The Billboard Hot 100 is a singles chart published by Billboard that measures the most popular singles in the United States, based on sales (physical and digital), online streaming, and radio airplay. Throughout the history of the Hot 100 and its predecessor charts, many songs have set records for longevity, popularity, or number of hit singles by an individual artist.
Among these records is the longest-running number-one single, a record currently held by Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas," spending 24 weeks at the top of the chart. The Beatles have the most number-one hits on the chart, with 20 songs having reached the top position.
Before the Hot 100's creation in 1958, Billboard published four singles charts: "Best Sellers in Stores", "Most Played by Jockeys", "Most Played in Jukeboxes", and "The Top 100". These charts, which had from 20 to 100 slots, were discontinued in 1957 and 1958. Though technically not part of the Hot 100 chart history, some data from these charts are included for computational purposes, and to avoid unenlightening or misleading characterizations.
All-time achievements In 2008, for the 50th anniversary of the Hot 100, Billboard magazine compiled a ranking of the 100 best-performing songs on the chart over the 50 years, along with the best-performing artists. This contains the heading of the article only, no charts. In 2013, Billboard revised the rankings for the chart's 55th anniversary edition. In 2015, Billboard revised the rankings again. In 2018, the rankings were revised again for the Billboard chart's 60th anniversary. From the 2008 (50th anniversary) to the 2018 (60th anniversary) lists, Billboard ranked "The Twist" at the top all time song, with "Smooth" and "Mack the Knife" consistently in second and third, respectively. In 2021, Billboard revised the rankings again upon the ascendance of "Blinding Lights" to the top spot on the list, with the previous top three still filling out the next three positions.
According to Billboard, the rankings are based on weekly performance on the Hot 100 from its inception on August 4, 1958, to the chart dated November 6, 2021. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at number one having the highest value. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted differently to account for chart turnover rates during various periods. Artists are ranked based on a formula blending performance, as outlined above, of all their Hot 100 chart entries.
Top 10 songs of all time (1958–2021) RankSingleYear(s) releasedArtist(s)Peak and duration"Blinding Lights"The WeekndNumber 1 for 4 weeks"The Twist"Chubby CheckerNumber 1 for 3 weeks"Smooth"Santana featuring Rob ThomasNumber 1 for 12 weeks"Mack the Knife"Bobby DarinNumber 1 for 9 weeks"Uptown Funk"Mark Ronson featuring Bruno MarsNumber 1 for 14 weeks"How Do I Live"LeAnn RimesNumber 2 for 5 weeks"Party Rock Anthem"LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRockNumber 1 for 6 weeks"I Gotta Feeling"The Black Eyed PeasNumber 1 for 14 weeks"Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)"Los Del RioNumber 1 for 14 weeks"Shape of You"Ed SheeranNumber 1 for 12 weeks Source:
Top 10 artists of all time (1958–2021) RankArtistThe BeatlesMadonnaElton JohnElvis PresleyMariah CareyStevie WonderJanet JacksonMichael JacksonWhitney HoustonRihanna Source:
Songs milestones
Most weeks at number one Number of weeksArtist(s)SongYear(s)24Ella Langley"Choosin' Texas"202622Mariah Carey"All I Want for Christmas Is You"2019–202619Lil Nas X(1 week solo, 18 weeks featuring Billy Ray Cyrus)"Old Town Road"2019Shaboozey"A Bar Song (Tipsy)"202416Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men"One Sweet Day"1995–1996Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber"Despacito"2017Morgan Wallen"Last Night"202315Harry Styles"As It Was"202214Whitney Houston"I Will Always Love You"1992–1993Boyz II Men"I'll Make Love to You"1994Los del Río"Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)"1996Elton John"Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"1997–1998Mariah Carey"We Belong Together"2005The Black Eyed Peas"I Gotta Feeling"2009Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars"Uptown Funk"2015
Notes: Before the use of Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems to compile the Hot 100 in 1991, the most number of weeks a single spent at number one on the Hot 100 was ten. This occurred twice, with Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" in 1977, and Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" in 1981–1982. Five additional singles managed nine weeks at number one during the first 34 years of the chart (1958–1992). In October 1992, the first single to top the Hot 100 for more than ten weeks was Boyz II Men's "End of the Road", which accumulated 13 weeks at number one by November 1992.
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Progression of most weeks at number one The table below highlights the progression of the songs that first hit each milestone week at number one and how long the record lasted. Songs that tied the current record at a given time are noted below the table. The current record holder is "Choosin' Texas" by Ella Langley at 24 weeks, and the longest record held is "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men with 8,554 days.
Number of weeksSongArtist(s)Date achievedDays held24 "Choosin' Texas" Ella Langley October 3, 2026 1423 September 26, 202622 "All I Want for Christmas Is You"Mariah Carey January 3, 2026 28121 December 27, 2025 20 December 20, 2025 19 "Old Town Road" Lil Nas X (one week solo, 18 weeks featuring Billy Ray Cyrus) August 17, 20192,331 18 August 10, 2019 17 August 3, 2019 16 "One Sweet Day" Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men March 16, 1996 8,554 15March 9, 1996 14 "I Will Always Love You" Whitney Houston February 27, 1993 1,113 13 "End of the Road" Boyz II Men November 7, 1992 133 12 October 31, 1992 11 October 24, 1992 10 "You Light Up My Life" Debby Boone December 17, 1977 5,432 9 "Mack the Knife" Bobby Darin December 7, 1959 6,606 8 November 30, 1959 7 November 23, 1959 6 "It's All in the Game" Tommy Edwards November 3, 1958 392 5 "Volare (Nel blu dipinto di blu)" Domenico Modugno September 22, 1958 63 4 September 15, 1958 3 September 8, 1958 2 "Poor Little Fool" Ricky Nelson August 11, 1958 35 1 August 4, 1958 As of the chart dated September 26, 2026
Note: "The Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton tied the record for 6 weeks at number one on July 6, 1959. Note: "Theme from A Summer Place" by Percy Faith tied the record for 9 weeks at number one on April 18, 1960. Note: "Hey Jude" by the Beatles tied the record for 9 weeks at number one on November 23, 1968. Note: "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John tied the record for 10 weeks at number one on January 23, 1982. Note: "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men tied the record for 14 weeks at number one on November 26, 1994. Note: "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber tied the record for 16 weeks at number one on September 9, 2017. Note: "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" by Shaboozey tied the record for 19 weeks at number one on November 30, 2024.
