Billboard has been counting down the 25 greatest pop stars of the last 25 years, and a Canadian icon has just cracked the top ten: Justin Bieber.
Bieber was revealed as the No. 8 artist on the list, an impressive feat for a kid from small town Ontario. The accompanying essay covers his career trajectory: executive Scooter Braun's famous discovery of Bieber via YouTube; his child stardom and fans' 'Bieber Fever' thanks to hits like "Baby" and "U Smile"; his maturing artistry on the hip-hop dabbling Believe and the EDM-comeback album Purpose; and his confirmation as 2020s pop royalty with hits like "Peaches" from 2021's Justice.
By the numbers, Bieber's stardom ranks among the greatest of all time: he's sold 150 million albums, notched eight No. 1 records on the Billboard 200 and racked up 23 Grammy nominations. He's also got the second-most No. 1 songs on the Hot 100 of any Canadian artist, surpassed only by Drake, and has the longest No. 1 streak for a Canadian, thanks to his massive 2017 collab with Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi, "Despacito," which topped the chart for 16 weeks.
And he's done that all by the age of 30.
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But what makes Bieber so impressive is not just his success, but how he's navigated building a life and career under intense scrutiny. He's been famous for half his life, and has struggled publicly with the pressures of fame.
All teenagers act out and make mistakes, but stars like Bieber have to do that in the spotlight. As he's aged, Bieber has taken pains to regain control of his image and health, stepping back from touring when he needed to, and finding solace in faith and his family — he and his wife Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin) recently welcomed their first child. It's a path many child stars don't have the luck or resources to carve for themselves.
Rania Aniftos sums up Justin Bieber's journey in her essay:
"Now, in 2024, Bieber hasn’t released a new single or album in a few years, but it seems like the 30-year-old star is experiencing a healthy, loving life for the first time, much to fans’ happiness. He’s been married to Baldwin for six years, and the duo welcomed their first child, a son named Jack Blues Bieber, over the summer. With his whole life to that point being spent on overdrive, it’s relieving to see Bieber cruising and enjoying his newest adventure, fatherhood. Hopefully, the ride will inspire yet another chart-topping album – and one more example of his one-of-kind presence, which has persistently shined through the darkness for over 15 years now."
Bieber is the second Canadian artist in the top 25, following The Weeknd at No. 18. With only seven spots to go, there's likely one more Canadian boy yet to come.
Check out the full list so far here.
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