Just two weeks after SZA made history at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) when hits found aboard her blockbuster sophomore album, ‘SOS,’ planted her beside Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey for a record number of Gold-certified songs, the 33-year-old finds herself sharing another headline with the mega-selling divas – this time thanks to Billboard.

More inside.

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After a 3-year hiatus, the American Music Awards – one of music’s biggest nights – opted to take an unconventional approach to its return to screens by toasting its indelible legacy courtesy of a 50th Anniversary Special.

Aired Sunday night (October 6), the star-studded affair not only boasted special appearances by big stars and legendary acts like Jennifer Lopez, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Smokie Robinson, Samuel L. Jackson, Gloria Estefan, and more, but also gathered a megawatt roster of performers including Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey, Gladys Knight, Green Day, Nelly, Chaka Khan, and more.

Did you miss the action when it first aired on CBS? No worries; we’ve got you covered.

Hop inside to see the amazing performances.

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Has American business and finance magazine Forbes written a critical check it can’t cash? R&B enthusiasts sure seem to think so!

The money mag took a break from counting coins to counting down the “25 Greatest R&B Artists of All Time,” a list that saw Queen of NeoSoul Erykah Badu crowned its reigning monarch.

And while expected names like Anita Baker, Sade, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Mariah Carey, and Brandy all made the cut (albeit in arguable positions and mostly below relative newcomer SZA), readers were stunned to see some of music history’s biggest names omitted.

See who inside.

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In the Billboard Hot 100’s 65-year history, only 8 female-led songs can boast a tenancy of over 60 weeks.

Before the chart’s updated print, Mariah Carey – with her perennial holiday hit ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ – reigned as the only woman of color in the exclusive group as the yuletide tune sits in second place on the all-time list among females.

The Songbird Supreme made room for company in her nest this week, however, when SZA‘s history-making smash ‘Snooze‘ woke her up to news it had crossed the elusive threshold.

Details inside.

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The Hot 100 has done all but sleep on ‘Snooze,’ the history-making sixth single from SZA‘s chart-busting sophomore album ‘SOS.’

As if marking a personal milestone for being her longest-charting song to date (racking up a whopping 56-week and counting) wasn’t enough, the Babyface-produced bop was penciled in record books when it went on to be the only song to be printed on the hitlist every week last year.

Having already tied or broken Billboard records by music monarchs Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, Rihanna, and others, SZA woke up in 2024 to news ‘Snooze’ had helped her break a three-way tie with Pop royals Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson thanks to its rebound into the Hot 100’s top 10.

Details inside.

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From their ‘Greatest Singers Ever‘ and ‘Top 200 Songs of the 80s‘ to the ‘Top 15 Rap Songs of 2023‘ and beyond, Rolling Stone is no stranger to getting collective side-eyes from music lovers for their polarizing rankings on “best-ever” tallies.

And, if the response to one of their latest lists is any indication, that criticism won’t be stopping any time soon.

Turning heads this week with the unveiling of the ‘100 Best R&B Songs of the 21st Century,’ the lineup featured some expected entries in unexpected positions alongside some snubs and downright shocking placements (e.g. Usher‘s ‘Confessions‘ at #1 and Beyonce‘s ‘Dangerously in Love’ at #3).

Among those surprising appearances was GRAMMY-winning diva SZA whose ‘SOS‘ 2022 hit ‘Snooze‘ awakened debate with its top 20 placement.

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From their ‘Greatest Singers Ever‘ and ‘Top 200 Songs of the 80s‘ to the ‘Top 15 Rap Songs of 2023‘ and beyond, Rolling Stone is no stranger to getting collective side-eyes from music lovers for their polarizing rankings on “best-ever” tallies.

And, if the response to one of their latest lists is any indication, that criticism won’t be stopping any time soon.

Turning heads this week with the unveiling of the ‘100 Best R&B Songs of the 21st Century,’ the lineup featured some expected entries in unexpected positions alongside some downright shocking placements and omissions.

Did your fave make the top 20? See the full list inside.

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To say 2023 was SZA‘s year is an understatement in itself.

From matching or surpassing the chart stats of legends like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson,  Mariah Carey, and Mary J. Blige to enjoying a slew of personal milestones (e.g. ‘Kill Bill’ becoming her first #1 placement on the all-genre chart), the GRAMMY winner (born Solana Rowe) rocked the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 all year long.

And, if persual of the updated edition of the latter tally is any indication, she’s not done.

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Thanks to her blockbuster 2022 album ‘SOS,‘ the long-awaited follow-up to 2017’s ‘CTRL,’ R&B diva SZA (born Solana Rowe) is the name on the lips of many-an-industry critic as they roll out their 2023 year-end lists.

Having already made headlines for being crowned Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the year as well as runner-up for female artist of the year (second to Taylor Swift), Rowe’s record-breaking last 12 months have also led her to the throne of other top publications like ‘New York Times,’ ‘LA Times,’ and ‘Rolling Stone.’

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As critics’ and industry year-end charts reiterate, SZA had a hell of a 2023.

After dropping her long-awaited sophomore album, 2022’s ‘SOS,’ the chart-topping songstress broke boundaries and records for R&B – matching or even surpassing some jaw-dropping stats previously lifted by divas like Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and Mary J. Blige (as we reported here).

The ongoing success of the project is why she was rightfully crowned Hitmaker of the Year over at ‘Variety.’

What’s more, if a deluxe edition of ‘SOS,’ an expanded world tour, and those GRAMMY nods are anything to judge by, her 2024 may be even bigger.

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Thanks to the towering success of her long-awaited sophomore album, 2022’s ‘SOS,’ few in recent Billboard history can boast the year singer-songwriter SZA has had!

So much so, she’s been crowned the year’s top R&B act.

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As if 2023 hasn’t already sent Beyonce‘s crowded trophy case into overflow thanks to being the most-decorated singer in the history of the GRAMMYs, MTV VMAs, BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, and NAACP Image Awards respectively, now – courtesy of historic wins at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) – the ‘Renaissance‘ diva is well on the way to claiming the same at that award show as well.

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