Greatest Pop Stars

Latest Episodes:

Which Pop Stars Won July 2026? Charli xcx, Ariana Grande, Madonna & More Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

On this Who Won the Month episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Kyle Denis and Emily Fuentes to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who were heard from loudest in July 2026 — who got the second half of the year underway already in high gear. 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 by the end of the summer of 2026.

(Content warning: We talk about Ariana Grande from about 2:40-16:40, including some talk of what's been going on with her physically and the discussion around that. And if you are struggling with disordered eating, please contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders at (866) 662-1235.)

If you enjoy the pod, check out out our Who Won the Month recaps for the first two months of 2026 and all 2025 here:

https://www.billboard.com/t/who-won-the-month/

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

Human Rights Campaign – In Your Area

https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area

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/

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Charli xcx's 'Music, Fashion, Film': Rollout Report Card Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

It's been two years since 'Brat' Summer took over the culture and brought Charli xcx to a new level of celebrity and ubiquity — but as of last weekend, Charli is officially onto a new era with her latest LP 'Music, Fashion, Film.' For this Rollout Report Card, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Christine Werthman and Eric Renner Brown as we look at everything surrounding the much-anticipated release of 'Music, Fashion, Film' — including the divisive lead single and the accompanying 'MFF' mini-movie, as well as Charli's spate of podcast interviews and her (arguable, winking) pivot to rock music.

Find our Charli xcx 'Music, Fashion, Film' Rollout YouTube playlist here:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNg0uNfAYz7s&si=Q44SQ9itaWP8Cbgv

And see all our other Rollout Report Card episodes here:

https://www.billboard.com/t/rollout-report-card/

Finally, 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

And 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

World Cup 2026 With Shakira, Justin Bieber & Oasis: Pop Star Performance Review Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

For the past month and a half, the entire world was tuned into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the exciting tournament action soundtracked by some of our most massive global pop stars — particularly at Sunday's final, with the star-studded Cup halftime show.On this week's Pop Star Performance Review episode, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard UK's Thomas Smith to recap six weeks of big games and big stars, with particularly notable performances by Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS, and a chart-crashing official-unofficial England anthem from Oasis.

If you enjoy the pod, 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

Human Rights Campaign - In Your Area

https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area

Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1996 Fugees: Vintage Pop Stardom (with Angel Diaz) Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

When The Fugees broke out with sophomore album 'The Score' in 1996, it marked a transition moment in '90s hip-hop, while crossing over from rap radio to top 40 and MTV and making solo stars out of each of its three members — though they never reconvened for a proper follow-up. This episode of Vintage Pop Stardom sees host Andrew Unterberger joined by Billboard Hip-Hop writer and New Jersey native Angel Diaz as we discuss how The Fugees absolutely defined a moment in time, and how unfortunate it is that they never really got another such moment together.

Check out a YouTube playlist of the biggest Fugees moments of 1996, all of which are discussed in the episode, here:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOxVzu-uaaj8&si=-FEQ0ohtBfleD0X9

And if you enjoy the pod, 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

Human Rights Campaign - In Your Area

https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area

Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Madonna's 'Confessions II': Rollout Report Card Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

It's been 21 years since the original 'Confessions on a Dancefloor' — and seven years since her last album of any kind — but as of last weekend, Madonna is officially back with her long-awaited sequel set, 'Confessions II.' For this Rollout Report Card, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Joe Lynch and Eric Frankenberg as we look at everything surrounding the much-anticipated release of 'Confessions II' — including the first three singles and the 'Confessions' mini-movie, as well as Madonna's surprise Coachella appearance, a number of memorable interviews and one of the albumiest pop albums in recent memory.

Find our Madonna 'Confessions II' Rollout YouTube playlist here:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSwT_7v7d2-Q&si=NFxIS2sIO6hElrKn

And see all our other Rollout Report Card episodes here:

https://www.billboard.com/t/rollout-report-card/

Finally, 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

And 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

Which Pop Stars Won June 2026? Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande & More Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

On this Who Won the Month episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Xander Zellner and Emily Fuentes to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who were heard from loudest in June 2026 — which, like most of the first half of the calendar year, was dominated by some very big releases by some very big 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 second half of 2026.

If you enjoy the pod, check out out our Who Won the Month recaps for the first two months of 2026 and all 2025 here:

https://www.billboard.com/t/who-won-the-month/

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

Human Rights Campaign – In Your Area

https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area

https://5calls.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

40th Birthday Thanks + RIP Clive Davis Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

No full episode of Greatest Pop Stars this week: It's host Andrew Unterberger's 40th birthday, so he's taking it a little easy. Instead, he's just taking a minute today to express his gratitude to still be able to do Greatest Pop Stars — and to still be as invested in and connected to pop music as he's ever felt — and to pay quick tribute to the late Clive Davis, someone who remained an industry mover and passionate pop fan right up until the very end.

Full episodes resume next week — and in the meantime, 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

https://5calls.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Olivia Rodrigo's 'You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love': Rollout Report Card Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

Three years after releasing her sophomore album 'Guts,' pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo has officially returned with her new wave-influenced, chronicling new album, 'You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.' For this Rollout Report Card, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Hannah Dailey and Eric Frankenberg as we look at everything surrounding the much-anticipated release of 'Pretty Sad' — including the first two singles and their accompanying music videos, Rodrigo's surprise Primavera festival pop-in, her infatuation with The Cure and one of the most extensive media rollouts in recent memory.

Find our Olivia Rodrigo 'You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love' Rollout YouTube playlist here:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjyxjlx5MpVAOM54cumcwQY9XZ2MDvh7s&si=ZT6IMPs9EGf6onZg

Listen to Hannah's self-titled EP on Spotify here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/4w3jOXUHNthb60fIX7Hg25?si=f4d44d7cdf7043d4

And see all our other Rollout Report Card episodes here:

https://www.billboard.com/t/rollout-report-card/

Finally, 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

And 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

1997 Spice Girls: Vintage Pop Stardom (with Shakey Graves) Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

When the Spice Girls hit U.S. shores in 1997, they detonated on impact, with best-selling albums, chart-topping singles and even a box office-topping movie — a movement that was too phenomenal to last, but one that still transformed the entire decade's pop music and pop culture. This episode of Vintage Pop Stardom sees host Andrew Unterberger joined by singer-songwriter, actor and unlikely Spice Boy Shakey Graves, as we discuss his new album 'Fondness, Etc.' for about 15 minutes and then dive into all things Spicemania, recalling everything about the all-too-brief period when the Girls known as Ginger, Scary, Sporty, Posh and Baby really seemed like they had total world domination in their sights.

Check out a YouTube playlist of the biggest Spice moments of 1997, all of which are discussed in the episode, here:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjyxjlx5MpVBNL231wcYXEoJxm96c2Uza&si=7NQ_2EmuDmVL3848

Buy or stream Shakey's excellent new album 'Fondness, Etc.' here:

https://shakeygraves.komi.io/

And if you enjoy the pod, 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

Human Rights Campaign - In Your Area

https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Which Pop Stars Won May 2026? Drake, Ella Langley, Noah Kahan & More Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

On this Who Won the Month episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Kyle Denis and Rebecca Milzoff to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who were heard from loudest in May 2026 — which was largely defined by one guy with his triple album drop, but also included a couple big country stars and pop legends getting fans excited about new and old releases. 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 summer of 2026.

If you enjoy the pod, check out out our Who Won the Month recaps for the first two months of 2026 and all 2025 here:

https://www.billboard.com/t/who-won-the-month/

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

Human Rights Campaign – In Your Area