Celebrities, famous singers, and especially pop musicians all change every year. For aspiring pop artists, this is great because it means they can always break into the scene and have the chance to become incredibly famous very quickly! Many individuals even explore singing lessons for adults to further refine their vocal talents.
But, it’s also a curse; many stars fall back down to obscurity just as fast as they rocketed to success.
For the rest of us, we will always have tons of legendary stars, modern favorites, and up-and-coming personalities and talents to enjoy! It makes listening to music, watching music videos, and attending concerts exciting and new. But it also means that making a decisive list like this is next to impossible.
While it’s not feasible to make a list of all the pop stars who have ever graced the sound waves, we can highlight a few here and hopefully teach you something new!
Here are 15 amazing singers and personalities in pop music who have influenced the culture of a generation in one way or another!
| No. | Artist | Top Song (Billboard) | No. of Weeks at #1 | No. of Weeks Charted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | "Billie Jean" 1983 | 7 | 25 |
| 2 | Madonna | "Take A Bow" 1994 | 7 | 30 |
| 3 | Britney Spears | "...Baby One More Time" 1998 | 2 | 32 |
| 4 | Prince | "When Doves Cry" 1984 | 5 | 23 |
| 5 | Taylor Swift | "Cruel Summer" 2019 | 4 | 54 |
| 6 | Elton John | "Candle in the Wind" 1997 | 14 | 42 |
| 7 | Lady Gaga | "Just Dance" 2008 | 3 | 49 |
| 8 | Harry Styles | "As It Was" 2022 | 15 | 61 |
| 9 | Beyonce | "Irreplaceable" 2006 | 10 | 30 |
| 10 | David Bowie | "Fame" 1975 | 2 | 21 |
| 11 | Justin Bieber | "Sorry" 2015 | 3 | 42 |
| 12 | Mariah Carey | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" 2000 | 14 | 65 |
| 13 | Ariana Grande | "7 Rings" 2019 | 8 | 33 |
| 14 | Bono | "With or Without You" (U2) 1987 | 3 | 18 |
| 15 | Whitney Houston | "I Will Always Love You" 1992 | 14 | 29 |
Michael Jackson
You can’t talk about pop stars without mentioning the King of Pop, who, to this day, is still one of the most famous male pop singers in the world.
Being a top pop idol requires more than just singing talent; you have to have the look and the personality to enrapture audiences over and over, even when they aren’t actively engaging with your art.
Jackson had what it takes to be a household name and he stayed relevant for his entire career, right up until his death in 2009. To this day, people still talk about him and re-listen to his repertoire of songs in an extremely high capacity; Spotify reports that he has 38.3 million monthly listeners.
One of the things that set Jackson apart from other pop artists was his dedication to performance. His music videos were revolutionary, boasting incredible costume and set designs as well as dance moves. His live shows were unparalleled, featuring signature moves like the Moonwalk, the Anti-Gravity Lean, the Toestand, the Circle-Slide, the Robot, and the Spin. His showmanship is one of the reasons he is still considered number one of the top pop artists.
Some of Jackson’s most popular pop songs include “Bad,” “Billie Jean,” “Thriller,” “Beat It” and “Man in the Mirror.” In 1982, “Thriller” the album became the best-selling album of all time with about 70 million copies and snagged Jackson eight Grammys at once. It is still the best-selling album of all time as of 2024.
Some of Michael Jackson's Achievements
Including 8 wins in one night in 1984
In 1 week following his death in 2009
In several different categories
Madonna
Taking her place as perhaps the most iconic pop singers female, The Queen of Pop Madonna debuted in 1982 with her first single “Everybody” and her popularity quickly caught on.
Soon, her albums and singles were regularly hitting top slots in the Billboard lists, she was booking gigs on TV shows, and she became an icon for more than just her music. According to Rolling Stone Spain, “She became the first master of viral pop in history, years before the internet was massively used.”
As one of the biggest pop stars of the time, Madonna quickly became a style icon, inspiring people to experiment with their wardrobes and their hair.
As more people began to look Madonna-esque in daily life, it was easy to see just how pervasive her influence was!
