Top Ten Divas of the New Millenium-Under 40 Mar 25 '10    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 Mai by Eri Sugai From $4 The Bottom Line My picks for the top ten divas under 40 in the new millennium. I got the idea for this list while composing the Best Voices list. While similar, this list is not a repeat of the former. This list accounts for the ten divas who reign supreme within the music industry and in the wider entertainment industry. The Best Voices list considered the best singers. And there is a very distinct difference between a diva and a singer. A diva is to a singer what a queen is to a lady-in-waiting; one serves only at the pleasure of the other. A singer serves as the opening act, a diva is the headliner, the main attraction. Also, divas tend to be multi-talented, displaying talent in a variety of areas outside of the recording studio. A singer can entertain a crowd. A diva holds court. With that established, the top ten divas under the age of 40 are 1.     Mary J. Blige- With more than thirty-seven qualified hits on the Billboard charts to her name, the heralded Queen of HipHop/Soul has the best game in the business.  She has released eight albums to multiplatinum success and has won nine Grammy awards for her work. She boasts thirty-seven qualified hit singles on the Billboard charts, making her one of the ten female singers with the most hits qualified on the Billboard Hot 100. With cameo roles and celebrated appearances on such shows as Entourage, America’s Next Top Model and Oprah, Mary J Blige has proven herself to be a versatile entertainer. She is scheduled to play the lead role in the MTV biopic of legendary diva, Nina Simone. 2.      Jill Scott- One of the most remarkable voices in the music industry, Jill Scott has released seven albums to date, five of which have been certified gold, with one double platinum album to her credit. Already a master of the spoken word and a premier poet, Jill Scott has appeared in a slew of films, including Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married. She has also starred in her own HBO series, The Number One Ladies Detective Agency.  She is scheduled to star in Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married 2, set for release later this year. 3.     Alicia Keyes- Alicia Keyes is the standard bearer for her generation among performers and entertainers.  A gifted pianist with one of the most powerful set of vocals in the business, Alicia spins out hit after hit after hit, winning the hearts of millions of fans around the world.  Not only a talented singer, she is also a celebrated philanthropist with her Keep A Child Alive foundation.  She has also made a name for herself as an actress giving phenomenal performances in such films as The Secret Life of Bees and The Nanny Diaries. Keyes is scheduled to take up the role of a lifetime, taking the lead role in the forthcoming biopic about the life of Lena Horne.  That is a role and a film to anticipate. The whole world is awaiting her performance in this film. 4.     Jennifer Hudson- Jennifer Hudson is the most versatile performer with the most celebrated rise to stardom since Barbra Streisand. With an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy Award already in hand, Jhud is proving herself to fit without a doubt in that legacy trailblazed by Streisand as the consummate actress and the consummate singer. With her Christmas special last year, she may walk away with an Emmy sometime soon, even further pushing her into the legacy of that Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, Golden Globe, and Tony Award winning diva, Barbra Streisand, who won all of the above awards and all of them during her twenties. Hudson’s career is seemingly destined to be cast in that mold. They will certainly be big and impressive shoes to fill on the part of Hudson.  The question  to be asked is, will Hudson be the next Barbra Streisand? 5.     Pink- Pink is an electric performer with all of the magnetism of a jungle cat. A performer in every true sense of the word, she possesses the gamine-like qualities of Josephine Baker with the ability to mesmerize her audiences. Her amazing vocal power alone qualifies her as a diva.  Her megahits, “Stupid Girls” and “So What” have become mantras for millions of people around the globe.  Her performances at the MTV and Grammy Awards were spectacular displays of her abilities. Having also appeared in a number of films and on television, Pink certainly qualifies as a diva. 6.     Fantasia- Fantasia has one of the best voices in the industry. Her amazing rise from American Idol made the entire world fall in love with her, her voice, and her story.  And she has already qualified herself as one of the best divas around.  With her debut single, “I Believe,” she became the first recording artist in history  to debut on the singles chart at number one. Her  platinum debut album, “Free Yourself,” was one of the best albums of 2006.  Along with her phenomenal musical talent, Fantasia has also branched out into television movies and other projects including a reality show.  She made history when she opened on Broadway as Celie in Oprah Winfrey’s adaptation of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. After a lull and a few personal trials, Fantasia is definitely back and has reclaimed her spot as one of the top divas in the entertainment industry. 7.     India Arie- I love India Arie. One of the boldest, most talented, and inspirational artist on the planet, India has never ceased to use her platform to work for the betterment of humanity and to spread wisdom, love and beauty throughout the world. Her music is soulful and full of integrity. With mantras like “Brown Skin” “Little Things”  “There’s Hope,”and “I Am Not My Hair,” India is the contemporary manifestation of Nina Simone, a diva with consciousness. India memorably portrayed Simone on the American television show, American Dreams. She has also had a stint on Broadway in a revival of Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.  With gold, platinum, and multiplatinum albums to her credit, India Arie is truly one of the brightest stars on the planet. 8.      Erykah Badu-  Mz. Badu mixes her own brand of grit and diva magic to cast her spell over the world.  Sharing the spotlight as Queen of Spoken Word with Jill Scott, she also carries the moniker of “Queen of Neo-Soul.” Badu burst out on the scene with her hilariously sarcastic hit, “Tyrone” and quickly followed that up with a string of popular songs including,  “On and On,” “Next Lifetime,” “Bag Lady,” “Love of My Life,” and “Honey.”  As a diva, she has four gold, three platinum, and two multiplatinum albums to her credit, including her triple platinum selling debut album, “Baduizm.” She has also made a name for herself as an actress with a lauded performance in Cider House Rules. Badu also appeared in Dave Chapelle’s Block Party in 2006, performing alongside fellow diva Jill Scott. 9.      Beyonce- Beyonce Knowles is nothing else if not a qualified diva. With one of the most successful music careers in recent music history, first as lead singer of Destiny’s Child and later as a solo artist, Ms. Ambitious has set out on a campaign to expand herself into every venue of the entertainment industry. Having already garnered a number of Grammys and MTV Awards, Ms. Ambitious has set about on a campaign to also snab an Oscar and other recognitions as an actress. With her celebrated portrayal of Diana Ross as the character Deena Jones in Dreamgirls and another noted performance as Etta James in Cadillac Records, Beyonce has made it known that she wants recognition not only in the music industry, but also in film. Her latest music video collaboration with Lady Gaga, “Telephone,” has caught fire around the globe, capturing the top spot on the singles charts and sparking controversy and conversation throughout the music industry.  With over a hundred million album sales to her credit,  Beyonce has been acknowledged by RIAA and Billboard as the best selling recording artist of the new millennium. 10.  Lady Gaga- Lady Gaga’s rise to fame truly was an example of what is known as, exnihilo, something out of nothing. Literally, out of nowhere and with a swiftness and an urgency, Lady Gaga simply appeared on the music scene and caused a windstorm. Drawing on the legacies  of Madonna, Labelle, Grace Slick, and others, her musical performances are happenings filled with intrigue, spectacle, and fantasy. With several hits to her credit in just a short time on the music scene,  including “Poker  Face,” “Paparazzi,” and “Telephone,” Gaga is the hottest diva on the scene at the moment. With her spectacular rise, her captivating songs and live performances, Lady Gaga has a future that is so bright it illuminates the entire universe. These are my selections as the top divas of the new millenium, under 40. I hope you agree.

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