Since “American Idol” debuted in 2002, the iconic show has featured a stellar lineup of best-selling recording artists on its judging panel and launched the superstar careers of others. Eight have just been named to Billboard’s new ranking of the Top Women Artists of the 21st Century.
Five of the six female singers who’ve been judges on “Idol” made the list (90s pop star Paula Abdul did not), but Billboard announced on March 22, 2025, that only one of them made it into the Top 5: seven-time “Idol” judge Katy Perry.
Katy Perry’s Iconic Hits Catapulted Her to Billboard’s Top 5 Women Artists of the 21st Century
GettyPerry, who joined “Idol” as a judge in 2018 alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, announced she was leaving the show in 2024 to work on her new album, “143,” and launch a world tour, set to kick off in April.
But before she was on “Idol,” she was a serious hitmaker. According to Billboard, she ranks at number five on its list of the top female artists of the last 25 years after achieving three number one singles on the Billboard 200 and nine number ones on its Hot 100 list. All of that came after her breakthrough smash hit, “I Kissed a Girl,” which topped the charts for seven weeks in 2008.
The rankings, Billboard said, are based on “weekly performance on the Billboard 200 albums chart and Billboard Hot 100 songs chart from the start of 2000 through the end of 2024.”
The four women who rank ahead of Perry on Billboard’s list are Adele at number four, Beyoncé at number three, Rihanna at number two, and — drumroll, please — Taylor Swift in the top spot.
Katy Perry’s in Good Company: Which ‘Idol’ Judges & Stars Made Billboard’s Top 100 List
EntertainmentNOW/GettyBillboard will honor the top-ranking female acts at a Women in Music event on March 29 in Los Angeles, honoring the top 100 artists who made its prestigious list. Though Perry is the highest-ranking “Idol” judge, others who’ve sat at that table made it, too, as did several former “Idol” winners.
Season 3 winner Fantasia came in at number 98, with Billboard noting she “remains a force on the Adult R&B Airplay chart, with a dozen top 10 hits at the format.”
Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks ranks at number 77 on Billboard’s list, thanks to major hits early in her career, including her “No Air” duet with Chris Brown.
Jennifer Lopez, who served as an “Idol” judge from seasons 10 through 15, shows up Billboard’s list at number 22. Her ranking is fueled by three number one hits at the turn of the century: two songs with Ja Rule — “I’m Real” in 2001 and “Ain’t It Funny” in 2002 — and her 2003 tune with LL Cool J, “All I Have.”
Nicki Minaj, who spent just one season judging “Idol” in 2013, came in at number 16 in Billboard’s rankings. The outlet said she is arguably “the most successful female rapper of all time.” Minaj has released 22 titles that made it to the top 10, and three albums that rose to the top of the charts.
Country superstar Carrie Underwood, who won season 4 of “American Idol” and joined the show as a judge for season 23, shows up on Billboard’s list at number 13 — one of very few country artists to make the list. Starting with her 2006 hit “Jesus Takes the Wheel,” she’s had more number-one country hits (16) than any other woman since the chart launched in 1990.
Meanwhile, Mariah Carey — who was a judge on the same season as Minaj — is just one step ahead of Underwood, ranking number 12 on Billboard’s list. Carey was one of the biggest artists of the 90s, but added five more number one songs to her accomplishments at the turn of the century.
Finally, the original “Idol” winner, Kelly Clarkson, shows up as number 11 on Billboard’s Top Women Artists of the Century.
Comments
Eight ‘American Idol’ Judges & Alums Named to Billboard’s Top 100 Women Artists of the Century: Who Ranks Highest