Beyonce, Taylor Swift - the Dominance of Female Pop Stars

This progress has been on the move for quite some time. Taking a trip back to the 1980s will land us on the preeminent and longest lasting diva, Madonna. With her hit tunes Like a Virgin, Material Girl, and Vogue, Madonna cornered the music market in the mid 80s. Her theatrics and continual transformations allowed her to transfix and captivate audiences for decades.

The late 1990s and early 2000s produced some of the biggest female pop stars, many of whom continue to draw headlines today. Britney Spears, with her #1 debut in 1999 ...One more time, catapulted into super stardom, her image synonymous with America and American pop culture. Her rising star brought others out to the party, including Jessica Simpson, who long ago stepped out from under Britney's shadow. Mandy Moore, Alicia Keys also made their debut. Let's not forget the vast popularity of Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, and Shakira to add to the list of female pop vocalists who have reached global dominance.

But it was watching the Grammys, and the slew of awards that went to female pop vocalists, that now proves the concept: female pop stars are the biggest thing in music. Period.

The most talked about performances were those performed by Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Pink. No one could argue with the vaudevillian theatrics of Lady Gaga, the stunning dance and vocals of Beyonce, nor Pink's consistent ability to drop jaws. Beyonce won 6 awards, the most for a female pop artist. Her stunning performances, breathtaking vocals, and broad appeal have made Beyonce a centerpiece and role model for the new female diva. We should also not forget one of the bigger names in pop music, Miley Cyrus, whose music documentary was No. 1 until Michael Jackson's This is It!

And then there's Taylor Swift.

Taylor Swift's rise should come as no surprise to the millions of teenage girls who have had their hearts crushed by teenage boys. She started breaking records in 2008 with her album Fearless, a catchy pop album that featured the still-played singles You Belong with Me and Romeo and Juliet. Swift captured Entertainer of the Year at the CMAs, 2010 People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Artist, and at the Grammy's, she won album of the year. This list by no means portrays all of Swift's achievements. But it's a good idea of where she stands in the pop pantheon.

America's stage of equal opportunity is growing. The female pop star is indisputably in the biggest thing in music. In a genre that just 30 years ago was male dominated, the rise is striking and a sign of the times.