Beyonce Named ‘Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century’ by Billboard

Billboard has finally revealed its choice for the "greatest pop star of the 21st century" after months of waiting: Beyonce. The former Destiny's Child member, who launched her solo career in 2003, edged out Taylor Swift, who came in second. The ranking wasn't based solely on sales; Billboard highlighted Beyonce's surprise 2013 self-titled album, which marked a shift towards visual albums, as a major reason for her top ranking.

The top five also includes Rihanna at number three, Drake at four, and Lady Gaga at five. While the top three are all female, the overall list features more male artists—14 compared to 11 females. Only two groups made the cut: BTS from Korea at 19 and One Direction from the UK at 22. Rap artists dominate the list, with Kanye West, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, and Bad Bunny joining Drake.

Last week, Hailey Bieber expressed her frustration over her husband Justin Bieber's placement at number eight, suggesting that Billboard's praise for him fell short. She referred to Billboard as a "joke" in a comment on social media. Despite his inclusion in the top 10, he should consider himself fortunate; Pink, a major pop figure in Australia, was left off the main list, placed among 25 others who did not make the top rankings due to a lack of sustained hits.

Other notable stars like Christina Aguilera, Dua Lipa, Kendrick Lamar, and Jennifer Lopez also received honorable mentions outside the top 25.

Here’s the list of Billboard’s greatest pop stars of the 21st century: