The 96th Academy Awards brought together the finest of 2023’s entertainment world. While Cillian Murphy became the first Irish actor to win the Best Actor Accolade, on the musical front, Billie Eilish created history as the youngest two-time winner in Oscars history. Since releasing the viral hit ‘Ocean Eyes’ in 2015, Eilish has gone from strumming tunes in her bedroom to capturing the world’s attention as a global icon. But when placed alongside some of the leading ladies of the music industry, where does she rank?

When it comes to reigning queens of music, names like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga inevitably spring to mind. But with her second Oscar victory, has Billie Eilish dethroned these legends as the face of pop music?

Billie Eilish vs the musical powerhouses

It is a fact that Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé all represent different musical genres. But there is a common thread among the latter three. Their songs often revolve around common and lighter themes, particularly focusing on relationships and self-expression. In contrast, Billie Eilish, belonging to a different generation, brings a darker perspective to the table. Her music explores more somber topics with an evidently “sad girl/boy” vibe and edgier themes, reflecting the mood of the era.

The minimalism trend is not typically associated with mainstream radio hits; it is usually more avant-garde. Yet, Billie Eilish bridges this gap, bringing minimalism into the spotlight while also incorporating mass appeal. Her success is also about timing as she over from where Lorde left off with ‘Royals’. With the growing interest in minimalistic, moodier music, Eilish can truly become the voice of the generation in the coming years. However, when it comes to who has the most acclaim and popularity, the scenario flickers a bit.

While Billie Eilish’s Oscar win definitely puts her in the top league, it would be naïve not to consider the accolades of the other three legends, who are not far behind.

Who wears the laurels of the greatest achievements?

Since the beginning of her career, Taylor Swift has been nominated for over 500 awards and has won 324. She has a total of 14 Grammys and 23 VMAs. Though she attended this year’s Oscar after-party, the ‘Cruel Summer’ singer has neither won nor been nominated by the Academy. Meanwhile, Queen Bey became the most awarded person in the history of Grammy, with 31 awards. Compared to Swift, she has a better representation at the Academy since she has been nominated once for the song ‘Be Alive’.

Beyoncé, however, could not take the award home. Lady Gaga is a singer who has had the most Oscar nods among all the songstresses in question. However, she has only won one Oscar for the song ‘Shallow’ in 2019. Even though Billie Eilish clearly tops the Oscar race, she has only 9 Grammys so far and a mere 6 VMAs, which is a lot less when compared to the other three pop stars who have Grammy and VMAs in double digits. Now, it is all up to fans’ yardstick to determine who they reckon has the greatest achievements.

Do you think Billie Eilish is on her way to surpass the songstresses of the industry? Let us know in the comments below!