After a months-long countdown which started this summer, Billboard has now announced its pick for “greatest pop star of the 21st century” … Beyonce.
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 23: (Exclusive Coverage) (Editorial Use Only) Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland attend the SirDavis American Whisky Launch Party at Hôtel Plaza Athénée on September 23, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood)
The former Destiny’s Child star, who went solo in 2003, pipped the best-selling pop star of the 21st century to ...: Taylor Swift had to settle for a number two placing.
But Billboard wasn’t just using record sales to dictate its list. Beyonce’s game-changing 2013 self-titled album, a surprise release that ushered in a new era of visual albums, was noted by the respected music outlet as a key factor in her nabbing the top spot.
Rounding out the top five, and announced in previous weeks, are Rihanna at three, Drake at four and Lady Gaga at five.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 01: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Beyoncé accepts the Innovator Award onstage during the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on April 01, 2024. Broadcasted live on FOX. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
Beyonce is an American singer-songwriter and businesswoman. Regarded as an influential cultural figure and the greatest artist of the 21st century by several publications, Beyoncé has been credited with transforming the sound of popular music with her vocal ability and live performances. Rolling Stone has named her the world’s greatest living entertainer of the past decade and one of the greatest vocalists of all time.
