These Famous '80s Musicians Are Practically Unrecognizable Now

The '80s were all about fun. From colorful makeup to bold clothing, the decade left a major impact on beauty and fashion standards, and it also gave us a plethora of talented artists. And today, our sole focus is on the women who shaped the decade's music industry. From pushing boundaries through their lyrics and style to mesmerizing us with their voices and beauty, these women have marked pop culture at the time. Some rose to fame prior to the decade, while others have peaked in the years since, but one thing they all have in common is just how much they have changed since the '80s.

From Madonna and Bonnie Tyler, who most likely used the help of beauty procedures, to Joni Mitchell and Chaka Khan, who seem to have embraced aging as it comes, these female stars don't look like they used to. Of course, more than 40 years have passed since then, and if they looked exactly the same, they'd never get rid of the vampire allegations. While change is inevitable (whether it's natural or through beauty procedures), these women also have another thing in common: They're all over 50 and still absolutely gorgeous. 

English pop star Kim Wilde rose to fame in 1981 thanks to her undeniably catchy debut single "Kids in America." Like that, Wilde was propelled into international stardom, where she remained all through the '80s. Wilde's music career continued into the '90s, 2000s, and 2010s, but with significantly less success. In 2025, she released her 15th studio album, "Closer," reminding fans why she was such a big deal in the '80s.

After four decades in the spotlight, it's undeniable that Wilde has changed. At the early stages of her fame, Wilde was in her early 20s, and she's in her mid-60s today. However, the singer revealed that plastic surgery isn't something she has ever done. "For me it's not something that I would be running towards," she shared on British talk show "Lorraine" in 2018, adding that she would only opt for surgery if she required it for a medical reason. "I walk the dog, I do a little bit of yoga and sometimes I work out with my trainer ... or I might just grab a cappuccino and have a croissant instead!" Makeup, hair, and natural aging can affect how a person changes over the years, and while Wilde looks different, she's still incredibly beautiful today.

Gloria Estefan became a household name after releasing her hit "Conga" in 1985. Thanks to her signature curly hair and vibrant personality, Estefan has become instantly recognizable. Since the '80s, the Cuban-American singer managed to maintain her success throughout the '90s, with her career only slowing down in the 2000s.

At the time of her breakthrough, Estefan was in her late '20s, and today the singer is in her late 60s. Needless to say, her appearance changed a bit. That said, the star still looks youthful and snatched. While many assume it's thanks to various beauty procedures, Estefan revealed on "The Drew Barrymore Show" in 2021 that the only lift she had is the "ponytail lift." Perfecting Barbie's iconic ponytail isn't easy, but Estefan has mastered the art of it. "I have a ponytail lift, I put a ponytail on and squeeze that hair back as tight as possible," she shared. "Honestly, people think I've had it, I've had it down my back, I've never had it yet," Estefan said, referring to plastic surgery. Estefan's gorgeous looks in her sixth decade seem to be the result of taking care of herself and great genetics.

English singer Kate Bush was a big deal in the '80s. Her debut single, "Wuthering Heights," released in 1978, was a major success, and the musician went on to create 10 studio albums — four of which she released in the '80s. While her career peaked during this decade, in the early 2020s, she experienced a major resurgence as her song "Running Up That Hill" was used in the Netflix hit series "Stranger Things."

Beauty-wise, Bush has always been a fan of natural looks and very subtle makeup. Over the years, she hasn't really spoken much about beauty or skincare, always focusing on her art instead of herself. Bush, who had just turned 20 when her fame kicked off, is now in her late 60s. The singer aged beautifully, and while she definitely looks different, the light in her eyes has remained the same.

Welsh musician Bonnie Tyler stepped into the spotlight in 1977 thanks to her hit songs "Lost in France," "More Than a Lover," and "It's a Heartache." By the time the '80s rolled around, Tyler was in her late 20s and a pop staple. In 1983, she released her biggest hit to date, "Total Eclipse of the Heart", and with it, she became one of the most influential musicians of the decade. Four decades later, Tyler is still putting out music, but her work released in the '80s remains her most memorable.

