Entertainment Music PEOPLE Picks the 10 Best Albums of 2019: Ariana Grande, Lizzo, Taylor Swift and More! PEOPLE editors pick the top albums of 2019 By Janine Rubenstein Janine Rubenstein Instagram Twitter Janine Rubenstein is Editor-at-Large at PEOPLE and host of PEOPLE Every Day podcast, a daily dose of breaking news, pop culture and heartwarming human interest stories. Formerly Senior Editor of music content, she's also covered crime, human interest and television news throughout her many years with the brand. Prior to PEOPLE she's written for Essence, The Cape Times newspaper and Los Angeles Magazine among others. On-screen Rubenstein can be found featured on shows like Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight and she routinely hosts PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly's star-studded Red Carpet Live specials. Follow the San Francisco native, Black Barbie collector and proud mom of two on Instagram and Twitter @janinerube People Editorial Guidelines and Jeff Nelson Jeff Nelson Instagram Twitter Jeff Nelson is the Senior News Editor, Entertainment at PEOPLE. For nearly a decade, he has worked across the brand's entertainment verticals, reporting on breaking news and writing and editing across platforms, as well as securing A-list cover exclusives, including Barry Manilow's coming out and an at-home interview with Madonna. Jeff has appeared as an expert on Good Morning America, Extra, HLN and SiriusXM, as well as at RuPaul's DragCon as a moderator. He studied magazine journalism at Drake University, graduating with a B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication. People Editorial Guidelines Published on December 31, 2019 11:25 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Women — hear them roar! The best music across the board in 2019 came courtesy of phenomenal females. 1. Ariana Grande, [tempo-ecommerce src="https://www.amazon.com/thank-next-Explicit-Ariana-Grande/dp/B07N31J22R/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ariana+grande+thank+u+next&qid=1576256419&s=dmusic&sr=1-1" title="thank u, next" context="body"] Ariana Grande, thank u, next. Hashtag-worthy breakup lyrics abound as Grande melds pop and R&B. 2. Lizzo, [tempo-ecommerce src="https://www.amazon.com/Cuz-Love-You-Deluxe-Explicit/dp/B07RF386W9/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=lizzo+cuz+i+love+you&qid=1576256440&s=dmusic&sr=1-3" title="Cuz I Love You" context="body"] Lizzo, Cuz I Love You. 100 percent the year’s breakout queen, Lizzo bends genres and champions self-love. 3. Taylor Swift, [tempo-ecommerce src="https://www.amazon.com/Lover-Taylor-Swift/dp/B07SYHQPPD/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=taylor+swift+lover&qid=1576256463&s=dmusic&sr=1-2" title="Lover" context="body"] Taylor Swift, Lover. Swift returns to her songwriter roots with this love letter to romance. 4. Billie Eilish, [tempo-ecommerce src="https://www.amazon.com/WHEN-ALL-FALL-ASLEEP-WHERE/dp/B07N7PBZGF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SBK0EBNWP8LI&keywords=billie+eilish+when+we+all+fall+asleep+where+do+we+go&qid=1576256490&s=dmusic&sprefix=billie+eilish+when+we+all,digital-music,319&sr=1-1" title="When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" context="body"] The 17-year-old wunderkind tackles Gen Z growing pains. 5. Lana Del Rey, [tempo-ecommerce src="https://www.amazon.com/Norman-Fucking-Rockwell-Explicit-Lana/dp/B07VLN69TG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=237OTQJNEQ3W3&keywords=lana+del+rey+norman+rockwell&qid=1576256510&s=dmusic&sprefix=lana+del+rey+norman,digital-music,126&sr=1-1" title="Norman F— Rockwell" context="body"] Lana Del Rey, Norman F— Rockwell. Del Rey reevaluates the American dream on a moody pop classic. 6. Beyoncé, [tempo-ecommerce src="https://www.amazon.com/HOMECOMING-LIVE-ALBUM-Explicit-Beyoncé/dp/B07QLNZWD5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=23Y1T75OTMCSI&keywords=beyonce+homecoming+the+live+album&qid=1576256530&s=dmusic&sprefix=beyonce+homecoming,digital-music,124&sr=1-1" title="Homecoming: The Live Album" context="body"] Beyoncé, Homecoming: The Live Album. An amped-up amalgam of her majesty’s biggest hits. 7. Maren Morris, [tempo-ecommerce src="https://www.amazon.com/GIRL-Maren-Morris/dp/B07N98GMHG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=maren+morris+girl&qid=1576256554&s=dmusic&sr=1-1" title="GIRL" context="body"] Maren Morris, GIRL. More like “Woman” — the country star wows with powerhouse vocals. 8. Ari Lennox, [tempo-ecommerce src="https://www.amazon.com/Shea-Butter-Baby-Explicit-Lennox/dp/B07RF9XG87/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ari+lennox+shea+butter+baby&qid=1576256571&s=dmusic&sr=1-1" title="Shea Butter Baby" context="body"] Ari Lennox, Shea Butter Baby. The R&B star’s debut album is as richly smooth as the title suggests. 9. Carly Rae Jepsen, [tempo-ecommerce src="https://www.amazon.com/Dedicated-Carly-Rae-Jepsen/dp/B07QQW3BVZ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=carly+rae+jepsen+dedicated&qid=1576256592&s=dmusic&sr=1-1" title="Dedicated" context="body"] Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated. Moving on from an ex, Jepsen finds solace in solitude with this collection of pure pop. 10. Brittany Howard, [tempo-ecommerce src="https://www.amazon.com/Jaime-Explicit-Brittany-Howard/dp/B07T3HT74Y/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=brittany+howard+jaime&qid=1576256609&s=dmusic&sr=1-1" title="Jaime" context="body"] Brittany Howard, Jaime. The Alabama Shakes frontwoman expertly rocks out on her own for the first time.