365NEWS gathered that Billboard made their announcement to much controversy from the 34-year-old’s fans, who decried the ranking as a “complete joke”, but that’s simply not how Swift feels as she reportedly hails the Cowboy Carter singer.
She has been on good terms with the 43-year-old mother-of-three since she protected her from Kanye West at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards when he confronted the teenager on stage after she won Best Female Video ahead of Single Ladies.
“Taylor couldn’t be happier about this,” an insider told DailyMail.com. “Beyonce has had her back since day one when Kanye tried to take her award away. At the time Taylor was getting her start and Beyonce was already a massive superstar.
“Since the VMAs, Taylor has looked up to Beyonce as a source of inspiration. She knows that she has been in this game longer and has had a massive influence.
“While she is flattered that her fans are upset because they believe she should be number one, Taylor is humbled by the fact that she has built an empire.”
Billboard defends its decision
Beyonce beating Taylor Swift to the prize is not exactly a shock, but nonetheless the decision kicked up controversy from the Cruel Summer singer’s fans who felt she was the clear favorite for the prize.
But it is not without justification as Billboard responded to the controversy by pointing to the 43-year-old former Destiny’s Child member’s sustained form from 2000-2024 as well as her influence around the world too.
“Few artists this period can match her in any of the most critical basic categories of pop stardom,” Billboard said in an announcement. “Commercial success, performance abilities, critical acclaim and accolades, industry influence, iconic cultural moments – and absolutely no one can equal her in all of them.
“Even Taylor Swift, the lone artist who really challenged Beyoncé for the top spot on these rankings – and who does have a clear statistical lead on Bey in many key categories; more on that later – simply hasn’t been around for long enough to be able to match the expansiveness of her quarter-century of dominance.”