When pop music starlet Kristinia DeBarge heads out on tour this week to open for Britney Spears, she’ll be toting her stuff (a lot of stuff) in a new off-brand, five-piece set of luggage she bought Friday at Macy’s Mall of America. She spent three hours at the mall (and still didn’t have time to ride the roller coaster) before performing her current hit “Goodbye” at Glamorama. Following the show, the 19-year-old daughter of ’80s singer James DeBarge, celebrated with fellow Glamorama performer Ne-Yo in the VIP lounge at the after party and chatted with us.

Q You were on Twitter five minutes before your Glamorama performance.

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Most teenagers daydream about several career paths in life, but 19-year-old Kristinia of the R&B clan the DeBarges says there’s only one thing she ever considered doing.

“I don’t really know anything else besides singing,” said the daughter of James DeBarge, the keyboardist of the 1980s Motown group DeBarge and ex-husband of Janet Jackson.

“I had a pretty normal life, except that my family just sang a lot. So I was always in the house and I was always hearing them on the piano or the drums or the guitar, or they were writing a song. My father always took me in the studio, with him or on tour … and after a while it just became like second nature to me,” said DeBarge (whose first name is pronounced kris-teh-NEE’-ah).

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Kristinia DeBarge really couldn’t have had a better head start.

The 19-year-old daughter of James DeBarge, of ’80s R&B group DeBarge, she grew up around the business and teamed up with hit maker Babyface five years ago to start planning her debut.

“Exposed” (SodaPop/Island Def Jam) is the result of all that work, featuring her light, effortless vocals tackling a lot of sweet, pretty pop - much of which was written and/or produced by Babyface. No wonder it all seems pretty inevitable.

DeBarge comes across as a streetwise Jordin Sparks with the stomping smash “Goodbye” and the new, more dance-oriented Rihanna-esque single “Sabotage.” But what really sets her apart are the first-rate ballads that she flutters across, from the lovelorn “Disconnect,” which anyone from Miley Cyrus to Whitney Houston would have fought to get on their albums, to the simple, quirky piano ballad “Doesn’t Everybody Want to Fall in Love” that is also destined to be a smash. She even makes the tender, almost sappy “Died in Your Eyes” work for her.

“Exposed” really does unveil DeBarge, who’s set to open for Britney Spears this fall, as a complete package and a music marketer’s dream - a teenager who can sing grown-up songs and make them feel young, and feel comfortable with everything from hip-hop to Celine Dion ballads. Her wait to break into the public eye is about to be so totally worth it.

GRADE B+

BOTTOM LINE A new, non-Disney(!) teen pop queen entry

Mariah Carey and Kristinia DeBarge made an appearance on BET’s 106 & Park on Thursday and spoke on their upcoming projects, music videos and even Michael Jackson.

Currently Mariah Carey is prepping to release her 12th studio album “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel” which has an expected release date of September 15, 2009.

Up and coming artist, Kristinia DeBarge, 19, the daughter of James DeBarge, who played a guest host on 106 & Park is preparing for the release of her debut album “Exposed” which is scheduled to release on Tuesday, July 28, 2009.

Kristinia DeBarge is gearing up for the follow up to her breakthrough single”Goodbye” and it’s not what you might have thought before.

Speaking with Singersroom, DeBarge confirmed news that “Future Love” has been scrapped in favor of “Sabotage,” the new follow up to “Goodbye”.

“first it was “Future Love” but we decided to switch it up. It films in LA next week and I’m actually in rehearsals for that right now,” says DeBarge.

“Going to be an interesting video. I’m really excited about it.”

“Sabotage” comes just in time for the release of DeBarge’s debut album “Exposed,” due in stores July 28.

Based on “a girl who is feeling very confused and a little crazy in her head about what is going on in her relationship and love life in terms of being a good girl or bad girl,” DeBarge says “the bad girl is pretty much taking over”.

Macy’s is adding one more accessory (aka musical act) to its Glamorama lineup. Singer Kristinia DeBarge, 19, will join Ne-Yo and the New Standards on Aug. 14 at the Orpheum Theater. The daughter of ’80s R&B star James DeBarge, she is best known for her debut single, “Goodbye.” The annual fashion and music even benefits the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

Macy’s is adding one more accessory (aka musical act) to its Glamorama lineup. Singer Kristinia DeBarge, 19, will join Ne-Yo and the New Standards on Aug. 14 at the Orpheum Theatre. The daughter of ’80s R&B star James DeBarge, she is best known for her debut single, “Goodbye.” The annual fashion and music event benefits the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

US pop sensation Kristinia DeBarge has dismissed suggestions that she used her family connections to secure a record deal.

