British rock icon Elton John is famous for his showmanship, his outrageous costumes, and his eyeglasses. He also is one of the most prolific and enduring musicians in modern history. John has sold more than 255 million records worldwide. He first cracked the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970 and continues to churn out hits more than 50 years later.
To determine the biggest pop hits by Elton John, 24/7 Tempo reviewed performance data on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Songs were ranked based on an inverse score wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point. Chart data is current through the week of August 20, 2022.
Over his career, John has succeeded in the music genres of soft rock, country, pop rock, and hard rock, evolving from an introspective singer-songwriter into a flamboyant hitmaker who has sold out the biggest venues worldwide.
John’s had his first chart-topper in 1972 with “Crocodile Rock,” and since then, he’s made the top of the Billboard Hot 100 eight more times, making him one of the artists with the most No. 1 hits.
Click here to see the biggest pop hits by Elton John
He’s had hit singles in four separate decades, a testament to his longevity. More than 50 years after his first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, John collaborated with pop star Dua Lipa on a remix of his song “Cold Heart” in 2021. It rose to No. 7, and spent 51 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, the longest tenure there of any of his hits. (He does well with the long form, too. These are Elton John’s best albums according to Billboard.)
Source: D. Morrison / Getty Images
25. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
> Entered Hot 100: November 30, 1974
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 14
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Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
24. Blue Eyes
> Entered Hot 100: July 10, 1982
> Peak position on Hot 100: #12 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 18
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
23. Rocket Man
> Entered Hot 100: May 6, 1972
> Peak position on Hot 100: #6 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 15
Source: Sapiano / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
22. I’m Still Standing
> Entered Hot 100: May 7, 1983
> Peak position on Hot 100: #12 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 16
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Source: Jack Kay / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
21. Nikita
> Entered Hot 100: January 18, 1986
> Peak position on Hot 100: #7 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 18
Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images
20. Daniel
> Entered Hot 100: April 7, 1973
> Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 15
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
19. Island Girl
> Entered Hot 100: October 11, 1975
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 15
Source: Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
18. Circle Of Life (From “The Lion King”)
> Entered Hot 100: August 27, 1994
> Peak position on Hot 100: #18 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 20
Source: Mike Prior / Redferns via Getty Images
17. Mama Can’t Buy You Love
> Entered Hot 100: June 9, 1979
> Peak position on Hot 100: #9 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 18
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Source: Patrick Riviere / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
16. Sad Songs (say So Much)
> Entered Hot 100: June 9, 1984
> Peak position on Hot 100: #5 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 19
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
15. I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That
> Entered Hot 100: June 18, 1988
> Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 18
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
14. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
> Entered Hot 100: October 27, 1973
> Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 17
Source: Robin Jones / Getty Images
13. Candle In The Wind
> Entered Hot 100: November 7, 1987
> Peak position on Hot 100: #6 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 21
Source: Jack Kay / Getty Images
12. Crocodile Rock
> Entered Hot 100: December 9, 1972
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 17
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Source: Douglas Doig / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
11. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (with Kiki Dee)
> Entered Hot 100: July 4, 1976
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 20
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
10. Believe
> Entered Hot 100: March 11, 1995
> Peak position on Hot 100: #13 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 20
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Source: David Cairns / Getty Images
9. Bennie And The Jets
> Entered Hot 100: February 16, 1974
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 18
Source: Michael Webb / Getty Images
8. I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
> Entered Hot 100: October 29, 1983
> Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 23
7. Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me (with George Michael)
> Entered Hot 100: December 7, 1991
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 20
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Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images
6. Little Jeannie
> Entered Hot 100: May 3, 1980
> Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 21
Source: Terry Disney / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
5. The One
> Entered Hot 100: June 27, 1992
> Peak position on Hot 100: #9 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 22
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
4. Philadelphia Freedom
> Entered Hot 100: March 8, 1975
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 21
Source: Michael Loccisano / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
3. Can You Feel The Love Tonight (From “The Lion King”)
> Entered Hot 100: May 21, 1994
> Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 26
Source: Fox Photos / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
2. Candle In The Wind 1997/Something About The Way You Look Tonight
> Entered Hot 100: October 11, 1997
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 14 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 42
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Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images
1. Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) (with Dua Lipa)
> Entered Hot 100: August 28, 2021
> Peak position on Hot 100: #7 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 49
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