Taylor

Taylor Swift, the rarest pop star, is one who managed to move between the genres of country and mainstream pop culture, becoming an iconic figure in the pop culture. Swift also took on the entire globe in the process. Swift left her country roots like they were a second skin, revealing she was possibly the most savvy pop-oriented singer/songwriter of her time, one that could tap into the current zeitgeist and make it personal and just as impressively perform opposite. The skills she displayed were apparent on her first hits, particularly the neo-tribute Tim McGraw but her second album 2008's Fearless featured a singer-songwriter figuring out the person she really was, and in the process, finding the mass market. The album was hugely successful not only in the United States, where six of its singles have been certified platinum in the wake of Top Ten hit songs Love Story and you Belong with Me. But it also performed well around all over the world. Speak Now delivered almost two years later consolidated that popularity and pushed Swift towards the top of stardom. Her popularity only increased with her following three albums -- Red (2012) 1989 (2014) as well as Reputation (2017) and Reputation in 2017 and found her moving assuredly into a pop realm where she already belonged. Although she slowed down her approach with 2020's stripped-down siblings' folklore and Evermore she remained atop the pop world a position that she maintained through re-recordings from her earlier catalog, as well as Midnights her chart-topping synth-heavy 2022 album.