The 2025 Pop Star Greatness Debate: Who Got Snubbed?
As the clock strikes midnight, the anticipation is palpable – who made it into our coveted top 10 Greatest Pop Stars of 2025? While we've got the definitive list covered, we're also excited to share the honorable mentions that narrowly missed the cut. But before we dive in, a quick rundown of what made for an unforgettable year in pop stardom.
We witnessed A-listers pushing their massive 2024s into nearly-as-big 2025s, with some proven hitmakers finally achieving true ubiquity. Meanwhile, underground up-and-comers boldly poked their heads above the surface for the first time, sparking conversations about the future of music.
With so many talented artists vying for attention, narrowing down our list to just 10 proved to be a challenge, while even the honorable mentions section was packed with deserving names.
Now, without further ado, let's take a look at some of the fascinating stories and unexpected omissions from this year's countdown. Were Ariana Grande's 2025 hits merely leftovers from her 2024 reign? Could Benson Boone be considered the Barry Manilow of the 2020s?
As we explore the highs and lows of our top 20, we'll also delve into some of the most pressing questions about our Nos. 11-20 artists, including whether Chappell Roan's momentum stalled or Justin Bieber truly out-swagged himself.
To be honest, even with our expert analysis, determining where to rank Drake was a tricky task – but that's what makes this journey so compelling!
Stay tuned for the full countdown, kicking off on January 19th. In the meantime, we invite you to dive into some of the greatest moments from this year's best-of-the-rest pop stardom.
For those eager to catch up on our podcast discussions about pop stardom, don't forget to subscribe to the Greatest Pop Stars podcast on Apple Music or Spotify, and keep an ear out for our weekly episodes.
As the clock strikes midnight, the anticipation is palpable – who made it into our coveted top 10 Greatest Pop Stars of 2025? While we've got the definitive list covered, we're also excited to share the honorable mentions that narrowly missed the cut. But before we dive in, a quick rundown of what made for an unforgettable year in pop stardom.
We witnessed A-listers pushing their massive 2024s into nearly-as-big 2025s, with some proven hitmakers finally achieving true ubiquity. Meanwhile, underground up-and-comers boldly poked their heads above the surface for the first time, sparking conversations about the future of music.
With so many talented artists vying for attention, narrowing down our list to just 10 proved to be a challenge, while even the honorable mentions section was packed with deserving names.
Now, without further ado, let's take a look at some of the fascinating stories and unexpected omissions from this year's countdown. Were Ariana Grande's 2025 hits merely leftovers from her 2024 reign? Could Benson Boone be considered the Barry Manilow of the 2020s?
As we explore the highs and lows of our top 20, we'll also delve into some of the most pressing questions about our Nos. 11-20 artists, including whether Chappell Roan's momentum stalled or Justin Bieber truly out-swagged himself.
To be honest, even with our expert analysis, determining where to rank Drake was a tricky task – but that's what makes this journey so compelling!
Stay tuned for the full countdown, kicking off on January 19th. In the meantime, we invite you to dive into some of the greatest moments from this year's best-of-the-rest pop stardom.
For those eager to catch up on our podcast discussions about pop stardom, don't forget to subscribe to the Greatest Pop Stars podcast on Apple Music or Spotify, and keep an ear out for our weekly episodes.
. But I guess we gotta give it up for Benson Boone - his unique sound is getting some serious attention! 
His streaming numbers are straight fire: over 2 BILLION streams on Spotify this year alone 
. And can we talk about Chappell Roan's sophomore album? It debuted at #1 in the US charts! That's some next-level talent right there 
. On the other hand, I'm not hating on Justin Bieber's comeback - his numbers are straight flames: 5 BILLION views on YouTube this year 
. And what about Drake's latest drops? They've been getting some serious buzz, with most of his tracks topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart 
. His album sales have been through the roof too - sold over 10 MILLION copies worldwide in 2025 alone 
. But I think what really matters is how these artists connect with their fans: Benson Boone's live performances are being streamed millions of times on YouTube, and Ariana Grande's charity work has inspired a whole new generation 
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. Benson Boone for Barry Manilow tho? That's some next level stuff right there. I'm not sure if he's the real deal or just a dude with a mean voice though 
. And don't even get me started on Drake... how do you rank him? Is it 'he's still the king' or 'he's kinda washed up'? 
– his music is actually pretty innovative. But, I do agree with the debate about Drake... his album drop was definitely one to talk about 
what about billie eilish though? she came back from that weird breakup and slayed with her new album
Meanwhile, Benson Boone is like the ultimate mid-tier pop star - he's not quite there yet, but he's still clinging to the coattails of someone better 
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. Can't we have some fresh faces up in here? 
I'm still trying to figure out how some of these artists didn't make it into the top 10 
I mean, Benson Boone's soulful vibes are giving me all the feels 
and Chappell Roan's been slaying the game since last year 
what about Justin Bieber though? Did he really out-swag himself? 
but I guess being compared to Barry Manilow is a BIG compliment? 
and what's with Chappell Roan's momentum stalling tho? she was on fire last year 
I'm hyped for the full countdown btw can't wait to see who else made it 
. Anyway, I'm hyped for the countdown, and I'm loving how you guys are keeping it real about Ariana's 2025 hits being oldies but goodies 
. And Drake's tricky to rank? Tell me about it – I've been listening to his 2025 album on repeat for weeks! 
Can't wait to dive into the rest of the list and see who's snubbed 
. I mean, what's next? A list of the greatest social media influencers of all time? 
...it's like they're trying to create some kind of narrative about underappreciated artists who were robbed of their rightful place in pop stardom 
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. And I'm with you on Drake, dude was killin' it but hard to rank him above others... 
. And can we give some props to those underground artists who made a big impact? 
. By the way, did you know that "swagged" is an adjective, not a verb? Just saying 
. I mean, Benson Boone is cool and all, but come on, he can't hold a candle to Charli's consistency 
was it just a slump or did she genuinely lose steam?