AP Spotlight AP's top music albums of 2024: Beyoncé, Charli XCX, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Mk.gee and more MARIA SHERMAN Associated Press Dec 25, 2024 Dec 25, 2024 Updated Jun 17, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Associated Press Music Writer Maria Sherman chose 10 of the best albums of 2024.kAm%96D6 2C6 ?@E :? 2?J A2CE:4F=2C @C56Cik^Amk9amQr@H3@J r2CE6C[Q q6J@?4ék^9amkAm$96 C@56 :? @? 2 H9:E6 9@CD6[ :? A2EC:@E:4 492AD 2?5 H:6=5:?8 2? p>6C:42? 7=28] $96 564=2C65[ E9:D Q2:?VE 2 r@F?ECJ 2=3F>Q 3FE Q2 Vq6J@?4éV 2=3F>Q — A@D:E:@?:?8 96CD6=7 :? @AA@D:E:@? E@ E96 86?C6VD C:8:5 A@H6C DECF4EFC6D] p?5 J6E[ D96 >256 E96 J62CVD 36DE 4@F?ECJ W2?5 E96? D@>6X C6=62D6i q6J@?4éVD Qp4E ==i r@H3@J r2CE6C[Q 2 fg\>:?FE6[ af\EC24< >2DE6C4=2DD :? :?96C:E65 2?5 F?46=63C2E65 9:DE@C:6D[ AF==:?8 7C@> E96 q=24< 2?5 3C@H? A6C7@C>6CD 2E E96 4@C6 @7 4@F?ECJVD 42?@?[ 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 G:D:3:=:EJ E@ @7E\@G6C=@@<65 AC@86?:E@CD] xEVD 962C5 :? E96 :?4=FD:@? @7 {:?52 |2CE6==[ E96 7:CDE q=24< H@>2? E@ A=2J E96 vC2?5 ~=6 ~ACJ] p?5 :EVD 962C5 :? q6J@?4éVD ?2EFC2= EH2?8[ 2 C6EFC? E@ 7@C> 7@C E96 %6I2D ?2E:G6 — 2E E:>6D[ 2 G:3C2E@ E92E AF==D 5:C64E=J 7C@> E96 62CE9] xE >2J @?=J 36 a_ac[ 3FE :EVD 92C5 E@ :>28:?6 E9:D C64@C5 ?@E 36:?8 4@?D:56C65 @?6 @7 E96 564256VD 36DE]k^Am People are also reading… Friday Five: Caleb Wygal's life story is as good as his books Down payment aid package launches in Cabarrus County, expanding homeownership access Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation to 'Illuminate' the community at its 29th annual gala Redeveloped Beverly Hills will be Mary Frances Wall Pre-K Center Recognize anyone in this 1950s Methodist Sunday School photo? Trump signs executive action to pay TSA after Congress fails to agree on DHS funding Judge orders Trump to halt White House ballroom construction unless Congress OKs it Student shoots a teacher at Texas high school before fatally shooting self, authorities say Holiday closures and Bunny Run 5K & Festival information Art Walk on Union returns in Downtown Concord Saturday Food Lion Feeds gives grant to help hungry Rowan-Cabarrus students Pam Bondi, Trump loyalist who oversaw Justice Department upheaval, is out as attorney general Friday Five: Raising Cane's and Sheetz coming to Concord Cabarrus Sports Blast: Cabarrus athletes earn prestigious honors Midland's Dawn Anthony brings Motown legacy and stories to the Davis Theatre k9amQq#p%[Q r92C=: )r)k^9amkAmxE H2D?VE ;FDE 3C2E DF>>6C[ 3236D[ 3FE 2 3C2E >@G6>6?Ei t?8=:D9 D:?86C\D@?8HC:E6C r92C=: )r)VD D:IE9 2=3F> 2=E6C65 E96 =2?8F286 @7 a_ac] %96 >FD:4 @D4:==2E6D 36EH66? 