Billboard's Greatest Pop Stars: The 10 Best Pop Stars That Will Never Be Greatest For An Entire Year

(In 2018, the Billboard staff released a list of their picks for each year's Biggest Pop Star, dating back to 1981 — along with a handful of columns and lists featuring other major pop star topics of the period. Find one such sidebar below on the 10 biggest pop stars for whom our list couldn't find a year to award them the No. 1 award and find here our picks for the best pop stars for every year so far.)

Derek Jeter, Drew Brees and Dwyane Wade can tell you: Just because you never won a single-season MVP doesn't mean you weren't an all-time player. Here are the 10 biggest pop stars we didn't award a year in this project.

10. New Kids on the Block

Summary: The biggest boy band — or pop band of any kind — of the early '90s, using the formula manager Maurice Starr created with New Edition to even greater success, thanks to giant hooks, fun and mimetic dance moves, and a crossover -friendlier (read: whiter) image.

Why never MVP? The George HW Bush era was simply a huge time for iconic solo stars – George, Madonna, Janet – all of whom had wider appeal to all ages than the teen megapop of NKOTB.

9. P!nk

Summary: A major star since her debut at the dawn of the 20th century, spending time as a rapper, diva, rocker, pop star, anti-pop star and adult contemporary director — with the only consistent factor being her chart success, scoring 15 top 10 hits, including three No. 1.

Why never MVP? Perhaps because of her non-stop production and constant presence, P!nk has never been seen as the defining artist of any particular period of this century.

8. Bruce Springsteen

Summary: The '70s rock star who had an easier time by far in the MTV era, Bruuuuuuce had no problem playing at pop's highest level in the mid-'80s when he was selling Diamond Born in the USA The album became just the second album ever to yield seven top 10 hits.

Why never MVP? Mainly because the first LP that spawned so many hits was going on at the same time — Michael Jackson's Impressive workthe most important album in pop history — as well as sets from Prince and Madonna.

7. OutKast

Summary: In the early '00s, no act married critical acclaim to commercial success like Big Boi and Andre 3000, ruling the Grammys and the charts — and releasing perhaps the most beloved pop song of the century so far with ” Hey Ya!” of 2003.

Why never MVP? The timing just didn't quite line up for OutKast, who split the post-“Hey Ya!” dominance between 2003 and 2004, and had to contend with Beyoncé's debut and Usher's peak, respectively.

6. Bruno Mars

Summary: Hard to find a pop star with more accomplishments over the past 15 years than Bruno Mars — No. 1 single, multi-platinum albums, Grammy sweeps, two Super Bowl halftime shows — without any major personal or professional blunders.

Why never MVP? Perhaps in part because of its spotless record (and perfect showmanship), Mars' grandeur felt undeniable, but never truly transcendent.

5. Nicki Minaj

Summary: With the sole exception of her superduperstar partner, the most consistently successful female rapper of the 2010s, with over 100 Hot 100 hits — and one whose major pop shifts not only led to 17 top 10 hits, but felt like natural extensions of the larger-than-life personality.

Why never MVP? Minaj has spread these pop smashes pretty evenly throughout the decade, never clustering them together at any one time—probably because he didn't really care a bunch of them in the first place.

4. Guns N' Roses

Summary: Along with Nirvana, the most iconic rock band of the last 40 years. gritty enough to remain vital for decades, yet accessible enough to hit the Hot 100 and sell tens of millions of records.

Why never MVP? GnR had a bright but incredibly short burn, bursting out of the underground with historic speed in the late '80s, but were already showing signs of fatigue by the time their popularity peaked in the early '90s.

3. Kendrick Lamar

Summary: The most respected MC of his generation—by peers and critics alike—and one whose commercial stats have, since 2017's blockbuster LP DIME. and his lead single “Humble,” eventually swelled to match his critical hosannah.

Why never MVP? Boy, did he come close in 2017, but even with a greater willingness to play the game — big singles, big videos, big live shows — Kendrick mostly still feels the slightest bit further from pop's center. (Until 2024 anyway.)

2. Destiny's Child

Summary: Rivaled only by TLC and Boyz II Men among the most successful R&B groups of the past 25 years, Destiny's Child scored three multi-platinum albums and four Hot 100 No. 1 around the turn of the century — and oh yeah, they might just slip away as the biggest pop star of the 21st century.

Why never MVP? At his height TRL era, so many acts were putting up Barry Bonds numbers that some big sluggers couldn't help but end up.

1. Jay-Z

Summary: Widely considered the greatest rapper of all time.

Why never MVP? Jay's best-selling album (Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life in 1998), his most acclaimed album (The Plan in 2001) and his top 40 influence album (Plan 3 in 2009) all became years apart, aiding his unprecedented longevity but hindering a singular peak.

(Read on for the best pop star of 2007 here or go back to the full list here.)