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Billboard's Greatest Pop Stars of the last 20 years and their achievements that year (Thread)
1999: Britney Spears
In 1999, Britney Spears broke through with the iconic “...Baby One More Time” which hit #1 on the Hot 100.
For the rest of the year, Britney dominated pop culture and this became the year that kicked off one of the greatest careers of all time.
In 1999, Britney Spears broke through with the iconic “...Baby One More Time” which hit #1 on the Hot 100.
For the rest of the year, Britney dominated pop culture and this became the year that kicked off one of the greatest careers of all time.
2000: *NSYNC
At the beginning of a new century, the group set the record for highest US first week sales in history with their second album 'No Strings Attached' selling 2.4 million copies, before Adele beat it in 2015. The album ruled atop the Billboard 200 for eight weeks.
At the beginning of a new century, the group set the record for highest US first week sales in history with their second album 'No Strings Attached' selling 2.4 million copies, before Adele beat it in 2015. The album ruled atop the Billboard 200 for eight weeks.
2001: Jennifer Lopez
This was the year that JLO achieved the rare feat of having both the #1 album & #1 film in the US with her sophomore album 'J.Lo' & romantic comedy 'The Wedding Planner'.
By the end of 2001, she had become an icon and had two #1 singles under her belt.
This was the year that JLO achieved the rare feat of having both the #1 album & #1 film in the US with her sophomore album 'J.Lo' & romantic comedy 'The Wedding Planner'.
By the end of 2001, she had become an icon and had two #1 singles under her belt.
2002: Eminem
The rapper's fourth studio album not only dominated the Billboard 200 for six consecutive weeks but also became the best-selling album of 2002.
The rapper won four VMAs that year including Video Of The Year and saw his career rise to a new peak at the time.
The rapper's fourth studio album not only dominated the Billboard 200 for six consecutive weeks but also became the best-selling album of 2002.
The rapper won four VMAs that year including Video Of The Year and saw his career rise to a new peak at the time.
2003: Beyoncé
The singer dominated the charts this year with her first solo project 'Dangerously In Love' and the iconic singles 'Crazy In Love' & 'Baby Boy', which were both #1 hits.
2003 was one of the most memorable years for music as it marked the solo debut of Beyoncé.
The singer dominated the charts this year with her first solo project 'Dangerously In Love' and the iconic singles 'Crazy In Love' & 'Baby Boy', which were both #1 hits.
2003 was one of the most memorable years for music as it marked the solo debut of Beyoncé.
2004: Usher
On this year, Usher ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for 19 consecutive weeks with his signature hits 'Yeah!' and 'Burn'.
His career reached new peaks with the release of his fourth studio album 'Confessions' which also had the biggest debut for an R&B artist ever.
On this year, Usher ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for 19 consecutive weeks with his signature hits 'Yeah!' and 'Burn'.
His career reached new peaks with the release of his fourth studio album 'Confessions' which also had the biggest debut for an R&B artist ever.
2005: Kanye West
Following the success of his debut album 'The College Dropout', the past year, it came to no surprise when Kanye's 'Diamonds From Sierra Leone' & 'Gold Digger' escalated his career to new heights.
Billboard credits him for “rewriting rap's pop rule book.”
Following the success of his debut album 'The College Dropout', the past year, it came to no surprise when Kanye's 'Diamonds From Sierra Leone' & 'Gold Digger' escalated his career to new heights.
Billboard credits him for “rewriting rap's pop rule book.”
2006: Justin Timberlake
With the release of his sophomore album, 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' Justin Timberlake became a dominating force.
His signature hit 'SexyBack' became his first #1 single topping the charts for seven weeks and became one of the best-selling singles ever.
With the release of his sophomore album, 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' Justin Timberlake became a dominating force.
His signature hit 'SexyBack' became his first #1 single topping the charts for seven weeks and became one of the best-selling singles ever.
2007: Rihanna
The iconic 'Umbrella' which ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks was only the start to Rihanna's phenomenal 2007. With the release of her hit-packed third studio album 'Good Girl Gone Bad', Rihanna cemented herself as an A-list superstar.
The iconic 'Umbrella' which ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks was only the start to Rihanna's phenomenal 2007. With the release of her hit-packed third studio album 'Good Girl Gone Bad', Rihanna cemented herself as an A-list superstar.
2008: Lil Wayne
'Tha Carter III' which spawned hits like the memorable #1 'Lollipop', became the fastest-selling album in over three years despite the decline of pure sales in 2008.
Throughout the year, Lil Wayne broke numerous records and garnered several accolades.
'Tha Carter III' which spawned hits like the memorable #1 'Lollipop', became the fastest-selling album in over three years despite the decline of pure sales in 2008.
Throughout the year, Lil Wayne broke numerous records and garnered several accolades.
2009: Lady Gaga
'Bad Romance' instantly became a career-defining hit and arguably the highlight of pop music for the year to follow.
2009 was the breakthrough for one of the most impactful pop stars of all time with other countless hits like 'Papparazi', 'LoveGame', and more.
