cee-Lo or Danger Mouse have created in their previous endeavors. And though it references nearly everything, it has no real precedent. Is it amoral gospel music, cinematic soul steeped in idiosyncratic underground hip-hop or left-field indie rock with a drum machine and a basketball fixation? Their debut, 2006's St. Elsewhere , is goofy and slippery, falling in the conceptual lineage of other imaginary hip-hop groups such as the aforementioned Gorillaz or Dr. Octagon. It's smooth and soulful, mimicking some the stylistic expeditions taken by Outkast on The Love Below . And finally, it's a mess: disorganized and brilliant; ambitious and nostalgic. Enjoy the music and the mystery. - Sam Chennault

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:39 Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani first came into the public conscious as the lead singer of overnight sensation No Doubt; with the advent of the band's first single, "Just a Girl," her blonde hair and belly piercing became immediate fixtures on MTV. No Doubt continued to sell records into the '00s, but in 2004 Stefani broke out on her own, releasing smash hit solo album Love Angel Music Baby and debuting a well-received fashion line called L.A.M.B.

The album found Stefani continuing to forge the friendship with hip-hop she began with her cameo on Eve's "Let Me Blow Ya Mind": many of the tracks featured fly hip-hop beats, provided by the likes of Dr. Dre, the Neptunes and Andre 3000. But the album also encompassed some of Stefani's other predilections, including Japanese culture and couture, embodied on both the tour and videos for Love Angel Music Baby by the Harajuku Girls. Stefani referred to the girls as her "imaginary" Japanese back-up dancers and named them (what else?) Love, Angel, Music and Baby, prompting comedienne Margaret Cho, who called the singer's performances a "minstrel show," and other critics to denounce Stefani as a racist.

Stefani's second album has yet to meet with the same explosive ire. The Sweet Escape, released in late 2006, once again pays hit-making, trend-setting tribute to Stefani's myriad passions, including dance pop, hip-hop, J-pop, Broadway musicals and her infant son (with Bush's Gavin Rossdale). - Rachel Devitt

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Destiny's Child
Amongst the most commercially successful female groups in the music industry, Destiny's Child has been cranking out multi-platinum crossover R&B for many years. Founded in Houston, Texas in 1990, they were originally put together by Mathew Knowles (Beyonce's dad) when the members were still in their preteens. They paid dues performing on Star Search (rapping, not singing) in the early nineties and eventually went on the road, touring as an opening act for Dru Hill and SWV among others. Their first official release came about in 1997, with the song "Killing Time" off the soundtrack for Will Smith's summer blockbuster Men In Black. The group released their self-titled debut album the following year, scoring a huge hit with "No, No, No," produced by Wyclef. In 1998 they returned with The Writing On The Wall, which featured two more smash singles, "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Say My Name." Though they were now bona fide chart-topping superstars, internal strife and financial grievances led to the departure of LaTavia Robertson and LeToya Luckett, who were replaced by LaTavia Robertson and Farrah Franklin. Bad press and a lawsuit ensued, but when the smoke cleared, the album had sold over eight million copies. In the summer of 2000, Franklin left the group, and later that year they released their first single as a trio, finding another hit with "Independent Woman, Pt. 1" (the theme song to Charlie's Angels). Soon after, Destiny's Child dropped their third LP Survivor, which debuted at number one and featured two more hugely popular singles, "Bootylicious" and the title track. A Christmas collection and remix album followed, after which all three members released solo albums. Beyonce, who had long been the star of the group, became bigger than ever thanks to her wildly successful LP Dangerously In Love as well as a starring role in Goldmember, six-figure endorsement deals, and high-profile relationship with Jay-Z. Though rumors swirled that their life as a group had come to a close, the ladies reunited for Destiny Fulfilled, which was released in late 2004. After a highly successful tour, the group announced their permanent break-up to pursue solo projects in 2005, performing their last official show together in Vancouver, Canada, and releasing a greatest hits album that same year. A few pseudo-reunions followed, most of them involving Beyonce's solo career, but for now, the trio seems to be set on remaining just friends. Regardless, Destiny's Child will forever be revered and remembered as a group that overcame numerous obstacles to reshape the sound of pop music, in the process becoming the most popular girl group since TLC. - Brolin Winning

