Taylor Swift just came in second on Billboard’s list of the greatest pop stars of the 21st century. Yes, second. Somewhere out there, a Swiftie just dropped their lavender lemonade.
Billboard ranked the “Blank Space” mastermind at No. 2, and their write-up basically screamed, “Don’t @ us.” They noted that Swift’s mere runner-up status would probably cause the internet to combust faster than ticket websites during an Eras Tour presale. “Her being just one small space below No. 1 is a testament to her power,” they wrote, as if explaining to a toddler why cake before dinner is a bad idea.
But fear not, Swifties — Taylor didn’t even start her pop domination until much later in the millennium, meaning she achieved this legendary status on hard mode. Billboard even threw in a reminder that Tay-Tay snagged their “Greatest Pop Star of 2023” title last year — making her a three-time champ (2015, 2021, and 2023). Basically, she’s like the Michael Jordan of music, if Jordan also wrote diary-level lyrics that could shatter your soul.
Oh, and about that No. 1 spot? Beyoncé hasn’t popped up on the list yet, and the BeyHive is already buzzing louder than a broken smoke alarm. After all, Queen Bey holds 32 Grammy wins, 26 VMAs, and the unofficial title of “Person Most Likely to Look Flawless in a Wind Machine.”
But let’s not ignore the rest of the Billboard rankings, which are like a chaotic family reunion of pop royalty. Here’s a quick look at the Top 25 so far:
25. Katy Perry – The human equivalent of a firework, and she will sing about it.
24. Ed Sheeran – Somehow at every wedding, yet no one remembers inviting him.
23. Bad Bunny – The cool cousin who shows up late but owns the party.
22. One Direction – Proof that too much hair gel is never a bad thing.
21. Lil Wayne – Every millennial’s go-to “deep” AIM away message.
20. Bruno Mars – 24K magic and probably smells like expensive cologne.
19. BTS – Literally owns the internet. No further explanation needed.
18. The Weeknd – Turning heartbreak into hit records since… well, always.
17. Shakira – Those hips? Still not lying.
16. Jay-Z – Rap royalty, married to actual royalty.
15. Miley Cyrus – Wrecking balls and reinventions, one era at a time.
14. Justin Timberlake – Brought sexy back, but forgot to return it.
13. Nicki Minaj – Queen of the Barbz and “Roman” alter egos.
12. Eminem – Still rapping faster than we can type.
11. Usher – Smooth as ever, skating in with confessions.
10. Adele – Hello? It’s her — dominating our playlists.
9. Ariana Grande – Tiny ponytail, massive voice.
8. Justin Bieber – Baby-faced heartbreaker turned husband material.
7. Kanye West – Controversial but undeniably influential.
6. Britney Spears – Pop’s eternal princess.
5. Lady Gaga – Meat dresses, Oscars, and the edge of glory.
4. Drake – From Degrassi to dominating the charts.
3. Rihanna – Queen of Fenty, fashion, and all our hearts.
2. Taylor Swift – Writes songs so good, even her exes sing along.
1. ??? – It’s probably Beyoncé. Let’s not kid ourselves.
Taylor’s at No. 2, the Swifties are regrouping, and Beyoncé’s BeyHive is already planning their acceptance speech. May the pop wars commence!
