In 2025, twenty-three different albums reached number one on the Billboard 200. These ranged from industry powerhouses to debuts, from deluxe versions to older albums, and even from animated idols to real ones! From SOS on January 4th to DO IT on December 6th, here’s every Billboard 200 number one from 2025.
SOS – SZA
The first album to top the Billboard 200 in 2025 was a true chart phenomenon – SZA’sSOS. The album, which came out way back in 2022, has hit the number one spot on the Billboard 200 in three (yes, three!) separate years, and has spent over 100 weeks in the top 10. In fact, it peaked at #1 on three different occasions this year alone! What’s more, in 2025, SOS became the longest-running U.S. top 10 album by a Black artist.
WHAM – Lil Baby
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny has had an iconic year, right?! His sixth solo studio album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, is maybe his best work yet, and we’re clearly not the only ones who think so. The album spent four non-consecutive weeks at number one in 2025, and we reckon it’ll probably return to the top spot in 2026, too. See you at the Super Bowl, King!
Hurry Up Tomorrow – The Weeknd
GNX – Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar’sGNX is another album that reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200 in 2025 despite not being released this year. Surprise-dropped in November 2024, GNX was easily one of the best albums of that year, and clearly it’s not out of rotation yet!
Some Sexy Songs 4 U – PartyNextDoor & Drake
So Close to What – Tate McRae
Tate’s third album, So Close to What, was also her first to debut at number one on the Billboard 200! With singles like ‘Sports Car,’ ‘Revolving Door,’ and ‘It’s ok I’m ok,’ this album was clearly one of the most polished pop records of the year!
MAYHEM – Lady Gaga
We guarantee that, just like us, you haven’t been able to escape ‘Abracadabra’ or ‘Die with a Smile’ all year. But then again, why would you want to?! As well as giving us GRAMMY-winning hits and one of the most exciting tours of 2025, The Mayhem Ball, the album saw Lady Gaga return to her pop roots. No wonder MAYHEM became her seventh album to top the Billboard 200!
MUSIC – Playboi Carti
Eternal Sunshine – Ariana Grande
Thanks to the release of Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead, Ariana’s 2024 album, Eternal Sunshine, returned to the top of the Billboard 200 in 2025. Featuring new tracks: ‘twilight zone,’ ‘Hampstead,’ ‘dandelion,’ ‘warm,’ ‘past life,’ and an extended version of ‘intro (end of the world),’ these new releases are maybe some of our favorite Ari b-sides of all-time.
More Chaos – Ken Carson
Skeletá – Ghost
Ghost’s Skeletá is unlike any other album that topped the Billboard 200 in 2025! For a start, Ghost is a Swedish rock band, and this was their first-ever U.S. number one! In fact, this is only the second time, ever, that a Swedish performing artist has nabbed the top spot. The only other act to do it? Ace of Base way back in 1993.
Even In Arcadia – Sleep Token
I’m the Problem – Morgan Wallen
JackBoys 2 – JackBoys & Travis Scott
The JackBoys project is one of the most exciting in music, and we were so glad to see it return for album number two this year! JackBoys consists of Travis Scott and the signees of his record label, Cactus Jack, plus a bunch more collaborators. With the likes of Travis, Don Toliver, GloRilla, Tyla, Future, Playboi Carti, and so many more, all on one album, how could JackBoys 2 not top the charts?
DON’T TAP THE GLASS – Tyler, the Creator
KARMA – Stray Kids
Can you believe we made it all the way to September before a K-Pop album topped the chart?! Well, Stray Kids arrived to fix that, and gave us some good KARMA in the process. With all 11 tracks written by 3Racha, mostly during Stray Kids’ most recent world tour, the focus of KARMA is celebrating all of their achievements (so far)! How about adding another Billboard 200 number one to that list, lads?
Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter
Short and Sweet is still reigning over all our playlists, but Sabrina gifted us with another album full of her quintessential wit and pop perfection. Man’s Best Friend, led by ‘Manchild’ and ‘Tears,’ debuted straight at number one.
K-Pop Demon Hunters – Various Artists
Honestly? This is the 2025 album where we’d be more surprised if it hadn’t reached Billboard 200 number one. Songs like ‘Golden,’ Soda Pop,’ ‘Takedown,’ and more have been inescapable this year! Through K-Pop Demon Hunters, we’ve loved seeing the world of K-Pop reach even bigger audiences this year.
Breach – Twenty One Pilots
Am I the Drama? – Cardi B
The Life of a Showgirl – Taylor Swift
Probably the most talked-about album in 2025 was The Life of a Showgirl. Whether or not you love this iteration of Taylor Swift, there’s no denying her continued success! From ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ to ‘Eldest Daughter,’ she always commits to the bit, and we love that about her.
