Soundtrack to 2009: The Year in Music

By:OK! Staff

Dec. 18 2009, Published 10:38 a.m. ET

You know their songs — the ones you blast in your car on long drives, the tunes you and your friends dance to at the club, or just the songs you loved to listen to. Over the last year, many celebs had big musical moments. From Rihanna to Adam Lambert, Taylor Swift to Kanye West, tune in with OK! as we recap 2009's music milestones.

Rihanna: After going through a traumatizing domestic abuse incident with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown early in the year, Rihanna spent most of 2009 recording her album, R-Rated, officially released in November. Songs like "Russian Roulette" and "Hard" show that RiRi took some of the pain from being beaten by a loved one and turned them into inspiration for her music.

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Britney Spears: Britney proved she's definitely back in 2009, taking her Circus tour all over the globe for most of the year and concluding in Australia. The comeback queen of pop also released a new album of her hit singles, including a new song, "3." The best news? No reappearance of that pink wig!

Adam Lambert: While Kris Allen beat this funky singer to the top spot on American Idol, fans around the world professed themselves loyal to Glambert and stayed true to their favorite. Adam released For Your Entertainment, his debut album, in the fall, and followed up with a controversially sexual performance at the American Music Awards in November.