Taylor Swift is feeling on top of the world—almost. Billboard just named her the second greatest pop star of the 21st century. That’s right, the music superstar is sitting pretty at No. 2 on a list that ranks the artists who’ve shaped pop music over the past 25 years.
So, who did she beat? Oh, just some of the biggest names in the business: Rihanna (No. 3), Drake (No. 4), Lady Gaga (No. 5), and Britney Spears (No. 6). Taylor even outranked Kanye West, now known as Ye, coming in five spots higher than her long-time rival. Other chart-toppers she surpassed include Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Adele, and Usher.
This isn’t the first time Taylor’s been crowned a champion this year. Billboard had already named her the top artist of 2023, and now this? She’s clearly on fire.
In their explanation, Billboard praised Taylor for turning her uniqueness into a superpower, saying she has managed to shape pop culture like few others, despite starting her career in country music. They also hinted that naming her No. 2 might spark a little drama online (spoiler alert: they were right).
And yes, some fans—known as Swifties—were quick to express their outrage. “She’s literally the biggest star in the world right now,” one fan wrote. But others were more chill about it, especially those guessing that Beyoncé, who hasn’t appeared on the list yet, will take the top spot. One fan explained, “Taylor’s had an incredible few years, but Beyoncé’s been killing it since day one.”
Speaking of Beyoncé, the mystery of who claims No. 1 is still hanging in the air. Many believe it’s Queen Bey herself, but Billboard hasn’t officially spilled the tea just yet.
As for Taylor, this recognition caps off what’s already been a groundbreaking year. In February, she made Grammy history as the first person to win Album of the Year four times. Time magazine named her Person of the Year for 2023, and Forbes recently pegged her as the wealthiest female musician, with an eye-popping net worth of $1.6 billion. Oh, and let’s not forget her Eras Tour, which shattered records to become the highest-grossing tour of all time.
Her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, dropped in April and smashed streaming records on Spotify, racking up over 300 million plays in just one day. Clearly, Taylor’s star isn’t just shining—it’s blazing.
