Greatest Pop Stars

It's been seven years since Cardi B aced her debut album rollout with 2018's rapturously received 'Invasion of Privacy' — and at long last, she's finally back with album two, 'Am I the Drama?' For this Rollout Report Card, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Kyle Denis and Emily Fuentes as we look at everything surrounding the wait-and-hurry-up promotion of Cardi's long, long-anticipated second album, grading everything from the music videos and live performances to the album's new songs and overall "albuminess." Find our Cardi B 'Am I the Drama?' Rollout YouTube playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMZIe88ZSgVzfM9jQhnFGoGT&si=HUwKfTxIwdgt6T-l See all our other Rollout Report Card episodes here: https://www.billboard.com/t/rollout-report-card/ And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the mid-'90s, TLC were on top of the world, with a game-changing year of hit singles, unavoidable videos and culture-shifting moments — though behind the scenes, everything that could be going wrong for the trio was. On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by NYU professor and social media legend Naima Cochrane to talk about 1995 TLC — the year of "Creep," "Waterfalls," "Red Light Special," and one of the greatest nights ever at the VMAs, all of which raised the bar for R&B crossover stardom during one of the great eras in girl-group history. 1995 TLC YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMatWmGtjnNN1VzeaiyVUyJd&si=Y9krtUF3cpXUECRr Follow Naima on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/stillnaima.bsky.social And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a fascinating few months for Sabrina Carpenter, who had barely started to wind down her blockbuster 'Short n' Sweet' album era before announcing an entirely new album in 'Man's Best Friend,' which dropped on Aug. 29. For this Rollout Report Card, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Michael Saponara and Eric Frankenberg as we look at everything surrounding the lead-up and post-release promotion of Carpenter's second album as a pop superstar, grading everything from the music videos and live performances to the album's new songs and overall "albuminess." Find our Sabrina Carpenter's 'Man's Best Friend' Rollout YouTube playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMaRMMroHHBTWPREhQ3kkTRd&si=dqSBgkutiUZKOZnM And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We weren't positive they'd make it, but Oasis has arrived on U.S. shores as conquering heroes on its universally acclaimed Live '25 tour. On this bonus Pop Star Performance Review episode of Greatest Pop Stars, host Andrew Unterberger is rejoined by his longtime partner Lisa Ebe to talk about the two shows on this tour they saw together — one overseas, one stateside — as well as the differences between them, and their overall conclusions about what has made this tour such a special experience (and a pop superstar-level success ). Also check out our 1996 Oasis Vintage Pop Stardom discussion here: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/oasis-1996-greatest-pop-stars-podcast-1236023704/ And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Stephen Daw and Danielle Pascual to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who dominated August 2025 in pop stardom. We each choose our top fives for the month that was, then we talk some disappointing recent performances, and look ahead to who we're most anticipating hearing more from in the months to come. If you enjoy the pod, check out out the rest of our 2025 Who Won the Month recaps here: https://www.billboard.com/t/who-won-the-month/ And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've seen plenty of pop stars and plenty of movie stars in our lifetime, but only one entertainer who has ever been one of the very biggest stars in both mediums at the same time. On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by YouTube star and Song vs. Song podcast co-host Todd in the Shadows to talk about 1998 Will Smith — the year of "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It," "Just the Two of Us," "Miami," 'Enemy of the State' and a period of across-the-board dominance that made him an idol to suburban 12-year-olds worldwide. And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taylor Swift had every excuse to take 2025 off — but as of last week's 'New Heights' podcast, she is once again back in full effect. On this extended Pop Star Preview episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard executive director of music Jason Lipshutz to look ahead to the 'Life of a Showgirl' era and beyond, discussing everything from the album's tracklist to sound to collaborators and making some forecasts about the rest of Swift's 2025 — and if she can still end up the year's No. 1 Greatest Pop Star. And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mariah Carey spent the '90s as the biggest pop star on the planet, but after a brutal start to the 21st century, it took an all-time comeback year to get her back to the top of the pop game. On this extended Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard charts manager Trevor Anderson to talk about 2005 Mariah Carey — the year of 'The Emancipation of Mimi," "We Belong Together," "Shake It Off," and a run that reminded everyone that 15 years into her career, there was still no one who did it like MC. And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been 14 months since we first heard "The Subway," as debuted by Chappell Roan as part of her set at New York's Governors Ball festival — and last week, we finally got the studio version and official music video. We mark the occasion with a Pop Star Rollout Report Card for the song and video release, as host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Stephen Daw and Hannah Dailey to evaluate everything that has gone into this Chappell mini-era so far -- from the timing of the release to the finer points of the music video