Photos provided by Getty Images for iHeartRadio

The hottest pop show on the planet, iHeart Radio’s Jingle Ball, finally returned after being forced to skip a year due to the pandemic and it was well worth for the wait for 103.5 KISS FM listeners at a sold out Allstate Arena.

It may have looked a little different with everyone wearing masks and needing to bring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test along with their digital ticket, but at least everything was up and running again with yet another star-studded line-up.

Country-tinged rapper Lil Nas X closed out the evening, and while the super self-confident and charismatic viral sensation is well on the way to breaking beyond his multiple record-shattering Billy Ray Cyrus collab “Old Town Road,” the three-hour marathon was arguably anchored by the Black Eyed Peas.

Currently comprised of original members will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo, plus the recently added J. Rey Soul (now that Fergie’s gone exclusively solo), the hip-hop troupe belatedly had the chance to debut tunes from 2020’s comeback “Translation.”

In between, the brisk set was bookended by the bangers “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling,” a modern classic if there ever was one that had multiple generations going crazy in a euphoric moment that was impossible to top.

Technically speaking, Doja Cat, fresh off “Planet Her,” was the event’s headliner whose earlier performance of futuristic pop, rap and R&B singles, such as “Say So” and “Kiss Me More,” suggested she’ll be commanding crowds of similar size by herself in the not too distant future.

Electronic rockers AJR are already slated to do exactly that at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre on June 3, 2022, but in the meantime, the band of brothers gave a quirky, clever and positive preview of what’s coming from the “OK Orchestra” Tour.

That’s all on top of front-half favorites, who included “Icy” rapper/actress Saweetie, frequently appearing singer/songwriter Bazzi, “So You Think You Can Dance” alum/artist Tate McRae and TikTok tastemaker Dixie D’Amelio.

Toss them all together, and the Jingle Ball was definitely back in full force as both the biggest and budding names came together, plus its festive completion reset the countdown clock towards next year’s sure-to-be blockbuster edition of the typically annual tradition.

For additional information on the 103.5 KISS FM Jingle Ball, visit 1035KISSFM.iHeart.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Allstate Arena include Pentatonix (Dec. 15); Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Dec. 23); Jeff Dunham (Dec. 31); JoJo Siwa (Feb. 10); Ghost and Volbeat (Feb. 18); Bad Bunny (Mar. 10-12); Los Ángeles Azules (Mar. 18); Reba (Mar. 19); 2 Cellos (Mar. 26); Los Temerarios (Apr. 1); Rauw Alejandro (Apr. 22); Banda MS (Apr. 29-30); Journey and Toto (May 2); Juan Luis Guerra (Jun. 2); New Kids On The Block (Jun. 17-18) and Shawn Mendes (Jul. 15). For additional details, visit Rosemont.com/Allstate/.

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