Rising pop star Mikaila was only 8 when a TV producer heard her singing with her church choir at a memorial service for victims of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. The producer invited the Oklahoma native to sing on national TV the next day, and she has been performing ever since. Last summer she toured 23 cities as Britney Spears' opening act. Her first, self-titled CD comes out this month. Mikaila, now 14, says her music "has more R. and B. and Spanish influence" than other female pop stars'.

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February 2, 2001 World Report