Pop music fans have been divided after Billboard published a list of the biggest female artists of the 21st century.

The list was filled with a number of surprising entries, from one-hit-wonders to legendary chart toppers.

As expected, Taylor Swift came in at No. 1, with Billboard citing her fourteen No. 1 albums and multiple Grammys.

Rihanna – who hasn’t released an album since 2016’s Anti – came in second place, followed by Beyonce at No. 3.

Adele, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Pink, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, and Alicia Keys filled the rest of the top 10, while Britney Spears trailed at No. 14.

Taylor Swift has topped Billboard’s ranking of the biggest female artists of the 21st century

Fans were enraged that Britney Spears missed the top 10 altogether

‘Britney should be top ten she’s the queen of girly pop,’ one fan wrote on social media.

‘Britney has influenced most of the artists in the top 10. How is she not in the top 5? Katy Perry is number 5? seriously…?’ another complained.

Beyonce fans were also notably enraged at the Cowboy Carter star being defeated once again by Swift. 

‘I hate when people downplay the work she put in! She been working since day 1. Why are people being ignorant on purpose,’ wrote one loyal fan.

Another Beyonce loyalist justified her position at No. 3 by stating that the list was more about commercial charts than true artistry.

‘Seeing that this list is based on STREAMS and numbers and not actual impact and quality… I’m not tripping she was not number 1… She stopped making music for the charts years ago,’ they wrote. 

Other legendary artists to miss the top 10 include Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, and Madonna.

Janet Jackson (pictured) and Madonna ranked surprisingly low on the list compared

Fans of Beyonce were furious that she came in third – being beaten by Rihanna and Taylor

Ashlee Simpson ranked higher at No. 78 than both Barbra Streisand (No. 88) and Reba McEntire (No. 86)

‘Cardi B is at No. 27 but THEE Janet Jackson is at No. 41?’ wrote one shocked fan.

‘I can’t take any of these rankings seriously when they put Carrie “every song I scream sounds the same as the last one” Underwood ahead of Janet Jackson,’ complained another.

Other surprising entries include one-hit-wonder Vanessa Carlton at No. 99 and hitmaker Charli XCX at a lowly No. 95.

Meanwhile, Ashlee Simpson ranked higher at No. 78 than both Barbra Streisand (No. 88) and Reba McEntire (No. 86).

Hilary Duff also beat the iconic divas at No. 73.

According to Billboard, the ranking is based on weekly performance on the Billboard 200 albums chart and Billboard H๏τ 100 songs chart from the start of 2000 through the end of 2024.⁠

You can read the full top 100 list over at Billboard.com. 

Billboard’s biggest female artists of the 21st century 

20. Christina Aguilera

19. Avril Lavigne

18. SZA

17. Destiny’s Child

16. Nicki Minaj

15. Billie Eilish

14. Britney Spears

13. Carrie Underwood

12. Mariah Carey

11. Kelly Clarkson

10. Alicia Keys

9. Miley Cyrus

8. Ariana Grande

7. Pink

6. Lady Gaga

5. Katy Perry

4. Adele

3. Beyoncé

2. Rihanna

1. Taylor Swift