Pop Shots – 3 Artists to Help With Your “New Year, New Me” Resolutions

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, with the new year fast approaching, and people making resolutions in hopes of bettering themselves, I thought it would be a perfect time to put the focus on some artists who were kings of reinvention.

Occasionally an artist will switch genres – Jelly Roll going from hip-hop to country, Taylor Swift going from country to pop – but that’s minor reinvention compared to what I’m talking about.

The following three artists went all in on the concept of “new me,” going so far as have entirely new names, and personas.

If you’re looking for personal change, these artists will give you some serious inspiration, so let’s get into it!

Of course, since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

David Bowie

From Ziggy Stardust to Aladdin Sane perhaps no artist had more “new me” moments than David Bowie, and every single time he created a new persona it was a sight to behold, and pure musical greatness to hear.

If you’re looking to try something totally outside the box with your life in 2026, Bowie is your man. I’d say let him be your guide, but if you’re truly looking to embody the Bowie spirit, you wouldn’t use a guide, you’d simply blaze your own path, and see who comes along for the ride.

David Johansen

As the frontman for the legendary rock band New York Dolls, David Johansen had his status as an icon locked in by the mid-‘70s. This is why it was quite the surprise when he reappeared in the late ‘80s under the name Buster Poindexter, and had a huge pop hit with a wonderfully over the top cover of “Hot Hot Hot.”

Johansen is an example of someone who had experienced being at the top of his craft, and decided he wanted to try something wildly different. He is proof that success and stagnancy do not have to go hand in hand. Go explore another avenue, and see where it takes you!

Garth Brooks

In 1999 Garth Brooks was one of the biggest country artists the world had ever seen. So what did he do? He became Chris Gaines.

Chris Gaines was a persona Brooks created as a way to explore other genres of music. He released one album under the name, and while that 1999 release did generate a Top 5 song, “Lost in You,” by the time 2001 rolled around, Gaines was gone, and Brooks was back.

Perhaps the lesson to be learned from Garth Brooks’ Chris Gaines experience is that sometimes we don’t need a massive reinvention, sometimes we’re good just as we are. Self-love can be a resolution, too.

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.