Since she was at one time the most popular singer in the world, Madonna’s legacy is well-decorated with awards and achievements. She is probably one of the wealthiest musical artists of all time, with an estimated net worth of about $850 million. She currently holds seven Grammy Awards and still makes music to this day, so she may earn another in the near future! Madonna’s incredible ability to keep making music that appeals to audiences decades apart makes her stand out as a highly talented and gifted pop artist.
Britney Spears
One of the most pivotal female pop singers of the 90s and early 2000s, Britney Spears captured the world’s attention and held it for a very long time, before unfortunately burning out due to her declining mental health and smothering conservatorship. Today, everyone still knows who Spears is even if they aren’t as familiar with her works as those of us who grew up listening to “...Baby, One More Time” on the radio and the subsequent controversial frenzy in the media.
As the Princess of Pop, Spears is well-known for her provocative songs, incredible stage performances, and highly choreographed music videos, which have earned her the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
An accomplished singer and trained gymnast, Britney stunned to world in her debut album “...Baby, One More Time” when she was just 17 years old, in 1999. It was number one on the US Billboard 200 and earned two platinum certifications after only one month, selling over 13 million copies in the US alone.
She is also the youngest artist to have a Hollywood Walk of Fame star which was awarded when she was 21.
While she only holds one Grammy and AMA each, she has won eight Billboard awards and 12 Teen Choice Awards, which is uniquely relevant for someone like Britney, who was one of the formative pop music artists for the new era of pop after Y2K.
Although she is far less active than she once was and is now known for many controversies, scandals, and tragedies in addition to her music, Britney Spears will forever be carved into the hearts of Millenials as an iconic entertainer, philanthropist, and one of the most incredible popular singers.
Prince
The 80s and early 90s were a time when over-the-top flamboyance and larger-than-life personalities really shone. Prince is a prime example (perhaps The example) of the type of aesthetic and persona 80s stars could carry: campy, glam, everything-plus-the-kitchen-sink, experimental, and sex - not sexy, just sex.
Prince somehow embodied all this and more and still had a massive mainstream following. If an artist today tried to be all the things Prince was and do all the things he did, they’d be labeled a try-hard and only a small portion of the population would “get it.”
However, many modern pop artists use a little of Prince’s spice in their tracks, like incredibly high falsettos, with great success because of the path Prince paved with his out-there art. Not only was he an extremely talented singer, dancer, and instrumental virtuoso, but he made himself unignorable with his incredible showmanship and style.
Furthermore, Prince’s bold choices in compositions were combined with daring creative choices like changing his name to a symbol representing “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince” aka “The Artist” and a (posthumous) album recorded under the pseudonym “Camille,” which was his feminine alter-ego.
Over his career, Prince sold over 150 million records globally, making him one of the best-selling famous pop singers of all time. He’s also been inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the UK Music Hall of Fame, and the R&B Music Hall of Fame. After his death in 2016, he was posthumously inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. He held seven Grammy awards and BRIT Awards, six AMA awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, an Academy Award for his score in Purple Rain (the film), and a Golden Globe. In 2013, he was awarded the Billboard Icon Award, and in 2019 the Library of Congress added the film Purple Rain to the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Taylor Swift
Whether it’s for her concerts, her boyfriends, her intellectual property debacles, or her interpersonal drama, Swift has been in the news and tabloids a lot over the past few years. Love her or hate her, it’s undeniable that she is one of the biggest names in the pop world - ever.
This female pop artist launched her career in 2008 with “Fearless,” and it’s been going steadily since then, even when changing her genre from country to pop. While fighting to keep the rights to her own music, Swift grabbed the attention of essentially all of America.
It's a good thing, too, since it helped her publicize her re-recorded tracks and maintain popularity. A lesser artist would have struggled immensely and may have even been wiped out of the game.
For many people, especially girls and women, Taylor Swift is an inspiration; she speaks up, speaks her mind, takes decisive action, and doesn’t care what the haters think.
For her work, she currently stands as the most awarded artist by Billboard and the American Music Awards with 40 awards from each. She has been awarded Woman of the Decade (for 2010-2019), an award invented just for her, and Artist of the Decade (2022).
Additionally, she has 14 Grammys and was the first female artist to win 3 Grammys for Album of the Year in 2021.
Some of her most popular pop hits include “Love Story,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “Blank Space,” “Shake It Off,” and “Lover.”
