Miley Cyrus Named Fifteenth Greatest Pop ‘Star of the Twenty- First Century’ by Billboard
Miley Cyrus has been named the fifteenth greatest pop star of the twenty-first century by Billboard, celebrated for her chart-topping hits, iconic pop culture moments, and relentless reinvention throughout her career.
Billboard highlights Cyrus’s breakout role in Disney’s Hannah Montana (2006-2011) as a key milestone in her ranking, describing her performance as captivating and instrumental in launching her into pop stardom.
“It’s hard to describe just how magnetic Cyrus was on that show. Here was a girl who could deliver a cheesy catch phrase — usually ‘Sweet niblets!’ or ‘Yeeee doggies!’ — like a seasoned comedic actor, unafraid of appearing unattractive or goofy in service of a good bit with an innate power and resonance in her voice that was almost unnatural for her age,” Billboard stated.
The publication highlights Cyrus’s rare ability to balance two distinct personas: her role as Hannah Montana and her own identity as Miley.
Miley Cyrus has been at the top of the Billboard charts since she was 13 years old and continues to do so at 31. Whether you're a fan of hers or not, there should be more respect for a woman like her. It's important to recognize the culture and history behind Miley and her impact https://t.co/8PUs00DaiI— Miley's daughter (@Milesdaughter) September 25, 2024
“Cyrus was essentially holding down two music careers at once, signing with Walt Disney Records for all things Hannah and then with Hollywood Records for her own work as Miley. Her first two albums, Hannah Montana and Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus both debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. On the Best of Both Worlds Tour, she performed one half as herself and the other as her alter ego (the trek grossed more than $54 million, according to Billboard Boxscore),” Billboard added.
However, it was Cyrus’s bold departure from Hannah Montana that truly secured her spot on the list. Trading her signature brunette locks for her blonde pixie cut and the bold, provocative Bangerz era, she marked a turning point in her career that Billboard credits as pivotal to her evolution as a pop icon.
“Cyrus’ signature brunette waves were aesthetically quintessential to the Miley-Hannah package. That’s why it was so shocking when the star shaved the sides of her head in August 2012 and bleached the scruff that remained on top. The makeover was the first domino in a pop culture-disrupting series of events and a full metamorphosis for Cyrus,” Billboard continued.
Nonetheless, fans were thrilled to see Cyrus receive her flowers.
