The host of this year's VH1 Divas, Paula began a recording career having established herself as a sought-after choreographer, releasing her debut album, "Forever Your Girl," in 1988. The release of the single "Straight Up" at the end of the year made her a superstar. Staying at the top of the charts for three weeks, "Straight Up" began a string of six number one singles, with the album selling over 7 million copies. Most recently she returned to the top of her game, winning over a new generation of fans as a judge on "American Idol".

When the UK press began dubbing Adele "The Next Amy Winehouse" in late 2007, the hype didn't touch upon the heavy singer/songwriter influence found in the Londoner's music. Influenced by Suzanne Vega as much as Jill Scott and Ella Fitzgerald, Adele achieved headlining status in 2007 thanks to BBC Radio 1 playing her singles "Daydreamer" and "Hometown Glory". Her single "Chasing Pavements" broke in January 2008, along with her debut album, 19, to huge acclaim. She is a VH1 You Oughta Know artist, has sold almost 700,000 albums worldwide.

Best known for her role as Effie White in the 2006 film version of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, vocalist/actress Jennifer Hudson was first brought to the public's attention while a contestant on the third season of American Idol. Jennifer went on to receive not only critical acclaim for her performance in Dreamgirls, but also both a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Her debut album, Jennifer Hudson, was released in September 2008, led by the hit R&B/Hip Hop single "Spotlight."

Jordin became the sixth "American Idol" winner in 2007. Her debut single, "This Is My Now," was released soon after the show's finale, and Sparks spent that summer appearing on the "American Idol" tour. The single "Tattoo" preceded her self-titled debut album, which arrived in time for the 2007 holiday season. It also spawned the 2008 hit "No Air", which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Jordin returned in summer 2009 with "Battlefield", her single from her most recent album of the same name.

Kelly Clarkson is the first "American Idol" winner and the top-selling former "Idol" contestant. Her first album "Thankful" sold over two million copies. Her second album, "Breakaway," was an even bigger success, selling more than 6 million copies in the US, with over 10 million in sales worldwide, spun off five Top 10 hits, and stayed on the charts for two full years. In 2006 she won two Grammy Awards, and to this date has sold over 20 million albums worldwide.

Leona Lewis' 2006 debut single, a soulful cover of Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This", was the number one single in the U.K. in 2006, and becoming the coveted "Christmas Number One." By the end of 2007, she had launched her debut album, "Spirit", in England on Simon Cowell's record label. The album went to the top of the charts (along with the single "Bleeding Love"), and became is the first British solo artist to top the chart with a debut album. The hugely successful American release followed in 2008.

In her short career, Miley has proven herself a true diva. She sings, acts on TV and in movies, sells a clothing line through Wal-Mart, and her memoir Miles to Go reached number 1 on the New York Times children's best seller list. She was listed in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in The World, and Forbes magazine ranked her number 35 on "The Celebrity 100" list with earnings of over $25 million in 2008.