DO IT – Stray Kids
Two Billboard 200 number one albums in 2025? Stray Kids were the only act to DO IT! Last, but certainly not least, one of K-Pop’s biggest groups returned in early December. DO IT is the second in their SKZ-TAPE series, following on from 2024’s HOP, which, you guessed it, also hit number one.
Phew! That’s all of them! Which Billboard 200 number one from 2025 is your favorite? Or, were you surprised not to see your AOTY on this list? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
2025 was truly the best year in pop music we’ve had in a while! It seems like artists are simply locking back into what makes a true pop song and mastering that art. Narrowing this list down to simply 25 songs was quite the challenge, but we think this list is the best of the best throughout all facets of pop music! From Olivia Dean and Chappell Roan to Greyson Chance and so many more, let’s jump in!
Taylor Swift – ‘The Fate of Ophelia’
There is no way to talk about the great pop resurgence of 2025 without highlighting The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift. For us, the entire album is full of examples of a true-to-form pop song, but we had to choose to highlight ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ due to it being inescapable since its release. This song is pure ear candy, and will get stuck in your head for hours even after just hearing a few seconds.
Olivia Dean – ‘Man I Need’
Olivia Dean is taking the pop music world by storm with ‘Man I Need,’ and to us that makes perfect sense. In anyone else’s discography, ‘Man I Need’ would be an easy career highlight, and yet, it’s one of many songs on Olivia’s most recent album, The Art of Loving, that blew us away upon the first listen and could have easily taken this spot.
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘House Tour’
Man’s Best Friend is stacked top to bottom with pop gold, but after listening back through the album, ‘House Tour’ had to be our choice! Everything from that infectious chorus to the “my house is on pretty girl avenue” line made this one of those songs that will soundtrack nights out for us through the foreseeable future.
Jonas Brothers – ‘Love Me To Heaven’
The Jonas Brothers have been experts at the pop music game since Nick first uttered the words ‘red dress’ back in 2008, so it’s no surprise to us that they are only getting better and better 17 years later. Their newest record, Greetings From Your Hometown, had an obvious stand-out to us the first time we listened, and that was ‘Love Me To Heaven.’
Audrey Hobert – ‘Phoebe’
Who’s The Clown?by Audrey Hobert was truly on an endless loop here at THP! Upon first listen, it was automatically clear that we were witnessing the artistic birth of someone who had a crystal clear understanding of how to bring themselves through in the music, be specific while staying relatable, and develop a sound that was particularly hers. We could have easily put any song from the album here, but ‘Phoebe’ is a forever favorite of ours!
Greyson Chance – ‘Waiting Outside The Lines ‘25’
No, we are not trying to transport you back to 2011, but there is so much beauty in taking a certified nostalgia-packed hit and reimagining it with years of life lived and heightened vocal ability to back it up. We can’t help but have a permanent smile on our face listening to this track and diving into Greyson’s current catalog (which everyone should do themselves the favor of doing)!
Jensen McRae – ‘Novelty’
If you asked us what album impacted us the most this year, one of the easiest answers would be I Don’t Know How But They Found Me!Anyone who has dived into Jensen’s discography knows what a savant she is. Her relationship to her pen is one of one, and this album may be the best example of that in her discography so far. ‘Novelty’ is the song that immediately jumps out at us as a must-listen.
Lady Gaga – ‘How Bad Do U Want Me’
Lady Gaga is synonymous with pop music at this point. She has always had the skill on lock, and in many ways, has influenced so much of what the modern genre looks like. MAYHEM was a true return to form for Lady Gaga, and showed that her knowledge and talent with the pop music world has never faltered. ‘How Bad Do U Want Me’ is an instant smash and is still on repeat.
5 Seconds of Summer – ‘NOT OK’
We will forever preach our love for 5 Seconds of Summer and how they get better with every release! (If you didn’t know, this band is literally why THP exists!) EVERYONE’S A STARcame out just over a month ago and is the band’s most ambitious, larger-than-life project yet. But of course, every element was nailed perfectly. Each of the guys has so many standout moments, but there are even more moments when it is so clear why they continue to make music together: everything flows seamlessly.
Sadie Jean – ‘She’s Dating My Boyfriend’
Sadie Jean is the exact singer-songwriter your playlist is in need of, and we had to highlight a track off her debut album, Early Twenties Torture! Every song on this record feels like Sadie had a insider’s look at our deepest thoughts and struggles, was able to turn them poetic, and then put them to music. That skill of relatability is rare. ‘She’s Dating My Boyfriend’ is our favorite example of that peek inside our minds.
Laufey – ‘Lover Girl’
Laufey has seamlessly blended the worlds of pop and jazz music and made a fusion that leaves us regularly at a loss for words. A Matter of Time is Laufey’s most recent album. And upon our first listen, it was clear that this is a generational album, one of those records where anyone who gives it a chance will fall in love with it. ‘Lover Girl’ is our favorite song off the record, so we had to highlight it!
