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On this Who Won the Month episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Trevor Anderson and Eric Renner Brown to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who were heard from loudest in January 2025 — which was largely defined by the beginning of massive album rollouts for Bruno Mars, Harry Styles and other big pop names. We each choose our top fives for the month that was, then we talk some disappointing recent performances, and look ahead to who we're most anticipating hearing more from in the first months of 2026. If you enjoy the pod, check out out our 2025 Who Won the Month recaps here: https://www.billboard.com/t/who-won-the-month/ Find our YouTube playlist for our January 2026 pop stars here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMb8mZPFJltD9ovK4VuPhlnx&si=omKaF07TcXLFkWhy And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 series concludes its top 10 countdown with a look at our No. 1 artist, Bad Bunny. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Isabela Raygoza to talk about Bad Bunny's second year finishing atop our Greatest Pop Stars rankings — with a chart-topping, Grammy-nominated blockbuster album in 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos,' a trio of top 10 hits, a headline-making residency, a whole lot of classic music videos, two film roles, endless TV appearances and his biggest gig of this era still yet to come. Find all our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 essays and podcasts here: https://www.billboard.com/t/greatest-pop-stars-of-2025/ Check out a YouTube playlist of all the best Bad Bunny 2025 moments here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMZddeTanY1cA2KWi0GubDX6&si=1zL5PCBj6_NX_43X And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 series continues its top 10 with a look at our No. 2 artist, Taylor Swift. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Denise Warner to talk about Taylor Swift's incredible sixth straight year in the top five of our Greatest Pop Stars rankings — with a full-circle moment in her masters reacquisition, a beyond-historic first week on the Billboard 200 for her 'Life of a Showgirl' album, and plenty more incredible moments serving as crucial checks off the career to-do list for the biggest pop star of the 2020s. Find all our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 essays and podcasts here: https://www.billboard.com/t/greatest-pop-stars-of-2025/ Check out a YouTube playlist of all the best Taylor Swift 2025 moments here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMYJCylODGk0ADiLpV3Mmzoj&si=c5W32Yum49YhvSyw And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 series continues its top 10 with a look at our No. 3 artist, Lady Gaga. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard charts senior analyst/writer Eric Frankenerg to talk about Lady Gaga's return to the top five of our Greatest Pop Stars list — with a chart-topping album on the Billboard 200, a chart-topping hit on the Billboard Hot 100, one of the year's biggest and most spectacular live shows, and a year full of Classic Gaga moments to remind longtime fans (and everyone else) that she's one of the best to ever do this thing. Find all our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 essays and podcasts here: https://www.billboard.com/t/greatest-pop-stars-of-2025/ Check out a YouTube playlist of all the best Lady Gaga 2025 moments here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMYJCylODGk0ADiLpV3Mmzoj&si=c5W32Yum49YhvSyw And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 series continues its top 10 with a look at our No. 4 artist, Kendrick Lamar. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard Hip-Hop's Carl Lamarre to talk about Kendrick Lamar's second straight year in our top five Greatest Pop Stars — as his 2024 dominance just kept rolling through the first half of 2025, with Lamar continuing to top the Billboard charts, score Grammy recognition (for both 2025 and 2026) and find his way to the center of popular culture, much to the delight of everyone except for one particular rapper from the North. Find all our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 essays and podcasts here: https://www.billboard.com/t/greatest-pop-stars-of-2025/ Check out a YouTube playlist of all the best Kendrick Lamar 2025 moments here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMZqZWd0paic8g4tbBNX-LKX&si=PoWwOZ2xjvmafs2G And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 series continues its top 10 with a look at our No. 5 artist, Sabrina Carpenter. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Lina Morgan of the Song vs. Song podcast to talk about Sabrina Carpenter's second straight year in our top five Greatest Pop Stars — with another blockbuster album and smash hit lead single, topping Billboard charts and getting Grammy nominations with both, as well as another year of major touring, headline-making and near-total pop culture ubiquity. Find all our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 essays and podcasts here: https://www.billboard.com/t/greatest-pop-stars-of-2025/ Listen to the Song vs. Song Podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZPOSfyq3NwIsGGTPY1I10?si=ac6b2e655d974f40 Check out a YouTube playlist of all the best Sabrina Carpenter 2025 moments here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMZJXyV1sM9zZKTdvKAGhVE0&si=r0KRHH6INVl10X8R And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 series continues its top 10 with a look at our No. 6 artist, KPop Demon Hunters Cast. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard branded producer and social manager Meghan Mahar to talk about the year of the KPop Demon Hunters takeover — with the animated musical not only becoming the most-watched film in Netflix history, but with seven songs from its fictional K-pop groups HUNTR/X and Saja Boys becoming IRL smashes, as the movie, its hits and the real-life artists behind them all became global pop culture fixtures of 2025. Find all our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 essays and podcasts here: https://www.billboard.com/t/greatest-pop-stars-of-2025/ Watch Meghan's HUNTR/X Takes Us Out Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1uIi7zPwD0&list=PLwFs58D1XAMbH88Bz85QKc--sl_F9Dvvx&index=7&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB2AYnsAgC Check out a YouTube playlist of all the best KPop Demon Hunters Cast 2025 moments here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMbH88Bz85QKc--sl_F9Dvvx&si=t8GyPgkWY9S66wlH And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 series continues its top 10 with a look at our No. 7 artist, Tate McRae. