Amy Winehouse

A woman possessed equally by demons as angels, Amy Winehouse brought an old soul's sensibility to a new era of soul music, riveting her listeners with a stop-you-in-your-tracks voice that just could not be ignored. And it wasn't, especially by a tough GRAMMY® board who rewarded Back to Black's brilliant fusion of breezy girl group harmonies and hip-hop-schooled sassiness with five nods, including Song of the Year (the snarling horns and neo-soul strut of "Rehab") and Best New Artist. While it took America a moment to catch up, in her native U.K., the smoky jazz leanings of Frank — the singer's spare, subtle debut — earned a Mercury Prize nomination in 2004. Apparently the Brits knew then what we all know now: that Winehouse's appeal sprang from her flaws, in the way we relate to the Motown-scored vixen scenes in "You Know I'm No Good" or the jilted lover in "Back to Black" and "Tears Dry on Their Own." Simply put, Amy Winehouse turned her troubles into timeless tunes, an imperfect pop star in a world too challenging to hold her for long.