December 15, 2007

She looks a bit like Celine Dion in pictures, she sounds somewhat like Mariah Carey—but ultimately Kelly King stands on her own with single "I Don't Wanna Sing That Song." Touring with Michael Bolton, the Nashville-bred and current New Yorker King was taken under the wing of Charles Calello, nominated for 30 Grammy Awards and responsible for hits by Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, Frankie Valli and Frank Sinatra. The lovely, melodic song opens with a captivating falsetto hook that carries throughout, alongside a chugging midtempo ballad full of ingratiating heartache: "I just want to cry for all I'm worth, I don't wanna feel all right/ All I wanna to do is hurt tonight." King's vocal is totally pro, beautifully layered and oh-so-ready for radio. AC is slovenly in embracing new artists; if Kelly Sweet was 2007's breakthrough, then the new year is the time to crown the next King. —Chuck Taylor

Subscribe to Billboard magazine today!