1. Leona Lewis
Courtesy J Records
She made her splash at home in the UK in 2007 as she turned an X Factor victory into stardom. In 2008, Leona Lewis triumphantly crossed the Atlantic with critically acclaimed vocals belting out the #1 smash hit "Bleeding Love" and a top 10 follow up "Better In Time."
2. Katy Perry
Photo by Jesse Grant / Getty Images
The brazen attitude of Katy Perry seemed to come almost out of nowhere as "I Kissed a Girl" roared up the charts trailing a bit of controversy in its wake. Proving herself nothing like a one-hit wonder, Katy Perry came back with a second #1 hit "Hot n Cold."
3. Lady GaGa
Courtesy Interscope
Emerging out of the Manhattan club underground, Lady GaGa took her breakthrough hit "Just Dance" into the pop top 3 by the end of the year. Her glam style and confident ascent into stardom seem to suggest there is much more to come.
4. Metro Station
Courtesy Columbia/Red Ink Records
Miley Cyrus and her dad Billy Ray aren't the only talented musicians in the family. Miley's half-brother Trace led his group Metro Station into the top 5 in 2008 with the hit "Shake It."
5. David Archuleta
Photo by Bryan Bedder / Getty Images
Although he finished second in American Idol this year, it looks like David Archuleta so far is leading all of the year's contestants in the race toward pop stardom.
6. Duffy
Photo by Dave Hogan / Getty Images
Generating fond memories of the likes of Dusty Springfield, Duffy took her soulful pop vocals into the upper reaches of the charts with the breakthrough hit "Mercy."
7. The Ting Tings
Photo by Chris Jackson / Getty Images
Add a punkish edge to catchy pop songs and you have one of the most refreshing new acts of the year. "Shut Up and Let Me Go" was featured in an Apple computer TV ad, and the US began to wake up to a duo already embraced at home in the UK.
8. Adele
Courtesy Columbia Records
The haunting video for her debut single "Chasing Pavements" caused small waves all year in the pop music world. In the fall a key live appearance on Saturday Night Live may have been the tipping point that turns Adele into a pop star.
9. David Cook
Photo by Kevin Winter / Getty Images
David Cook went home victorious from his trip to American Idol in 2008. In the fall he became the second rocker from the show to break into the upper reaches of the pop top 40.
10. We the Kings
Photo by Shane McCauley, courtesy S-Curve Records
It was a long slow rise, but by year's end this Florida based pop-rock-emo band had put 2 singles into the charts and looked poised to rise even further in 2009.