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Kristen Wisneski and Michael Saponara to talk about McRae's ascendant 2025 — where she scored her first No. 1s on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard 200 albums chart, went on a best-selling arena tour, lit up the MTV Video Music Awards, and cemented herself beyond any doubts as one of the still-rising A-list pop stars of her generation. Find all our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 essays and podcasts here: https://www.billboard.com/t/greatest-pop-stars-of-2025/ Check out a YouTube playlist of Tate McRae's best 2025 moments here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMZN95xBXSmJ50BHBR-T3tf_&si=MhReauWUl1OZAMKN And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 series continues its top 10 with a look at our No. 8 artist, Morgan Wallen. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's executive editor, West Coast and Nashville Melinda Newman to look at the country's superstar momentum-maintaining 2025 — where he once again set records on the weekly and year-end Billboard Hot 100 with his 37-track 'I'm the Problem' blockbuster, while forging into newfound pop territory with his chart-topping Tate McRae duet and creating one of the year's best accidental memes with "Get me to God's country." Find all our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 essays and podcasts here: https://www.billboard.com/t/greatest-pop-stars-of-2025/ Check out a YouTube playlist of Morgan Wallen's best 2025 moments here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMbPHSaywPiV9m-qFeFdBJ0R&si=DBsBI7KyOALYovaZ And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 series continues its top 10 with a look at our No. 9 artist, Doechii. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by AJ Marks of r/Popheads and the excellent Main Pod Girl podcast to look at the ascendant rapper's breakout 2025 — where she made good on all the most optimistic prognostications about her in late 2024 with multiple breakout hits from her 'Alligator Bites Never Heal' mixtape, a star-making Grammys night in February, and an out-of-nowhere smash that both capped her first half of the year and ended up confusing things a little for her second half. Find all our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 essays and podcasts here: https://www.billboard.com/t/greatest-pop-stars-of-2025/ Listen to Main Pod Girl here: https://mainpodgirl.libsyn.com/ Check out a YouTube playlist of Doechii's best 2025 moments here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMbbd9I4MoYpztelJG1YH5oC&si=yHvMYQOMqWETWiw4 And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 series kicks off its top 10 with a look at our No. 10 artist, Tyler, The Creator. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Kyle Denis to look at the veteran rapper's first year making our top 10 — where he pushed forward from an already-huge 2024 with the stunning Chromakopia World Tour, the dancefloor-insistent semi-surprise album 'Don't Tap the Glass,' a full-circle moment alongside the Clipse in that duo's comeback season, and even a long-awaited film debut in the highly acclaimed 'Marty Supreme.' Find all our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 essays and podcasts here: https://www.billboard.com/t/greatest-pop-stars-of-2025/ Check out a YouTube playlist of Tyler's best 2025 moments here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMbTmgpnlXHcwIwr8hnPiVRf&si=zTdOwvJ_5GM3q4N1 And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 series continues on with a look at our Comeback of the Year artist, the Clipse. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard Hip-Hop's Michael Saponara to dive deep into the Virginia brother duo's insanely triumphant 2025 campaign, where Pusha T and Malice not only recaptured past glories but forged new ones with their rapturously received 'Let God Sort Em Out' album, team-ups with Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, The Creator and one of the best album rollouts of the decade. Find all our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 essays and podcasts here: https://www.billboard.com/t/greatest-pop-stars-of-2025/ Check out a YouTube playlist of Clipse's best 2025 moments here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMbVgIUpd7My0A6SUKmBURnf&si=Dz5rl22_oUbNdFQK And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 series continues on with a look at our Rookie of the Year artist, Olivia Dean. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard U.K.'s Sophie Williams to dive deep into the British singer-songwriter's impossibly quick-rising 2025 campaign, where she won over hearts on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond with her breakthrough album 'The Art of Loving,' hit songs like "Man I Need" and "So Easy (To Fall in Love)," and near incalculable amounts of charm. Find all our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 essays and podcasts here: https://www.billboard.com/t/greatest-pop-stars-of-2025/ Check out a YouTube playlist of Olivia's best 2025 moments here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMbTmgpnlXHcwIwr8hnPiVRf&si=zTdOwvJ_5GM3q4N1 And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 series gets underway with a look at our 10 Honorable Mention artists -- the stars who were great enough this year to get into the discussion but not quite onto our top 10. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by YouTuber Todd and the Shadows as we go over their cases -- and whether we disagree with any of them not making the proper list -- then give shouts to some pop stars who couldn't quite make the cut this year but still deserve mention, as well as some who aren't quite in the discussion yet but could get there by 2026. Check out the Song vs. Song podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZPOSfyq3NwIsGGTPY1I10?si=755431d8ec6a461d&nd=1&dlsi=fee39ca02a584ea0 Watch Todd in the Shadows' videos here: https://www.youtube.com/c/ToddintheShadows Find our YouTube playlist for our 2025 Honorable Mentions pop stars here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMan0wM5Vi7OC-3YogD8YMdU&si=4jLn4fNhWBd5xtuT And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Who Won the Month episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Jason Lipshutz and Danielle Pascual to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who were heard from loudest in December 2025 — which, was largely defined by Mariah Carey making chart history and Taylor Swift marking the 'End of an Era.' We each choose our top fives for the month that was, then we talk some disappointing recent performances, and look ahead to who we're most anticipating hearing more from in the first months of 2026. If you enjoy the pod, check out out the rest of our 2025 Who Won the Month recaps here: https://www.billboard.com/t/who-won-the-month/ Vote in our Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 Poll here: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/greatest-pop-stars-2025-vote-reader-favorites-1236149728 Find our YouTube playlist for our December 2025 pop stars here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMYtzOLeIhxlNO6BE5OW28c3&si=YNaQ2Jc6vLxXgiDW And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices