There’s something about a piano ballad that just tugs at our heartstrings. There’s something about someone sitting at a piano and singing an emotional song that has the potential to be incredibly moving.
If you think about the songs that give you goosebumps and bring a tear to your eye, there’s a good chance that they’re sung to piano accompaniment. From their iconic opening notes, they lure us in and don’t let go until the final fade-out. It’s no wonder that some piano ballads can be counted among the absolute best songs in history.
While a guitar-based singer-songwriter certainly has the potential to move us – James Taylor, anyone? – it’s the pianists who tend to become most renowned as balladeers. Elton John, Alicia Keys, Adele, John Legend, and Chris Martin of Coldplay have all scored massive hits as pianist-vocalists – but even singers we may not associate with the keyboard, from Phil Collins to Mariah Carey, count piano ballads as some of the biggest hits of their careers. (Strangely enough, the “Piano Man” himself – Billy Joel – didn’t make the list. These, however, are Billy Joel’s greatest hits.)
Click here to see the most popular piano ballads, according to Billboard
To determine the biggest piano ballads, 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. Only ballads that feature just vocals and piano or are primarily piano-driven were considered. Chart data is current through the week of Nov. 19, 2022.
Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images
40. Elton John, “Your Song”
> Entered Hot 100: Nov. 28, 1970
> Peak position on Hot 100: #8 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 14
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Source: Ian Gavan / Getty Images
39. John Legend, “Ordinary People”
> Entered Hot 100: Jan. 8, 2005
> Peak position on Hot 100: #24 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 20
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
38. Barry Manilow, “Mandy”
> Entered Hot 100: Nov. 16, 1974
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 16
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images
37. Coldplay, “Clocks”
> Entered Hot 100: Feb. 1, 2003
> Peak position on Hot 100: #29 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 22
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Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
36. The Beatles, “Let It Be”
> Entered Hot 100: March 21, 1970
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 14
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
35. Simon & Garfunkel, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
> Entered Hot 100: Feb. 7, 1970
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 6 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 14
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Source: Araya Doheny / Stringer / Getty Images
34. Five For Fighting, “100 Years”
> Entered Hot 100: Feb. 14, 2004
> Peak position on Hot 100: #28 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 22
Source: Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images
33. Barry Manilow, “Looks Like We Made It”
> Entered Hot 100: May 7, 1977
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 19
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer / Getty Images
32. Minnie Riperton, “Lovin’ You”
> Entered Hot 100: Jan. 18, 1975
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 18
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Source: Jesse Grant / Stringer / Getty Images
31. Debbie Gibson, “Lost In Your Eyes”
> Entered Hot 100: Jan. 21, 1989
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 19
Source: Larry French / Stringer / Getty Images
30. Christina Perri, “A Thousand Years”
> Entered Hot 100: Nov. 5, 2011
> Peak position on Hot 100: #31 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 26
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Source: Harry Benson / Moviepix via Getty Images
29. Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond, “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”
> Entered Hot 100: Oct. 28, 1978
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 17
Source: Kevin Winter / Staff / Getty Images
28. Richard Marx, “Right Here Waiting”
> Entered Hot 100: July 8, 1989
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 21
Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images
27. Tiffany, “Could’ve Been”
> Entered Hot 100: Nov. 28, 1987
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 20
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Source: Stan Meagher / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
26. Nilsson, “Without You”
> Entered Hot 100: Dec. 18, 1971
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 19
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
25. Mariah Carey, “I’ll Be There”
> Entered Hot 100: May 30, 1992
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 20
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Source: Brad Barket / Getty Images
24. Roberta Flack, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”
> Entered Hot 100: March 4, 1972
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 6 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 18
Source: Echoes / Staff / Getty Images
23. Commodores, “Still”
> Entered Hot 100: Sept. 29, 1979
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 20
Source: Fox Photos / Stringer / Getty Images
22. Barry Manilow, “I Write the Songs”
> Entered Hot 100: Nov. 15, 1975
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 20
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Source: dima_sidelnikov / Getty Images
21. Stevie B, “Because I Love You (The Postman Song)”
> Entered Hot 100: Oct. 6, 1990
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 23
Source: Mike Coppola / Getty Images
20. Bette Midler, “The Rose”
> Entered Hot 100: March 22, 1980
> Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 25
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Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images
19. Barbra Streisand, “The Way We Were”
> Entered Hot 100: Nov. 24, 1973
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 23
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
18. Phil Collins, “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)”
> Entered Hot 100: Feb. 25, 1984
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 24
Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images
17. Kenny Rogers, “Lady”
> Entered Hot 100: Oct. 4, 1980
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 6 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 25
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Source: Michael Tullberg / Getty Images
16. Akon, “Don’t Matter”
> Entered Hot 100: Feb. 3, 2007
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 23
Source: ShowBizIreland / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
15. Diana Ross & Lionel Richie, “Endless Love”
> Entered Hot 100: July 11, 1981
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 9 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 27
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Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
14. Janet Jackson, “Again”
> Entered Hot 100: Oct. 23, 1993
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 23
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
13. Debby Boone, “You Light Up My Life”
> Entered Hot 100: Sept. 3, 1977
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 10 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 25
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
12. Rihanna, “Take A Bow”
> Entered Hot 100: April 26, 2008
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 27
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Source: John Lamparski / Stringer / Getty Images North America
11. Vanessa Williams, “Save the Best for Last”
> Entered Hot 100: Feb. 1, 1992
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 5 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 27
Source: Jemal Countess / Getty Images
10. Sarah McLachlan, “Angel”
> Entered Hot 100: Dec. 5, 1998
> Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 28
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Source: Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com
9. Mariah Carey, “Hero”
> Entered Hot 100: Oct. 23, 1993
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 30
Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images
8. Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko, “Stay”
> Entered Hot 100: Feb. 23, 2013
> Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 32
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images
7. Bruno Mars, “When I Was Your Man”
> Entered Hot 100: Dec. 22, 2012
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 35
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Source: Gary Gershoff / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
6. Alicia Keys, “Fallin'”
> Entered Hot 100: June 16, 2001
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 6 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 34
Source: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images
5. Kelly Clarkson, “Because of You”
> Entered Hot 100: Sept. 3, 2005
> Peak position on Hot 100: #7 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 37
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Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
4. Adele, “Someone Like You”
> Entered Hot 100: March 12, 2011
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 5 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 39
Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images
3. Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”
> Entered Hot 100: Jan. 3, 1976
> Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 44
Source: Princess Diana Archive / Hulton Royals Collection via Getty Images
2. Elton John, “Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way You Look Tonight”
> Entered Hot 100: Oct. 11, 1997
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 14 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 42
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Source: Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
1. Alicia Keys, “If I Ain’t Got You”
> Entered Hot 100: March 6, 2004
> Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 40
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