Special Report

Most Popular Artists Who’ve Never Had a No. 1 Hit

Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

What do Bruce Springsteen, Faith Hill, Andy Williams, James Brown, and Busta Rhymes have in common? These luminaries in the genres of rock, country, easy listening, soul, and rap, respectively, have never reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. (You might be equally surprised at the best-selling musicians who have never won a Grammy.)

To determine the most popular artists who’ve had a No. 1 hit, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on chart performance from the Billboard Hot 100. Artists were ranked based on an inverse score wherein a week at No. 2 (the highest position any of these artists have attained) is worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point.

Only artists who’ve never had a song reach No. 1, either as solo performer or featured artist, were considered. Highest-charting entries include only songs on which the performer in question is listed as the primary artist (not a featured act). Chart data is current through Aug. 5, 2023.

Click here to see the artists who’ve never had a No. 1 hit

Country stars are the performers most represented here. Faith Hill is just one of the 16 who has failed to summit the Hot 100. Others include Tim McGraw (Hill’s husband), Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and Luke Bryan. It’s worth noting that the country acts named here have staying power, however, even if they never reached the top spot: Eleven of them were on the Hot 100 charts for more that 500 weeks each – and two were on for more than 900. (These are the most dominant reigns in Billboard history.)

After country, which is the genre most often represented here, come rap and rock acts (seven each), soul singers (five – including late ‘50s and early ‘60s luminaries Jackie Wilson, Brook Benton, and Sam Cooke), pop musicians (four), and one boy band – Backstreet Boys. Of all the artists listed here, rapper Lil Baby had by far the most songs on the Hot 100, at 136.

Terry Wyatt / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

40. Alan Jackson
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 28 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 441 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere (feat. Jimmy Buffett) (No. 17 for 2 weeks)

[in-text-ad]

Rick Diamond / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

39. Dierks Bentley
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 29 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 504 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: What Was I Thinkin’ (No. 22 for 2 weeks)

Rich Fury / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

38. Demi Lovato
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 36 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 374 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Sorry Not Sorry (No. 6 for 1 week)

Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

37. Train
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 14 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 316 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Hey, Soul Sister (No. 3 for 4 weeks)

[in-text-ad-2]

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

36. Sam Cooke
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 34 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 325 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Chain Gang (No. 2 for 2 weeks)

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

35. Electric Light Orchestra
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 24 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 326 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Telephone Line (No. 7 for 2 weeks)

[in-text-ad]

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

34. Jackie Wilson
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 53 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 373 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Lonely Teardrops (No. 7 for 2 weeks)

Paras Griffin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

33. Busta Rhymes
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 20 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 312 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Don’t Cha (feat. Mariah Carey & The Flipmode Squad) (No. 3 for 3 weeks)

Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

32. Linkin Park
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 24 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 378 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: In the End (No. 2 for 1 week)

[in-text-ad-2]

Neilson Barnard / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

31. Backstreet Boys
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 18 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 318 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) (No. 2 for 2 weeks)

Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

30. Juice WRLD
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 79 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 440 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Lucid Dreams (No. 2 for 2 weeks)

[in-text-ad]

Nate Fine / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

29. Andy Williams
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 41 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 359 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (No. 5 for 1 week)

Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

28. Journey
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 25 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 352 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: When You Love a Woman (No. 12 for 1 week)

Jemal Countess / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

27. Bruce Springsteen
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 26 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 329 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Dancing in the Dark (No. 2 for 4 weeks)

[in-text-ad-2]

Jason Kempin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

26. George Strait
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 37 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 580 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: She’ll Leave You With a Smile (No. 23 for 1 week)

Tabatha Fireman / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

25. J. Cole
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 69 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 430 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Middle Child (No. 4 for 1 week)

[in-text-ad]

Express / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

24. The Pointer Sisters
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 26 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 387 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: I’m So Excited (No. 9 for 1 week)

Angela Weiss / Getty Images

23. Trey Songz
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 36 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 528 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Bottoms Up (feat. Nicki Minaj) (No. 6 for 1 week)

Christopher Polk / Getty Images

22. 2 Chainz
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 40 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 505 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Talk Dirty (feat. Drake) (No. 24 for 1 week)

[in-text-ad-2]

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

21. Faith Hill
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 23 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 409 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Breathe (No. 2 for 5 weeks)

Gai Terrell / Contributor / Getty Images

20. Brook Benton
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 48 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 398 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: It’s Just a Matter of Time (No. 3 for 1 week)

[in-text-ad]

Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

19. OneRepublic
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 15 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 355 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Counting Stars (No. 2 for 2 weeks)

Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

18. Toby Keith
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 39 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 568 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Red Solo Cup (No. 15 for 1 week)

Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

17. David Guetta
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 23 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 394 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: I’m Good (Blue) (feat. Bebe Rexha) (No. 4 for 2 weeks)

[in-text-ad-2]

Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

16. Rick Ross
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 53 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 575 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Money in the Grave (feat. T-Pain) (No. 17 for 1 week)

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

15. Big Sean
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 54 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 491 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Mercy (feat. E-40) (No. 11 for 1 week)

[in-text-ad]

Jason Kempin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

14. Luke Combs
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 28 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 454 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Forever After All (No. 2 for 1 week)

Jason Merritt/TERM / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

13. Brad Paisley
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 40 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 674 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Remind Me (feat. Carrie Underwood) (No. 17 for 1 week)

Jason Merritt / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

12. Rascal Flatts
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 37 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 627 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: What Hurts the Most (No. 6 for 1 week)

[in-text-ad-2]

Jason Kempin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

11. Florida Georgia Line
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 24 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 527 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Meant to Be (feat. Nelly) (No. 4 for 1 week)

Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

10. Blake Shelton
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 42 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 656 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: God’s Country (No. 17 for 2 weeks)

[in-text-ad]

Christopher Polk / Getty Images

9. Dua Lipa
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 20 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 426 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Don’t Start Now (No. 2 for 1 week)

Jerod Harris / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

8. Khalid
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 32 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 506 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Eastside (No. 3 for 4 weeks)

Rich Lam / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

7. Imagine Dragons
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 19 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 502 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Radioactive (No. 3 for 4 weeks)

[in-text-ad-2]

Mike Windle / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

6. Keith Urban
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 46 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 811 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Blue Ain’t Your Color (No. 24 for 1 week)

Marianna Massey / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

5. Luke Bryan
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 37 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 665 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Buy Dirt (No. 16 for 4 weeks)

[in-text-ad]

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

4. James Brown
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 88 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 658 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Living in America (No. 4 for 1 week)

Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

3. Kenny Chesney
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 58 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 973 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: The Good Stuff (No. 22 for 2 weeks)

Frederick Breedon IV / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2. Tim McGraw
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 60 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 921 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: Over and Over (feat. Faith Hill) (No. 7 for 1 week)

[in-text-ad-2]

Paras Griffin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

1. Lil Baby
> Number of Hot 100 entries: 136 songs
> Time spent on the Hot 100: 911 weeks
> Highest-charting entry: For the Night (feat. Gunna) (No. 4 for 1 week)

Find a Qualified Financial Advisor (Sponsor)

Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.