Denise Bestman
Denise BestmanShe doesn’t know it, but Denise Bestman saved the Grammys. For me, anyway. Well, Denise Bestman and Adele because without Adele, we wouldn’t be talking about Denise Bestman. And since I know you’re probably asking, who the heck is Denise Bestman, she’s the 11-year-old girl who rocked “Rolling in the Deep” in the Target ad aired during those lackluster Grammys earlier this week. Every year, I watch the Grammys. And every year, I come away feeling like I do when I eat at McDonald’s -- it’s not nearly as good as it used to be and it was a complete waste of time (or, in the case of Mickey D.’s, calories).

Watch what all the hubbub is about: 

How that child managed to make more of a mark in a 30-second commercial than anybody else on that stage — except, of course, Adele — is almost a guarantee that she’s gonna be a star. Just what does an 11-year-old know about rolling in the deeeeep (and what exactly does “rolling in the deep” even mean anyway?). But I love the song and I think young Denise does a lovely job of capturing the mystifying complexity of relationships. One day after a dude irks her soul, she'll really be able to belt that song out. (Hell, in that case, why can't I sing?!)

If we recall, plenty of celebs have farmed fruitful careers from the notoriety of a successful commercial. There’s a whole Hollywood inventory of actors — Brad Pitt, Demi Moore, Drew Barrymore — who were random faces before they were famous faces. Raven Symone plugged Cool Whip prior to being Olivia on my beloved Cosby Show. Alfonso Ribeiro was a break dancer alongside Michael Jackson in a Pepsi commercial back in 1984 before he was Carlton on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. And Tyrese sang his little heart out — also, interestingly enough, from the seat of an anonymous city bus — for Coca-Cola back in the '90s.

So pop culture history tells us a star can be born in 30-second spurts on the small screen because even if consumers are up going to the bathroom or reloading on spinach dip and nachos, execs are always paying attention. And since Target specifically tracked her down to appear in this commercial, it’s safe to say the powers that be are probably plotting on Little Miss Tween Phenom. Maybe she’ll do Broadway, maybe she’ll do studio work. But she’s going to do it big. I feel it in my bones. So long as she keeps her grades up (hey, I’m a mom. How could I not throw that in there?).

Adele dropped 19, then 21. Does that mean Denise Bestman is going to call her album 11? All I know is if the Grammys keep nosediving like they have been, by the time she makes it to the actual show, she’ll really shut it down.

So do we love her?