Who Are The 10 Most Important Pop Stars Of All Time?

[WorkBishStan94]

As we approach 2021 and a slew of new pop stars are emerging to the scene ... I’m curious who are they most influential/ important pop stars of all time? The 10 pop artist who not only made a cultural impact but also changed the world with their music, inspired the likes of future artist to come , and who we continue to talk about today. 

I know there is a lot of pop stars but who in your opinion are the 10 most important? I will share my thoughts and list 

 

1. Michael Jackson 

2. Madonna 

3. Whitney Houston 

4. Britney Spears 

5. Beyoncé 

6. Prince 

7. Janet Jackson 

8. Mariah Carey 

9. Lady Gaga

10. Taylor Swift 

 

Honorable mentions: Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Cher , Elton John

p.s - I didn’t include likes of Elvis or The Beatles etc due to the fact they weren’t “pop artists“

and before I get hate this is simply my opinion and I based it on sales, impact and cultural significance of the last 40 years. 

what’s your top 10?

sound off! 

[Spicechinodiva]

Madonna

Rihanna

Britney

Kylie

Cher

Janet

Beyoncé

Mariah

Selena (Not Gomez)

Shakira

[Roxxy]

Sounds about right. But you can actually take out Lady Gaga and replace it with Rihanna. No shade to Gaga, I love her too but she's not higher than Taylor Swift even with the combined impact of The Fame all the way to Born this Way era. Rihanna on the other hand has transcended the "pop star" status. Now, she is simply an ICON. Period.

[blackoutbixxh]

19 minutes ago, Roxxy said:

Sounds about right. But you can actually take out Lady Gaga and replace it with Rihanna. No shade to Gaga, I love her too but she's not higher than Taylor Swift even with the combined impact of The Fame all the way to Born this Way era. Rihanna on the other hand has transcended the "pop star" status. Now, she is simply an ICON. Period.

This 

[Roxxy]

52 minutes ago, blackoutbixxh said:

This

Oh you know us, we only state facts.

[blackoutbixxh]

10 minutes ago, Roxxy said:

Oh you know us, we only state facts.

Always 

[princessmimi]

MJ

Madonna

Mariah Carey

Whitney Houston 

Celine Dion

Prince

Selena

Britney Spears

Janet Jackson

Christina Aguilera

[Adriannn]

2 hours ago, Spicechinodiva said:

Selena (Not Gomez)

One has to point it out 

no hate to Gomez, though 

[Spicechinodiva]

28 minutes ago, Adriannn said:

One has to point it out 

no hate to Gomez, though 

Is that why you laughed. 

 

Cos I thought you were laughing at my entire top ten. 

[Blackout2006]

I dont really consider Whitney, Mariah Carey and Beyonce popstars because the dwell more into the RnB genre. So i am not including them

1. Michael Jackson ( )
2. Madonna ( ) 
3. Britney Spears ()
4. Lady Gaga ()
5. Rihanna ()
6. Prince 
7. Janet Jackson ( )
8. Taylor Swift ()
9. Shakira ()
10. Christina Aguilera ()

[DignifiedLove]

Depends on your definition of 'pop star' and I wouldn't be able to do an all-time but since the beginning of the MTV era in the early 80s, I'd say:

- 2Pac
- 50 Cent
- Aaliyah
- Adele
- Alanis Morissette
- Amy Winehouse
- Ariana Grande
- Avril Lavigne
- Beyoncé
- Billie Eilish
- Billy Joel
- Britney Spears
- Bruce Springsteen
- Celine Dion
- Christina Aguilera
- David Bowie
- Dr. Dre
- Drake
- Eminem
- George Michael
- Gloria Estefan
- Janet Jackson
- JAY-Z
- Jennifer Lopez
- Justin Bieber
- Justin Timberlake
- Kanye West
- Katy Perry
- Lady Gaga
- Lana Del Rey 
- Lil Wayne
- Madonna
- Mariah Carey
- Michael Jackson
- Miley Cyrus
- Missy Elliott
- Nicki Minaj
- P!nk
- Phil Collins
- Prince
- Ricky Martin
- Rihanna
- Sean Combs
- Selena
- Shakira
- Shania Twain
- Sting
- Taylor Swift
- Tina Turner
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- Whitney Houston
 

Without a doubt, all these artists helped define an era/genre and cemented their status as definitive pop music icons aka the best of the best. 