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:29 Whitney Houston
Although she mostly makes news these days for the drama in her private life, Whitney Houston was the first of the modern R&B divas, one of the most successful singers in the history of popular music. Houston got her start singing gospel with her mother, Cissy, while her pop chops were influenced by cousin Dionne Warwick. Whitney began her professional music career with the experimental jazz ensemble Material. When Clive Davis offered her a contract in 1983, the woman who would become the first artist to have seven consecutive No. 1 singles finally launched her pop career. By 1987's Whitney, Houston was a full-fledged star. After 1990's I'm Your Baby Tonight, she virtually abandoned an album career in favor of phenomenally successful singles, some (like the Dolly Parton cover "I Will Always Love You") attached to films in which Houston starred and some the kind of stuff only she could pull off (who else could make "The Star-Spangled Banner" a hit single?). By the end of the '90s, Houston had gotten together with (and split from) husband Bobby Brown several times, stopped showing up for gigs and spent time in rehab. But fans still hold out hope for a comeback. - Rachel Devitt

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:39 Adele
British soul-pop chanteuse Adele (nee Adele Laurie Blue Adkins) is a stunning young talent with a huge voice. After she recorded a few songs, a friend set up a MySpace page for her in early 2005; record execs discovered her there in their hunt for the "next Lily Allen." After signing to XL, she suffered from a terribly ill-timed case of writer's block -- that is until she fell in and out of love. A breakup opened the floodgates of emotion and creativity, resulting in her debut album 19. Inspired by great soul dames like Etta James and Billie Holiday and other singers such as Bjork, Jeff Buckley, Dusty Springfield and Jill Scott, Adele's sense of staggering, heartbreaking honesty and artistry are evidence of her superwoman resilience and everywoman experiences. - Angela Bruno

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:09 Backstreet Boys
Intensely sweet, danceable pop at its greatest. Backstreet Boys originally built up their massive fan base in Canada and Europe, having to wait for the release of Backstreet's Back to grab the ears of millions of teenage girls in the United States. With gold and platinum album sales in 45 countries and over 28 million albums sold, these five singers have found a worldwide audience who literally scream for their blend of catchy hooks and danceable beats. In 2001, the Backstreet Boys hosted their first television special, The Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life, which did very well for CBS in the ratings. While the band was as popular as ever, things began to unravel for the members of the group. In July of that year, the band's tour was put on hold while A.J. McLean checked into rehab in an effort to get his depression and drinking under control. McLean had barely rejoined the tour when tragedy struck the band: a close associate of the band died on one of the highjacked planes on September 11. October saw the Backstreet Boys playing the Concert for New York City benefit just as their Greatest Hits Chapter 1 was getting ready to be released. This CD featured the single, "Drowning" which once again, put the group back on the pop charts. The next year was relatively quiet for the band. The first half of the 2002 saw Nick Carter getting arrested for refusing to leave a Florida nightclub and the second half saw the band file a multimillion dollar breach of contract law suit against their record label. It didn't come as much of a surprise when the Backstreet Boys issued a statement in early 2003, explaining that the group would be put on hold while its individuals worked on their own projects. Refreshed and rejuvenated, the Backstreet Boys returned to the spotlight in 2005 with the release of the single, "Incomplete." Despite changing musical trends and a collective dislike for boy bands, "Incomplete" managed to finds its way onto Billboard Top 40 charts for both airplay and sales. - Linda Ryan

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Black Eyed Peas
Hailing from Los Angeles, the Black Eyed Peas date back to the early 1990s, when group founders Will.I.Am and Apl de Ap parlayed their breakdancing skills into a band called Atban Klann. Eazy-E eventually signed them to Ruthless Records, although the label didn't really know how to market their non-violent sound, and their album was shelved. After Eazy passed away, they picked up a third member, Taboo, and began performing around L.A. as Black Eyed Peas. Known for their positive lyrics and lively show, complete with singers and dancers, they developed a strong buzz, which led to a deal with Interscope and their 1998 debut, Behind the Front. They returned with Bridging the Gap two years later, bulking up their sound through collaborations with Premier, Mos Def and De La Soul, among others. For their third LP, 2003's Elephunk, the group added Fergie to the mix and scored enormous hits with the singles "Let's Get It Started" (originally called "Let's Get Retarded") and "Where Is the Love?" which launched them into the stratosphere and paved the way for extensive touring, advertising work, and a Grammy Award. In 2005, they released their fourth album Monkey Business, which included the single "Don't Phunk With My Heart, plus collaborations with James Brown, Justin Timberlake, and Sting, among others. As with Outkast, BEP's creative production style and anti-gangsta/good times vibes have endeared them to listeners who generally shy away from rap music, while simultaneously lightening up the airwaves and moving millions of units. - Brolin Winning