to whether the "Subway" studio version ultimately proved worth the wait. And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Michael Saponara and Kyle Denis to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who dominated July 2025 in pop stardom. We each choose our top fives for the month that was, then we talk some disappointing recent performances, and look ahead to who we're most anticipating hearing more from in the months to come. If you enjoy the pod, check out out the rest of our 2025 Who Won the Month recaps here: https://www.billboard.com/t/who-won-the-month/ And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Upon its 2013 release, Justin Bieber's 'Journals' project couldn't have flopped much harder — but 12 years later, it's grown to not only be an enduring fan favorite, but maybe the most important release of Bieber's career. On this week's Great Moments in Pop Star History episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Kyle Denis to recall what went wrong with 'Journals' a decade ago, and why it's ultimately proven to have been well ahead of its time. 'Journals'-era Justin Bieber YouTube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMYngPN2CrvqKQrpftTuZReQ&si=oV7F6_NWZ_fGVcwh And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Oasis never stopped being pop stars in the U.K. — even during the band's 15-year hiatus before its current reunion stadium tour — in the U.S., the lads only got one year on top: 1996. On this supersized Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by his real-life partner, longtime Oasis superfan Lisa Ebe, to talk about the year of "Wonderwall," "Champagne Supernova," Knebworth and MTV Unplugged, where Oasis broke out into stateside superstardom, before falling apart just as quickly and spectacularly. And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've been paying any attention to the Billboard charts the past couple weeks, you've seen the chart onslaught of two brand-new groups: HUNTR/X and Saja Boys, inventions of the hit animated Netflix musical 'KPop Demon Hunters'. On this first-ever Fictional Pop Star Review on the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard Assistant Social Editor and K-pop superfan Abby Webster to talk about all things HUNTR/X and Saja Boys, the entire 'KPop Demon Hunters' phenomenon and how these fake groups have now managed bigger hits than most real-life K-pop superstars. Abby's Intro to K-pop playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0NkFWmlj6CtlRfHTHnUmKM?si=096bef8c50d94f26 Abby's KPop Demon Hunters-to-K-Pop Pipeline playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7tFSU0IdRDNfdjI5Z4G78t?si=25d62fb5c593496a And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2010, Kesha (then Ke$ha) kicked off the decade in pop with an ass-kicking run of pop smashes that set the tone and tempo for 2010 to become an all-time year in pop music. On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by AJ Marks of r/Popheads and Main Pod Girl to relive the signature year for everyone's favorite sleaze-pop superstar — with "Tik Tok," "Your Love Is My Drug," and both 'Animal' and 'Cannibal' — and to remember how much has changed for her (and all of us) in the years since. And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's midyear season at Billboard, so it's time for us to look back at the year in pop stardom so far -- by revisiting our Greatest Pop Stars fantasy draft from January. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined once again by Billboard staffers Kyle Denis, Meghan Mahar and Jason Lipshutz to go over how each of our pop star fantasy teams has done so far, while also sizing up the Greatest Pop Star of 2025 race in general, and predicting some of the artists who aren't in the discussion yet but still might be by year's end. Greatest Pop Stars Fantasy Draft Episode: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/greatest-pop-stars-2025-fantasy-draft-podcast-1235877072/ Billboard's 50 Best Albums of 2025 So Far: https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-albums-2025-so-far Billboard's 50 Best Songs of 2025 So Far: https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-songs-2025-so-far And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1969, Sly Stone and his Family Stone band reached superstardom and just kept climbing, with timeless singles, a classic album, and several of the year's most legendary live performances. On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Joe Lynch to pay tribute to the late Sly Stone with a look at his band's greatest year, one that saw him reach a level of all-consuming pop stardom that few have ever matched in the decades since. And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1966, Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys realized all their greatest artistic and commercial ambitions -- though not always at the same time -- with their 'Pet Sounds' album and "Good Vibrations" single, making for one of the greatest years in U.S. pop history. On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Katie Atkinson to pay tribute to the late Brian Wilson with a look at his greatest year, one whose music and lore continues to reverberate in pop music and culture multiple generations later. And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Great Moments in Pop Star History episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Rebecca Milzoff to talk about her recent cover story subject, 'Weird Al' Yankovic, and his 1984 breakout hit "Eat It." We dive into the context that allowed "Weird Al" to crash the charts and MTV over 40 years ago and has allowed him to remain pretty much consistently popular for every decade since, and also dive into Yankovic's history with Michael Jackson and with junk food, and break down the feud between "Eat It" guitarist/producer Rick Derringer and Eddie Van Halen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard charts staffers Trevor Anderson and Eric Frankenberg