Music fans often assume that musicians they like or have heard of have many No. 1 songs, but the reality is that many world-renowned artists — from both past and present — go their whole careers without landing the top spot on charts a single time.
It’s hard to believe that Bruce Springsteen, one of the most popular musicians in the world who has sold more than 65 million albums in the U.S. alone, never actually had a No. 1 Same is true for Bob Dylan, the Backstreet Boys, and One Direction.
To compile a list of surprising artists who have never had a No. 1 hit on The Billboard Hot 100, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on dozens of famous artists and bands’ peak position on the chart. The Hot 100, which measures the top 100 pop songs in the U.S. based on sales, radio play, and online streaming, is the music industry standard record chart in the country for songs, published weekly by Billboard magazine.
Considering the name of the list, it seems that reaching the top spot on a Billboard chart is harder than it seems. Who would believe that James Brown, for example, had more than 90 songs chart on The Hot 100, but neither climbed to the coveted spot atop the chart.
The list of legendary musicians who never had a No. 1 single is all the more surprising compared to the success they had by other measures, including selling millions of albums, selling out stadiums around the world touring, and winning Grammys.
Of the 36 musical acts on the list, about a third are still active in the industry. These are the biggest one-hit wonders who are still making music.
Click here to see famous musicians who never topped the Billboard Hot 100
AC/DC
> Top 10 Hits: 0
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 7
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Moneytalks — #23
> Released in: 1991
[in-text-ad]
Babyface
> Top 10 Hits: 5
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 13
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: When Can I See You — #4
> Released in: 1994
24/7 Wall St.
Backstreet Boys
> Top 10 Hits: 6
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 18
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) — #2
> Released in: 1997
Bob Dylan
> Top 10 Hits: 4
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 23
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Like A Rolling Stone and Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 — #2
> Released in: 1965 and 1966
[in-text-ad-2]
Bruce Springsteen
> Top 10 Hits: 12
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 26
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Dancing In The Dark — #2
> Released in: 1984
Chaka Khan
> Top 10 Hits: 4
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 25
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: I Feel For You and Tell Me Something Good — #3
> Released in: 1984 and 1974
[in-text-ad]
Creedence Clearwater Revival
> Top 10 Hits: 9
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 16
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Lookin’ Out My Back Door/Long As I Can, Green River, and Travelin’ Band/Who’ll Stop The Rain — #2
> Released in: 1969 and 1970
David Guetta
> Top 10 Hits: 6
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 21
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Without You and Turn Me On — #4
> Released in: 2011
Demi Lovato
> Top 10 Hits: 4
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 35
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Sorry Not Sorry — #6
> Released in: 2017
[in-text-ad-2]
Don Henley
> Top 10 Hits: 5
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 14
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Dirty Laundry — #3
> Released in: 1983
En Vogue
> Top 10 Hits: 6
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 14
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Don’t Let Go (Love), My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It), and Hold On — #2
> Released in: 1997, 1992, and 1990
[in-text-ad]
Garth Brooks
> Top 10 Hits: 1
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 9
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Lost In You — #5
> Released in: 1999
George Strait
> Top 10 Hits: 0
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 37
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: She’ll Leave You With A Smile — #23
> Released in: 2002
Green Day
> Top 10 Hits: 2
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 9
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Boulevard Of Broken Dreams — #2
> Released in: 2004
[in-text-ad-2]
Imagine Dragons
> Top 10 Hits: 4
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 18
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Radioactive — #3
> Released in: 2012
James Brown
> Top 10 Hits: N/A
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 90+
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: I Got You — #3
> Released in: 1986
[in-text-ad]
Jimi Hendrix
> Top 10 Hits: 0
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 7
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: All Along The Watchtower — #20
> Released in: 1968
Jody Watley
> Top 10 Hits: 7
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 14
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Looking For A New Love and Real Love — #2
> Released in: 1987 and 1989
Johnny Cash
> Top 10 Hits: 1
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 42
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: A Boy Named Sue — #2
> Released in: 1969
[in-text-ad-2]
Journey
> Top 10 Hits: 6
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 25
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Open Arms — #2
> Released in: 1982
Kenny G
> Top 10 Hits: 2
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 12
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Songbird — #4
> Released in: 1987
[in-text-ad]
Led Zeppelin
> Top 10 Hits: 1
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 10
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Whole Lotta Love — #4
> Released in: 1969
Linkin Park
> Top 10 Hits: 3
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 23
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: In The End — #2
> Released in: 2002
Martha & The Vandellas
> Top 10 Hits: 6
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 24
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Dancing In The Street — #2
> Released in: 1964
[in-text-ad-2]
MC Hammer
> Top 10 Hits: 5
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 10
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Pray — #2
> Released in: 1990
Metallica
> Top 10 Hits: 1
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 16
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Until It Sleeps — #10
> Released in: 1996
[in-text-ad]
Missy Elliott
> Top 10 Hits: 9
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 33
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: 1, 2 Step and Work It — #2
> Released in: 2004 and 2002
New Edition
> Top 10 Hits: 4
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 16
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Hit Me Off — #3
> Released in: 1996
Nirvana
> Top 10 Hits: 1
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 4
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Smells Like Teen Spirit — #6
> Released in: 1992
[in-text-ad-2]
One Direction
> Top 10 Hits: 6
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 29
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Best Song Ever — #2
> Released in: 2013
Pat Benatar
> Top 10 Hits: 4
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 17
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Love Is A Battlefield and We Belong — #5
> Released in: 1983 and 1984
[in-text-ad]
R.E.M.
> Top 10 Hits: 4
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 22
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Losing My Religion — #4
> Released in: 1991
Shania Twain
> Top 10 Hits: 3
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 18
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: You’re Still The One — #2
> Released in:
Sheryl Crow
> Top 10 Hits: 4
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 19
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: All I Wanna Do — #2
> Released in: 1994
[in-text-ad-2]
The Pointer Sisters
> Top 10 Hits: 7
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 26
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: Slow Hand and Fire — #2
> Released in: 1981 and 1979
The Who
> Top 10 Hits: 1
> Total songs on The Hot 100: 26
> Highest rated song on The Hot 100: I Can See For Miles — #9
> Released in: 1967
Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)
Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Get started right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
