The Most Famous 80s Popstars (Then and Now)
Anyone that lived through the 1980s likely has nothing but fond memories of the music from that era. The '80s represented a conglomerate of music that ranged from: bubblegum pop and synth-infused pop to post punk, new wave, and much more. Many people that grew up in that time (and even others that did not) have come to love the music of the 1980s with an undying passion.
This list brings you nostalgia buffs the opportunity to check in on some of your favorite '80s singers after all these years. It has 'before and after' photos of the pop stars you once thought (or maybe still do think) made the best music.
If you have ever wondered what your favorite '80s pop stars are up to now, you are in the right place. This list is a fun look at '80s celebrities at the peak of their success versus what they look like now. Read on to see if your favorite '80s solo artist made the cut in this Most Famous 80s Popstars Then and Now piece.- 1
Pat Benatar - Then
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Pop star Pat Benatar was big in the '80s with singles "Love Is a Battlefield" and "Hit Me with Your Best Shot." She was (and still is) an icon for female empowerment. - Photo:
Benatar still performs to this day. The singer now plays more intimate venues but is still active in the music world, even now that she is in her 60s. In 2010, Benatar published her memoir, Between a Rock and a Heart Place.- 3
Tiffany - Then
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Tiffany was the original mall diva. She made it big with her cover of "I Think We're Alone Now." She also garnered headlines for dating Jonathan Knight of New Kids on the Block. - Photo:
Since her huge success in the 1980s, Tiffany has appeared in SyFy original films and reality shows like "Celebrity Wife Swap" and "Celebrity Fit Club." She also appeared in Playboy.- 5
Lita Ford - Then
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Lita Ford rose to fame as the lead guitar player of the all-girl group The Runaways and then enjoyed solo success with songs like "Kiss Me Deadly." - Photo:
Lita Ford just released a new album in November 2013 and is following in fellow Runaway Cherie Currie's footsteps and releasing her memoir, which will be out September 9, 2014.- 7
Madonna - Then
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Madonna skyrocketed to fame in the '80s with a seemingly unstoppable barrage of hit singles. She was best known at the time for songs like "Material Girl" and "Like a Virgin." - Photo:
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Her star burns just as bright today as it ever has. Madonna has maintained her place in the spotlight and continues to release top selling albums with no signs of stopping. She continues to impress us with her ability to sell out live shows all these years later and remains one of the top-selling live acts of all time.- 1Ray of Light1,684 Votes
- 2Like a Prayer1,556 Votes
- 3Confessions on a Dance Floor1,517 Votes
- 4Erotica1,156 Votes
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David Bowie - Then
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The "Ziggy Stardust" singer first gained notoriety in the late '60s but perhaps reached his peak in the 1980s with singles like "Let's Dance" and his joint venture with Queen, "Under Pressure." - Photo:
Having found success in both music and film, David Bowie remains a major player on the music scene today. He released a new album called "The Next Day" in March 2013.- 1The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars1,749 Votes
- 2Station to Station1,393 Votes
- 3Low1,475 Votes
- 4Hunky Dory1,520 Votes
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Debbie Gibson - Then
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Pop sensation Debbie Gibson rivaled Tiffany in the '80s, sharing the same bubblegum sound that made Tiffany popular with preteen audiences. Gibson was best known for her singles "Shake Your Love" and "Only in My Dreams." - Photo:
Now, the former teen idol has continued to parallel Tiffany's career by posing for Playboy and making SyFy original films. She's also had many years of success starring in Broadway productions, including Grease.- 13
Prince - Then
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Prince came on the scene at the tail end of the 1970s and carried over in to the 1980s with huge hits like "1999" and "Purple Rain." - Prince has been through a myriad of changes since the peak of his fame in the 1980s. He became known as a symbol, changed his name back to Prince, and became a Jehovah's Witness. His 2004, album Musicology received excellent reviews (it currently sits at a 72 on the aggregate rating site MetaCritic) proving that after all of the changes he has been through, he still has it.
