Kany García

Kany Garcia's nascent success story almost didn't happen. A Puerto Rican-born singer-songwriter who was classically trained, Garcia had just successfully auditioned for the first season of Objetivo Fama (a Spanish-language version of American Idol) when she fell asleep behind the wheel while driving and got into a near-fatal accident. Her condition cost her a spot on the show, but she'd already gained the attention of music labels, and she signed with Sony a few years later. Garcia's not an obvious pop singer -- her voice is huskier and a bit more knowing than the average ingenue, but that's what has made her stand out in a crowded field. Her songwriting skills are not in question, either: she penned three tracks for Objetivo Fama winner Janina; she's also written for sister duo Ha*Ash and others. She released her solo debut, Cualquier Dia (on which she wrote all the songs), in 2007.