[Blackout2006]

1 minute ago, AGUILEGEND IS A QUEEN said:

It's really hard to narrow it down to 10 and I wouldn't be able to do an all-time since I simply wouldn't know but since the beginning of the MTV era in the early 80s, I'd say:

- 2Pac
- 50 Cent
- Aaliyah
- Adele
- Alanis Morissette
- Amy Winehouse
- Ariana Grande
- Avril Lavigne
- Beyoncé
- Billie Eilish
- Billy Joel
- Britney Spears
- Bruce Springsteen
- Celine Dion
- Christina Aguilera
- David Bowie
- Dr. Dre
- Drake
- Eminem
- George Michael
- Janet Jackson
- JAY-Z
- Jennifer Lopez
- Justin Bieber
- Justin Timberlake
- Kanye West
- Katy Perry
- Lady Gaga
- Lana Del Rey 
- Lil Wayne
- Madonna
- Mariah Carey
- Michael Jackson
- Miley Cyrus
- Missy Elliott
- Nicki Minaj
- P!nk
- Prince
- Ricky Martin
- Rihanna
- Sean Combs
- Selena
- Shakira
- Shania Twain
- Sting
- Taylor Swift
- Tina Turner
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- Whitney Houston
 

Its not a top 10 tho like the OP asked 

[BUWYGF]

Beyonce does not belong to this list because she considers herself an R'N'B artist, and she hasn't produced pop music in over a decade. So she can kindly find her place in any of the rnb top 10 lists

As for my list:

1. MJ
2. Madonna
3. Whitney
4. Celine
5. Britney
6. Mariah
7. Rihanna
8. Taylor Swift
9. Christina Aguilera
10. Gaga

[BUWYGF]

3 minutes ago, AGUILEGEND IS A QUEEN said:

Depends on your definition of 'pop star' and I wouldn't be able to do an all-time but since the beginning of the MTV era in the early 80s, I'd say:

- 2Pac
- 50 Cent
- Aaliyah
- Adele
- Alanis Morissette
- Amy Winehouse
- Ariana Grande
- Avril Lavigne
- Beyoncé
- Billie Eilish
- Billy Joel
- Britney Spears
- Bruce Springsteen
- Celine Dion
- Christina Aguilera
- David Bowie
- Dr. Dre
- Drake
- Eminem
- George Michael
- Janet Jackson
- JAY-Z
- Jennifer Lopez
- Justin Bieber
- Justin Timberlake
- Kanye West
- Katy Perry
- Lady Gaga
- Lana Del Rey 
- Lil Wayne
- Madonna
- Mariah Carey
- Michael Jackson
- Miley Cyrus
- Missy Elliott
- Nicki Minaj
- P!nk
- Prince
- Ricky Martin
- Rihanna
- Sean Combs
- Selena
- Shakira
- Shania Twain
- Sting
- Taylor Swift
- Tina Turner
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- Whitney Houston
 

Without a doubt, all these artists helped define an era/genre and cemented their status as pop music icons.

....isn't 50 cent a rapper?

[DignifiedLove]

2 minutes ago, Blackout2006 said:

Its not a top 10 tho like the OP asked 

Not you catching my post before my edit 

And sorry I couldn't choose just 10 rat  

 

I agree with your Top 4 ranking though, a serve I must say  

 

[Blackout2006]

6 minutes ago, BUWYGF said:

....isn't 50 cent a rapper?

In most of the Greatest popstars list, 95% of the list consist of Jazz and Rock artist like Frank Sinatra and Beatles and the only correct options they pick are like only MJ and Madonna

[DignifiedLove]

1 minute ago, BUWYGF said:

....isn't 50 cent a rapper?

What it means to be a 'pop star' is very subjective and can be heavily based on one's personal definition or opinion. I mean, pop music alone is a very broad and flexible genre, as well as being reflective to its time. 

[Blackout2006]

5 minutes ago, AGUILEGEND IS A QUEEN said:

Not you catching my post before my edit 

You still havent edited it so 

6 minutes ago, AGUILEGEND IS A QUEEN said:

And sorry I couldn't choose just 10 rat  

Well dont be shy 

Spoiler

Change it 

 

6 minutes ago, AGUILEGEND IS A QUEEN said:

I agree with your Top 4 ranking though, a serve I must say 

And whats the problem with the rest? 

[Blackout2006]

Just now, AGUILEGEND IS A QUEEN said:

What it means to be a 'pop star' is very subjective and can be heavily based on one's personal definition or opinion. I mean, pop music alone is a very broad and flexible genre, as well as being reflective to its time. 

Nah 

Pop music is literally a sound influenced by disco, dance, and contemporary Rn'B 

[DignifiedLove]

3 minutes ago, Blackout2006 said:

Nah 

Pop music is literally a sound influenced by disco, dance, and contemporary Rn'B 

Pop music = popular music  

But say we went with your theory then why is it that the Beatles are considered a pop band?   

Would Adele no longer be considered a 'pop star' considering she was the first artist in history to go #1 on the Billboard Pop Charts with a song that only featured piano and vocals with 'Set Fire To The Rain'? Please enlighten us.