Known for her voluminous curly hair, bold makeup, and light-blue eyes, Tyler's appearance was a significant part of her appeal during this era. Today, she is in her mid-70s, and her hair is slightly thinner. Her makeup is different, but her eyes and smile remain the same. However, aging is inevitable, and Tyler dealt with it with the help of subtle beauty procedures. "I have Botox — just a little filler in my laughter lines. I didn't have it for about two years because my skin was looking okay, but then I had it again a few months ago," she shared in 2025 with Mirror. "I don't really do anything else. I guess I'm pretty healthy, but only because I don't have much of a sweet tooth... I have small portions because I can't manage big meals," she added.

When it comes to fashion and beauty, Cyndi Lauper was a trailblazer in the '80s. Born and raised in New York City, the pop star embraced a colorful aesthetic that surpassed what most wore at the time. In 1983, she released the hits "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "Time After Time" — songs that instantly became classics. At the time, Lauper had just entered her 30s, and while her music was catchy and well-written, Lauper's appearance played a major role in her fame.

Today, Lauper is in her early 70s, and it certainly seems as if she has undergone some cosmetic procedures. "Her face looks puffy and bloated and her complexion also looks uneven and blotchy," celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn told Radar Online back in 2011. However, the musician has revealed that she suffers from psoriasis, a skin condition that isn't easy to manage. "When psoriasis gets really bad, it's really hard to get up again," Lauper admitted (via the American Academy of Dermatology Association). Luckily, there are things one can do to improve psoriasis symptoms, and during most of her public outings, Lauper looks as beautiful as ever. The star gave us some of the most iconic hairstyles of the '80s, and while she may have aged, she is living proof that one can still have fun with their hair at any age.

Folk singer Joni Mitchell is a great example of how aging can be embraced — and it doesn't have to mean the end of beauty. Mitchell rose to fame in the late 1960s, but her career was blooming in the '70s and '80s. Mitchell released her last album in the 2000s, but that doesn't mean her love for music ended. In 2024, at the age of 80, Mitchell performed at the Grammy Awards for the first time.

Over the decades in the spotlight, the singer focused on her art, never really discussing beauty or industry standards. However, judging from what she looks like in her early 80s, it's clear that Mitchell has always taken care of herself. Sure, she may have aged, and her look has changed with the years, but her smile remained just as beautiful. If anything, Mitchell teaches us that aging is a privilege, and embracing the changes is crucial.

When it comes to female '80s stars who have drastically changed, no list would be complete without singer Madonna. The queen of pop rose to fame in the early '80s thanks to her hits "Like a Virgin" and "Material Girl," and she hasn't looked back. With four successful decades in the music industry, the singer is undeniably one of the most iconic and influential stars of her generation.

Madonna was in her mid-20s when she rose to fame, and today the star is in her late 60s. With such an age difference, change is natural, but for Madonna, some changes have occurred through beauty procedures. In fact, Madonna's face has changed a lot over the years, as plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Barrett explained to us exclusively in 2025. "She may have undergone a rhinoplasty, as her nose appears more refined and sculpted in recent years compared to earlier in her career," the expert said, adding, "It also seems likely that she's had a face and neck lift, potentially more than one." While the queen of pop never really addressed any plastic surgery rumors, she has opened up about aging. "We need to stop talking about aging like it's something negative and, actually, I don't like the word 'anti-aging,'" the musician told Refinery29 back in 2018. "Why can't we just be the age that we are and look amazing all of the time? We can, if we take care of ourselves inside and out."

Australian pop star Kylie Minogue had her breakthrough in the late '80s with hits like "The Loco-Motion" and "I Should Be So Lucky." At the time, the singer was in her late teens. Even though her career peaked in the '90s and early aughts, Minogue is also an '80s star, and her look has changed quite a bit since her career beginnings. And Minogue has reflected on some of those changes, admitting that she has done Botox in the past.

