Top 10 Singers Who Became Parodies of Themselves

#10: Sabrina Carpenter

Carpenter became a household name in 2024 after her album “Short n’ Sweet” dominated the charts. It included the hit single “Espresso,” which was played to death. One of the reasons she was so appealing was how sex positive she was, something many women found refreshing. In 2025, she announced a follow-up album, “Man’s Best Friend,” with a highly controversial cover. Many criticized her for pandering to the male gaze. There were defenders, though, who claimed it’s a satire and a challenge to misogynistic ideals. In response, Carpenter released a cover approved by God, with none of the controversial elements of the original art.

#9: Bono / U2

Bono is most famous for being the frontman of the Irish band U2. He also earned a reputation as an activist, but some critics paint him as a bit of a hypocrite. Despite being an advocate for social justice, he’s been criticized by some for his efforts to improve conditions in some African countries. His efforts to improve conditions bypass African businesses, with the head of the small charity African Aid Action saying efforts like this have only increased poverty. Additionally, Bono’s been known to avoid taxes, which harms the less fortunate, whom he considers himself a champion of.

#8: Green Day

Back in the 90s, Green Day was at the peak of the contrarian punk movement. Their raw, angsty sound earned them a huge following, but as their careers went on, they became the exact type of rock band the punk movement was meant to challenge. Their 21st-century releases feel like a rehash of rebellion, making the band appear like they’re simply cosplaying their younger selves. Their music also feels increasingly formulaic, with almost none of the energy they used to have. Currently, they feel like they’re struggling to stay cool and mainstream, rather than just being themselves without caring what others think, as a true punk should.

#7: Madonna

She’s been called the “Queen of Pop” and for good reason. For decades, she was one of the best-selling musicians globally. In her prime, she constantly reinvented her image, style, and persona. As time passed, these reinventions felt less and less authentic, feeling more like an attempt to stay relevant, rather than being creatively inspired. Now she frequently tries collaborating with younger artists like Drake to stay relevant. These efforts often come across as tone-deaf and forced, not helping her image. Still, Madonna was a trailblazer, and we have to appreciate her immense contributions to the industry. We just wish she were still as creative as she used to be.

#6: Eminem

In the early 2000s, Eminem became known as one of the most savage rappers in the game. His early music was revolutionary, but over time his outrageous persona has felt increasingly repetitive. He’s still technically gifted, but he seems to prioritize speed and the complexity of rhyme schemes rather than lyrical substance. He’s also no longer untouchable; now he feels like he’s begging for a fight, daring people to diss him, but no one really cares about insulting an old man. Eminem still pretends he’s hip hop’s apex predator, but that was over 20 years ago.

#5: Morrissey

As frontman of The Smiths, Morrissey considered himself a working class hero. Now he’s a vocal supporter of far right nationalist movements. He went from being “the charming man” to the elderly relative who gets overly political at Christmas dinners. Tons of his fans feel betrayed by his political leanings and how hostile he appears towards modern culture. For instance, he was once spotted wearing a For Britain badge in a performance. For those unaware, even one of Britain’s most right-wing politicians, Nigel Farage, called it a party of “Nazis and racists.” It feels like he cherishes being a divisive figure, as if he’s doing it on purpose to stay relevant.

#4: Meghan Trainor

In 2014, Trainor’s debut single “All About That Bass” became a global hit, selling over 11 million copies. It was a wonderfully wholesome track about body positivity, telling women not to feel ashamed if they didn’t conform to beauty standards. Since then, she’s gone against her message, using a weight-loss drug to get thin, alongside getting breast implants. It’s her body, she can do what she wants with it, but it feels like a betrayal of the message of “All About That Bass.” Trainor became known for challenging beauty standards, but now that she conforms to them, she’s nowhere near as popular.

#3: Snoop Dogg

Few rappers are as universally known as Snoop Dogg. In the early 90s, he became huge in the West Coast hip hop scene. Now he hosts game shows with Martha Stewart and has a brand of cereal, making him feel more like a product than a rapper. What makes him stand out from the other entries is how aware he is of it. Snoop leans completely into the image, and it’s earned him millions. For example, in 2023, he made headlines by announcing that he was “giving up smoke.” Many were concerned for his health, but it turned out to be just an advertising campaign for smokeless stoves.

#2: Drake

As his career has gone on, Canadian rapper Drake has arguably become the king of an artist parodying themselves. In his early years, he came across like the sensitive lover, but now he seems to recycle the same themes over and over. His early vulnerability was groundbreaking, but now it feels entirely disingenuous. He’s also tried to make himself look like the underdog in tracks like “Started From The Bottom,” even though as a successful teenage actor he would have made some money. His beef with titan Kendrick Lamar was also majorly embarrassing. Kendrick came at him with surgical precision, and Drake’s response was poorly worded deflections. Many of these responses had the opposite effect that Drake intended, seriously hurting his reputation.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Limp Bizkit

“Still Sucks” Shows They Prefer To Mock Their Legacy, Rather Than Evolve

Weezer

Cuomo’s Tracks Still Sound Like a Romantically Frustrated Teen, Despite Being Married

Ice Spice

Her Recent Tracks Feel Like a Desperate Attempt to Keep Viral

#1: Katy Perry

In the late 2000s, Katy Perry was a pop powerhouse. Now, she’s a desperate trend chaser, with only a fraction of her previous popularity. Her 2024 album “143” was an absolute disaster. Its lead single was the highly controversial “Woman’s World,” produced by alleged abuser Dr. Luke. It was feminist, but in the lowest effort way possible. Its respective music video was highly scandalous, with all her dancers having the same body type. It felt like it was entirely appealing to the male gaze, with little empowerment. A generic attempt to relive her past glory, it instead highlighted how far she’d fallen from grace.

Were there any singers we forgot who you thought should’ve made the cut? Let us know in the comments below!