New DeBarge makes 'Goodbye' her hello

NEW YORK (CNN) -- So far it has been a very sunny summer for newbie pop singer Kristinia DeBarge. She has a Top 20 hit with "Goodbye," a peppy pop number which borrows from Steam's 1969 stadium anthem "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye."  The energetic video just earned DeBarge an MTV Video Music Award nomination in the best choreography category. And later this month the 19-year-old will demonstrate her dance skills as the opening act for Britney Spears' global "Circus" tour. The L.A.-based singer is well connected in the music business: she's the daughter of James DeBarge, a member of the '80s R&B group DeBarge. Her debut album, "Exposed," dropped last week, and was produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. Watch DeBarge tell her subject "Goodbye" »

Kristinia DeBarge (pronounced Kristi-NEE-ya) dropped in to CNN to talk about why her dad initially wanted her to follow a different career path, her different personalities and lip synching. The following is an edited version of the interview. CNN: Your dad must have a wealth of advice for you.

Kristinia DeBarge: Yes he does. His advice is stay true to yourself. He's also told me many times that I should have a lot of strength in this business, and that I'm going to need my family around me.

CNN: He didn't want you to go into music, did he?

DeBarge: No, because he knows how the music industry is. And some people can become a little jaded and tainted after. So he likes that I'm innocent and wants to keep that innocence fresh. CONTINUE READING...