Elton John
One of the biggest pop stars of all time, Elton John’s musical and pop personality legacy has impacted the music scene since his heyday in the 70s-90s. While Elton John's music fits firmly in the rock genre, many also consider him to be a comfortable presence in pop as well.
With more than 50 Top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart over the years, it’s no wonder why Elton John is still a recognizable presence as one of the most popular pop artists, even amongst the younger crowd. An EGOT winner, John is one of only 19 other people who have ever won at least one each: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.
John always had an inclination and talent for learning and playing music, discovering how to write compositions at an early age. As a result, he is well-decorated with awards for his incredible songs.
Elton John's Extensive Discography
Here are just some of the many awards John can boast about over his career:
- 5 Grammy Awards
- 5 BRIT Awards
- Songwriters Hall of Fame (1992)
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1994)
- Knight Bachelor (1998) for services to music and charity
- Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (2020)
Lady Gaga
The new face of the pop icon was revealed in the late 00s and 2010s with the monstrous (get it?) debut of Lady Gaga. She had a rough beginning, facing rejection from peers and casting directors for various reasons, but she persevered anyway and as a result, became a self-made star. She is notable among female pop artists for her incredible range and willingness to sing in “un-feminine” tones.
Her first album “The Fame” was released in 2008 and instantly took the world by storm. The following year, it was rereleased as “The Fame Monster” with additional tracks like “Bad Romance” and “Alejandro,” which re-sparked her already incredibly high popularity level.
Her early career was marked by extreme camp outfits which kept her name in the media often.
Later, she transitioned to being more known for her uplifting, edgy, and supportive lyrics, especially in the LGBTQ+ community.
Furthermore, Gaga is an ardent supporter of a variety of different philanthropic causes, such as Haiti, Hurricane Sandy, anti-fracking, HIV and AIDS prevention, the “It’s On Us” campaign and the Born This Way Foundation that she created.
She currently holds 13 Grammys and numerous other awards and has even broken into the acting industry, where she has been well-received in her performances.
Harry Styles
Another modern pop star, this former boy band member took the world by storm in 2017 when he released his first solo album post-One Direction.
While his 2017 album “Harry Styles” was received with critical acclaim and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, it was his second album “Fine Line” that rocketed his fame up another notch with his hit “Watermelon Sugar” in 2019. This bop won eight awards including a Grammy and a Brit and received a 7x platinum award in the US alone, and now he is one of the most famous artists today.
Beyond his music, Styles has also used his fame for philanthropy like LGBTQ+ rights, cancer research, HeForShe and Drop4Drop, and the general notion of “Treat People With Kindness.”
He has also dabbled in acting and is now well-known for his extremely atypical style of dress which regularly received mixed reviews from fans and critics. But is his flamboyant and unexpected wardrobe really that strange in the world of pop, which has featured male performers like Elvis, Prince, Elton John, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Liberace, and Michael Jackson?
Or is Styles continuing the tradition of popstars pushing the envelope and exploring creativity and expression past what the average person says is allowed?
One thing is for certain, Styles is still rather early in his solo career and has a lot more time to make even bigger marks in pop culture history. What will he do next?
Beyonce
Beyoncé started her career in the late 90s as a member of Destiny’s Child. Their hiatus led to Beyoncé releasing a solo album that quickly catapulted her to stardom, cementing her as one of the most important Y2K pop stars.
From her first big debut with Destiny’s Child on the Men in Black soundtrack to her most recent solo album Cowboy Carter, plus her filmmaking and experimental art in the mix, it’s impossible to deny that Beyoncé is a force to be reckoned with! She was even named as the world's greatest living entertainer and one of the greatest vocalists of all time by Rolling Stone.
Having a dedicated fan base is a hallmark of popular pop artists, and with millions of people happy to call themselves members of the BeyHive, supporting their Queen Bey, it’s safe to say she has a massive fan following.
David Bowie
David Bowie was one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the 20th century. Known for his genre-defying sound, Bowie continually reinvented himself over a five-decade career.
His most famous albums include The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972), which introduced his alter ego Ziggy Stardust—a flamboyant, androgynous rock star. Ziggy blurred the lines between performer and character, adding a theatrical element to rock music that pushed his whole brand into the realm of pop and securing his place as one of the most famous pop stars.
