D’Angelo, John Mayer and other celebrity comebacks

Soul crooner D’Angelo recently gave his first interview in 12 years to GQ Magazine, yielding an intimate look into the artist’s quick rise to fame and the self-destruction that led him into isolation (and eventually rehab). But D’Angelo isn’t the only celebrity to resurface after a public breakdown— Britney Spears, anyone? Click through to see other celebs who have made their way back into the spotlight.

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D'Angelo released his Grammy-nominated debut "Brown Sugar" at just 21 years old and later wooed female fans in the sensual video for "Untitled (How Does It Feel)." The singer recently granted his first interview in 12 years to GQ, telling the magazine that his sudden rise to prominence hit hard, resulting in years of isolation and alcohol abuse.The singer is now at work on his long-awaited third album.

Stan Honda / AFP/Getty Images

John Mayer took a break from the spotlight after his high-profile romances (with the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson) made him a tabloid favorite. The singer also gave a very infamous Playboy interview, in which he used racially charge language and referred to Simpson as "sexual napalm." After a hiatus of more than two years, the singer is promoting his fifth album "Born and Raised," in which he poetically reflects on his mistakes.

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

A three-year hiatus, fueled by Eminem’s struggles with depression and drug addiction, was the basis for his 2010 album, '<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://blog.washingtonpost.com/clicktrack/2010/06/album_review_eminem_recovery.html'>Recovery</a>,' which earned the rapper a <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/02/AR2010120200248.html'>whopping 10 grammy nominations</a>. How’s that for a comeback?

A three-year hiatus, fueled by Eminem’s struggles with depression and drug addiction, was the basis for his 2010 album, "Recovery," which earned the rapper a whopping 10 grammy nominations. How’s that for a comeback?

Chris Pizzello / AP

Lindsay Lohan’s struggles with fame have been well documented — from <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2010/08/lindsay_lohans_new_probabtion.html'>court-ordered rehab</a>, <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/lindsay-lohan-in-custody-for-probation-violation/2011/10/20/gIQAQ8Ji0L_gallery.html'>jail</a> and <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/lindsay-lohan-talks-house-arrest/2011/06/22/AGdMx7fH_blog.html'>house arrest</a> . But 2012 has been fairly good to the troubled actress, who <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/lindsay-lohan-on-snl-how-did-she-do/2012/03/04/gIQALN8xpR_blog.html'>hosted “SNL” in March</a> and recently made a tongue-in-cheek <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/lindsay-lohan-on-glee-did-her-so-called-image-rebranding-effort-succeed/2012/05/15/gIQAsfOZSU_blog.html'>guest appearance on “Glee”</a>. She’s also set to play another famous starlet — Liz Taylor — in a <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/lifetime-confirms-lindsay-lohan-will-star-as-elizabeth-taylor-in-biopic/2012/04/23/gIQAru21cT_blog.html'>Lifetime biopic</a>.

Lindsay Lohan’s struggles with fame have been well documented — from court-ordered rehab, jail and house arrest . But 2012 has been fairly good to the troubled actress, who hosted “SNL” in March and recently made a tongue-in-cheek guest appearance on “Glee”. She’s also set to play another famous starlet — Liz Taylor — in a Lifetime biopic.

Adam Rose / FOX Broadcasting Co.

Celebritology once referred to Robert Downey Jr. as <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2008/08/in_praise_of_robert_downey_jr.html'>'the ultimate comeback kid.'</a> The actor faced very public struggles with addiction from the mid-’90s to 2003, when he finally got sober. Now life is pretty good for the “Avengers” star, both <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/avengers-swamps-competition-with-556m-weekend-battleship-trails-with-255m/2012/05/21/gIQA8NuHgU_story.html'>on screen</a> and <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/post/love-etc-a-boy-for-robert-downey-jr/2012/02/07/gIQARw9MxQ_blog.html'>off</a>.

