VH1's Latest Divas: Adele, Kelly, Leona...Miley?

The word diva loosely applies to the four new performers the cable net has tapped for its famed concert series

By Josh Grossberg Jul 21, 2009 9:44 PMTags
Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Leona LewisSteve Granitz/Getty Images, George Pimentel/Getty Images, Mike Marsland/Getty Images, Jon Furniss/Getty Images

Hmmm...Diana Ross, Stevie Nicks, Whitney Houston and Miley Cyrus. Something's not quite right with this picture.

VH1, the cable net formerly known for addictive rockumentary series like Behind the Music before turning to reality dating fare like Flavor of Love and Rock of Love With Bret Michaels is resurrecting its famed VH1 Divas concert broadcast after a four-year layoff, tapping Adele, Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson and, no we're not joking, Ms. Hannah Montana herself.

We guess Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera weren't available again.

Unlike past Divas such as Aretha Franklin, Cher, Mary J. Blige and Celine Dion, all of whom have been around for decades, this latest round of female performers all made their mark in showbiz in the last three years, save Clarkson who shot to the top after winning the first season of Fox's American Idol and has stubbornly stayed there.

British soul singer Adele broke through in the States on the strength of her debut album, 19, and her popular single "Chasing Pavements," which earned her two Grammys earlier this year for Best New Artist and Best Vocal Performance. She was also nominated for the U.K.'s prestigious Mercury Prize.

Lewis, who also hails from the U.K., made her name as the former champion of British reality competition The X Factor before becoming an R&B star after scoring a hit with "A Moment Like This."

Clarkson, of course, has sold over 20 million albums since her victory on Idol and is best known for her ditty "Since You Been Gone." As it happens, Lewis owes her a debt, as Clarkson was the original artist to record "A Moment Like This" back in 2002 and the song went all the way to No. 1.

And then there's Miley.

At the ripe old age of 16, the teenage daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus already has three chart-topping albums under her belt, even if they were all soundtracks sung in the guise of her Disney Channel alter-ego Hannah Montana. As a solo artist, she's scored a top 10 hit with "See You Again," the first single from her debut album, Meet Miley Cyrus. Her second solo effort, Breakout, debuted at No. 1 last summer and quickly went platinum.

This year's VH1's Divas concert will air live on the cable network Thursday, Sept. 17 at 9 p.m. from the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Howard Gilman Opera House.

Poll

Miley Cyrus Diva Poll

What do you think? Does Miley fit the Diva bill?
She is way too young to be a diva! You should have to be, like, 20 or something!
58.4%
If taking your clothes off for Vanity Fair makes you a diva, then yes
41.6%

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If you think she's divalicious, check out our Fashion Spotlight: Miley Cyrus gallery!