Kristinia DeBarge
A pop-R&B talent who stepped from a famous musical family and a TV competition into the spotlight with her own breezy 2009 hit 'Goodbye.'
Born 1990 (age 36)·American singer·Birthday: March 8·Millennials
Biography
Kristinia DeBarge grew up surrounded by music, as the daughter of James DeBarge of the famed family group DeBarge. Her first public foray was on the early 'American Idol' spin-off for kids, but she truly arrived six years later with a sound that was distinctly her own. Signed to a label headed by Babyface, she released 'Exposed' in 2009, a sun-drenched album of pop-R&B that spawned the smash 'Goodbye.' The song's infectious melody and DeBarge's airy, confident vocals dominated radio, cementing her as a fresh voice in the late-2000s pop landscape. While the trajectory of her subsequent musical output has been less mainstream, her initial impact was undeniable, marking a successful passing of the torch to a new generation of the DeBarge musical dynasty.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kristinia was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kristinia Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Kristinia's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her debut single 'Goodbye' peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2009.
- Released her debut album 'Exposed' under Island Records' Sodapop imprint, executive produced by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds.
- Appeared as a contestant on the first season of 'American Juniors' in 2003.
Did You Know?
She is the daughter of James DeBarge, a member of the 1980s R&B group DeBarge.
Her godmother is legendary singer Janet Jackson.
She played the role of Dorothy in a touring production of 'The Wiz' in 2016.
“I grew up in a house where music was always playing, so it's in my blood.”
