Cosne-sur-Loire, France

15 de febrero de 1982

Count the luminous Élodie Frégé among the myriad young singers launched to fame via the reality TV phenomenon of the early 21st century. Born February 15, 1982, in Nievre, France, she studied guitar and ballet as a child but was working as a medical secretary when in 2003 she successfully auditioned to compete in the third season of the television amateur showcase Star Academy France. While considered a long shot in the face of talents like rival Sofia Essaïdi, Frégé nevertheless pulled off the upset and claimed victory in the series finale. Her self-titled debut LP soon followed, generating the hit singles "De l'Eau" and "Viens Jusqu'à Moi." For her sophomore effort, 2006's Le Jeu des 7 Erreurs, Frégé teamed with acclaimed composer and producer Benjamin Biolay. ~ Jason Ankeny