Special Report

Artists With the Most No. 1 Hits

Charles Stockdale

Published: April 20, 2018 2:50 pm

Last Updated: March 13, 2020 4:34 pm

The Billboard Hot 100 has been tracking the most popular music in America for nearly 60 years. And while thousands of artists have succeeded to get a song on the list, barely 600 have managed to score a No. 1 hit.

To send multiple singles to the top of the charts is even more rare. In fact, only 50 artists have managed to have more than three singles reach the No. 1 spot in the history of the Hot 100.

To identify the artists with the most No. 1 hits, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed chart rankings going back to 1960.

Click here to see the artists with the most No. 1 hits.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

Source: Lala Lugo / Wikimedia Commons

50. Roxette
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 5
> First chart topper: The Look (4/8/1989)

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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

49. John Denver
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 5
> First chart topper: Sunshine On My Shoulders (3/30/1974)

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48. Britney Spears
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 5
> First chart topper: …Baby One More Time (1/30/1999)

Source: Zoran Veselinovic / Wikimedia Commons

47. The Temptations
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> First chart topper: My Girl (3/6/1965)

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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

46. The Beach Boys
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> First chart topper: I Get Around (7/4/1964)

Source: Mike Coppola / Getty Images

45. Bon Jovi
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 8
> First chart topper: You Give Love A Bad Name (11/29/1986)

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Source: David Carroll / Wikimedia Commons

44. Cher
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 9
> First chart topper: Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves (11/6/1971)

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43. Jackson 5
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 10
> First chart topper: I Want You Back (1/31/1970)

Source: Adolphs-Dog / Wikimedia Commons

42. Blondie
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 10
> First chart topper: Heart Of Glass (4/28/1979)

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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

41. Lionel Richie
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 12
> First chart topper: Truly (11/27/1982)

Source: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

40. Bobby Vinton
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 12
> First chart topper: Roses Are Red (My Love) (7/14/1962)

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39. Justin Timberlake
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 12
> First chart topper: SexyBack (9/9/2006)

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38. Christina Aguilera
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 16
> First chart topper: Genie In A Bottle (7/31/1999)

Source: Pete Sekesan / Wikimedia Commons

37. Destiny’s Child
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 17
> First chart topper: Bills, Bills, Bills (7/17/1999)

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Source: Eva Rinaldi / Wikimedia Commons

36. Olivia Newton-John
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 17
> First chart topper: I Honestly Love You (10/5/1974)

Source: Jason Merritt / Getty Images

35. TLC
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 18
> First chart topper: Creep (1/28/1995)

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34. Jennifer Lopez
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 20
> First chart topper: I’m Real (9/8/2001)

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33. Nelly
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 23
> First chart topper: Dilemma (8/17/2002)

Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

32. Adele
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 24
> First chart topper: Rolling In The Deep (5/21/2011)

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Source: Lunchbox LP / Wikimedia Commons

31. Boyz II Men
> No. 1 hits: 4
> Total weeks at No. 1: 34
> First chart topper: End Of The Road (8/15/1992)

Source: Rick Diamond / Getty Images

30. Eagles
> No. 1 hits: 5
> Total weeks at No. 1: 5
> First chart topper: Best Of My Love (3/1/1975)

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29. KC And The Sunshine Band
> No. 1 hits: 5
> Total weeks at No. 1: 6
> First chart topper: Get Down Tonight (8/30/1975)

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28. Diana Ross
> No. 1 hits: 5
> Total weeks at No. 1: 11
> First chart topper: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (9/19/1970)

Source: Yves Lorson / Wikimedia Commons

27. George Michael
> No. 1 hits: 5
> Total weeks at No. 1: 12
> First chart topper: Faith (12/12/1987)

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26. Prince
> No. 1 hits: 5
> Total weeks at No. 1: 12
> First chart topper: When Doves Cry (7/7/1984)

Source: Joe Scarnici / Getty Images

25. Barbra Streisand
> No. 1 hits: 5
> Total weeks at No. 1: 13
> First chart topper: The Way We Were (2/2/1974)

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24. Bruno Mars
> No. 1 hits: 5
> Total weeks at No. 1: 16
> First chart topper: Just The Way You Are (10/2/2010)

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23. Taylor Swift
> No. 1 hits: 5
> Total weeks at No. 1: 18
> First chart topper: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (9/1/2012)

Source: Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

22. The 4 Seasons
> No. 1 hits: 5
> Total weeks at No. 1: 18
> First chart topper: Sherry (9/15/1962)

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21. Eminem
> No. 1 hits: 5
> Total weeks at No. 1: 25
> First chart topper: Lose Yourself (11/9/2002)

Source: Asterio Tecson / Wikimedia Commons

20. Beyoncé
> No. 1 hits: 5
> Total weeks at No. 1: 36
> First chart topper: Crazy In Love (7/12/2003)

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19. Daryl Hall John Oates
> No. 1 hits: 6
> Total weeks at No. 1: 14
> First chart topper: Rich Girl (3/26/1977)

