Bianca Ryan was only 11 when she became the first-ever winner of America’s Got Talent. Today, she’s 30 years old and sounding better than ever — especially when it comes to a certain Christmas song.
After winning AGT Season 1, she put the $1 million prize to good use: Ryan went right to the studio to record “Why Couldn’t It Be Christmas Everyday?”, a holiday track that is found on countless Christmas playlists in 2024. Although she recorded the popular song as a child, she can still perform it like the champion she is, as evidenced by this jaw-dropping live 2020 performance in downtown Nashville.
The bright, bubbly holiday pop masterpiece was always tuned to Ryan’s voice, but it sounds even better today. Her ability to hit powerful runs — especially the iconic one capping the song — has always been one of her best qualities.
This version of “Why Couldn’t It Be Christmas Everyday?” feels like a Broadway performance coming to life on the streets of Nashville, with Ryan’s impressive vocals the star of the show.
Since her 2006 self-titled album, Ryan has stayed busy. After undergoing multiple surgeries to correct vocal cord complications that threatened her health and singing career, the singer returned to the franchise that made her a household name.
Ryan memorably appeared as a contestant in America’s Got Talent: The Champions, a full 12 years after her first audition, and also took the opportunity to give fans a much-needed update on her health:
These days, Ryan has been largely absent from the social media scene — until the release of Wicked, which prompted her to get back in the studio. Here’s the 30-year-old nailing “Defying Gravity” just when you thought that song was finally out of your head:
“Wicked was released the first year I ever started singing around 9 years old and the shows songs were some of the first 20 songs I ever learned to sing. Here is to Defying Gravity and never letting anything bring you down 🧹,” she said in a caption.
The Civic compact car has been a long-time favorite among our staff for its effortless balance of practicality, value, and driving fun. The 2025 Civic receives styling tweaks to keep it looking fresh and it gains a hybrid variant, updates that aid it in returning to our 10Best list for another year. In the Civic Hybrid, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors provides a combined 200 horsepower, and the car is rated at up to 49 mpg combined. A 150-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder is now the only engine option for the nonhybrid models, and it lacks zeal but also provides impressive fuel efficiency.
Sedan and hatchback body styles are available, and the Civic provides agile handling and a well-balanced ride no matter which version you choose. The lower-trim nonhybrid versions have a comprehensive roster of driver-assistance features as standard, but you’ll have to step up to the more expensive Hybrid Sport and Hybrid Sport Touring models to get nicer equipment and better infotainment features. Though the 2025 Civic hit the streets running, it faces competition from the recently refreshed Hyundai Elantra and the alluring Toyota Prius, as well as its arch-rival, the Toyota Corolla.
The Civic receives a few cosmetic changes to keep its styling looking fresh for 2025. Revised headlamps and a reworked bumper help visually identify the new model year from last year’s Civic. The bigger news is the addition of the Civic Hybrid. The hybrid powertrain is optional on the Sport trim level and standard on the top Sport Touring trim level. The nonhybrid model, now limited to LX and Sport trims, will be offered only with the nonturbo 2.0-liter four; last year’s turbocharged 1.5-liter has been discontinued. The manual transmission is also no longer available in the Civic hatchback, meaning a stick-shift is now reserved for the sportier Civic Si and Civic Type R models.
