Tinatin's Metropolitan Room Triumph

At the age of 14, Tinatin was a young girl living in the Soviet Union, with an outrageous obsession: to one day sing in the United States. On Wednesday, her dream became reality, as the singer/songwriter—whom I named one of Billboard's most promising new talents and reviewed in the singles column—debuted at New York's Metropolitan Room, with her show “Breaking Through the Iron Curtain with American Song."

Of course, this is only the latest accomplishment for Tina, who co-wrote the 2009 runner-up Eurovision entry for Iceland, "Is It True," sung by Yohanna, which became a global smash (and my No. 2 song of the year). That led to an international publishing deal, as Tinatin also works on a non-fiction memoir telling her story (with assistance from meese) and eventually, a stage show meshing all of the elements.

For now, though, it was a phenomenal night, where T sang songs that have gotten her to this point, including several of her own compositions. In the house with Ayhan and meese: Her mom, visiting from Moscow, Beautiful Emre, Hot Emre, Karine and Ed, and Susie V., as well as her literary agent, Colleen. A triumph!