These Singers Had Star Power Long Before They Ruled the Billboard Charts in 2011!

Who Am I?

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Adele—Today

Even without her signature retro look, there’s no missing the sultry vocals on a young Adele, just 18 when she performed at Book Slam, London’s best night of words and music. Her smash sophomore album 21 garnered her the No. 1 place on Billboard’s list.
Here's a gallery of Grammy musicians before they were stars!

Who Am I?

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Rihanna—Today

At No. 2 on Billboard’s list, this Barbadian superstar showed that she can hold her own with the likes of the biggest voices out there, belting out Mariah Carey’s "Hero" at the young age of 15 (and under her given name of Robyn Fenty). Her debut album cracked Billboard's Top 200, but 2006’s A Girl Like Me and 2007’s Good Girl Gone Bad solidified her spot as one of the top artists of her generation. Her sixth album was released in 2011, and there are no signs of her slowing down. We’re happy about that.

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Who Am I?

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Katy Perry—Today

Hard to believe that this blond, angsty performer would turn out to be one of the pop princesses of 2011 at No. 3 on Billboard’s list! Although Perry rocked her natural hair color and a style that’s quite different from her current one, her talent is unmistakable.
Check out our birthday gallery on Katy Perry's red-hot career!

Who Am I?

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Lady Gaga—Today

Coming in at No. 4, Lady Gaga is practically unrecognizable on the MTV prank-based show Boiling Points when a restaurant tests her patience. The Juilliard-educated singer and dancer is now known for her immense talent and crazy costumes—and she never fails to surprise and amaze her scores of fans.

Lil Wayne, 7th Grade Yearbook Photo, 1995

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Lil Wayne—Today

As a seventh grader at McMain Magnet School in New Orleans, Lil Wayne had already made his recording debut—at age 9. The rapper hit it big with a platinum album in 1999 and hasn’t looked back since, releasing many successful albums and partnering with some of the biggest names in the industry—and landing the No. 5 spot on Billboard's list.

Who Am I?

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Bruno Mars—Today

Hawaiian native Mars was born into a family of musicians and has been performing since he was a youngster. Mars left Honolulu to make his way in the music industry, and judging from his massive success and spot as No. 6 on Billboard’s list, it was a smart move. For more Before They Were Stars photos, check out our Who Am I? photo gallery!

Who Am I?

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Nicki Minaj—Today

A young Minaj shows her skills in this video long before she was named Billboard's Rising Star of 2011 and No. 7 on the list. Minaj was the first artist to have seven singles on the Billboard Top 100 chart at the same time. In addition to her musical success, she also flaunted her acting chops on Saturday Night Live.

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Who Am I?

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Taylor Swift—Today

No. 8 is a fresh-faced sophomore at Hendersonville High School in Tennessee who would later fill huge concert venues due to her evocative songwriting and clear vocals. She would go on to become the best-selling artist of 2008, selling a combined 4 million copies of her albums. Not only does she write her songs, play her own instruments, and sing, she acts, too! Swift’s star is doing nothing but rising.

Who Am I?

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Justin Bieber—Today

This Canadian singer/songwriter was discovered after posting his own videos on YouTube. It didn’t take long for him to become a worldwide sensation, making young girls swoon and garnering multiple award nominations. At just 17 years old and at No. 9, Bieber will surely appear on the charts for many years to come.

Chris Brown Freshman Year Yearbook Photo, 2004

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Chris Brown—Today

Who would have guessed that this freshman at Essex High School in Tappahannock, Virginia, would make his recording debut the following year and also stun the world with his Michael Jackson-inspired dance moves? Brown’s fourth studio album, F.A.M.E. and Fortune, was released in 2011 and gave him his first No. 1 album in the United States and a No. 10 spot on Billboard’s list.

Fergie (Stacy Ferguson), Senior Year Yearbook Photo, 1993

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Fergie—Today

Fergie has looked glamorous since her high school days, as evidenced from this yearbook photo of her as a junior princess on the prom court at Glen A. Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, California. Now happily married to actor Josh Duhamel, Fergie has enjoyed successful careers as a solo artist and as a member of the Black Eyed Peas, who come in at No. 11 on the Billboard list.

Eminem (Marshall Mathers III) Freshman Year, 1989

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Who Am I?

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Eminem—Today

This freshman at Lincoln High School in Warren, Michigan, would go on to take the rap/hip-hop world by storm in 1999 with The Slim Shady LP and follow that with film roles and several more best-selling albums. At No. 12, Eminem returned to the top of the charts with his album Recovery, after a well-publicized battle with substance abuse.

Britney Spears, 1st Grade Yearbook Photo, 1989

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Britney Spears—Today

Spears began wowing audiences just two years after this yearbook photo was taken at Park Lane Academy in Louisiana, when she appeared on Star Search. She followed the talent competition with a recurring role on The Mickey Mouse Club before taking the pop world by storm as a teen. 2011 marked a huge comeback year for Spears, whose Femme Fatale tour put her back in the spotlight and earned her the No. 14 spot on the Billboard list.