to discuss the big pop stars and rising prospects who dominated May 2025 in pop stardom. We each choose our top fives for the month that was, then we talk some disappointing recent performances, and look ahead to who we're most anticipating hearing more from in the months to come. If you enjoy the pod, check out our first three 2025 recaps: Greatest Pop Stars of January 2025: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/greatest-pop-stars-podcast-who-wan-january-2025-1235894372/ Greatest Pop Stars of February 2025: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/greatest-pop-stars-podcast-who-won-february-2025-1235916447/ Greatest Pop Stars of March 2025: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/greatest-pop-stars-podcast-march-2025-who-won-the-month-1235938460/ Greatest Pop Stars of April 2025: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/greatest-pop-stars-podcast-who-won-april-2025-1235959818/ And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was the Year of Hootie: In 1995, an unassuming group of good-time frat-rockers unexpectedly became the biggest thing in popular music, with hit after hit and over 10 million in sales -- but their fall from pop stardom would come just as quickly and dramatically as their rise. On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Christine Werthman to look at the wildest one-and-done crossover year of any mid-'90s artist, and whether Hootie and the Blowfish deserve a better legacy than they currently have. And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠5Calls.org⁠ -- and if you're in the D.C. area this weekend (May 30-31), definitely check out Liberation Weekend, a music festival supporting trans rights with an incredible lineup of trans artists and allies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In addition to releasing his 37-track 'I'm the Problem' album last weekend (May 16), Morgan Wallen also headlined the first installment of his self-curated Sand in My Boots Festival in Alabama. On this week's Pop Star Performance Review, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by music and culture writer Meaghan Garvey -- who both recapped Sand in My Boots for Billboard and reviewed 'I'm the Problem' for Pitchfork -- to go over the weekend in Wallen, and how (if at all) it's changed our perception of him as an artist and as a pop star. Meghan's Sand in My Boots recap and 'I'm the Problem' review: https://www.billboard.com/music/country/sand-in-my-boots-fest-morgan-wallen-1235975456/ https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/morgan-wallen-im-the-problem/ If you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following trans rights causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider subscribing to the trans legislation journalism ⁠⁠⁠of Erin Reed⁠⁠⁠ and giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠. https://www.erininthemorning.com/ https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Greatest Pop Stars, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by country writer Marissa Moss to size up the career of the country hitmaker Maren Morris, and ask the fundamental question: Is Maren a pop star? Along the way, we relive the major moments in her career, from becoming a country phenom the mid-'10s, to scoring massive crossover hits in the late decade and ultimately falling out with the country world -- but now reinventing herself with the fantastic new 'Dreamsicle' album. If you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following trans rights causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider subscribing to the trans legislation journalism ⁠⁠of Erin Reed⁠⁠ and giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠. https://www.erininthemorning.com/ https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Great Moments in Pop Star History episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Hannah Dailey to talk about one of the most beloved pop non-singles of this century (and an unlikely recent Billboard Hot 100 debut): Lorde's "Ribs." We share when we first came to connect to the song, what makes it such an important song for the generation of pop fans who grew up with it, and whether it might one day pass "Royals" to be seen as Lorde's most-acclaimed, most-beloved song. If you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following trans rights causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider subscribing to the trans legislation journalism ⁠of Erin Reed⁠ and giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠5Calls.org⁠. https://www.erininthemorning.com/ https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Stephen Daw and Eric Frankenberg to discuss the pop stars who dominated a live-heavy April 2025 in pop stardom. We each choose our top fives for the month that was, then we talk some disappointing recent performances, and look ahead to who we're most anticipating hearing more from in the months to come. If you enjoy the pod, check out our first three 2025 recaps: Greatest Pop Stars of January 2025: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/greatest-pop-stars-podcast-who-wan-january-2025-1235894372/ Greatest Pop Stars of February 2025: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/greatest-pop-stars-podcast-who-won-february-2025-1235916447/ Greatest Pop Stars of March 2025: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/greatest-pop-stars-podcast-march-2025-who-won-the-month-1235938460/ And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider subscribing to the trans legislation journalism ⁠of Erin Reed⁠ and giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠5Calls.org⁠. https://www.erininthemorning.com/ https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Pop Star Performance Review of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard deputy editor Joe Lynch -- a Minnesota native who was in attendance for the show at Minneapolis' U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday (Apr. 