Songs With the Longest Stays at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100

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By Evan Comen Published
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Songs With the Longest Stays at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100

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In August 2019, Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” clocked its 19th week at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts, setting the record for longest stay at No. 1 of any song in the history of the chart.

Logging multiple weeks at No. 1 is a rare feat in an industry with constant competition and turnover. While over 1,000 songs have reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 since it premiered in 1958, the majority of those have stayed at the top of the charts for two weeks or less. Of those songs that manage to reign on top for longer, fewer than 50 have stayed at No. 1 for 10 weeks or more.

To determine the songs with the longest stays at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on chart performance from Billboard magazine. We listed the 43 songs that have spent at least 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The first song to reach the 10-week milestone was Debby Boone’s “You Light Up My Life,” which spent 10 weeks at No. 1 in 1977. On the heels of the aerobics craze of the 80’s, Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” became the second song to join the 10-week club after topping the charts for 10 weeks in the winter of 1981. (These were the first songs to ever top the Billboard chart.)

Click here to see the songs with the longest stays at No. 1 on the Hot 100

It took over 10 years for another song to hit the 10-week streak, with Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” logging 13 weeks at No. 1 in 1992. The group was able to top the Hot 100 for 10-plus weeks at a time twice more in the ‘90’s with “I’ll Make Love to You” in 1994 and “One Sweet Day” in 1995. 

Only two other artists – Mariah Carey and Drake – have had three songs that spent at least 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100. Santana, the Black Eyed Peas, and Adele each have two. (Missing the jtop chart position doesn’t necessarily mean lack of success. Here’s a list of the biggest hits that were never No. 1.)

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43. BTS, “Butter”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 20 weeks
> Chart debut date: June 5, 2021

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42. Drake, “In My Feelings”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 22 weeks
> Chart debut date: July 14, 2018

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41. Debby Boone, “You Light Up My Life”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 25 weeks
> Chart debut date: September 3, 1977

Bert Verhoeff for Anefo / Wikimedia Commons

40. Olivia Newton-John, “Physical”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 26 weeks
> Chart debut date: October 3, 1981

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39. Santana featuring The Product G&B, “Maria Maria”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 26 weeks
> Chart debut date: February 12, 2000

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38. Adele, “Hello”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 26 weeks
> Chart debut date: November 14, 2015

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37. Beyoncé, “Irreplaceable”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 30 weeks
> Chart debut date: November 4, 2006

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Robert Mora / Getty Images

36. Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland, “Dilemma”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 29 weeks
> Chart debut date: July 13, 2002

Mike Coppola / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

35. Ashanti, “Foolish”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 32 weeks
> Chart debut date: February 16, 2002

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34. Adele, “Easy On Me”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 31 weeks
> Chart debut date: October 23, 2021

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

33. Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx, “Gold Digger”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 39 weeks
> Chart debut date: July 30, 2005

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32. Drake featuring WizKid & Kyla, “One Dance”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 36 weeks
> Chart debut date: April 23, 2016

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Rick Diamond / Getty Images

31. Flo Rida featuring T-Pain, “Low”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 40 weeks
> Chart debut date: November 10, 2007

Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images

30. Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris, “We Found Love”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 42 weeks
> Chart debut date: October 8, 2011

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29. Pharrell Williams, “Happy”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 47 weeks
> Chart debut date: January 18, 2014

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28. Destiny’s Child, “Independent Women Part I”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 11
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 28 weeks
> Chart debut date: September 23, 2000

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27. All-4-One, “I Swear”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 11
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 30 weeks
> Chart debut date: April 23, 1994

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Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

26. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112, “I’ll Be Missing You”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 11
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 33 weeks
> Chart debut date: June 14, 1997

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25. Drake, “God’s Plan”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 11
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 36 weeks
> Chart debut date: February 3, 2018

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24. Roddy Ricch, “The Box”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 11
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 38 weeks
> Chart debut date: December 21, 2019

23. Toni Braxton, “Un-Break My Heart”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 11
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 42 weeks
> Chart debut date: October 26, 1996

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22. Eminem, “Lose Yourself”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 12
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 24 weeks
> Chart debut date: October 5, 2002

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Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

21. The Black Eyed Peas, “Boom Boom Pow”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 12
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 33 weeks
> Chart debut date: March 28, 2009

Frank Micelotta / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

20. Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris, “Yeah!”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 12
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 45 weeks
> Chart debut date: January 10, 2004

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19. Robin Thicke featuring T.I. + Pharrell, “Blurred Lines”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 12
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 48 weeks
> Chart debut date: May 4, 2013

Theo Wargo / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

18. Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 12
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 52 weeks
> Chart debut date: March 28, 2015

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17. The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey, “Closer”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 12
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 52 weeks
> Chart debut date: August 20, 2016

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16. Santana featuring Rob Thomas, “Smooth”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 12
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 58 weeks
> Chart debut date: July 31, 1999

Tommaso Boddi / Getty Images

15. Mariah Carey, “All I Want For Christmas Is You”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 12
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 57 weeks
> Chart debut date: January 8, 2000

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14. Ed Sheeran, “Shape Of You”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 12
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 58 weeks
> Chart debut date: January 28, 2017

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13. Brandy & Monica, “The Boy Is Mine”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 13
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 27 weeks
> Chart debut date: May 30, 1998

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12. Boyz II Men, “End of the Road (From “Boomerang”)”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 13
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 32 weeks
> Chart debut date: July 18, 1992

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

11. Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 29 weeks
> Chart debut date: November 14, 1992

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

10. Boyz II Men, “I’ll Make Love to You”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 33 weeks
> Chart debut date: August 13, 1994

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9. Elton John, “Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way You Look Tonight”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 42 weeks
> Chart debut date: October 11, 1997

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8. Mariah Carey, “We Belong Together”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 43 weeks
> Chart debut date: April 16, 2005

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7. Los Del Rio, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 60 weeks
> Chart debut date: September 2, 1995

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6. The Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 56 weeks
> Chart debut date: June 27, 2009

Larry Busacca / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

5. Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 56 weeks
> Chart debut date: November 29, 2014

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4. Harry Styles, “As It Was”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 53 weeks
> Chart debut date: April 16, 2022

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3. Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, “One Sweet Day”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 16
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 27 weeks
> Chart debut date: December 2, 1995

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2. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 16
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 51 weeks
> Chart debut date: February 4, 2017

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Rich Fury / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

1. Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, “Old Town Road”
> Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100: 19
> Total time on Billboard Hot 100: 45 weeks
> Chart debut date: March 16, 2019

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About the Author Evan Comen →

Evan Comen is a writer for 24/7 Wall St. He has worked as a data journalist since 2015, covering climate change and urban economics. His work is regularly featured on MSN, and has been cited in many major online and print publications, including The Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times.

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