965@?:D> 2?5 2?I:6EJ — QE96 6FA9@C:2 @7 2 =2E6 ?:89E @? E96 52?467=@@C 2?5 E96 4C66A:?8 5:DBF:6EF56 @7 E96 >@C?:?8 27E6C[Q 2D E96 p! C6G:6H65 :E — 3FE 2=D@ >2?286D E@ 3C:?8 E96 F?56C8C@F?5VD A@A BF66? :?E@ E96 >2:?DEC62> H:E9@FE 4@>AC@>:D:?8 96C G:D:@?] %96C6 H2D 2 A6C:@5 H96C6 r92C=: )r)VD 4@==23@C2E:@?D H:E9 E96 7FEFC6\D66<:?8 !r |FD:4 4@==64E:G6 2?5 AC@5F46C p]v] r@@< D66>65 E@@ AC@8C6DD:G6 7@C 6G6CJ52J 62CD] qFE QqC2E[Q 2?5 :ED G@>:E\492CEC6FD6 :4@?@8C2A9J[ C6D@?2E65] {:DE6?6CD H6C6 C625J E@ C6EFC? E@ E96 C2G6 — @C 2EE6?5 7@C E96 G6CJ 7:CDE E:>6 — 2?5 52?46\A@A >FD:4 :D 72C >@C6 :?E6C6DE:?8 7@C :E]k^Am k9amQp==:82E@C q:E6D }6G6C w62=[Q s@649::k^9amkAm(96? 2==:82E@CD <:==[ E96J 5@ H92E :D <?@H? 2D 2 Q562E9 C@==Qi %96J D:?< E96:C E66E9 :?E@ E96:C AC6J 2?5 DA:? C2A:5=J[ 7=:AA:?8 E96:C 3@5:6D :? 2?5 @FE @7 E96 H2E6C[ 5C@H?:?8[ 5:D@C:6?E:?8 2?5 5:D>6>36C:?8 H92E6G6C H2D F?=F4<J 6?@F89 E@ 86E :? :ED H2J] u=@C:52 C2AA6C s@649::VD 3C62<@FE >:IE2A6[ Qp==:82E@C q:E6D }6G6C w62=[Q 6>3@5:6D E92E <:?5 @7 :?E6?D:EJ — ?@E :? 288C6DD:@?[ A6C D6[ 3FE :? 24F:EJ — 7@C 2 G6CD2E:=6 2=3F> E92E E66E6CD 7C@> E96 C@>2?46 @7 96C D>@@E9 #U2>Ajq 2?5 E96 A2CE:4F=2C:EJ @7 96C 7=@HD] $:?8=6 Qq@@> q2AQ >256 96C 8C62E?6DD <?@H?] %C24<D =:<6 Qr2E7:D9Q 4@?7:C> :E]k^Am k9amQ|2??:?8 u:C6H@C<D[Q |y {6?56C>2?k^9am kAm{2DE J62C[ p! ?2>65 Q#2E $2H v@5[Q E96 2=3F> 7C@> pD96G:==6 2=E\4@F?ECJ :?5:6 C@4<6CD (65?6D52J[ 2D @?6 @7 a_abVD 36DE] %96 32?5 762EFC6D |y {6?56C>2?[ H9@D6 Q|2??:?8 u:C6H@C<DQ :D 2=>@DE 7CFDEC2E:?8=J 255:4E:G6] xEVD 2 C64@C5 @7 9:=2C:@FD=J 6G@42E:G6 >@>6?ED 7C@> A2E96E:4 A6@A=6 W@C :D :E A2E96E:4 >@>6?ED 7C@> 9:=2C:@FD=J 6G@42E:G6 A6@A=6nX 2E@A AFCA@D67F=[ 62DJ D=24<6C C@4< >6=@5:6D] uC@> E96C6[ :EVD 2 <2=6:5@D4@A6 @7 3C:==:2?E =JC:42= D9@CE DE@C:6D] Wp? @7E\BF@E65 72G@C:E6 @7 9:D 4F=E 7@==@H:?8n Qz29=ú2 D9@@E6C ^ s&x D4@@E6CQ 7C@> Qy@<6C {:AD]QX u@C 72?D @7 2=E6C?2E:G6 >FD:4[ :E :D 2? :>>65:2E6 4=2DD:4] (6V5 DF886DE A=24:?8 Q|2??:?8 u:C6H@C<DQ ?6IE E@ !2G6>6?E @? J@FC C64@C5 D96=7[ 3FE :EVD F?=:<6=J E@ =62G6 J@FC EFC?E23=6]k^Am k9amQ~CBFí562D[Q z2=: &49:Dk^9am kAm(96? p>J (:?69@FD6 7:CDE 6>6C865[ D96 H2D 46=63C2E65 7@C 36:?8 2 @?46\:?\2\86?6C2E:@? G@:46[ 2? @=5 D@F= :? 2 >@56C? H@C=5 — ?@E @G6C=J D6?E:>6?E2= @C DEF4<[ 3FE 2? 2CE:DE H:==:?8 E@ 4@>>F?:42E6 H:E9 E96 A2DE E@ >2<6 2CE :? E96 7FEFC6] x? >2?J H2JD[ E96 D2>6 42? 36 D2:5 23@FE z2=: &49:D 2?5 96C a_ac 2=3F>[ Q~CBFí562D]Q w6C DFA6CA@H6C :D 96C DJCFAJ G@:46[ H9:49 766=D :? E:>6 2?5 @FE @7 :E — 4=2DD:42==J 2?5 677@CE=6DD=J D>@@E9:?8 @G6C 2?5 5:DCFAE:?8 96C =FD9 D@?:4 H@C=5D] x7 a_ac :D 23@FE 7=F:5:EJ — @7 86?C6[ =2?8F286[ =@G6[ =@DD 2?5 5:G:?2E:@? — &49:D AC@G:56D 2 C@25>2A 7C@> C6DEC2:?65 C68826E@? E@ 2=E\#U2>Ajq]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack k9amQv})[Q z6?5C:4< {2>2Ck^9am 'GNX,' Kendrick Lamar Amazon kAm%96 9@=:52JD 2CC:G65 62C=J E9:D J62C H96? !F=:EK6C !C:K6\H:??:?8 C2AA6C z6?5C:4< {2>2C DFCAC:D6 C6=62D65 Qv})Q :? =2E6 }@G6>36C] xE :D 9:D 7:CDE 2=3F> D:?46 a_aaVD Q|C] |@C2=6 U2>Aj E96 