These Pop Stars Dropped New Albums In 2020

There’s no denying that 2020 has been a great year for music, with many exciting releases from some of today’s hottest artists! This is especially true when it comes to the pop music industry, as quite a few heavy-hitters have put out new albums in 2020— and it’s more than likely that their songs have ended up on your playlists! Whether they released new music as a complete surprise, or hyped it up for months before it was delayed because of the pandemic, see which pop stars have dropped new albums this year!

The most recent addition to this list, Ariana Grande released her sixth album, Positions, on October 30! After teasing something new in the works, Grande released the album’s titular single— and its music video— in late October. Her highly anticipated follow-up to last year’s thank u, next has chill pop/R&B vibes, and sees her singing about sensual romance and self-love in songs like "pov" and "34+35". There’s even a few guest features, with The Weeknd, Doja Cat, and Ty Dolla Sign all making appearances on the album!

It’s been a crazy year for Katy Perry, who welcomed her first child with fiancé Orlando Bloom shortly before her sixth album dropped! While Perry had originally planned to release Smile on August 14, it didn’t end up coming out until August 28 because of unforeseen delays in its production. The upbeat pop album is Perry’s first in 3 years, following the release of 2017’s Witness. Inspired by Perry’s struggle with overcoming depression, Smile features some of the singer’s recent singles like "Never Really Over" and "Daisies".

One of the biggest surprises of 2020 has been Taylor Swift’s eighth studio album, folklore! The singer made the announcement on social media just a day before dropping the record, which caused the internet to freak out. folklore was released on July 24, and shows a new side of Swift’s musicality, leaning more towards an alternative, indie style of songwriting instead of the pop or country fans know her for. With songs like "cardigan," "exile," and "betty," folklore is Swift’s most critically acclaimed album yet!

British pop star Ellie Goulding returned to the scene this year with Brightest Blue, which was released on July 17 after a slight delay due to the pandemic. Her newest full-length release since 2015, Goulding’s fourth album sees the songstress known for her electronic music collabs coming into her own with empowering songs like "Power" and "Worry About Me".

Lady Gaga has explored many different genres over the last few years, including country and jazz, but Chromatica marks a return to form for the singer! While Gaga's sixth album was originally supposed to be released at the beginning of April, she made the decision to delay it until May 29 because of the pandemic. Infused with dance beats and powerful lyrics, Chromatica sees Gaga bring the theatrical electro-pop she’s known for to songs like "Rain on Me"— which features Ariana Grande!— and "911".

Canadian pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen shot to fame after releasing her hit single "Call Me Maybe" in 2012, and has gone on to have a loyal fan base since! Jepsen released her fourth studio album Dedicated in 2019, then dropped a follow-up to it this year which contained many of the tracks that didn’t make the initial cut! On May 21, Dedicated Side B was released, and the album— with songs like "This Love isn’t Crazy" and "Felt This Way"— has received praise from fans and critics alike.

Dua Lipa has become one of pop’s biggest stars over the last few years, and that star’s only risen since she released Future Nostalgia on March 27! Lipa’s second album sees her deliver a club-ready blend of 80s-inspired synth and futuristic dance pop, with songs like "Don’t Start Now" and "Break My Heart". Lipa also recently released her brand-new song "Fever" with Belgian singer Angèle, and announced a virtual concert called "Studio 2054" that will see her performing many of her hits from Future Nostalgia!

Irish singer Niall Horan is the second former One Direction member to put out an album in 2020, releasing his sophomore album Heartbreak Weather on March 13. With the lead single "Nice To Meet Ya," Horan’s latest album is a collection of pop songs about love and relationships. It serves as a reintroduction to the singer for many fans, marking a departure from his first release— 2017’s softer, folkier Flicker.

When Justin Bieber released his fifth album Changes on February 14, it signified a shift in musical maturity for him. Referred to by the singer as "R&Bieber," the album strays away from the innocent pop he became known for. Bieber’s first album since 2015’s Purpose features two lead singles: "Yummy" and "Get Me," the latter of which he recorded with Kehlani. He also created a YouTube documentary showing the lead-up to the album’s release, called Seasons.