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18. Phil Collins
> No. 1 hits: 6
> Total weeks at No. 1: 14
> First chart topper: Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) (4/21/1984)

Source: Alan Light / Wikimedia Commons

17. Paula Abdul
> No. 1 hits: 6
> Total weeks at No. 1: 15
> First chart topper: Straight Up (2/11/1989)

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16. Paul McCartney
> No. 1 hits: 6
> Total weeks at No. 1: 22
> First chart topper: Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey (9/4/1971)

Source: Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com

15. Stevie Wonder
> No. 1 hits: 7
> Total weeks at No. 1: 11
> First chart topper: Superstition (1/27/1973)

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Source: Keystone / Getty Images

14. Elvis Presley
> No. 1 hits: 7
> Total weeks at No. 1: 20
> First chart topper: A Big Hunk O’ Love (10/8/1959)

Source: J Vettorino from USA / Wikimedia Commons

13. Janet Jackson
> No. 1 hits: 7
> Total weeks at No. 1: 21
> First chart topper: When I Think Of You (10/11/1986)

Source: Alexander Mazurkevich / Shutterstock.com

12. Elton John
> No. 1 hits: 7
> Total weeks at No. 1: 26
> First chart topper: Crocodile Rock (2/3/1973)

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Source: Keystone / Getty Images

11. The Rolling Stones
> No. 1 hits: 8
> Total weeks at No. 1: 17
> First chart topper: (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (7/10/1965)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

10. Bee Gees
> No. 1 hits: 9
> Total weeks at No. 1: 27
> First chart topper: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart (8/7/1971)

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9. Katy Perry
> No. 1 hits: 9
> Total weeks at No. 1: 33
> First chart topper: I Kissed A Girl (7/5/2008)

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8. Usher
> No. 1 hits: 9
> Total weeks at No. 1: 47
> First chart topper: Nice & Slow (2/14/1998)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

7. The Supremes
> No. 1 hits: 11
> Total weeks at No. 1: 20
> First chart topper: Where Did Our Love Go (8/22/1964)

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Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

6. Whitney Houston
> No. 1 hits: 11
> Total weeks at No. 1: 31
> First chart topper: Saving All My Love For You (10/26/1985)

Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images for NARAS

5. Rihanna
> No. 1 hits: 11
> Total weeks at No. 1: 43
> First chart topper: SOS (5/13/2006)

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Source: Phil Walter / Getty Images

4. Michael Jackson
> No. 1 hits: 12
> Total weeks at No. 1: 31
> First chart topper: Ben (10/14/1972)

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3. Madonna
> No. 1 hits: 12
> Total weeks at No. 1: 32
> First chart topper: Like A Virgin (12/22/1984)

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2. Mariah Carey
> No. 1 hits: 18
> Total weeks at No. 1: 79
> First chart topper: Vision Of Love (8/4/1990)

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Source: Fox Photos / Getty Images

1. The Beatles
> No. 1 hits: 20
> Total weeks at No. 1: 59
> First chart topper: I Want To Hold Your Hand (2/1/1964)

Detailed Findings & Methodology

The artists on our list have reached the top of the charts in every decade since the 1950s. Several of the artists who rank higher up on the list are more recent, however, despite being younger and having less time to release music. Fourteen of the 50 artists had their first No. 1 hit in the last two decades. Taylor Swift is the artist with the most recent No. 1 on the list with “Look What You Made Me Do.” The song topped the charts approximately four months after Bruno Mars’ “That’s What I Like,” the second most recent No. 1 by an artist on the list.

The musicians with the most No. 1 hits are not necessarily the same as those who spend the most time with a top single. Mariah Carey doesn’t have the most No. 1 hits, yet she has spent more time in that position than anyone else at 79 weeks. Usher – who had his first chart topping hit, “Nice & Slow” in 1998 – has spent a total of 47 weeks in the No. 1 position, the third most among all artists. Yet seven musicians have released more chart-toppers.

Certain artists had No. 1 hits as both solo artists and part of a music group, but such hits were not necessarily combined on our list. For example, Beyoncé is on the list and so is her former group, Destiny’s Child. Similarly, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 both appear on the list, as does Paul McCartney and The Beatles. However, a number of hits by Paul McCartney and Wings were attributed to Paul McCartney.

To identify the artists with the most No. 1 hits, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed Billboard Hot 100 rankings going back to August 1960. In cases where artists have the same number of No. 1 hits, the artist who spent more overall weeks in the No. 1 position was given the higher rank. In some cases, ties still remain. Collaborative tracks were attributed to the primary artist or whichever artist released the album that the track appears on. Certain songs were attributed to artists if they appeared on their Spotify pages. For instance, songs released by Paul McCartney and Wings were attributed simply to Paul McCartney. Similarly, songs released under Prince and the Revolution and Prince and the N.P.G. were tallied under Prince.