Billboard just declared Beyoncé as the #1 Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century, while Taylor Swift graciously (or begrudgingly, depending on the fandom) sashayed away with second place. Naturally, this sparked an online kerfuffle, just in time for Thanksgiving dinner debates. Move over, politics and pumpkin pie—this year’s family drama is Beyoncé vs. Taylor.
So, how did Queen Bey swipe the crown? Enter Billboard’s Andrew Unterberger, who laid it all out in an explanation longer than Taylor’s Red (Taylor’s Version) tracklist. His main argument? Beyoncé’s been running the world (girls!) for 25 years, which is basically half a century in pop star years. Meanwhile, Taylor, despite her astronomical stats, is still a few albums shy of rivaling Beyoncé’s resume of legends.
Let’s break it down Unterberger-style, but with a twist of sass:
– Commercial Success? Beyoncé’s got it. Taylor’s got it. But Bey’s been cashing checks since Destiny’s Child had us buying Nokia ringtones.
– Performance Abilities? Beyoncé’s Super Bowl halftime shows left us all breathless. Taylor gave us interpretive scarf dances. Case closed.
– Cultural Moments? Beyoncé gave us Lemonade, an entire visual album masterpiece dissecting love, betrayal, and redemption. Taylor gave us the mystery of “Who is All Too Well about?” Iconic, but different ballparks.
– Influence? Beyoncé’s influence is so deep, even her thigh-high boots have cultural impact.
Taylor may have the numbers, but Beyoncé’s got the legacy. Unterberger even admitted, “[Taylor’s] stats are insane, but she hasn’t been in the game long enough to match Beyoncé’s quarter-century of domination.” Translation? Taylor’s crushing it, but Beyoncé’s been out here bossing the whole industry since flip phones.
Oh, and if you’re curious, here’s the top 25 list of pop greatness, aka The Billboard Hunger Games: Pop Edition:
1. Beyoncé – Queen Bee 🐝
2. Taylor Swift – The Blond(e) Ambition Tour 🎸
3. Rihanna – Where’s the album, ma’am?! 🎤
4. Drake – Degrassi but make it rap. 🦉
5. Lady Gaga – The meat dress still haunts us. 🎭
6. Britney Spears – Rightful pop royalty. 👑
7. Kanye West – A complicated legacy. 🎧
8. Justin Bieber – Baby, baby, oh? 🛑
9. Ariana Grande – Ponytail goals. 🎀
10. Adele – Breaking hearts in every time zone. 💔
11–25? It’s a mix of hitmakers, legends, and those who’ve either been a meme or ruled TikTok for a hot minute.
So, while Swifties lick their wounds and the Beyhive buzzes with joy, remember: Both ladies are legends in their own right. But for now, Beyoncé’s throne is safe—and probably bedazzled.