Amber Mark – ‘Let Me Love You’
Amber Mark is the pop star you’ve been looking to add to your playlists! If you’re a fan of artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Dean, Amber’s album, Pretty Idea, and specifically our favorite track, ‘Let Me Love You,’ is going to be right up your alley! We are predicting that 2026 is going to be a huge year for Amber! And with music of this quality, it makes complete sense!
Justin Bieber – ‘Yukon’
‘Yukon’ was one of our most-streamed songs of the year; it’s that serious to us! SWAG, for us, felt like Justin coming back into his own, making the music that feels true to form. With ‘Yukon,’ that infectious chorus we’ve come to know and love from Justin Bieber is the shining star, which definitely adds to why we are constantly playing this track on a loop.
Lydia Night – ‘The Bomb’
You may know Lydia Night from her time with the band The Regrettes, but trust us when we say she has turned into a full-blown solo pop star. Lydia released her debut album, Parody of Pleasure, back in August, and all thirteen songs are expertly crafted! ‘The Bomb’ has been a standout since we first dove into this album. The song is playful and reminiscent of early 2000s pop.
Role Model – ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’
Obviously, ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’ has taken the world by storm this year, so there was no way we weren’t going to give Role Model his flowers. We haven’t heard a chorus quite as infectious as ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’ in quite a long time. It’s impossible not be in an instant good mood when it hits.
Myles Smith – ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’
If you were as obsessed with Myles Smith’s ‘Stargazing’ as we were, then ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’ is the perfect addition to your playlists! Myles is someone who you continue to find new things about his artistry to dig into with each listen.
Zara Larsson is a pop star in the truest sense of the word. Her entire album, Midnight Sun, is a pop masterclass, in which she’s the only person equipped to teach. When we first heard the title track ‘Midnight Sun,’ we knew that this was a whole new ball game in terms of pop music, and that we would take every opportunity to praise what Zara is doing with her artistry.
HAIM – ‘Relationships’
This song is pure ear candy and truly a discography highlight from one of our favorite trios! The chorus has serotonin woven into every line and lyric. And it makes us want to be out at night in the city with friends, dancing to every word. Their most recent album, i quit, is chock-full of tracks where you will see these themes.
Conan Gray – ‘Vodka Cranberry’
Conan Gray was born to make the exact music he’s making right now. He releases such infectious pop tracks with lyrics that both feel true to self for Conan and still connect deeply with his audience. ‘Vodka Cranberry’ blew up this year, and to us, it only makes perfect sense. This is a solidified hit.
Tate McRae – ‘Sports Car’
If you didn’t know, Tate McRae is a name that we have been screaming from the rooftops since we got to interview her years ago (which you can read here!). Tate blends musicality with dance seamlessly to draw people into who she is as a musician. ‘Sports Car’ and its visual components showcase exactly why Tate has quickly become a household name.
Avery Cochrane – ‘Shapeshifting On A Saturday Night’
Hailing from Seattle, Avery Cohrane is bound to be the name you can’t escape this next year in pop music! This year, she released her track, ‘Shapeshifting on a Saturday Night,’ and blew us away with the established pop sound she was crafting. If you’re a fan of artists like Chappell Roan or Olivia Rodrigo, we think you will love Avery!
Addison Rae – ‘Headphones On’
It’s no secret that Addison Rae has had a massive year. From the success of ‘Diet Pepsi’ and her tour to her debut album, Addison, everything about her career so far has been the beginning of a pop star who will be talked about and celebrated for years to come. For Addison, pop is a true work of performance art, following in the footsteps of the likes of Britney Spears. ‘Headphones On’ off her debut album summarizes everything we love most about Addison as an artist.
Reneé Rapp – ‘I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone’
We yell the chorus to ‘I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone’ at truly astronomical levels. Everything about this track resonates with us. Something that Reneé Rapp never fails to do is draw the listener in and weave her story in a way that feels relatable to others. On top of the lyrical content of the song, Reneé’s vocals are otherworldly here.
Demi Lovato – ‘Joshua Tree’
The 2025 version of Demi Lovato is the only artist who could craft an album like It’s Not That Deep. This record is a amalgamation of someone who has gone through it all. Someone who has experienced hardships and heartache and is in the complete opposite space now. And a lot of it is backtracked with songs you want to be in the club dancing to. That’s the duality of pop and of Demi, and it’s beautiful. To us, ‘Joshua Tree’ best represents the album as a whole.
Chappell Roan – ‘The Subway’
Ending our best 2025 pop songs with one that is still inescapable like ‘The Subway’ only felt right. Chappell Roan is a once-in-a-lifetime artist. She creates with such intention and really takes her time with each project, which comes through in the music. ‘The Subway’ will be looked at years from now as one of the great songs of the decade.