'Bad Romance' instantly became a career-defining hit and arguably the highlight of pop music for the year to follow.
2009 was the breakthrough for one of the most impactful pop stars of all time with other countless hits like 'Papparazi', 'LoveGame', and more.
2010: Katy Perry
The beginning of a new decade also brought the world one of the most successful and iconic eras ever in pop music.
'Teenage Dream' broke numerous records such as tying Michael Jackson for most number one singles off one album with a total of five chart-toppers.
The beginning of a new decade also brought the world one of the most successful and iconic eras ever in pop music.
'Teenage Dream' broke numerous records such as tying Michael Jackson for most number one singles off one album with a total of five chart-toppers.
2011: Adele
Upon the release of her sophomore album '21', Adele became a leading force in the music industry spawning hit after hit.
The acclaimed album broke the record for most weeks at #1 this century and was named the “Greatest Billboard 200 Album of All Time.”
Upon the release of her sophomore album '21', Adele became a leading force in the music industry spawning hit after hit.
The acclaimed album broke the record for most weeks at #1 this century and was named the “Greatest Billboard 200 Album of All Time.”
2012: Rihanna
Being one of the few artists to be named Greatest Pop Star of the year twice, Rihanna's impact in 2012 was undeniable.
Opening 2012 with her smash Calvin Harris collaboration 'We Found Love', Rihanna later kept the streak going with her hit album 'Unapologetic'.
Being one of the few artists to be named Greatest Pop Star of the year twice, Rihanna's impact in 2012 was undeniable.
Opening 2012 with her smash Calvin Harris collaboration 'We Found Love', Rihanna later kept the streak going with her hit album 'Unapologetic'.
2013: Miley Cyrus
The star took the world by storm with the release of her viral #1 hit 'Wrecking Ball' and a reinvention of herself.
The 'Bangerz' era was not only a successful and triumphant reinvention, but also became one of the most memorable pop eras in recent times.
The star took the world by storm with the release of her viral #1 hit 'Wrecking Ball' and a reinvention of herself.
The 'Bangerz' era was not only a successful and triumphant reinvention, but also became one of the most memorable pop eras in recent times.
2014: Beyoncé
Following her surprise digital drop in December 2013, Beyoncé reinvented the release of music with her visual self-titled fifth album.
The project started a new trend for album releases and is undeniably one of the most impactful events in music history.
Following her surprise digital drop in December 2013, Beyoncé reinvented the release of music with her visual self-titled fifth album.
The project started a new trend for album releases and is undeniably one of the most impactful events in music history.
2015: Taylor Swift
The success of one of pop music's most defining albums, '1989' had taken Swift's career to new heights.
The tour in support of the record became the highest-grossing North American female tour of all time before Swift's own 'reputation' tour dethroned it.
The success of one of pop music's most defining albums, '1989' had taken Swift's career to new heights.
The tour in support of the record became the highest-grossing North American female tour of all time before Swift's own 'reputation' tour dethroned it.
2016: Justin Bieber
Bieber's 2016 era 'Purpose' undeniably became one of the most successful eras of pop music in recent years.
The album spawned three #1 singles (What Do You Mean? Sorry, and Love Yourself) and pushed the pop star's career to unforeseen heights.
Bieber's 2016 era 'Purpose' undeniably became one of the most successful eras of pop music in recent years.
The album spawned three #1 singles (What Do You Mean? Sorry, and Love Yourself) and pushed the pop star's career to unforeseen heights.
2017: Ed Sheeran
'Divide' became Ed's most successful era with hits 'Shape Of You' (the most heard song on radio in 2017) & 'Perfect'. The tour sold the most tickets in history.
Billboard credits Sheeran for redefining the single release method for dropping two singles at once.
'Divide' became Ed's most successful era with hits 'Shape Of You' (the most heard song on radio in 2017) & 'Perfect'. The tour sold the most tickets in history.
Billboard credits Sheeran for redefining the single release method for dropping two singles at once.
2018: Drake
The rapper held the #1 spot of the Billboard Hot 100 for the majority of 2018 — amassing a total of 29 weeks at the top.
His album 'Scorpion' doubled streaming records on main music platforms like Spotify & Apple Music and scored the biggest debut of the year.
The rapper held the #1 spot of the Billboard Hot 100 for the majority of 2018 — amassing a total of 29 weeks at the top.
His album 'Scorpion' doubled streaming records on main music platforms like Spotify & Apple Music and scored the biggest debut of the year.
2019: Ariana Grande
The pop superstar took the charts by storm with her fifth album 'thank u, next' which broke streaming records previously held by artists like Drake.
Ariana became the first woman & solo act of all time to simultaneously hold the Top 3 of the Hot 100.
The pop superstar took the charts by storm with her fifth album 'thank u, next' which broke streaming records previously held by artists like Drake.
Ariana became the first woman & solo act of all time to simultaneously hold the Top 3 of the Hot 100.
