Leona Lewis Named Top New Artist Of 2008

Leona Lewis can add one more honor to her lengthy list of accolades – Top New Artist of 2008.

The British chanteuse was given the title by Billboard magazine for the tremendous success she has achieved over the year. In addition to the three Grammy Award nominations Leona received last week (for Record of the Year, Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Album), Leona was the best selling new artist of the entire year.

“I’m just going day by day and just enjoying everything,” Leona told Billboard of her success.” I got a fantastic opportunity to come here and do this and so far it’s been going really well.”

Her song, “Bleeding Love,” which was recently crowned top selling single of the year by iTunes, has been a big part of Leona’s world domination. And she has her own ideas why it’s taken off.

“I think that ‘Bleeding Love’ isn’t like your typical love song,” Leona said of the top cut off her debut album, “Spirit.” “It’s got quite a painful lyric and I think a lot of people have experienced relationships on that level where it’s not always fun. Sometimes you do have those painful moments and that’s what ‘Bleeding Love’ is about.”

Former “American Idol” champ Jordin Sparks took the second spot on Billboard’s Top New Artists for 2008 list, followed by hip-hop’s Flo Rida, Katy Perry and OneRepublic, whose frontman – Ryan Tedder – actually penned Leona’s big hit.

Also making Billboard’s list were The-Dream, Metro Station, “American Idol” Season 6 winner David Cook, British new-soul singer Duffy and “Idol” runner-up David Archuleta.