We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite pop song of 2025? Is it something off the new Taylor Swift album? Maybe a Conan Gray song? Or an Olivia Dean song? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
October is upon us, thus we can confidently say – it’s officially spooky season! Although we’ve been thinking about Halloween all year long, we’ve especially been pondering our pumpkin carving ideas. Thinking about the best way to incorporate your favorite album into your Halloween celebrations this year, like us? We suggest bringing your favorite artist’s 2025 album to life during your annual pumpkin-carving extravaganza. From our pop prince Justin Bieber to our pop princess Reneé Rapp – we’ve got a full list of ideas, honeybee!
Justin Bieber’s SWAG
‘It’s Not Clocking To You’ would be the funniest, most iconic pumpkin in the neighborhood. If you get it, you get it. You could even take it a step further and paint your pumpkin pink in honor ofSWAG II’s album cover. Any Belieber will immediately understand the reference and come to your doorstep first on Halloween night!
Make your pumpkin a tribute to your hometown! From carving the Statue of Liberty for New York to the English flag for London or a set of angel wings for Los Angeles, the options here are truly endless. Bonus points if you live in Nick, Joe, and Kevin’s home state of New Jersey.
Lady Gaga needs to be part of your Halloween festivities this year, no questions asked. She’s had an exceptional year of new music, festival headlines, and a sold-out tour. The spookiest time of year has MAYHEM’s name written all over it. You could go for a ‘Zombieboy’ vibe or keep it cute with a reference to ‘Garden of Eden.’ The choice is up to you! Either way, Lady Gaga herself would be proud.
Not in the Halloween spirit this year? Don’t want little kids coming up to your front door begging for Kit-Kats and M&Ms? Carve your pumpkin with Reneé Rapp’s “Leave Me Alone!” and it’ll be sure to scare off any suspecting candy-seekers. You can also spend the whole night alone in the comfort of your own kid-free space, watchingMean Girls – duh!
Which of these four pumpkin designs are you going to carve this year? Did we shout out your favorite album of 2025? Let us know in the comments or let us know by buzzing with us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!
Kanye Westreleased an apology for his antisemitic comments last month, and was on the cusp of dropping another one, a rambling video said to be nonsensical but lengthy. But what good are those words when he’s wearing a picture of what he really supports?
The Power rapper was spotted in a pic on the social media of fellow rapper JPEGMafia on Friday morning, and in it he’s wearing an extremely controversial t-shirt. It’s the shirt of a Norwegian black metal band from the ’90s called Burzum — a band actually made up of just one man, Varg Vilkernes (above, inset — from prison), whose face is shown prominently on the tee.
If any of these names are sounding familiar it’s less likely you’ve heard his music on Spotify — and more likely you’ve heard about him on a true crime podcast.
Vilkernes is a convicted arsonist and murderer who spent 15 years in prison for burning down churches and stabbing to death a bandmate and rival named Euronymous from the band Mayhem. They made a movie about it a couple years back called Lords of Chaos. It starred a Culkin.
The other thing that’s crucial to know about Varg? He was an out-and-proud, unabashed Nazi.
Yes, during his time in prison he actually launched a whole neo-Nazi movement in Scandinavia called the Norwegian Heathen Front. He was one of the few people to receive a copy of the manifesto by that far-right terrorist who killed 77 people in Norway in 2011. He was arrested a couple years later on suspicion of planning acts of terrorism, but it couldn’t be proven. After that he dropped some of the more overtly antisemitic, explicitly Nazi rhetoric. But he still preaches the same crap: racism and white supremacy, enough that YouTube deplatformed him in 2019.
We say all this so you know this isn’t hyperbole — this man is a modern neo-Nazi thought leader. And those in the know spoke out, with fans on social media writing:
“Bro wearing a band t-shirt from a known Neo-n*zi.”
“Burzum’s music and views are trash so that makes sense for YE.”
“Huge fan of you bro but this is disappointing.”
Has that last person not been paying attention to anything else Ye has been saying for the past couple years??
Liora Rez, the exec director of StopAntisemitism, said in a statement to DailyMail.com:
“StopAntisemitism strongly condemns Kanye’s decision to wear a t-shirt depicting Kristian ‘Varg’ Vikernes, a neo-Nazi killer with a notorious history of violence and hate. This is yet another disgusting example of the disgraced rapper publicly associating with white supremacists — promoting the legacy of an individual who has caused immense harm and poses a threat to marginalized communities everywhere. There will never be a redemption arc for Kanye West, period. What will he try next? Another apology in Hebrew?”
Fair.
Obviously this isn’t the most egregiously antisemitic thing Kanye has done, but it’s a pretty big red flag — or black flag in this case — that he’s in no way remorseful for his views.
To learn more about antisemitism and how you can help fight it, check out https://www.adl.org/.
