Taylor Swift was ranked as the second greatest pop star by Billboard, with many fans speculating that Beyoncé will secure the top position.
By Website Content Manager
Swift joins Lady Gaga, Drake, and Rihanna in the top five rankings.
Taylor Swift’s latest ranking leaves the No. 1 spot up for debate. Billboard ranked the “Lavender Haze” singer as No. 2 in their list of the greatest pop stars of the 21st century.
“The fact that controversy will likely erupt over her being just one spot below No. 1 only highlights her influence,” the publication remarked. “However, Swifties shouldn’t be upset for too long — especially considering how much later in the millennium she began her career, both in pop music and in general.”
Throughout her career, the 34-year-old Swift has earned 14 Grammys, 30 MTV Video Music Awards, and 39 Billboard Music Awards. She is also in the final leg of her Eras Tour, which began in March 2023. In 2023, TIME named her Person of the Year, and Forbes declared her a billionaire.
The list, which Billboard describes as “the artists who have most defined pop stardom over the past 25 years,” features 24 artists, including Swift.
In the top 10, Adele claims the 10th spot, with Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, and Britney Spears following. Lady Gaga, Drake, and Rihanna fill the top five positions.
The identity of the artist at No. 1 has yet to be revealed, but fans are strongly speculating that Beyoncé takes the top spot. The “Break My Soul” singer holds the record for the most Grammy wins of all time with 32 trophies. She also boasts 26 VMA wins as a solo artist, along with two wins as part of Destiny’s Child and two more with JAY-Z as The Carters.
Fans flooded social media, championing Beyoncé, 43, as the rightful No. 1 on Billboard’s greatest pop star of the 21st century list. “Y’all are delusional if you think anyone other than Beyoncé deserves the #1 spot for biggest pop star of the 21st century,” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“She’s constantly defied industry norms and has been a musical and cultural pioneer since she debuted. Not everything is about sales. Cry about it.”
“Beyoncé’s talent, longevity, and versatility have always been unmatched,” another fan wrote. “The fact that every artist on that list has, at some point, said they were inspired by Beyoncé or something similar is enough to place her at #1,” a third fan argued.