19) -- to go full "30 for 30" on the kickoff of Kendrick Lamar & SZA's Grand National tour, the year's most anticipated pop trek. Joe answers all our questions about the experience, from the crowd to the staging to the pacing to the energy to the "A minorrrrrrrrr.....," and concludes whether or not this felt like a proper stadium tour from two of the greatest pop stars of the 2020s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After became the hottest rapper in the game in 2003, 50 Cent returned in 2005 arguably bigger and more omnipresent than ever -- but after two years where it felt like he couldn't miss, 50's strike rate was finally starting to slip a little. On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard Hip-Hop's Carl Lamarre and Michael Saponara to continue celebrating our 2005 Week -- with 2005-themed content all this week (Apr. 14-18) on Billboard.com -- with a look at the year when 50 Cent still ruled all of hip-hop and pop, but where his fall from superstardom was now on the horizon. Find all of Billboard's 2005 Week stuff here: https://www.billboard.com/t/2005-week/ And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider subscribing to the trans legislation journalism of Erin Reed and giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. https://www.erininthemorning.com/ https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After breaking through in late 2004, with her Goodies album and its seven-week Billboard Hot 100-topping title track, Ciara stayed winning all throughout 2005 -- with a run of top five hits that made her one of the biggest top 40 hitmakers, but which she had trouble equaling later in her career. On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by former Billboard writer Natalie Weiner to kick of our 2005 Week -- with 2005-themed content coming all next week (Apr. 14-18) on Billboard.com -- with a look at the year when Ciara defined mid-'00s pop music with a peerless run of still-beloved smashes. If you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider subscribing to the trans legislation journalism of Erin Reed and giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. https://www.erininthemorning.com/ https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Green Day entered 2005 at the center of popular music for the second time in its career -- but the first time in a decade. On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Eric Renner Brown to preview our upcoming 2005 Week -- with 2005-themed content coming all next week (Apr. 14-18) on Billboard.com -- with a look at the year when Green Day springboarded from its comeback album (and single) 'American Idiot' to the biggest pop hits, videos and live shows of its career -- ending the year as the biggest rock band (and one of the biggest pop acts) in the world. If you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider subscribing to the trans legislation journalism of Erin Reed and giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. https://www.erininthemorning.com/ https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Kyle Denis and Danielle Pascual to discuss the pop stars who dominated a comeback-heavy March 2025 in pop stardom. We each choose our top fives for the month that was, then we talk some disappointing recent performances, and look ahead to who we're most anticipating hearing more from as winter turns to spring. If you enjoy the pod, check out our first two 2025 recaps: Greatest Pop Stars of January 2025: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4VmxZrL0P2Yv7JEt9IXdhF?si=196670ad2a744b0b Greatest Pop Stars of February 2025: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6SMNh13HnopRm8n6YmqRkm?si=7e8b592f58a34820 And please consider donating to the following causes (and check out our Trans Day of Visibility discussion with eight trans and non-binary artists): https://www.billboard.com/lists/trans-day-visibility/ Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider subscribing to the trans legislation journalism of Erin Reed and giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. https://www.erininthemorning.com/ https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Great Moments in Pop Star History episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Jason Lipshutz, to talk about one of the most fascinating pop songs of the last decade, Selena Gomez's "Bad Liar." We look at why the song enraptured us upon release, why it won over so many critics but stalled on the charts, and whether it ended up being the major turning point in Selena Gomez's career that we thought it might be at the time. If you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following trans rights causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider subscribing to the trans legislation journalism of Erin Reed and giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. https://www.erininthemorning.com/ https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By 1995, Madonna was no longer the center-of-everything top 40 force she was a decade earlier, but she still a massive star about to enter one of the most fascinating phases of her career. On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Keith Caulfield of the Billboard charts department (and the Pop Shop Podcast) to discuss the Queen of Pop's 1995. We cover her 'Bedtime Stories' and 'Something to Remember' eras and how it all led up to 'Evita,' as she scored huge pop hits and pivoted to a more adult cross-platform stardom, but maintained the envelope-pushing edge that made her so enduringly vital. 1995 Madonna YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMZcTkwyaUHB8zRjUxqCc3QK&si=-XpD-FfzHrZis7Zr If you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider subscribing to the trans legislation journalism of Erin Reed and giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. https://www.erininthemorning.com/ https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're spending the first Greatest Pop Stars episode since the long-awaited Friday (March 7) release of Lady Gaga's 'Mayhem' talking about the entire album era, with a new series we're calling the Pop Star Rollout Report Card. