As we say goodbye to 2009, we salute the year with a special year-end countdown. 10 musicians, both male and female, will be featured. Which artist will take the crown for their respected sex? That answer will be revealed on December 31st. We begin our countdown today with an artist that had guys feeling her “Energy” and an Idol winner who doesn’t “Hook up”.

#10. A songwriter for several popular artist within the music industry, Atlanta’s own Keri Hilson set out to prove that she’s not skilled with only just the pen and paper. Early in 2009, Keri Hilson showed off those crisp pipes on the debut album “In A Perfect World..” The certified Gold disc from “Ms. Keri Baby” featured radio-fine hits “Turnin Me On” w/ rapper Lil Wayne and the #3 Pop chart topper “Knock You Down” w/ Ne-Yo and Kanye West.

At #9 on our countdown is one of American Idol’s most successful artist. Kelly Clarkson is no stranger to success: her debut Thankful shot straight to number one, and the sophomore album Breakaway went on to sell 3 million copies. In mid-2007, My December was released. The surprisingly “dark” disc was huge a departure from her previous efforts. However, the American Idol winner returned to her poppy roots with the delightful disc “All I Ever Wanted”. The pop smash “My Life Would Suck Without You” immediately rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 shortly after its release. Follow up singles included “I Do Not Hook Up” and “Already Gone”. In spite of controversy with co-writer Ryan Tedder for “Already Gone”, the beautiful and daunting ballad became a Top 20 hit for Ms. Clarkson.

Check back later on today to see which artist placed at #7 and #8 on our countdown.

Images: KellySource and Keri-Hilson.Us.