Julie Zenatti

Born in Paris in 1981, French vocalist Julie Zenatti nurtured dreams of a singing career from her early adolescence. Persistent efforts eventually drew the notice of Luc Plamondon, who cast her in his hugely popular musical Notre Dame de Paris. From 2000 to 2007 she maintained a relatively understated profile, even while involved in a five-year relationship with singer Patrick Fiori and amid peers who enjoyed greater visibility; a string of hit singles—Si je m'en sors, Le couloir de la vie, Couvre-moi, Je voudrais que tu me consoles, and Douce—nonetheless propelled her to half a million records sold, rendering her an asset to major labels.