Colombian superstar Shakira stands as the highest-ranking woman — and the only female artist in the top 10 — on Billboard’s Top Latin Artists of the 21st Century chart, a historic retrospective covering Latin music’s biggest names from 2000 to 2024.
The list, led by Bad Bunny places Shakira at No. 7 and honors the acts who have shaped Latin music’s sound, reach, and cultural dominance over the past quarter century. And while the lineup is stacked with genre-defining male stars — from Romeo Santos to Daddy Yankee — Shakira’s position underscores her unmatched longevity, innovation, and crossover appeal.
The Only Woman Among Giants
With 11 No. 1s on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart and six No. 1 albums on Top Latin Albums, Shakira remains a singular force in Latin pop. Her 2005 hit “La Tortura” featuring Alejandro Sanz broke records with its 25-week reignatop the Latin charts, setting a standard that stood for nearly a decade. Her landmark album Fijación Oral Vol. 1 spent 17 weeks at No. 1, demonstrating her ability to fuse poetic songwriting with a global pop sensibility.
From her early Spanish-language albums Pies Descalzos and Dónde Están los Ladrones? to her worldwide smashes Hips Don’t Lie, Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), and 2023’s viral “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” with Bizarrap, Shakira has continually evolved while keeping her cultural roots at the forefront.
The Men Who Dominate the Rest of the Top 10
Alongside Shakira are some of Latin music’s most influential male acts:
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Romeo Santos 2 — From Aventura frontman to King of Bachata, Santos has seven Hot Latin No. 1s as a solo star. His debut Fórmula, Vol. 1 holds the record for the longest-running No. 1 by a bachata soloist on Top Latin Albums.
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Daddy Yankee 3— The pioneer who globalized reggaetón, boasting seven Hot Latin No. 1s and iconic eras with Barrio Fino and Despacito.
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Enrique Iglesias 4— The format’s all-time leader with 27 Hot Latin Songs No. 1s, including the 41-week juggernaut “Bailando.”
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Marco Antonio Solís 5— The enduring voice of regional Mexican music, with 11 No. 1 albums and 28 Hot Latin Songs chart entries between 2000 and 2024.
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J Balvin 6— The Colombian reggaetón innovator who broke global barriers with “Ginza” and Energía, amassing nine Hot Latin No. 1s.
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Aventura 8— The Dominican-American band that redefined bachata for the diaspora; The Last spent 23 weeks at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums.
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Juanes 9— The Colombian rock-pop revolutionary with eight Hot Latin No. 1s and a streak of five No. 1 albums starting with Un Día Normal.
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Ozuna 10 — The modern streaming-era hitmaker, named Billboard’s Top Latin Artist of 2018, with five No. 1 songs and albums each; Odisea reigned 46 weeks atop the charts.
