- Music. Taylor Swift's reaction after Billboard chose Beyonce over her as pop's biggest star
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Billboard has officially crowned Beyoncé as the greatest pop star of the 21st century, a decision that has ignited a heated debate among fans of Taylor Swift.
The announcement, following weeks of speculation, places Swift in second place.
Billboard bows down to 'Queen B'
While Billboard acknowledges Swift as the century's biggest pop star "by the numbers," their editorial choice favored Beyoncé, citing her 25 years of "influence, impact, and evolution."
Writer Andrew Unterberger elaborated that although Swift leads in key categories, including more No. 1 albums and singles this century, her shorter career span places her behind Beyoncé in overall influence. Unterberger concluded, "No one has a longer or fuller track record than Beyoncé."
Despite this rationale, Swifties voiced their displeasure online, with many calling the ranking a "crime" and a "joke."
One fan insisted, "Taylor had more impact in the last five years than Beyoncé in her whole career," while another criticized the decision as favoring longevity over recent influence.
On the other side, Beyoncé's fanbase, the Beyhive, defended the decision, emphasizing her three-decade career and staying power.
A commenter noted, "No one has been able to have the type of staying power Beyoncé has had over the past three decades."
Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have strong friendship
Amid the fan clash, the mutual respect between Beyoncé and Swift remains intact.
Their relationship, once marred by Kanye West's infamous interruption of Swift's 2009 VMA speech, has evolved into one of public .
Swift recently attended Beyoncé's Renaissance premiere in London, and both have expressed iration for each other on social media.
Meanwhile, Swift is preparing for the final leg of her Eras Tour, with her last three shows set for Vancouver starting December 6.
The tour, credited with boosting local economies across North America, will conclude after a record-breaking run of nearly 150 shows.
Vancouver is already bracing for an influx of over 150,000 fans, with businesses gearing up for a weekend of celebration.
Despite the controversy, both stars continue to dominate the cultural landscape, proving their enduring influence on the global music scene.