Beyoncé has been hailed as the ultimate pop star of the 21st century by Billboard, as the music charting giant revealed on Tuesday, in an ongoing series celebrating musical excellence. "Beyoncé reigns supreme on our editorially curated list, underpinned by her unparalleled 25-year journey of influence, impact, and transformation," penned Andrew Unterberger of Billboard.
The publication delved into the reasoning behind Beyoncé's crown, stating that her reign at the top is due to her status as a record-breaking Grammy winner, a performer, and a creator whose dedication to innovation, evolution, and unparalleled excellence has set the benchmark for all pop stars of this century over the past quarter-century.
With a staggering 32 Grammy Awards to her name, Beyoncé holds the record for the most Grammy wins. Following her recent nods for her 2024 album "Cowboy Carter," which garnered her 11 additional nominations, she is poised to add even more trophies to her collection in January.
Beyoncé's presence on Billboard's charts is equally as impressive. She boasts nine No. 1 singles and 24 top 10 hits on the Hot 100. Eight of her albums have secured the No. 1 position on the Billboard 200 albums chart, starting with her 2003 solo debut "Dangerously In Love." Having previously dominated the radio waves as part of the girl group Destiny's Child, 11 of Beyoncé's solo albums have charted within Billboard's top 10.
Since August, Billboard has been compiling a list of their staff's top 25 pop artists of the past 25 years. The artists chosen represent those who have most epitomized pop stardom and "exemplified pop greatness" since the turn of the millennium.
Last week, Taylor Swift was announced as Billboard's second pick, with Rihanna securing the third spot. Adele, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Drake round out the top 10. Meanwhile, Katy Perry sits at No. 25, with other notable pop artists such as Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, One Direction, Miley Cyrus, Eminem, Usher, and others ranking in between.
