The early 2000s marked a turning point in pop music, driven by a wave of female artists who redefined what it meant to be a global star. These women weren’t just selling records. They were rewriting the rules, taking creative control, and shaping the sound of a new generation. Their albums captured heartbreak, defiance, ambition, and vulnerability, all while dominating charts and airwaves. What follows is a look back at six landmark releases that didn’t just succeed commercially, they set the standard, and their influence still echoes through pop music today.
Breakaway – Kelly Clarkson (2004)
Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway was a breakout moment that seamlessly moved her from Idol sensation to mainstream powerhouse. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 250,000 copies. It remained in the Billboard 200 top 20 for a full year and went on to sell over 6.3 million copies in the US by 2017. Globally, Breakaway has moved roughly 12 million units, placing it among the best-selling female albums of the 21st century.
Chart performance was strong across the globe. In the UK it reached number three and sold over 1.5 million copies. It also topped the charts in Ireland, Australia, and the Netherlands, among others.
The Emancipation of Mimi – Mariah Carey (2005)
Mariah Carey’s career revival album The Emancipation of Mimi reclaimed her position at the top of pop. It sold over seven million copies in the US alone and hit number one on the Billboard 200, marking her strongest comeback to date. The Emancipation of Mimi has sold over 10 million copies worldwide making it one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century. The album continued her global dominance, helping establish it as a defining release of the era.
Stripped – Christina Aguilera (2002)
Christina Aguilera’s Stripped marked a bold shift in tone and image. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and achieved multi‐platinum status with sales of 5 million copies in the US. It is Aguilera’s best-performing album in the United Kingdom, becoming the 29th and 40th bestselling album of the decade and millennium there, respectively, with two million copies sold. The album has sold over 12 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century. Over time it has been celebrated as a landmark in feminist pop, influencing countless artists including Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus.
Back to Black – Amy Winehouse (2006)
Back to Black is more than a soul revival, it is a record-breaking masterpiece. It debuted at number three in the UK with 43,021 copies sold in its first week. The album went on to sell 3.58 million copies in the UK alone, making it the best-selling British female album of the 21st century. Globally it has sold approximately 16 million copies.
In the US Back to Black debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, eventually peaking at number two and earning a double platinum certification for two million units sold. Internationally it topped charts across Europe and achieved eight-times platinum status for European sales totalling 8 million units
Spirit – Leona Lewis (2007)
Leona Lewis’s debut Spirit landed at number one in both the UK and the US, setting records as the fastest-selling debut album by a British solo female artist and the first UK solo artist to debut at number one with a debut album, in the US. It went double platinum in the UK with over 600,000 units sold in its first month, eventually surpassing 3 million in global sales. The album remains one of the best-selling albums in UK chart history and is officially the best-selling debut album by a female artist in the 21st century, according to the Official Charts Company. Hits such as Bleeding Love and Better in Time continued to rack up awards and radio play worldwide.
The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga (2009)
Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster, technically an EP follow-up to her debut, stood as a cultural milestone. Featuring global hits such as Bad Romance and Telephone it propelled Gaga into the international spotlight. With over 5 million copies sold (as of 2020), the project topped charts across North America and Europe and earned Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Vocal Performance. According to Billboard, as of 2022, The Fame Monster is one of the 15 best-performing 21st-century albums without any of its singles being number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
And finally…
These albums were more than commercial triumphs. They gave female artists room to take risks, speak openly, and shape their own narratives. Breakaway remains a defining example of polished pop-rock with emotional weight. Stripped has been reclaimed as a bold, feminist statement. Back to Black continues to influence modern soul and confessional songwriting, and Amy Winehouse’s catalogue still draws in millions of listeners each month. The Fame Monster opened the door for a new era of theatrical, genre-bending pop and Gaga’s visuals and sound continue to shape pop culture and fashion.
These records didn’t just soundtrack the decade, they transformed it, and in doing so, they laid the groundwork for the next generation of artists who now carry that legacy forward.