"Botox gave me a bad rap. I stopped using it a while ago. I have lines on my face now and that's okay," she told The Sun (via Cosmopolitan). "My face has gone through a lot of changes. If you look back at me before I was ill, there was nothing of me... In a way I looked much older than I do now," the singer explained, referring to her battle with breast cancer. "All of me is just fleshier now but my face changed. It filled out, it puffed up with the drugs." And while her face looks different and her hair isn't as curly anymore, Minogue is wearing her late 50s with grace and confidence. 

In 2025, the Aussie revealed to The Handbook that when it comes to beauty products, sun protection is something she always focuses on — but it wasn't always like that. "Through some of my teenage years, I must confess, I detoured around that and was all about maxing out that tan, but in my 20s, I became very sun aware and now do my best to make sun protection priority," she shared.

Pop and rock star Linda Ronstadt rose to fame in the '60s, and she remained one of the most successful musicians in the '70s and '80s. However, Ronstadt — who was in her late 30s and early 40s in the '80s — hasn't released new music since the aughts. In 2013, she spoke to Allure about beauty and fashion, revealing that she never cared much about either. "If ever there was a person who was less style-conscious than me, I don't know who it is," she said.

As Ronstadt is about to enter her 80s, the musician looks different but beautiful nevertheless. Her hair has changed, and the makeup she rocks is different, and we have to gush over just how dewy and youthful Ronstadt's skin is. The lighter hair color softens the singer's features, as her eyes remain the focal point of her face.

Singer Janet Jackson entered the spotlight in the early '80s thanks to her self-titled debut album. As the sister of the king of pop, Michael Jackson, Janet was all about embracing the status of an R&B princess. At the release of her debut album, the singer was only 16 years old. Since her teens, Janet has changed drastically, but according to fans, she remains one of the celebs who look even more gorgeous in real life.

While she's never admitted to any beauty enhancements, she has spoken about aging. "Everyone would always want to stay young and this and that, but it's inevitable. I mean, we're all going to get there," she told Allure in 2022. "I don't know when my day is coming, but at some point, it's going to come and I can choose which path I want to take. I do hope I age gracefully. It's either a little bit of zhuzh or gracefully." 

As Janet is about to enter her 60s, the singer looks happy and healthy, and at the end of the day, that's all that matters. The singer admitted that she loves the direction beauty standards are headed in, explaining that inclusivity has become much more of a topic. She noted that it is now all about women being "comfortable in their skin, in their size, in being full-figured and I love that, as opposed to back in the day. You had to always be thin and always look a certain way. And now it's all accepted and it is all beautiful and I absolutely love that."

Queen of funk Chaka Khan rose to fame in the '70s with her band Rufus. By the end of the decade, she embarked on a solo career, and the hit "I'm Every Woman" solidified her status as a talented musician. In the '80s, she became a major R&B star, known for her music as much as for her style. At the time, she was in her late 20s and just becoming a beauty icon.

Decades later, Chaka Khan looks just as beautiful, as the musician has aged gracefully. Embracing aging and adapting her makeup have resulted in a youthful and fun look — one that most wouldn't expect from a woman in her early 70s. When it comes to makeup, Chaka Khan is still a pro, and in 2018, she revealed to Vogue that she usually does it herself. "Mostly I taught myself. I have put my makeup on in the back of limousines, on the way to gigs," the singer explained. Sharing her advice on fashion and beauty, Chaka Khan told HuffPost in 2019 that the secret is to just go for it. "My advice I would give to any person who wants to do anything with their personal style that would enhance their power and beauty and strength is just to do what you want," she said. "Do whatever you want. And be fearless about it."

If you're looking for some more stars of the fun and colorful decade, check out these famous '80s actors who are practically unrecognizable now.