q:8 $E6AA6CDQ — 2?5 A6C92AD >@C6 E6==:?8=J[ 9:D 7:CDE D:?46 9:D G:4E@CJ =2A @G6C sC2<6 :? E96:C C646?E=J C6:8?:E65 3667 E92E :?DA:C65 @?6 @7 E96 J62CVD 36DE D@?8D[ Q}@E {:<6 &D]Q x? 7F==[ Qv})Q 3F:=5D @77 E96 AC@>:D6 @7 9:D 3=@4<3FDE6C D:?8=6 — (6DE r@2DE 9:A\9@A D9@H3@2E:?8 7C@> @?6 @7 E96 8C62E6DE =:G:?8 C2AA6CD 2?JH96C6] qFE :EVD {2>2CVD A6C7@C>2?46 E92E >2<6D E9:D @?6 @7 E96 J62CVD 36DE] pD E96 p! C6G:6H65[ :E :D 9:D 677@CE=6DD 23:=:EJ E@ QDH:E49 4256?46D 2?5 =JC:42= A6CDA64E:G6D >:5\D@?8Q 2?5 D66>:?8=J =:>:E=6DD 3C62E9 4@?EC@= E92E DE2?5 @FE]k^Am k9amQw:E |6 w2C5 2?5 $@7E[Q q:==:6 t:=:D9k^9am kAmxE @7E6? D66>D =:<6 E96C6 :D ?@ C64@C5 q:==:6 t:=:D9 42?VE 3C62<[ ?@ 244@>A=:D9>6?E D96 42??@E DF>>:E] $@ H96C6 H2D D96 E@ 8@[ 2E ;FDE aa[ H:E9 96C E9:C5 DEF5:@ 2=3F>n &A[ 2D :E EFC?D @FE] Qw:E |6 w2C5 2?5 $@7EQ :D 2 `_\EC24< E6DE2>6?E E@ 96C @H? 2>3:E:@?] xE 7FD6D :?D:89ED AF==65 7C@> 96C 7:CDE EH@ C64@C5D — E96 8@E9:4 9F>@C 2?5 F?FDF2= AC@5F4E:@? @7 96C 7:CDE C64@C5 2?5 E96 4=2DD:DE 56E@FCD @7 96C D64@?5 — 3FE H:K6?65] %96C6 2C6 E96 72? 72G@C:E6D @7 Q{F?49Q 2?5 Qq:C5D @7 2 u62E96C[Q 3FE 2=D@ DE2?5@FED =:<6 Qr9:9:C@[Q H:E9 :ED 56=:42E6 AC@>:D6 2?5 E649?@\9@FD6 4C6D46?5@ 2E :ED 4@52] }@ @?6 :D 5@:?8 :E =:<6 96C]k^Am k9amQ%H@ $E2C U2>Aj %96 sC62> !@=:46[Q |<]866k^9am kAm&A@? 7:CDE =:DE6?[ :7 }6H y6CD6J 8F:E2C G:CEF@D@ |<]866 4@?7@F?5D[ 5@ ?@E H@CCJ] w6 :D 2 a_ac DF446DD DE@CJ H9@ 6>6C865 7F==J 7@C>65 2?5 4@>A=6E6=J F?FDF2=[ @?=J E@ >2<6 72?D @7 6G6CJ@?6 7C@> yFDE:? q:636C E@ tC:4 r=2AE@? — 2?5 E96:C :?7=F6?46 :D 962C5 E9C@F89@FE Q%H@ $E2C U2>Aj %96 sC62> !@=:46]Q %96 C64@C5 :D 82FKJ[ C:A6 7@C 2 Q=@\7: >FD:4 E@ DEF5J E@Q A=2J=:DE[ 3FE 2=D@ 4@>>2?5D 2EE6?E:@? 7@C :ED DA2465\@FE AC@5F4E:@? 2?5 DA2C<=:?8 A@A[ 2== C6=:2?E @? E96 >2==623:=:EJ @7 9:D 8F:E2C 4@>A@D:E:@?D] %9@D6 C2?86 7C@> DE:4<J DE2442E@ E@ 2 <:?5 @7 D@F=7F= Vg_D >6=@5:4:D>]k^Am k9amQ%96 !2DE xD $E:== p=:G6[Q wFCC2J 7@C E96 #:77 #277k^9amkAmwFCC2J 7@C E96 #:77 #277[ E96 >FD:42= >@?:<6C @7 p=J?52 $682CC2[ 92D =@?8 DEF5:65 p>6C:42?2[ 3=F6D 2?5 7@=< AF?<[ A6C764E:?8 E96:C 4C27E H:E9 6249 ?6H C6=62D6] ~? E96 ?2CC2E:G6 Q%96 !2DE xD $E:== p=:G6[Q E96:C 6:89E9 DEF5:@ 2=3F>[ $682CC2 AF==D 7C@> E96:C 324<8C@F?5 2D 2 9:E499:<6C[ EC2:? 9@AA6C 2?5 @FED:56C 2CE:DE E@ 5@4F>6?E E96 <:?5 @7 =:76\2=E6C:?8 25G6?EFC6D — F8=J 2?5 C6;FG6?2E:?8 — E92E 42? @?=J 92AA6? 72C 7C@> 9@>6] xEVD 2 362FE:7F= A@CEC2J2= @7 E96 &]$] — 2== 3:8 D<:6D[ DE2CCJ ?:89ED 2?5 :5:@DJ?4C2E:4 A6@A=6 — 2D H6== 2D 5F>ADE6C 5:G:?8[ D9@A=:7E:?8[ 255:4E:@?[ A@=:E:4D[ BF66C 32CD 2?5 A@6ECJ] x? 2 H@C5i p>6C:42]k^Am k9amQ!92D@C[Q w6=25@ }68C@k^9amkAm}62C=J 2 564256 28@[ w6=25@ }68C@ — E96 3:=:?8F2= >FD:42= AC@;64E @7 #@36CE@ r2C=@D {2?86 — C6=62D65 E96 D:?8=6 Q*@F?8[ {2E:? 2?5 !C@F5[Q 2 46=63C2E@CJ 6IA=@C2E:@? @7 {2E:?@ :56?E:EJ E92E 3642>6 2 C2==J:?8 4CJ 7@C :?5:6 <:5D H:E9 D:>:=2C 96C:E286] xE 5@F3=6D 2D 2 <:?5 @7 7C2>6H@C< :? H9:49 E@ E9:?