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For months, Billboard has been stuck in a pickle, trying to settle the age-old debate—who is the greatest pop star of this century? And the top two contenders are none other than Taylor Swift

and Beyoncé. Both are juggernauts, cultural icons, and backed by fan bases that could probably start a small nation of their own. Surely, Billboard knew they were walking into a storm with this one. And they absolutely did.

After the backlash Billboard faced when they last crowned Beyoncé over Swift, they have now given a new accolade to the ‘Lover’ sensation.

Billboard has officially named Taylor Swift the Top Artist of the 21st Century. This ranking was based on album performances on the Billboard 200 and songs on the Billboard Hot 100 from January 2000 through December 2024. Beyoncé, meanwhile, was ranked seventh on the same list. The announcement came only hours after Billboard revealed another ranking, naming the biggest girl group of the 21st century.

In that category, Beyoncé’s former group, Destiny’s Child, won the title, which did not go over well with some fans. Last year, Beyoncé was also named the greatest pop star of the 21st century, which placed Swift in the second spot. And as one would expect, Swifties quickly came to her defense, arguing that the Eras Tour star deserved to take the top position. But that was just the beginning of the tension.

Read More: The Internet Takes Sides as Beyoncé Claims Another Accolade, This Time Alongside Iconic Girl Group Destiny’s Child

In the days that followed, Billboard made a series of controversial moves that further ruffled the feathers of Taylor Swift’s fans.

In November, to celebrate Taylor Swift’s achievement as the second-greatest pop star of the century, Billboard posted a video highlighting the singer’s journey and accomplishments. However, the video included a controversial clip from Ye, aka Kanye West

‘s ‘Famous’ music video that Swifties found deeply problematic. Billboard was forced to issue a public apology, but the damage had already been done.

Things got worse in December when Billboard released its list of the top 10 pop stars of 2024. Swift came in third place, while Sabrina Carpenter—a rising star and supposed mentee of Swift—was ranked higher. Fans were baffled and took to social media

to express their disappointment. Now, with this new honor for Swift, Billboard seems to be trying to win back some goodwill. But whether it is enough to repair their relationship with the pop star’s fans is a question only time can answer.

Read More: Excitement Hits High as Taylor Swift Brings a New ‘Taylor’s Version’ for Fans

What do you think about the new Taylor Swift accolade by Billboard? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!