The Top 10 Celebrity Comebacks of 2024

2024 is shaping up to be a year of incredible celebrity comebacks, and we’re loving every second of it! From musicians making waves with new music to actors reclaiming their spots in the spotlight, this year has already proven that the entertainment world is far from stagnant. As someone who’s always here for a good comeback story, I’ve rounded up the top 10 celebrity returns of 2024 that are making us all sit up and take notice. These stars have proven that with a little resilience and a lot of talent, the spotlight is never too far away.

After years of legal battles and personal struggles, Britney Spears is taking back control of her narrative. She’s actively making new music, marking her first major project since her conservatorship ended. Britney has also been very vocal on social media, sharing her thoughts and connecting with fans in a way she hasn’t in years. Her return to music has been long-awaited, and 2024 proves that the pop icon still has what it takes to make an impact.

Lindsay Lohan is having a major comeback year in 2024. After a successful return to acting with Falling for Christmas in 2022, Lindsay has followed up with a starring role in a new romantic comedy, making her first big film comeback in years. Fans are thrilled to see her back in a leading role, proving that she still has the star power that made her famous in the early 2000s. With her newfound balance in her personal life, Lindsay is embracing her return to Hollywood.

Justin Timberlake’s fans were treated to a long-awaited return in 2024 with new music. After a few years of silence, Timberlake dropped an album that’s already received praise for its unique blend of pop and R&B. His return to the music scene is a reminder of why he became a solo superstar after *NSYNC, and fans are hoping this is just the beginning of a new musical chapter for him. Thank goodness that his police altercation earlier this year didn't ruin the world tour.

Selena Gomez has been dominating 2024, not only with her continued success on Only Murders in the Building, but also with her musical comeback. She released a highly anticipated album this year that’s been widely praised for its emotional depth and musical growth. In addition to her career, Selena has been very vocal on social media, frequently sharing posts with her beau, Benny Blanco, giving fans a glimpse into her personal life. This year, Selena has proven she’s just getting started.

Violin virtuoso Lindsay Stirling made a major return to the stage in 2024 with a new album and an extensive world tour. Known for her unique combination of classical violin and electronic music, Stirling has not only embraced her musical evolution but has also brought fans an unforgettable live performance experience. Her return has been a celebration of her artistry, and the tour has received rave reviews from fans and critics alike.

After dominating television with Euphoria and becoming a global fashion icon, Zendaya is back in 2024 with a highly anticipated role in a major film, Challengers. Following the success of her recent projects, Zendaya is proving her versatility, moving seamlessly between genres and continuing to build her impressive career. Fans are excited to see her step into new roles and expand her already impressive repertoire in the coming 2025 year.

After his exit from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Evans has returned to acting in 2024 with a series of new projects. This year, he starred in a critically acclaimed romantic comedy that has fans buzzing about his continued versatility as an actor. While his days as Captain America are behind him, Chris Evans is proving that he has a long career ahead of him, and this is just the beginning of his next chapter.

Katy Perry has officially returned to the music scene in 2024 with the release of her new album, which has been met with excitement from fans. After taking a break from the spotlight, Perry’s return to pop music is a reminder of her catchy hooks and bold style. Whether you’re a fan of her high-energy pop anthems or her heartfelt ballads, Perry is proving that she still has a unique place in the music world.

Shia LaBeouf’s career has had its ups and downs, but 2024 marks a major return for the actor. He starred in an acclaimed indie film that’s being praised for his raw and emotional performance. LaBeouf has been vocal about his journey of personal growth, and his return to acting is being seen as a powerful redemption story. Fans and critics alike are praising his vulnerability and commitment to his craft.

Ariana Grande has been making a significant return to the spotlight in 2024. After wrapping up her role in Wicked, she’s releasing new music and starring in a major film. Her vocal prowess continues to impress, and this year, she’s showing off her acting chops as well. With her busy year ahead, it’s clear that Ariana Grande is only getting started, and we can’t wait to see where she goes next.

2024 has already proven to be a year of incredible celebrity comebacks. Whether it’s through new music, acting roles, or public reinventions, these stars are showing that it’s never too late to make a powerful return. From Britney’s reclaiming of her narrative to Selena’s candid updates on her relationship with Benny Blanco, it’s clear that these celebrities are embracing their comebacks with confidence and passion. As the year continues, we’re sure to see even more amazing returns, and we’ll be here for every single one.

Remember when you had to tune in to MTV all day and wait for your favorite artist’s music video to air? Today’s generation has it easy. They just need to visit YouTube, the artist’s website, or social media, and boom, they can watch the music video of their favorite song. But this wasn’t the case in the past, and music videos were a much bigger deal than they are now. However, this doesn’t mean music videos aren’t important anymore. In fact, there are several reasons why artists still need to release them.  

There are many different reasons why artists need to release music videos since they are an important part of an artist’spromotional strategy. Aside from that, music videos are also important for:  

1. Visual storytelling: Sometimes it’s difficult to decipher a song’s lyrics. Enter, a visual storytelling method in the form of a music video for fans to understand what the artist wanted to convey. It adds depth to the lyrics and tells the story in ways words alone can’t.  

