2021-11: Maureen Cleave, British journalist who championed the Beatles...

... dies at 87.

More popular than... Jesus?

https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/music/2021/nov/08/maureen-cleave-british-journalist-who-championed-the-beatles-dies-aged-87

Quoting:

"Maureen Cleave, British journalist who championed the Beatles, dies aged 87

After befriending the band, Cleave influenced their lyrics and prompted John Lennon’s infamous comment that they were ‘more popular than Jesus'" (...)

"Her most famous encounter came with John Lennon in 1966, who told her: “Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now. I don’t know which will go first, rock’n’roll or Christianity.” His statements outraged God-fearing Americans and damaged the band’s popularity – after their tour of the States later that year, they never toured in the US again. Lennon later wrote: “If I hadn’t said the Beatles were ‘bigger than Jesus’ … well, Lord, I might still be up there with all the other performing fleas.”"