Celebritology once referred to Robert Downey Jr. as "the ultimate comeback kid." The actor faced very public struggles with addiction from the mid-’90s to 2003, when he finally got sober. Now life is pretty good for the “Avengers” star, both on screen and off.

Jason Merritt / Getty Images

If Downey is the comeback kid, Britney Spears is arguably the comeback queen. The singer, whose public meltdown included <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/17/AR2007021700310.html'>shaving her head in 2007</a>, now boasts personal (<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/britney-spears-and-jason-trawick-are-engaged/2011/12/16/gIQACNmSyO_blog.html'>she’s engaged</a>!) and professional (<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/spears-lovato-joining-the-x-factor-on-fox-for-new-season/2012/05/14/gIQAYNjqPU_story.html'>meet your new “X-Factor” judge</a>) triumphs.

If Downey is the comeback kid, Britney Spears is arguably the comeback queen. The singer, whose public meltdown included shaving her head in 2007, now boasts personal (she’s engaged!) and professional (meet your new “X-Factor” judge) triumphs.

Evan Agostini / AP

When Mickey Rourke returned to the cinema in 2008’s “<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/the-wrestler,1154622.html'>The Wrestler</a>,” critics were quick to note that Rourke, who struggled with self-destructive behavior and boxing injuries — was spot on for the role. In addition to bringing the actor back into the spotlight, the film <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2009/01/comment_box_can_we_call_mickey.html'>won Rourke a Golden Globe</a> and an <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/23/AR2009012300081.html'>Oscar nod</a> for “Best Actor.”

When Mickey Rourke returned to the cinema in 2008’s “The Wrestler,” critics were quick to note that Rourke, who struggled with self-destructive behavior and boxing injuries — was spot on for the role. In addition to bringing the actor back into the spotlight, the film won Rourke a Golden Globe and an Oscar nod for “Best Actor.”

Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

Winona Ryder had several high-profiles film roles, including “Girl, Interrupted” under her belt when she was arrested in 2001 for shoplifting. Years later, when asked by GQ to address the incident, the actress told the magazine she “didn’t want to go there.” Ryder proved she still had Hollywood chops in the Academy Award-winning film, “Black Swan.”

Valerie Macon / AFP/Getty Images

After an Academy Award nomination for "Saturday Night Fever" and such mega-hits as "Grease" and "Urban Cowboy," John Travolta became a major movie star in the late '70s and early '80s. By the late '80s, however, movies like "Perfect" and the "Look Who's Talking" franchise had turned him into a punchline. Thanks to Quentin Tarantino, Travolta's career got a jump-start in 1994 with his turn as Vincent Vega in "Pulp Fiction," which gave him his second Academy Award nomination and led to leading-man roles again in "Get Shorty," "Face/Off" and "Primary Colors."

Brendan McDermid / Reuters

Few artists are as <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://blog.washingtonpost.com/clicktrack/2010/01/discographically_speaking_mari.html'>prolific as Mariah Carey</a>, but perhaps it was her lengthy discography that led to her public breakdown in 2001 that culminated with the singer <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/16/AR2008091603603.html'>hosting an impromptu ice-cream party</a> on MTV’s “Total Request Live.” But in the years since Carey has resumed hitting high notes in <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/28/AR2009092803898.html'>her work</a> and her personal life with <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/mariah-carey-and-nick-cannon-renew-vows-for-the-fourth-time/2012/04/30/gIQAuXIkrT_blog.html'>husband Nick Cannon</a> and their 1-year-old twins, affectionately known as “<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/mariah-carey-reveals-dem-babies-on-2020-john-mayer-recovering-from-throat-surgery/2011/10/24/gIQASvFRCM_blog.html'>dem babies</a>.”

Few artists are as prolific as Mariah Carey, but perhaps it was her lengthy discography that led to her public breakdown in 2001 that culminated with the singer hosting an impromptu ice-cream party on MTV’s “Total Request Live.” But in the years since Carey has resumed hitting high notes in her work and her personal life with husband Nick Cannon and their 1-year-old twins, affectionately known as “dem babies.”

Evan Agostini / AP

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