10 Teen-Girl Musicians Who Had Talent Beyond Their Years

Lorde's single "Royals," which pokes sarcastic fun at materialistic rap and pop songs about partying and bling, is setting her apart from her fellow teen musicians on the charts — and setting records. "Royals" is the first single from a female solo act to crack the Billboard alternative charts since Fiona Apple had a No. 4 hit with "Criminal" in 1997.

The New Zealand teen, whose real name is Ella Yelich-O'Connor, was signed to a development deal with Universal Records when she was just 12 years old. Her alternative, wise-beyond-her-years bent is clear in her influences; she counts Bon Iver, poet T.S. Eliot, and The Smiths among her inspirations.

A 15-year-old Diana Ross joined The Supremes in 1959, launching a decades-long career that would take her from Motown to Studio 54 through to the 1980s.

Young all-girl groups were a mainstay in the 1960s, but Ross's vivacious personality and heartbreakingly emotive voice on songs like "Tears of Sorrow" and "Where Did Our Love Go" spoke of a maturity beyond her teenage years. After years of infighting and conflict — The Supremes inspired the musical and movie Dreamgirls — Ross left the group in 1970. Her later disco hits like "Upside Down" proved her staying power as a solo artist.

Ross still sings and performs today; she's on tour this Summer playing dates in the US and South America.

Kate Bush's The Kick Inside changed the game for young female songwriters. The album was released when she was 19, but Bush wrote several of the record's songs when she was only 13. Her influence on women in music is still felt today; Florence Welch and Joanna Newsom are just some of the artists who name her among their inspirations.

Bush's literary, lyrical songwriting and fearlessness in talking openly and smartly about sex in her lyrics were groundbreaking when she hit the scene in the late 1970s. So was her ability to stick to her guns in the notoriously male-dominated music industry. She insisted that her single "Wuthering Heights" be the first song to hit the radio from her debut album against her label's wishes. Bush eventually got her way, and the track quickly rocketed to the No. 1 spot on the UK charts.

Lauryn Hill met rapper Pras when she was a 17-year-old New Jersey high school student. The pair joined forces with Pras's cousin, Wyclef Jean, named themselves The Fugees and recorded their debut album, Tranzlator Crew, that year. The album was finally released in 1994, with their 1996 follow-up, The Score, catapulting them to fame.

Their blend of African and Caribbean musical influences, rapping, and Hill's accomplished vocals reinvented rap in the mid-'90s. Later, her solo album, 1998's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, debuted at No. 1 on the charts and earned her five Grammys.

Hill, who is currently serving jail time on tax-evasion charges, has faced her share of legal and personal issues in recent years, but her impact on hip-hop and rap will no doubt be felt for generations to come.

Adele wrote her debut album at the age of 19, which also served as the title of the CD. The English singer-songwriter said the songs were about her own coming of age: "I just kinda remember becoming a bit of a woman during that time. And I think that is definitely documented in the songs."

The songs about heartbreak and longing, especially her Grammy-winning hit "Chasing Pavements," resonated with fellow teenagers and critics alike. The BBC called the album "genuinely touching, maturely considered, and brilliantly sung."

Adele followed up the album with 21 in 2011, which was anything but a sophomore slump. She took home six Grammys — tying an all-time record — at the 2012 awards ceremony.

Laura Marling was already an accomplished musician when her first album, Alas, I Cannot Swim, was released. By then, the 17-year-old had already recorded with indie group Noah and the Whale and collaborated with bands like The Rakes and The Mystery Jets.

Still, Marling's solo work brought her the most acclaim. Her first CD was nominated for a prestigious Mercury Prize, and her latest album is garnering critical praise for its advanced guitarwork and introspective sound.

Of course, there are challenges that come along with being a remarkably young performer, but Marling took them in stride. Once, she performed on the sidewalk outside the venue where her show was being held after she was denied entry for being underage.