This week was out with the old and in with the new, as stars and fans alike said goodbye to the 2010s by ringing in the new decade. 2019 came to a close with Mariah Carey continuing to celebrate the landmark success of "All I Want for Christmas Is You," which earned the Queen of Christmas her record 19th No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit and led to another major chart moment for the icon as we turned the page to 2020.
BTS, Post Malone, Jonas Brothers and more may have celebrated the new year with Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, but The Strokes, Dead & Company and others bid farewell to 2019 with their own shows from New York City to Los Angeles. And while Britney Spears and New Kids on the Block's Donnie Wahlberg were determined to start the new year off on the right foot with positive resolutions and generous surprises and Coachella dropped its 2020 lineup, Justin Bieber graced his Beliebers with the greatest gift of the year (so far) in the form of his much-anticipated new single, "Yummy," on Friday (Jan. 3).
Take a look at some of the best and brightest moments in music this week below.
Justin Bieber Stages a "Yummy" Solo Comeback
Four years after his last solo album, Justin Bieber dropped his long-awaited comeback single, "Yummy," on Friday (Jan. 3). Featuring production by frequent collaborator Poo Bear, Kid Culture and Sasha Sitora, the song finds the superstar back in his "R&Bieber" sound as he name-drops his Drew House fashion line and declares his infatuation with wife Hailey Bieber.
Mariah Carey breaks yet another Hot 100 record
Still riding high on the 25-years-in-the-making success of "All I Want for Christmas is You," Mariah Carey blasted into the new decade with her 19th No. 1 sitting atop the Billboard Hot 100 for the third week in a row. The song's continued chart domination into the start of 2020 helped Mimi achieve yet another major milestone in her historic career: She's now the first and only artist to have a No. 1 hit in four separate decades. As for the icon's reaction to the news? "But…. what's a decade?" An ageless queen, indeed!
Stars ring in 2020 with Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
Millions of fans rang in 2020 by watching ABC's annual Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve special. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Lucy Hale, the bash kicked off in New York City's Times Square with performances by BTS, Post Malone, Sam Hunt and more. Elsewhere around the country, Nick, Kevin and Joe Jonas hit the stage in Miami to perform "Sucker" while Ciara held down the fort on the West Coast, hosting the festivities live in Hollywood.
Coachella announces its 2020 lineup
Coachella unveiled its 2020 lineup on Thursday evening (Jan. 2), with headliners Frank Ocean, Rage Against the Machine and Travis Scott landing top billing. Also set to play the iconic Indio, Calif.-based festival this year are Lana Del Rey, Megan Thee Stallion, reuniting K-pop group BIGBANG, rising Latin star Anitta, Carly Rae Jepsen, Lil Nas X and more.
Hailee Steinfeld, Lauv & more kick off 2020 with first dose of new music
The first New Music Friday of the new year gave fans plenty to listen to on Jan. 3. Aside from the aforementioned "Yummy," new tracks by Hailee Steinfeld ("Wrong Direction"), Sam Hunt ("Sinning With You"), Lauv ("Changes") and more offer the beginnings of a 2020 soundtrack for music fans of all types.
Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning premiered on Lifetime
Nearly one year to the day after the original Surviving R. Kelly hit the airwaves last year, the second part of Lifetime's chilling docuseries premiered on Thursday (Jan. 3). Among the bombshell revelations in the first episode of this year's three-part follow-up were allegations that R. Kelly himself was sexually abused by multiple predators as a child, "numerous" settlements were reached with Kelly's alleged victims in exchange for their silence and that the star propositioned his own brother to take the fall in his 2008 child pornography trial. Night two of the three-part event airs Friday (Jan. 3).
Britney Spears got zen with her New Year's resolutions
Queen of fitness goals! On Thursday (Jan. 2), Britney Spears took to Instagram to share her latest yoga workout as part of her New Year's resolutions. Clad in a lavender bikini and puka shell necklace, the pop princess performed her flow outside in classic Brit fashion, making sure to inject her downward dogs with some choreography-inspired body rolls and her sweet trademark optimism.
Dead & Company took fans on a New Year's Eve trip at L.A.'s The Forum
Dead and Company closed out their four-night "Fun Run" mini-tour with a particularly wild New Year's Eve show at The Forum in Los Angeles. At the stroke of midnight, basketball Hall of Famer — and devoted Grateful Dead superfan — Bill Walton appeared onstage as Father Time, passing the torch to Wavy Gravy's proverbial Baby New Year, with the 83-year-old comedian dressed in a psychedelic loincloth and matching sash. The show also included a biplane soaring over the venue's 18,000 fans and John Mayer channeling Jerry Garcia on guitar.
Rihanna launched Savage x Fenty V-Day collection
Need something sexy for Valentine's Day? Rihanna's got you (barely) covered! On Thursday (Jan. 2), the superstar debuted her new Savage x Fenty V-Day collaboration with designer Adam Selman. The romantic lingerie collection is filled with red satin, lace and leather, and RiRi even stars in the campaign video alongside models Joan Smalls, Paloma Elsesser, Adesuwa and Fiffany Luu. Now if only R9 would arrive by Valentine's Day too…
U.K. streaming hit record highs in 2019
Streaming was once again on the rise in the U.K., with year-end totals revealing British music fans streamed more than 110 billion tracks over the course of 2019. Streaming sales also crossed the £1B threshold (that's $1.3 billion, for reference) for the first time, largely thanks to the success of stars like Ed Sheeran and newcomer Lewis Capaldi, the latter of whom was named the U.K.'s best-selling artist of the year by labels trade body BPI.
Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" hits a billion views on YouTube
Nirvana reached a major milestone on Christmas Day (Dec. 25) when the music video for their seminal 1991 hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit" surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube. The band's former bassist Krist Novoselić took to social media to thank fans for their support after dedicating the moment to late frontman Kurt Cobain.
Donnie Wahlberg started the '2020 Tip Challenge'
Paying it forward! Donnie Wahlberg kicked off the new decade in the spirit of good will, surprising an IHOP waitress in Illinois with a hefty tip for her service. Writing "2020 Tip Challenge" on the receipt alongside a smiley face, the NKOTB member gifted the unsuspecting server with a $2,020 tip on his meal of less than $75.
The Strokes debuted "Ode to the Mets" on New Year's Eve
New music from The Strokes is officially coming down the pipeline. Ringing in 2020 during their show at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, the lauded NYC rockers announced that their sixth studio set is on the way — their first since 2013's Comedown Machine. Julian Casablancas and co. even followed up the surprise annoucement by debuting a track off the forthcoming album titled "Ode to the Mets."
