Harry Styles Is Coming Back — Does That Mean It’s Officially Over For This American Pop Star?

Pop superstar and former One Direction member Harry Styles has been musically dormant since the release of his 2022 project, Harry’s House. However, his fandom has come alive amid industry whispers that his fourth studio album is slated for release early next year. With his hit single “As It Was” recently becoming the fastest song in Spotify history to surpass 4 billion streams, it’s clear there’s still a ravenous demand for him.

But with Styles easing out of hiatus, many have wondered about the implications it will have on rising star Benson Boone, who many claim has benefited from Styles’ absence. Occupying the pop “it” boy void left behind, can his flipping sustain the Styles renaissance?

Harry Styles and Benson Boone

31-year-old Harry Styles stole the world’s heart in 2010 as a tender young boy. He was a vital member of One Direction, the boy band formed on “The X Factor UK.” Though the group placed third in the competition, they quickly skyrocketed to global fame, becoming one of the most successful and best-selling boy bands of all time before going on hiatus in 2016.

Styles, equipped with his charisma, distinct voice, and willingness to experiment with both fashion and art, went on to build an equally successful solo career. His 2017 self-titled debut offered a more mature sound than what fans were used to, drawing rock and folk influences on hits like “Sign of the Times.” He continued to evolve with 2019’s Fine Line, which included the Grammy-winning single “Watermelon Sugar.” By the time he released Harry’s House in 2022, featuring the record-breaking hit As It Was, he had firmly established himself as one of the biggest pop stars of his generation. He’s since taken time away to focus on acting and exploring the streets of his newfound home in Italy, and while fans have respected his time needed to reset, they’ve loudly longed for his return.

In the meantime, 23-year-old Benson Boone also made his way into the industry via reality television. He competed on “American Idol” in early 2021 before withdrawing voluntarily just after earning a slot in the Top 24. Deciding to forge his own path, he signed with Night Street Records under Warner Records. His debut single “Ghost Town” instantly charted, introducing him to the world as a fresh pop talent with heartfelt storytelling and a striking vocal delivery. “Beautiful Things” was a real game-changer for the emerging star, going viral on social media and racking up millions of streams. From the Grammys to Coachella, he sets every stage he touches ablaze with his vocals and gravity-defying gymnastics. By 2024, as Styles was notably absent from the game, Boone had firmly positioned himself as one of pop’s most promising new voices.

Can The Two Co-Exist?

With many dubbing Boone the “American Harry Styles,” there is plenty of undeniable overlap between the two artists stylistically. Both have built vulnerable, soft pop catalogs that appeal to the masses, and both have also been accused of queer-baiting through their gender-bending fashion ventures. Their music often blends folk with soulful balladry, resonating particularly with coming-of-age listeners navigating love, heartbreak, and self-discovery.

“benson boone get ready to flip your last backflip,” wrote X user @bilswifeirl ahead of the news that Styles is set to return. This sentiment echoes most of social media’s stance, as some have found Boone to be an inadequate placeholder during Styles’ hiatus. Yet, he’s accumulated an impressive amount of success for himself in a short amount of time, including three Grammy nominations and reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Ultimately, there’s more than enough room for multiple pop stars to shine at once. If their female counterparts can seemingly master the art of co-existing, so can they. What’s more worth noting is whether or not there will be a sonic distinction between the two while they’re both active. With Benson Boone and Harry Styles releasing music within the same window of each other, one may be eclipsed if the other doesn’t experiment with some sort of pivot. However, with Styles having been dormant for so long, it may be naive to assume he’ll return sounding anything like he has before.