Taylor Swift's New Ranking

Taylor Swift is making headlines again, this time being dubbed the second greatest pop star of the 21st century by Billboard. The iconic music publication is currently revealing its much-anticipated rankings, highlighting those artists who have shaped the landscape of pop music over the past 25 years.

Notable Rankings

Coming in at No. 2, Swift surpasses heavyweights like Rihanna at No. 3, Drake at No. 4, and Lady Gaga at No. 5. Notably, she also outshines Kanye West (now known as Ye), who comes in at No. 7, a rivalry that has been well documented over the years. Other notable names she ranks above include Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Adele, and Usher.

Previous Honors

Billboard previously honored Swift as its top artist of 2023, and in their announcement, writer Hannah Dailey praised her for utilizing her distinctiveness to influence and inspire pop culture. Dailey expressed that Swift's ability to transform her background—starting in country music eight years later than many of her peers—into an asset is a testament to her tenacity and talent.

Fan Reactions

Despite this significant recognition, there is speculation that fans may debate her No. 2 placement fiercely, with many believing she deserves the top spot. 'The fact that there will be controversy surrounding her being just one slot below No. 1 is an indication of her influence in the industry,' Dailey noted, suggesting that Swifties won’t be too perturbed considering her remarkable achievements.

A Banner Year for Swift

This announcement comes on the heels of a banner year for Swift. She became the first artist ever to win the Grammy for Album of the Year four times and was named Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2023. Not to mention, Forbes recently estimated her net worth at an astonishing $1.6 billion, making her the richest female musician in the world.

Record-Breaking Tour and Album

Adding to her list of accomplishments, Swift is in the midst of concluding her record-breaking Eras Tour—the highest-grossing concert tour in history. Her latest album, 'The Tortured Poets Department,' launched in April, shattered records by becoming the first album to achieve over 300 million streams on Spotify in just one day.

Anticipation for the Top Spot

While Billboard has yet to reveal the artist who will be crowned the greatest pop star, many anticipate it will be Beyoncé, who has not yet made an appearance in the ranking. Responses from fans on social media exhibit a mix of disbelief and anticipation regarding the rankings, with some expressing that Swift’s recent prominence should warrant her a higher position.

Billboard's Rankings So Far

Here’s a selected glimpse at Billboard's rankings so far: - 25. Katy Perry - 24. Ed Sheeran - 23. Bad Bunny - 22. One Direction - 21. Lil Wayne - 20. Bruno Mars - 19. BTS - 18. The Weeknd - 17. Shakira - 16. Jay-Z - 15. Miley Cyrus - 14. Justin Timberlake - 13. Nicki Minaj - 12. Eminem - 11. Usher - 10. Adele - 9. Ariana Grande - 8. Justin Bieber - 7. Kanye West - 6. Britney Spears - 5. Lady Gaga - 4. Drake - 3. Rihanna - 2. Taylor Swift

Conclusion

Stay tuned for the final reveal and prepare for heated debates among music lovers about who deserves the top honor!