Stranger Things Star’s Solo Project Surpasses Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” on Spotify’s Global Chart

Joe Keery is having a major moment, and it is not just because of acting. After the final episode of “Stranger Things” aired, the actor has quickly become a big name in music as well.

Keery, who played Steve Harrington on the Netflix series, also makes music under the name Djo. His song “End of Beginning,” released in 2022, has suddenly taken off in a huge way.

The track recently reached number one on Spotify’s daily charts. It moved past Taylor Swift’s song “The Fate of Ophelia,” which had been holding the top spot since her album “The Life of a Showgirl” came out in October.

According to Spotify, “End of Beginning” has stayed at number one since January 2, 2026. That timing lines up closely with the release of the “Stranger Things” series finale. What makes this even more surprising is that the song is almost four years old and only now reaching this level of success.

Keery worked on his music career while still filming “Stranger Things.” For nearly ten years, he balanced acting and recording during breaks from the show. His character was not even meant to last long in the series, but instead became one of its most loved roles. Now, that long run on Netflix has helped shine a light on his music at the same time.

This is not the first time “End of Beginning” has gained attention. In 2024, the song climbed high on the Billboard charts. Speaking to Billboard at the time, Keery shared his thoughts on the success.

He said, “It’s really cool, but I almost feel like I don’t have the perspective to really appreciate what’s going on in a way.” He added, “They’re cool milestones to hit, but at the end of the day, the greatest thing is being able to go into the studio and work.”

Right now, Keery is visible everywhere. The “Stranger Things” finale performed strongly both in theaters and on Netflix, while his music sits at the top of streaming charts. At the same time, he continues to act. He has a new movie called “Cold Storage” scheduled for release in February. Reports also suggest he will not be part of any “Stranger Things” spin-off, giving him more time to focus on other projects.

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