As one of the top pop singers ever, he won numerous awards, including Grammys, BRIT Awards, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Bowie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. His influence extended beyond music into fashion, film, and art, making him a cultural icon. Bowie’s final album, Blackstar (2016), was released just days before his death and is considered a poignant farewell.
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber rose to fame as a teen sensation after being discovered on YouTube in 2008. His debut album, My World 2.0 (2010), featuring the hit single "Baby," launched him into global stardom. His charming image and voice quickly lifted him into the category of famous popstars.
Over the years, Bieber evolved his musical style, blending pop, EDM, and R&B. Albums like Purpose (2015) showcased his growth, with hits like "Sorry" and "Love Yourself" earning critical and commercial success. He continues to have a loyal fan base and stay relevant even though his sound, style, and entire persona have changed immensely since his early days.
Bieber has won numerous awards, including Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, and MTV Music Awards. His stage persona transitioned from the teen heartthrob image to a more mature, introspective artist, balancing vulnerability with polished pop performances, solidifying his place among iconic pop singers male.
Some of Justin Bieber's Awards
Mariah Carey
Although her main musical focus was R&B, Carey’s persona and overall musical sound make her a staple in the Y2K pop star category.
Mariah Carey rose to fame in the early 1990s with her debut album Mariah Carey (1990), showcasing her incredible vocal range and signature whistle register. Known as the "Songbird Supreme,” she is undoubtedly one of the best singers of all time. She quickly became a pop diva with hits like "Vision of Love" and "Hero."
Her diva persona, both glamorous and commanding, became iconic. Though her peak popularity was in the '90s and 2000s, Carey remains a beloved figure, especially around the holidays with her timeless hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande began her career as a teen actress on Nickelodeon before transitioning to music with her debut album Yours Truly (2013).
Known for her powerful vocals and four-octave range that make her one of the top pop stars, she quickly found her niche blending pop, R&B, and trap influences. With hits like "Problem," "Thank U, Next," and "7 Rings," Grande became a global pop idol. Her signature high ponytail, dynamic performances, and vocal talent have solidified her as one of the defining voices of a generation. She is still one of the most popular current pop stars.
Bono
Bono, the lead singer of U2, rose to fame in the 1980s with albums like The Joshua Tree (1987), which cemented U2 as one of the biggest rock bands in the world and its singer as a famous pop artist.
Known for his powerful voice and socially conscious lyrics, Bono's popularity stems from his ability to merge personal emotion with political activism in songs like "With or Without You" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday." Beyond music, Bono is a prominent philanthropist, advocating for global issues such as poverty and AIDS.
His work with organizations like ONE and (RED) has further enhanced his influence as a musician and activist and gave him a reputation as one of the important popular pop singers to notice.
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston was one of the greatest vocalists and famous pop music artists in music history, known for her powerful, emotive voice and unmatched range.
She rose to prominence in the 1980s with hits like "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love of All," and her rendition of "I Will Always Love You" from The Bodyguard (1992) became iconic. With seven consecutive number-one singles, Houston set records and earned multiple Grammy Awards as a top-performing pop music artist. Her blend of pop, R&B, and gospel continues to influence generations of artists.
Despite personal struggles, her lasting impact on music, particularly for female vocalists, remains undeniable.
Pop culture and pop music has always been a wild ride. While there are so many other artists, musicians, and singers who didn’t make it onto our list, that’s only because readers don’t generally have time to read a 10,000 word article! Pop icons influence culture, and vice versa, and it’s exciting to think of the upcoming famous pop artists and the marks they might leave in the world of entertainment and beyond.
Who is the greatest pop star of all time?
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can you write about bailey zimmerman pleaseeeeeee
Hello Loni! Unfortunately, we couldn’t list every famous pop singer, but I would love to know the singers you think should be on the list!
Ummm? Madonna Queen of Pop! Hello!
What about Ariana grande hello
More bias and opinion than research and fact. To have harry styles on a list over Elton John, Beyonce, Bowie, Bono , jagger, sheeran, coldplay & the queen herself??
What about Freddie Mercury??!! He was the lead singer and song writer of Queen and sold over 50,000000 albums… Does nobody remember Bohemian Rhapsody or We Will Rock You, Don’t Stop Me Now or Barcelona??!!
I find that really shocking, those songs have stood the test of time! And are some of the greatest hits of All time!