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:36: David Archuleta
If you're a fan of American Idol, you know him as the other David (or possibly the David who should've won). But David Archuleta has been making fans out of talent contest audiences since he was 10 years old, performing in, for instance, the Utah Talent Competition, a Jenny Jones talent showcase and Star Search (where he won Junior Vocal Champion). So by the time he auditioned for Idol in San Diego at the ripe old age of 16, the Utah native (and devout Mormon) was already a seasoned entertainer. Archuleta's skill and professionalism at such a young age could be chalked up at least in part to his talented parents: Lupe Maire, a Honduran-born salsa singer, and Jeff, a jazz trumpeter (who, incidentally, made waves for his stage dad tendencies on Idol). Despite his experience and his legions of adoring fans, however, Archuleta was named runner-up to Idol's seventh winner, rocker David Cook. Undaunted, the young tenor released his debut single "Crush," which rapidly climbed the charts in summer 2008. - Rachel Devitt

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:10 Rick Ross
Allegedly, the real Rick Ross worked with the CIA-backed Contra rebels to secure the cheapest cocaine in America. "Freeway Rick" then turned the powder into rock -- the first time anyone had done this on a massive scale -- and kick-started a crack epidemic that spawned a generation of zombies and corpses. Rapper Rick Ross has spent his career projecting the sort of devil-may-care persona that his namesake would appreciate. First under the tutelage of Trick Daddy, and then on his own, the Miami rapper mixes bravado, menace and drug-land mayhem for nu-crack anthems. On his signature track, 2006's "Hustlin'," he assumes the history of his namesake and claims that "Noriega owes me about a 100 favors." He's into "distribution, I'm like Atlantic/ I got motherf*ckers flying across the Atlantic." The subsequent debut, Port of Miami, was similarly fantastical and fatalistic, proving that tragedy plus time equals a hit record. - Sam Chennault

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5's bubblegum-flavored soul helped Motown usher in the 1970s with a string of chart toppers that included hits such as "ABC," "I Want You Back" and "The Love You Save." Raised in Gary, Indiana by devout Jehovah's Witnesses, the brothers endured the kind of strict upbringing that groomed them perfectly for the "Motown machine." And what a well-oiled machine it was! The Jackson 5's likenesses could be found on everything from lunchboxes to dolls to Saturday Morning cartoons. But by 1974, the machine showed signs of wear and tear: songs weren't charting as highly as they had previously, and demand for Jackson 5 merchandise was drying up. The machine broke down completely when, frustrated by Motown's refusal to allow the brothers to write or choose their own material, the Jackson 5 parted ways with the label and signed with Epic. Motown won a breach of contract suit, thus retaining the rights to the name Jackson 5. The brothers changed their named to the Jacksons. The Jackson 5 were inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame in 1997. - Linda Ryan

Sun, 31 May 2009 08:27 Cascada
Cascada were formed in Germany when Natalie Horler joined forces with DJ Manian and Yanou. Natalie's love of music came from her jazz musician father -- she used to practice singing Disney numbers and copying jazz classics in the home studio before rounding out her performance skills with dance lessons and acting. This portfolio no doubt helped in the crafting of Cascada's famously high-energy live performances. They are best known for their hits "Miracle" and "Everytime We Touch." - Nicholas Baker

Sat, 23 May 2009 13:52 Aly & AJ
They went pop before they went to middle school: Teenage sister act Aly & Amanda Joy Michalka started playing piano by age six and were taking acting lessons soon after. Noting the seriousness of their aspirations and the level of their talent, their parents moved the clan from Seattle back to their native L.A. to get them deeper into the industry. Aly and AJ took diverse roles acting on television, and their first recordings were covers of "Do You Believe in Magic" and "Walking on Sunshine," both of which were included in the soundtrack to Disney's Herbie: Fully Loaded. Their debut album, Into the Rush, was released on the Disney-owned Hollywood Records label in August 2005 and was a minor hit with the TRL set. An album of Christmas music, Acoustic Hearts of Winter, appeared in 2006, with Insomniatic following in the summer of 2007. - Jonathan Zwickel

