Kany Garcia (Puerto Rico) 

Sound: A Younger, Moodier Celine Dion

A 2004 car accident forced this soulful 26-year-old to withdraw from Univision's talent-search show Objetivo Fama. But during her stay in intensive care with several broken bones, she recieved a life-altering visit. "Gloria Estefan was in PR on promo when a radio station told her what happened," says Garcia, whose Sony BMG debut, Cualquier Dia, nabbed Latin Pop Album of the Year (New Artist) and Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year (New Artist) at April's Billboard Latin Music Awards. "She came to see me, and it was one of those moments you never forget."