The singer’s father was a member of 1980s R&B group DeBarge, who scored a top five hit in 1985 with ‘Rhythm Of The Night’.

However, the 19-year-old singer, whose debut single ‘Goodbye’ recently cracked the US top 20, insisted that she has made her own way in the music industry.

“I always make it clear to people that I’ve gotten to where I am because of myself,” she told DS. “I’ve been working on my project for seven years now. I sacrificed not going to a normal high school - I was home-schooled for four years - because I wanted to dedicate myself completely to music.”

She also revealed that she met Babyface, the producer of her upcoming album, without an introduction from her father.

“I didn’t meet Babyface through my father. I met him on my own. I did whatever I could to meet the people I needed to meet and to get to where I am now,” she said.

“I emphasise this so much because it’s important to me that people know I worked just as hard as any other artist that’s come out and been successful.”

Kristinia DeBarge releases debut single ‘Goodbye’ on August 10.

Read DigitalSpy’s interview with Kristinia here.

Congratulations Kristinia! This is a huge spot for you and KristiniaDeBarge.Org is excited!

Britney Spears has announced the artists to join her “Circus” tour as opening acts. Kristinia DeBarge and Grammy Award winner Ciara will be playing on pop princess’ U.S. and Canadian tour starting August.

Ciara had already opened for the 27-year-old “Womanizer” star in London. She will again be joining her, along with Kristinia, daughter of music star James DeBarge, in Britney’s road tour from August 20.

Kristinia said in Britney’s official website, “Joining Britney Spears for her ‘Circus’ tour will be an amazing and surreal experience for me. I have been dreaming of an opportunity like this forever, and can’t wait.”

Britney is currently on her European tour and will resume U.S. and Canadian shows on August 20 in Hamilton, Ontario’s Copps Coliseum.

- - AllHeadlineNews

A few things you need to know about 19-year-old newcomer Kristinia DeBarge and her new single, “Goodbye,” which you may find right at home alongside the likes of Rihanna (you may hear some echoes of “S.O.S” in there) Kat DeLuna, and Danity Kane.

1.) You’ve heard the song on that Nivea commercial. Trust me, you’ve heard it.

2.) Kristinia is the daughter of James DeBarge, one of the founding members of ’80s R&B pop band DeBarge. (!!!)

3.) “Goodbye” samples the 1969 Steam classic ““Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye,” and it’s not the only song right now that’s using that cut — Wale’s “Chillin’,” featuring Lady Gaga, also samples the same song. (Because perhaps there are not enough original songs out there to sample?)

4.) Speaking of Lady Gaga, Kristinia DeBarge’s “Goodbye” video was directed by Ray Kay, who also directed Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” video.

5.) In the video, there’s a close-up on Kristinia’s watch, which is a hot pink Casio Baby-G ($79, Casio Baby-G). Who else rocks the Baby-G? Lady Gaga in her “LoveGame” video.

– MTV Buzzworthy

Growing up as the daughter of R&B crooner James DeBarge has its advantages. Songstress Kristinia DeBarge (pronounced Kris-ti-nee-a), 19, was thrust into the entertainment world by her father while still in diapers. Now she’s making a splash with her debut single, “Goodbye,” a new-age rendition of a classic.

Running around L.A. and preparing for her upcoming East Coast tour, Kristinia chats with Rap-Up.com about snagging a meeting with Babyface on her own, collaborating with a top-tier singer-songwriter, and waving “goodbye” to romance, at least for now.

1. Had you heard the original song, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye,” before you recorded your single?
Yes, I was familiar with the original 1969 Steam version before we recorded it. I researched the song on the Internet with Babyface. He has been great to work with.

2. What has it been like growing up in a family with a musical past?
It has been a great thing for me, very positive. I have been around [music] my whole life. My father helps me to make better decisions and I know what I’m doing when I go out and do it. I produce a lot of my own vocals. It’s been a great pleasure having my dad in my life.

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