Labor Day has come and gone, and with it ends a packed summer in pop stardom. August in particular brought with it some very big new album releases, some very exciting new hits, and some very loud pop discourses — along with the very sad passing of one all-time music legend, and the debut of one historic-feeling concert festival at month’s end, led by one of the leading lights of all 2020s popular music.
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This week on the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, we catch up with all the stars who defined August 2026 in pop stardom. Host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Danielle Pascual and Eric Frankenberg to share and debate our respective August top five lists, while also naming some honorable mentions, some disappointments, and some artists who we’re looking forward to in the final third of the year. (If you want to listen back to our first seven 2026 recaps, or any of our 2025 episodes, you can check them all out here.)
Along the way, we answer all the most pressing questions about August in pop stardom: How big a deal was the Daisy Chain Fields festival for cementing Olivia Rodrigo as the leader of her pop star generation? Has the runaway success of Karol G’s “Bby Wow” already validated the relatively soft debut of its parent album? Which of the Steve Lacy and Tame Impala Spider-Man synchs made more sense as a breakout moment? Is KATSEYE making the pop music of the future? Did we expect the outpouring of grief and adulation from all corners following Dolly Parton’s death? Does everyone just need to take a breath before talking any more about Stella Lefty? And most importantly: Who’s leading the Greatest Pop Stars of 2026 discussion with four months to go in the year?
Check it out above, and subscribe to the Greatest Pop Stars podcast on Apple Music or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts) for weekly discussions every Thursday about all things related to pop stardom! (Also read the new r/Popheads zine, spearheaded by many-time Greatest Pop Stars guest AJ Marks.)
And as we say in every one of these GPS podcast posts — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights:
Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe
Human Rights Campaign – In Your Area
Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org.
If you are struggling with disordered eating, please contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders at (866) 662-1235. You can also visit their websites for resources, help, and more information.
