Leaving the most successful girl group in pop history sounds like the kind of move legends make. In reality, Diana Ross’s exit from The Supremes was filled with second-guessing, stalled momentum, and moments where even Motown’s inner circle wondered if the leap had been mistimed. The woman who helped define the sound of the 1960s suddenly had to redefine herself—and that reinvention didn’t come easily.

Pop music loves a rocket-ship rise, but it’s far less generous about long landings. For every superstar who sticks the descent, there are dozens of women who briefly ruled radio, MTV, and TRL—only to be quietly pushed aside by trends, tabloids, or timing. These 21 forgotten—or unfairly sidelined—female pop stars didn’t just make hits. They helped define eras, moods, and sounds that modern pop is still borrowing from today.

Some careers burn slowly. Aaliyah’s didn’t. Hers moved fast, clean, and confidently—like she knew time was limited and refused to waste a second of it. By 22, she had reshaped R&B, crossed into film, influenced fashion, and positioned herself as the rare pop star who felt both mysterious and completely in control. Then, in August 2001, a short flight turned catastrophic. What followed wasn’t just mourning—it was the birth of a modern myth that refuses to fade.

Sticking the landing is one of television’s toughest challenges. When finales work, they become legendary. When they don’t, they spark outrage, think pieces, and endless rewatches fueled by disbelief. These are the TV finales that made bold, baffling, or polarizing decisions—and ensured they’d never stop being debated.

Whether it’s a beloved sitcom cast, an iconic drama crew, or a long-awaited revival episode, television reunions offer some of the best nostalgia, closure, and emotional payoff on TV. These moments bring characters back together on screen, often years after viewers last saw them, reminding us why those relationships mattered so much in the first place. Here are 20 of the most legendary TV reunions ever aired.

What would it be like to be in that band right before they became the biggest band in the world, then quit at the worst possible moment?