Most weeks at number two
Number of weeksArtist(s)SongYear(s)Weeks atnumber one17Brenda Lee"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"2019–2026314The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber"Stay"2021–2022713Alex Warren"Ordinary"2025–20261012Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen"I Had Some Help"20246Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars"Die with a Smile"2024–2025511Whitney Houston"Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"1995–19961Olivia Rodrigo"Good 4 U"20211SZA"Kill Bill"2023110Foreigner"Waiting for a Girl Like You"1981–19820Silk"Freak Me"19932Missy Elliott"Work It"2002–20030Bruno Mars"That's What I Like"20171Billie Eilish"Bad Guy"20191Harry Styles"As It Was"202215Huntrix: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami"Golden"2025–20268
"Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee share the record for most weeks at number 2 before topping the chart, with nine weeks each.
Without hitting number one
Number of weeksArtist(s)SongYear(s)Kept out of number-one position by10Foreigner"Waiting for a Girl Like You"1981–82"Physical" (Olivia Newton-John), "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" (Hall & Oates)Missy Elliott"Work It"2002–03"Lose Yourself" (Eminem)9Donna Lewis"I Love You Always Forever"1996"Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" (Los del Río)Shania Twain"You're Still the One"1998"Too Close" (Next), "The Boy Is Mine" (Brandy and Monica)8Shai"If I Ever Fall in Love"1992–93"How Do You Talk to an Angel" (The Heights), "I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston)Deborah Cox"Nobody's Supposed to Be Here"1998–99"I'm Your Angel" (R. Kelly and Celine Dion), "Have You Ever?" (Brandy)Brian McKnight"Back at One"1999–2000"Smooth" (Santana featuring Rob Thomas)Mario Winans featuring Enya and P. Diddy"I Don't Wanna Know"2004"Yeah!" (Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris), "Burn" (Usher)Ed Sheeran"Thinking Out Loud"2015"Uptown Funk" (Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars)Future featuring Drake"Life Is Good"2020"The Box" (Roddy Ricch)Luke Combs"Fast Car"2023"Last Night" (Morgan Wallen), "Rich Men North of Richmond" (Oliver Anthony Music), "I Remember Everything" (Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves)
Most total weeks in the top two Number of weeksArtist(s)SongYear(s)34Ella Langley"Choosin' Texas"202629Mariah Carey"All I Want for Christmas Is You"2019–2625Harry Styles"As It Was"202224Shaboozey"A Bar Song (Tipsy)"2024–2523Alex Warren"Ordinary"2025–2621The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber"Stay"2021–22Morgan Wallen"Last Night"202320Brenda Lee"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"2019–2619Lil Nas X (one week solo, 18 weeks featuring Billy Ray Cyrus)"Old Town Road"201918Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars"Uptown Funk"2015Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen"I Had Some Help"2024Huntrix: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami"Golden"2025–26
Most total weeks in the top three Number of weeksArtist(s)SongYear(s)34 Ella Langley "Choosin' Texas" 2026 33Alex Warren"Ordinary"2025–2632Mariah Carey"All I Want for Christmas Is You"2019–2629Harry Styles"As It Was"202228Brenda Lee"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"2019–2627Shaboozey"A Bar Song (Tipsy)"2024–2526Morgan Wallen"Last Night"202324Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars"Die with a Smile"2024–2523The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber"Stay"2021–2222Miley Cyrus"Flowers"2023
Most total weeks in the top five Number of weeksArtist(s)SongYear(s)47Shaboozey"A Bar Song (Tipsy)"2024–2546Alex Warren"Ordinary"2025–2643The Weeknd"Blinding Lights"2020–2138Ella Langley"Choosin' Texas"202635Mariah Carey"All I Want for Christmas Is You"2019–2634The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber"Stay"2021–2231Harry Styles"As It Was"2022Morgan Wallen"Last Night"2023Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars"Die with a Smile"2024–2530Brenda Lee"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"2019–26
Most total weeks in the top ten
Number of weeksArtist(s)SongYear(s)80Teddy Swims"Lose Control"2024–2566Shaboozey"A Bar Song (Tipsy)"2024–2557The Weeknd"Blinding Lights" 2020–2154Alex Warren"Ordinary"2025–2651Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars"Die with a Smile"2024–2544The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber"Stay"2021–2243Mariah Carey"All I Want for Christmas Is You"2017–26Olivia Dean"Man I Need"2025–2642Benson Boone"Beautiful Things"2024–2541Dua Lipa (32 weeks featuring DaBaby, 9 weeks solo)"Levitating" 2021Morgan Wallen"Last Night"2023–24
Most total weeks on the Hot 100
Non-holiday songs
Below are songs not connected to Christmas or the holiday season. (A special section for the holiday songs is below, as several of those songs re-enter the Hot 100 each holiday season.) On October 20, 2025, Billboard updated the rules of its charts, disqualifying any song with more than 52 weeks that was no longer in the top ten. As a result, all future entries except for holiday singles will be affected.