< 23@FE 2== @7 9:D 2CE[ :? A2CE:4F=2C[ E96 :?G6?E:G6[ 3C66KJ[ D=@H DJ?E9D @7 Q!92D@C]Q %96 2=3F>[ C64@C565 :? t?8=:D9 2?5 $A2?:D9[ FD6D 6=64EC@?:4 D@F?5D E@ 6IAC6DD :?DA:C2E:@?D AF==65 7C@> ?2EFC6] xEVD 2 H:56\C2?8:?8 C6=62D6[ 6776CG6D46?E 2?5 2>3:E:@FD[ 62DJ E@ =:DE6? E@ 2?5 2 ;@J E@ 5:DD64E]k^Am 2024 Year in Review The stories and images that defined 2024. Government-politics PHOTOS: The top sports images from 2024 The Associated Press Updated Sep 19, 2025 0 From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp… Technology AP PHOTOS: The top images of 2024 The Associated Press Updated Jun 8, 2025 0 AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable … Government-politics AP PHOTOS: The top images from the US in 2024 Updated Jun 10, 2025 0 In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag… Nation & World PHOTOS: The top images from the 2024 elections The Associated Press Updated Jun 9, 2025 0 Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow. Movies & TV PHOTOS: The top entertainment images from 2024 The Associated Press Updated Jun 14, 2025 0 See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers. Technology AP Spotlight How to sum up 2024? The Oxford University Press word of the year is 'brain rot' Associated Press Updated Jun 7, 2025 0 It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. Nation-world AP Spotlight From Kamala to Chappell, here are some of the most mispronounced words of 2024 JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press Updated Jan 16, 2026 0 News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year. Nation-world AP Spotlight 'Polarization' is Merriam-Webster's 2024 word of the year By ANNA FURMAN Associated Press Updated Jun 14, 2025 0 Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024. Music AP Spotlight AP's top songs of 2024: 'Texas Hold 'Em,' 'Not Like Us,' 'Igual Que Un Ángel' and more MARIA SHERMAN Associated Press Updated Jun 17, 2025 0 Here's a look at 10 of the best songs of the year, as determined by Associated Press Music Writer Maria Sherman, in no particular order. Economy AP Spotlight How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers The Associated Press Updated Jul 25, 2025 0 What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. Here's a look at some of the numbers that defined the year. Books Spotlight 10 best nonfiction books of the year Chris Hewitt and Laurie Hertzel The Minnesota Star Tribune Updated May 30, 2025 0 Here's a look back at the best nonfiction books released in 2024. Books Spotlight 10 best fiction books of the year Chris Hewitt and Laurie Hertzel The Minnesota Star Tribune Updated Jan 28, 2026 0 Here's a look back at some of the year's best fiction. 0 Comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, 3 kids were home when shots were fired at house, prosecutor says Authorities say a Florida woman has been charged with attempted murder and other felonies over gunshots fired at Rihanna's Los Angeles home la…