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Stephen Daw and Eric Frankenberg to evaluate everything that has gone into this Gaga era so far -- the old songs and the new songs of course, but also all her many interviews and performances, and what it all adds up to for each of us at the end of this extended rollout. Lady Gaga's 'Mayhem' Rollout YouTube Playlist If you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center. Trans Lifeline Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe Also, please consider subscribing to the trans legislation journalism of Erin Reed and giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Meghan Mahar and Mike Sapoanra to discuss the pop stars who dominated an impressively packed February 2025 in pop stardom. We each choose our top fives for the month that was, then we talk some disappointing recent performances, and look ahead to who we're most anticipating hearing more from as winter turns to spring. If you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center. Trans Lifeline Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe And subscribe to the trans legislation journalism of Erin Reed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As unremarkable as it would probably seem in 2025, when Solange brought her sister Beyoncé and Bey's husband Jay-Z to go check out a Brooklyn show by the indie band Grizzly Bear back in 2009, it ended up being major headline news -- and shaping and reflecting the careers of all four artists. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Stereogum writer Chris DeVille -- whose book Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion covers the complete context behind this moment -- to unpack this iconic point on the pop-meets-indie timeline, what made it so notable at the time, and what it would might look like if something equivalent happened today. Listen here, pre-order Such Great Heights here, and if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center. Trans Lifeline Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the Grammys and the Super Bowl, it was yet another packed February weekend for pop stardom. Host Andrew Unterberger and regular GPS guest Kyle Denis hop around the cultural landscape to talk about big pop star moments from NBA All-Star Weekend and the 'SNL' 50th anniversary celebration, as well as big moments for Sabrina Carpenter, Selena Gomez and Kendrick Lamar. And of course, we cap it all with an extended look at Drake's comeback, and a strictly defined Pop Star Performance Improvement Plan that we're putting him on to help get him back on track for the rest of the decade. Listen here, and if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center: Trans Lifeline Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No one could've seen him coming, but by 1985, Phil Collins was one of the biggest, hardest working and most sheerly unavoidable pop stars on the planet -- and also one of the greatest. On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by pop and chart history expert Chris Molanphy to remember all things '85 Phil -- including "Easy Lover," 'No Jacket Required' and its many hits, 'Miami Vice,' and both coasts of Live Aid -- and answer the improbable question: Was Phil Collins the Greatest Pop Star of 1985? If you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center: Trans Lifeline The Trevor Project Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's our Greatest Pop Star of 2024's biggest moment yet! After many months of buzz and controversy, Kendrick Lamar took the stage at Super Bowl LIX to cap his last year of triumph, delivering one of the most-anticipated halftime show sets of our lifetime. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Eric Frankenberg and Meghan Mahar to discuss how Kendrick did in his career-culminating gig, what it means for his pop stardom moving forward, what parts of it feel like instantly iconic moments and what parts feel more like missed opportunities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Stephen Daw and Kyle Denis to discuss the pop stars who are leading the Greatest Pop Stars race for 2025 after one month (plus Grammy weekend in February). We each choose our top fives, then we talk some disappointing starts to the season, and make some predictions about who we're going to be talking about at the end of February. If you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beyoncé's first big AOTY loss! Sam Smith's career night! #WhoIsBeck?! Kanye doing stuff! It's the 2015 Grammys, a pivotal awards night with nearly all the biggest pop stars of the mid-2010s in attendance. On this episode of Greatest Pop Stars, we debut our Great Moments in Pop Star History series, with host Andrew Unterberger joined by Pop Shop Podcast co-host Katie Atkinson to recall the unforgettable night, which set a lot of the narratives into motion that hang over the Grammys to this day -- and may very well resurface at the awards again this Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, we're debuting our Vintage Pop Stardom series format -- looking at one pop star at one of their peak years, and going deep into everything that made their year so great and so fun and so impactful. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by YouTube's Todd in the Shadows to talk about all things 2005 Kelly Clarkson, the year of "Since U Been Gone," "AHHHHH KELLY CLARKSON" and Kelly's official breakaway from 'American Idol' as she rose to unquestioned pop-rock superstardom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the Greatest Pop Stars podcast! Today, we kick off 2025 with some predictions for the year to come -- in the form of a fantasy pop star draft. Billboard's Andrew Unterberger is joined by fellow staffers Jason Lipshutz, Meghan Mahar and Kyle Denis to draft rosters of 2025 pop stars who we believe are going to define and dominate the year to come -- as well as some potential sleeper picks, comeback hopefuls, and even a few "pop stars" from outside the world of music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We finish our Greatest Pop Stars of 2024 top 10 countdown this episode with a look back at our Nos. 2 and 1 artists, unveiled this Monday on Billboard.com. