Kristinia DeBarge

At the age of twelve, Kristinia DeBarge shared her singing ambitions with her father James DeBarge, the youngest member of DeBarge. The pair then wrote and tracked a song together, keeping her inside the studio until the early hours as a way to measure her resolve. She remained undeterred by the extended sessions and demanding effort. National attention followed via the American Idol spinoff American Juniors, though she did not reach the Top Ten round. Appearances alongside her father drew enthusiastic audience responses. Several years afterward, Babyface took notice and arranged a Def Jam recording contract. Her debut album Exposed, shaped by extensive input from Babyface, appeared in 2009. It arrived behind the playful pop-R&B single “Goodbye,” which climbed into the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100 by the third week of May.