Rihanna: The 3rd-Ranked Artist on Billboard’s 25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century

Awards and Accolades

With 14 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s, 12 Billboard Music Awards, and the most No. 1 hits of any artist in the 21st century, Rihanna has earned her spot as the third-ranked artist on Billboard’s 25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century list.

Early Career

Tetris Kelly stated, “With 14 Billboard Hot 100 No.1s, 12 Billboard Music Awards, and the most No. 1 hits of any artist in the 21st century, our No. 3 greatest pop star of the 21st century is the Bajan queen herself, Rihanna! Rihanna began her music career at 17 after a successful audition with then Def Jam label heads Jay-Z and L.A. Reid.”

Early Success

Tetris added, “She quickly found success with “Pon de Replay,” her lead single off her debut album reaching No.2 on the Hot 100. And the first single “S.O.S.” off her sophomore album became her first No.1 on the Hot 100.”

Growth and Evolution

Kelly applauded the pop icon and Fenty mogul through remarks, “Rihanna was quickly making a name for herself and growing up fast. After the success of her first two albums, Rihanna was ready to do something different. Enter her third album ‘Good Girl Gone Bad.’ The album’s title was a sign that Rihanna was growing up, leaving her good girl image behind and that the singer was ready to take full control of her music as well as her look to become the Bad Gal we know and love today.”

The Bad Gal Era

Kelly noted, “RiRi did just that, debuting her new edgy look with “Umbrella.” “Umbrella” became one of Rihanna’s biggest and most well-known hits, spending 7 weeks at No.1. The success of “Umbrella” and ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ helped cement Rihanna as a pop icon. As Rihanna continued to change her look throughout the years, she also experimented with her sound.”

Conclusion

Rihanna’s impressive discography, numerous awards, and enduring popularity solidify her position as one of the most successful pop stars of the 21st century.