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Mike Saponara and Meghan Mahar to talk about the years in Sabrina Carpenter and Kendrick Lamar (26:30). We remember all the essential moments from their respective incredible years, debating the case for No. 1 between the two of them -- and explaining why we ultimately made the call we made -- and then saving some of their year's best moments for our 2024 Time Capsule, and making predictions about their respective 2025s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We continue our Greatest Pop Stars of 2024 top 10 countdown this episode with a look back at our Nos. 6 through 3 artists, unveiled this week on Billboard.com. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Stephen Daw and Hannah Dailey to dive deep into the Greatest Pop Star cases for Ariana Grande, Charli XCX (25:30), Chappell Roan (1:05:30) and Taylor Swift (1:42:30) -- explaining why each of them made the list (and debating whether they could or should have finished even higher), saving some of their year's best moments for our 2024 Time Capsule and making predictions about their respective 2025s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We kick off our Greatest Pop Stars of 2024 top 10 countdown this episode with a look back at our Nos. 10 through 7 artists, unveiled this week on Billboard.com. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Jason Lipshutz and Eric Frankenberg to do some quick 2024-in-review recapping, then to run down the cases for Jelly Roll (3:00), Billie Eilish (21:30), Post Malone (38:00) and Beyoncé (59:30) -- explaining why each of them made the list (and in some cases, making the argument for why they could have finished even higher), saving some of their year's best moments for our 2024 Time Capsule and making predictions about their respective 2025s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2024 series gets underway with a look at our 10 Honorable Mention artists -- the stars who were great enough this year to get into the discussion but not quite onto our top 10. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Kyle Denis and Eric Renner Brown as we go over their cases -- and whether we disagree with any of them not making the proper list -- and then also discuss our Rookie (Shaboozey) and Comeback (Hozier) of the Year artists, and give shouts to some pop stars who couldn't quite make the cut this year but still deserve mention. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the Greatest Pop Stars Podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by AJ Marks, moderator of Reddit's r/Popheads forum and host of the stellar Main Pod Girl podcast, to help look back at our list's top 10, and the entire Greatest Pop Stars project. We talk about whether our rankings (and the criteria used for them) made sense to AJ, let him air out some of his own list-related grievances, and run through the categories one more time with AJ choosing from all 25 artists. Then, Andrew closes with some final thanks to the people who helped make the project possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the Greatest Pop Stars Podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Beyoncé lifers Trevor Anderson and Kyle Denis to pay homage to the Queen, our No. 1 Greatest Pop Star of the 21st century. We break down the case for Bey as the greatest of the past 25 years, then remember her entire career -- from Destiny's Child fromwoman to solo pop superstar to industry-shifting albums artist to bar-setting veteran -- before playing a little "A or Bey" and breaking down some personal favorite songs, moments, performances and oddities from her peerless body of work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the Greatest Pop Stars Podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by renowned Swiftie (and GPS essay writer) Hannah Dailey and former Woman of the Decade cover story author Jason Lipshutz to remember the one-and-only career of our No. 2 Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century, Taylor Swift. We remember all the twists and turns that have brought Swift to her status now as the unquestioned biggest pop star on the planet, and discuss the reasons behind our incredibly difficult decision to place her at No. 2 on our list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the Greatest Pop Stars Podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staff writer Kyle Denis and senior branded content producer/writer Walaa Elsiddig to remember the iconic career of our No. 3 Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century, Rihanna. We remember everything there is to remember about Rihanna's incredible 13-year run at the center of pop music (and fashion and social media and everything else), and how even after the eight-year wait since her most-recent album -- with no end to that in sight -- she remains a towering figure in pop culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the Greatest Pop Stars Podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by the Billboard R&B Hip-Hop team's Carl Lamarre and Michael Saponara to remember the brilliant career of our No. 4 Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century, Drake. We try to explain why even though Drake doesn't fit the most classic pop star profile, he was still able to achieve the numbers, the impact and the overall greatness to make him one of the century's most important mainstream artists -- and we recount what made his recent L so shocking, and how he might still bounce back from it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices