Most failed musicians never rise again. The industry discards artists after their prime selling years end. Yet against these odds, nine legendary performers engineered remarkable returns. Their methods contradict conventional career advice.
10. Jonas Brothers – ‘Sucker’
Remember when the Jonas Brothers shocked everyone with their 2019 reunion? Years after their split, “Sucker” exploded onto charts, landing at #1 on Billboard and bridging their Disney past with a mature new sound. The five-times platinum single proved these weren’t just nostalgic has-beens. Their partners’ appearances in the video smartly signaled their evolution from teen idols to adult artists. What could’ve been dismissed as a cash grab instead redefined how former boy bands can mature without losing their essential appeal.
9. Pink – ‘You Make Me Sick’
Pink’s early career faced a critical turning point after her third album’s commercial failure. “You Make Me Sick” delivered her breakthrough by blending catchy hooks with genuine attitude. Her versatile vocals shifted effortlessly between powerful and vulnerable moments, silencing critics who doubted her staying power after “Stupid Girls” fizzled. When today’s pop stars balance commercial appeal with authentic edge, they’re following Pink’s blueprint from when flip phones were still cutting-edge technology.
8. Train – ‘Hey, Soul Sister’
Who expected Train to dominate charts again after disappearing from the music landscape? Yet “Hey, Soul Sister” changed everything in 2009, its distinctive ukulele melody standing out amid electronic dance tracks. The song climbed charts through genuine listener requests rather than label manipulation. Surpassing “Drops of Jupiter” with over 10 million downloads, this unlikely earworm proved that organic growth could still trump manufactured hits in the digital streaming era.
7. Aerosmith – ‘Walk This Way’
Genre boundaries crumbled when Aerosmith partnered with Run-DMC in 1986 for Walk This Way. Following Joe Perry’s exit and their 1985 album’s failure, producer Rick Rubin orchestrated the perfect fusion, preserving Perry’s iconic riff while embracing hip-hop innovation. The collaboration introduced Aerosmith to MTV kids while giving Run-DMC rock credibility. Every rap-rock hybrid from the 90s onward owes its existence to this groundbreaking partnership that transformed both artists from has-beens to pioneers.
6. Marvin Gaye – ‘Sexual Healing’
By 1981, Marvin Gaye’s legacy seemed tarnished beyond repair. Depression, addiction, and tax troubles drove him to European exile, while leaked unfinished tracks in 1981 further damaged his reputation. Against impossible odds, “Sexual Healing” emerged with stripped-back production highlighting his incomparable voice. The Grammy-winning hit transformed personal turmoil into musical brilliance, creating an intimacy blueprint that R&B artists still reference when balancing sensuality with technical vocal control.
5. Britney Spears – ‘Womanizer’
Amid relentless tabloid scrutiny in 2008, Britney Spears silenced doubters with “Womanizer.” Following widely-publicized personal struggles, the electro-pop track became her first #1 since “…Baby One More Time” in 1999. Its confident production and irresistible hook demonstrated her enduring commercial instincts. Rather than letting media narratives define her, Britney proved she could still craft chart-dominating hits that connected with both club crowds and pop radio listeners.
4. Cher – ‘Believe’
Innovation often emerges from desperation, as Cher proved with “Believe” in 1998. Following health problems and commercial failures, she gambled on an experimental vocal effect that terrified executives. The risk delivered global chart dominance, introducing her to a generation who knew nothing of her previous careers. At 52, she achieved what younger artists couldn’t, earning a Grammy and selling 11 million copies worldwide. That distinctive vocal processing revolutionized production techniques that continue shaping pop’s sonic landscape decades later.
3. Santana – ‘Smooth’
Few comeback stories rival Carlos Santana’s late-90s renaissance. After vanishing from relevance and releasing nothing new after 1992, a fateful meeting with Clive Davis sparked the Rob Thomas collaboration that became “Smooth.” The perfect balance of guitar virtuosity and contemporary vocals dominated airwaves for 12 weeks in 1999. The triple Grammy-winner didn’t just revive one career—it created the template for legacy artists seeking relevance through strategic partnerships rather than desperate trend-chasing.
2. Tina Turner – ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’
Second acts rarely match Tina Turner‘s 1984 reinvention. After escaping Ike in 1976 and enduring years of commercial failure, her five-year hiatus preceded “Private Dancer,” an album with modest industry expectations. The contemporary production perfectly framed her distinctive voice as she topped Billboard at 44—demolishing age barriers for women in music. The triple Grammy-winner showed female artists everywhere that mid-career resilience could triumph over industry ageism when backed by authentic artistic vision.
1. Mariah Carey – ‘We Belong Together’
Career obituaries proved premature when Mariah Carey staged her 2005 comeback. The “Glitter” disaster and underwhelming 2003 “Charmbracelet” album had industry experts writing her off. “We Belong Together” reversed everything with stripped-back production showcasing her technical precision, topping charts for 14 weeks and earning two Grammys. By returning to her strengths rather than chasing trends, Mariah demonstrated that authentic artistic recalibration trumps reinvention when rebuilding after commercial missteps. There’s a reason she is the Christmas Queen.