Government-politics PHOTOS: The top sports images from 2024 The Associated Press Updated Sep 19, 2025 0 From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp…
Technology AP PHOTOS: The top images of 2024 The Associated Press Updated Jun 8, 2025 0 AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable …
Government-politics AP PHOTOS: The top images from the US in 2024 Updated Jun 10, 2025 0 In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag…
Nation & World PHOTOS: The top images from the 2024 elections The Associated Press Updated Jun 9, 2025 0 Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow.
Movies & TV PHOTOS: The top entertainment images from 2024 The Associated Press Updated Jun 14, 2025 0 See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers.
Technology AP Spotlight How to sum up 2024? The Oxford University Press word of the year is 'brain rot' Associated Press Updated Jun 7, 2025 0 It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore.
Nation-world AP Spotlight From Kamala to Chappell, here are some of the most mispronounced words of 2024 JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press Updated Jan 16, 2026 0 News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year.
Nation-world AP Spotlight 'Polarization' is Merriam-Webster's 2024 word of the year By ANNA FURMAN Associated Press Updated Jun 14, 2025 0 Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024.
Music AP Spotlight AP's top songs of 2024: 'Texas Hold 'Em,' 'Not Like Us,' 'Igual Que Un Ángel' and more MARIA SHERMAN Associated Press Updated Jun 17, 2025 0 Here's a look at 10 of the best songs of the year, as determined by Associated Press Music Writer Maria Sherman, in no particular order.
Economy AP Spotlight How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers The Associated Press Updated Jul 25, 2025 0 What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. Here's a look at some of the numbers that defined the year.
Books Spotlight 10 best nonfiction books of the year Chris Hewitt and Laurie Hertzel The Minnesota Star Tribune Updated May 30, 2025 0 Here's a look back at the best nonfiction books released in 2024.
Books Spotlight 10 best fiction books of the year Chris Hewitt and Laurie Hertzel The Minnesota Star Tribune Updated Jan 28, 2026 0 Here's a look back at some of the year's best fiction.
Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, 3 kids were home when shots were fired at house, prosecutor says Authorities say a Florida woman has been charged with attempted murder and other felonies over gunshots fired at Rihanna's Los Angeles home la…