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:34: New Kids on the Block
Donnie! Jordan! Jon! Danny! Joey! Now, read that again, but pretend like each name is being screamed by thousands of adolescent girls, and you'll start to recall the N.K.O.T.B. phenomenon during its heyday in the late 1980s. Just call them Elvis in boy-band form: impresario Maurice Starr had so much success with New Edition that he decided to replicate the model with suburban white boys. Boston auditions for the group produced 15-year-old Donnie Wahlberg, who brought in his younger brother Mark (who eventually quit), best friend Danny Wood, classmate Jordan Knight and Jordan's older brother Jon. Starr recruited the baby-faced 12-year-old Joey McIntyre, and the completed group set out converting a preteen flock via gigs in malls and at school dances. Hangin' Tough cemented their international stardom in 1988, paving the way for boy bands like the Backstreet Boys. A few years later, however, the group's audience was maturing and their popularity was waning, and in 1994, they broke up and began pursuing solo careers. Two subsequent reunion attempts failed, but 2008 found the boys back together, recording new material and once again climbing the charts with new single "Summertime." - Rachel Devitt

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:34: Sara Evans
Once a Nashville traditionalist, Evans seems to have abandoned that approach for a more glitzy style a la Shania Twain. Her sound still rings true, though: rich, honest vocals are set to cheerful accompaniment led by good ol' Fender twang. During that more commercial part of the mid to late '90s, when Nashville artists were releasing watered-down "country" songs, Sara Evans dared to rock a New Traditional style by covering Harlan Howard's "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail." The recording was so powerful that Howard himself came out of the woodwork to help her career. Having been serious about singing since the age of four, Evans moved from Oregon to Nashville to ink a deal with RCA. Her first album, Three Chords & the Truth, debuted in 1997, landing her some radio play and a touring support slot for the great George Jones. Since then she's released albums at a prolific rate: 1998's No Place That Far was met with praise from critics; 1999's Girl's Night Out garnered her even more fans and positive press; 2000's Born to Fly did well enough, but she really hit her stride in 2003 with Restless. With less traditional instrumentation and more commercial-sounding songs and production, Restlessindicated that Evans had swapped twang for a more mainstream rock orientation, but she never lost her voice's impassioned force. In 2005, the singer earned Billboard's "country's next female superstar" status when Real Fine Place debuted at the top spot on the magazine's country album chart and at No. 3 on the Top 200 Album Chart. Veering closer to the pop flame than at anytime before, the winsome singer covered a Sheryl Crow song and hired John Mayer's drummer and bass player for the record. But she didn't entirely turn her back on her country roots; on songs like "Coalminer," and the "Cheatin'," she sounds as down home as someone in a pair of Daisy Dukes. She's also appeared on albums by leading country lights like Keith Urban, Faith Hill and Carolyn Dawn Johnson, and doesn't plan to stop there: Evans, who lives outside of Nashville with her husband and two children, son Avery and daughter Audrey, says the next thing she wants is a career on the silver screen. And who would ever doubt her -- by her own admission she can switch gears at the drop of a…diaper: "I can separate things so easily in my mind. I can literally change a diaper or discipline Avery and then walk on stage. I'm such a multitasker you would not even believe. If I just had a few more arms, there's no telling what I could do. I think that's the trademark of a true woman," says Evans on her website. - Eric Shea

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:33: Jennifer Lopez
She's been called a lot of things: J-Lo, Jenny from the Block, Mrs. Anthony. Just don't call La Lopez a diva, although she deserves it -- and not just for her alleged outlandish demands-making, entourage-rocking, fur-wearing behavior. Love her or hate her, you have to respect a woman who went from being a "Fly Girl" on In Living Color to a captain of the movie, music and fashion industries.

Born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, Jennifer Lopez dabbled in musical theater as a child before moving on to small roles in film and television and backup dancing gigs for artists like New Kids on the Block and Janet Jackson. Several small movie roles followed, but it was her portrayal of beloved Tejano singer Selena in the 1997 film of the same name that catapulted Lopez to true stardom. After co-starring with George Clooney in 1998's well-received Out of Sight, Lopez recorded her first album, 1999's On the Six. All of which left people asking: sure, she can dance, act and sing, but can she design a fashion line? Yes, yes, she can. In 2001, Lopez founded Sweetface Fashion Club, home to her J.Lo and Sweetface lines.

Four more studio albums and a series of high-profile relationships (one word: Bennifer) later, Lopez settled down with hubby No. 3, Marc Anthony. The two of them produced and starred in 2007's El Cantante, a biopic about Puerto Rican salsa singer Hector Lavoe. That same year, Lopez put out two albums: Como Ama Mujer and Brave. - Rachel Devitt