Justin Bieber is having a major comeback — how he went from getting arrested to back on top in one year

We live in a society that doesn't offer much sympathy for musical prodigies who rise to superstardom while very young.

From the start, Bieber was an icon. 

The combination of his cool, mellow voice and youth made him perfect for teenage girls to love, and for everyone else to target with scorn. Once his first single "One Time" went platinum in the US and his debut album "My World 2.0" hit the top of the charts, Bieber reached the top echelon of the music industry.

But Bieber was also immediately placed under an intense global telescope. Like many childhood stars, he made troubling missteps, but now, his highly orchestrated comeback is working perfectly. At his lowest point last year, many thought Bieber would flame out. Now he's making the rounds laughing at his own missteps on talk shows, and with two top-five songs currently in rotation, you can't turn on the radio without hearing him sing. And his long-awaited fourth studio album out on Friday, "Purpose," might even be bigger than his last in 2012 — even before it's available, it's already fifth on iTunes' album chart.

Keep scrolling for a look at how Bieber started, how he fell, and how he's getting back up.

Bieber has always loved music. In fact, he plays multiple instruments. After placing second singing in a talent competition at the age of 12, his mother Pattie Mallette put the song on YouTube.

The video got millions of views and notice from big names, eventually leading to Bieber being signed to a record deal with the help of hip-hop artist Usher.

In 2010, the release of Bieber's biggest song ever, "Baby," rocked the world. It quickly became the most-watched YouTube video ever.