Was Courtney Love a 1995 Pop Star Despite Hole Not Having Pop Hits — And Does She Make Even More Sense in 2026? (Greatest Pop Stars Podcast)
Our Vintage Almost-Pop Stardom month continues on the 'Greatest Pop Stars' podcast with a look at one of the great rock bands of the '90s, whose frontwoman was the era's most incendiary.
In 1995, Hole's chart achievements were relatively modest, with Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 peaks in the 50s, and a single RIAA platinum certification for their breakthrough album Live Through This. However, the band's frontwoman, Courtney Love, had already become a media fixture due to her marriage to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who had tragically passed away in 1994.
This made Love and her band one of the most signature acts of that year, despite not achieving mainstream pop success. Courtney Love had become one of the most divisive women in America, with conspiracy theories swirling around her. Despite the band's limited mainstream presence, their music still felt seismic, and various topics were discussed on the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, including whether Hole's MTV Unplugged performance lived up to Nirvana's standard, the significance of the song "Doll Parts" as a signature hit, and who was the bigger secret weapon in the band's lineup.
The podcast also delved into the dynamics between Love and fellow band member Kathleen Hannah, and even questioned whether Love should connect with the trans community.
Written by urgent.news from Billboard's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