- 1Sheila E.183 Votes
- 2The Time159 Votes
- 3Morris Day186 Votes
- 4Vanity120 Votes
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Phil Collins - Then
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Phil Collins first enjoyed success as part of the band Genesis with Peter Gabriel. He then achieved notoriety as a solo artist with albums like No Jacket Required and Face Value. - Photo:
The former Genesis drummer went on to compose the song "You'll Be in My Heart" for the film Tarzan, for which he won an Oscar.- 17
Janet Jackson - Then
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In the 1980s, singer Janet Jackson successfully escaped the shadow of her older brother, Michael, and proved her exceptional talent with top-selling albums like Control and Rhythm Nation. - Photo:
The five-time Grammy winner has experienced long term success in music, television, and film. She has gone on to star in films like Poetic Justice and The Nutty Professor movies. Her albums Velvet Rope, All for You, and Damita Jo have collectively sold millions of copies. She also made waves at The Super Bowl in 2004 when her nipple made a 'surprise' appearance.- 19
Cyndi Lauper - Then
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The always unusual Cyndi Lauper rose to prominence with a catalogue of hit songs that included titles like "True Colors" and "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." - Photo:
Cyndi Lauper has joined the growing number of '80s pop stars that have done reality television. The "Time After Time" singer has appeared on both "The Celebrity Apprentice" and her own reality series "She's So Unusual." Of course, Lauper still finds time to perform as well.- 21
Gloria Estefan - Then
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As the lead singer of Miami Sound Machine and eventually a solo artist, Gloria Estefan made a huge impression on music fans in the 1980s with songs like "Conga" and "Don't Wanna Lose You." - Photo:
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Throughout the course of her career, she has sold over 100 million records worldwide and won 7 Grammys. In 2012, Estefan became a judge on the reality series "The Nest: Fame Is at Your Doorstep."- Photo:
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Joan Jett - Then
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Like Lita Ford, Joan Jett got her start in the all girl group The Runaways. With her band Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, the female vocalist topped charts with the smash hit single "I Love Rock and Roll." - Photo:
Jett continues to play music and release albums today. She has toured with The Vans Warped Tour, as well as headlined her own tours in recent years. Her music with The Blackhearts and the music she made with The Runaways has paved the way and served as inspiration for contemporary girl groups like The Donnas.- 25
Paula Abdul - Then
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Paula Abdul had major success with her 1988 album Forever Your Girl. The album produced major hit singles like "Opposites Attract" and "Hit and Run." - Photo:
Abdul notoriously served as a judge on the top-rated reality series "American Idol" and since leaving the show has served as a guest judge on several other reality television competitions.- 27
Rick Springfield - Then
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Singer and actor Rick Springfield is best remembered for "Jessie's Girl," but he also worked as a soap opera star on the long-running series "General Hospital." - Photo:
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Springfield still dabbles in acting. He recently played himself on the Showtime series "Californication" and has guest starred on other television series as well.- Photo:
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Boy George - Then
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As the frontman of Culture Club, Boy George belted out hits including "Karma Chameleon." He eventually struck out on his own in the late '80s and enjoyed European success with his first solo effort, the album Sold. - In recent years, Boy George was arrested and incarcerated for keeping a sex slave in his basement. The slave was a male escort, and George reportedly had the man chained to a wall in his London flat. George was eventually sentenced to prison for 15 months on charges of false imprisonment.
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Paul Young - Then
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Teen idol Paul Young achieved heartthrob status in the 1980s. He is most famous for the single "Every Time You Go Away." - Photo:
Singer Paul Young lost a great deal of his fortune due to a bad property deal, and his musical success has also dropped off, but the singer says he couldn't be happier with his life as it is now.- 33
Morrissey - Then
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The perpetually melancholic frontman of The Smiths was always sad about something. He experienced success as a solo artist with songs like "Every Day Is Like Sunday." - Morrissey is still making music. And he is still sad about something. He experienced a fair amount of success with newer albums like his 2004 release You are the Quarry.
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Bruce Springsteen - Then
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The man who gave Courteney Cox her big break hit the scene in the 1970s but really came to prominence in the 1980s with songs like "Glory Days" and "Born in the USA." - Photo:
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The Boss is still rocking today. He continues to release music and tour. He recently filmed an HBO documentary that is set to air in the near future.- Photo:
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Sting - Then
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Sting first found popularity with the group The Police and then experienced profound solo success. His first solo album was released in 1985 and topped charts with hit singles like "If You Love Somebody Set them Free." His first solo effort snagged Sting multiple Grammy nods. - Photo:
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Sting continues to make music, and he began a tour with fellow pop legend Paul Simon in early 2014.- Photo:
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Lionel Richie - Then
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Lionel Richie first enjoyed success with The Commodores and later realized fame as a solo artist. He is known to listeners for number one hit songs including "All Night Long." - Richie most recently made the news for a headlining tour where he performed hits from years past. It was his first North American tour in over ten years.