2. Branding and identity: An artist’s music video is often a reflection of their personality, style, or a reference to their interests and other ventures. Take, for example, Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next.” Since Grande is also an actress, she references several movies (Legally Blonde, Bring It On, Mean Girls and 13 Going on 30) in the video. She even asked her Victorious co-stars, Matt Bennett and Elizabeth Gillies to make a cameo. Music videos are also an opportunity for artists to experiment with new looks or even a new genre.  

3. Promotion and engagement: People are visual beings. We are more entertained by visuals and in this age of social media, a viral music video can make an obscure song a hit the next day. Platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok can promote and engage audiences to keep a song trending for weeks. A memorable music video can inspire memes and user-generated content that can help make a song and the artist famous.   

4. Expanding reach: An entertaining music video often attracts a broader audience. For example, someone might be scrolling through TikTok or Instagram but not a fan of a specific music genre. They might skip a song if they hear it'srock or country because they’re more into pop or R&B. But if the music video grabs their attention, they might give the song—and eventually, the genre—a try.  

Music videos are often a collaborative work between the artist, director, and a creative team coming together to come up with a concept that is aligned with the song’s message. So, how does the process work?  

1. The song’s message  

The song’s lyrics are usually the foundation for conceptualizing the music video. If the song is about a love story, then you can’t go wrong with Romeo and Juliet (minus, you know, the dying part) as Taylor Swift did in her aptly titled song, “Love Story.”   

2. The artist’s vision  

The artist might have envisioned a music video while writing the lyrics, or they may have sought the professional expertise of movie directors and producers. Other artists, whose songs are featured on movie soundtracks, often incorporate scenes from the film that align with the song's lyrics, such as Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” for Furious 7. Some music videos borrow inspiration from films, like Sabrina Carpenter’s “Taste,” inspired by the 1992 movie Death Becomes Her.  

3. Budget and resources  

The budget also plays a crucial role in determining how extravagant or low-key the music video is. There are music videos that reportedly cost millions to make. Some are worth the hefty price since these videos helped propel the artist to stardom like the following which are considered to be the most expensive music videos ever made.  

The music video for “Scream” reportedly cost approximately $7 million to produce. It holds the Guinness World Records as the most expensive music video. If it was made in 2024, including inflation, the music video would cost a whopping $14.5 million to make.   

Was it worth it? Heck, yes. The video and the song are Jackson’s response to the backlash he received from the media in 1993 because of his publicized child abuse allegations. The music video featured several Japanese sci-fi anime including Zillion, Babel II, Vampire Hunter D, and Akira.  

If the music video were released today, it would still receive the attention it did in the past, since the lyrics, as well as the cinematography, are still relevant. Besides, the $7 million spent to create the video would be a bargain, considering the Jackson sibling's awesome choreography.  

Since the song is NSFW, just click here to watch the video.  

Madonna holds the second, third, and fourth positions for the most expensive music videos ever made. “Die Another Day” reportedly cost $6.1 million in 2002. If the video were made this year, it would cost around $10.7 million.

“Die Another Day” is the theme song for the 2002 James Bond movie of the same name starring Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry.    The music video did not feature any scenes from the movie, but it was still heavily influenced by the film. Madonna made some changes to the song after seeing the film’s initial version to adapt to the movie’s theme of destroying one’s ego. In the music video, Madonna was seen fighting with her doppelgänger.   

Was it worth it? Yes! Even if it’s not a theme song for a James Bond movie, it can stand alone as an entertaining mini-action flick.  

Madonna’s “Express Yourself” cost $5 million in 1989 and $12.7 million in 2024 after inflation.   The second single from Madonna’s fourth studio album, Like A Prayer, “Express Yourself,” is a song about female empowerment and urging women to never settle since they should know their worth and never be afraid to express themselves. We’d say, it’s a song lyric that’s still relevant to this date.   

Was it worth it? Meh. With US$5 million in 1989, the music video could have been more elaborate.  For all of that money, it doesn't feel as iconic as some of the other ones on this list. 

“Bedtime Story” cost $5 million ($10.3 million in 2024) to produce. The reason? It has “elaborate visual effects.”   Many fans consider “Bedtime Story” to be Madonna’s most underrated song. If you listen to it in 2024 and watch the video today, you wouldn’t think it was a song from 1995. Perhaps that’s why it’s underrated—it was way ahead of its time.  Mark Romanek, the director (he also directed Michael and Janet Jackson’s “Scream” music video) drew inspiration from female surrealist painters like Frida Kahlo and Leonora Carrington. 

Was it worth it? Yes! The visual effects are still on par with the advancements in today’s video editing. 

“Estranged” is a Guns N’ Roses ballad from their 1991 album Use Your Illusion II. The music video reportedly cost $5 million to produce—$10.9 million in 2024, after inflation.   According to the director, Andy Morahan via Genius, “By the time we got to ‘Estranged’, Axl had split up with Stephanie Seymour, and he said, ‘I never want a girl in a video again. I’d rather go out with a dolphin.’ Which is why I put dolphins all over the video.”  

Was it worth it? YES! For the dolphins, the helicopter scene, and Axl Rose jumping from a ship. The quality of the video holds up to today’s standards.