Thanks to its 46-week stay on the Hot 100, Kelly Clarkson‘s smash ‘Since U Been Gone‘ not only shines as her longest-charting hit yet on the tally but also one of the biggest of her career.

For that reason and others, the 2004-released tune was crowned the best Pop song to have debuted in the 2000s courtesy of Billboard’s ‘500 Best Pop Songs’ list.

The hit that almost never was, super producers Max Martin and Dr. Luke tag-teamed on the tune before presenting it to P!nk and Hilary Duff – both of whom passed on it.

Under the urging of record exec extraordinaire Clive Davis, the song landed in the lap of Clarkson who transformed it into a Power Pop-Rock anthem for her sophomore album, 2004’s ‘Breakaway.’ A critical and commercial darling, ‘Gone’ not only won rave reviews from music critics and fans at the height of its popularity but also ascended to a #2 peak on the Hot 100. Eventually, it won a GRAMMY.

Nearly 20 years later, its success narrative added a new chapter when Billboard – in celebration of its 65th anniversary and as a toast to Hot 100-charting singles only – revealed the full list of the ‘500 Best Pop Songs’ (October 20).

While Pop icon Whitney Houston‘s timeless hit ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ reigned as the overall champion, Kelly’s ‘Gone’ is the only song released this century that made the top 10.

Billboard’s 500 Best Pop Songs of All Time

#1 – Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’

#2 – ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’

#3 – The Temptations’ ‘My Girl’

#4 – Backstreet Boys’ ‘I Want It That Way’

#5 – Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Since U Been Gone’

#6 – Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer’

#7 – Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’

#8 – Carly Rae Jepsen’s ‘Call Me Maybe’

#9 – 2Pac’s ‘California Love’

#10 – The Beatles’ ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’

The modern-day classic is one of many favorites from the EMMY winner being performed at her ‘Chemistry…An Intimate Night with Kelly Clarkson‘ residency in Vegas (which was recently extended with 2024 dates).

Your thoughts?