Artists With the Longest Climbs to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100

Making music is hard, especially when it comes to songs that are so popular they climb to the top. It’s rare for an artist’s first song or first entry to Billboard’s Hot 100 to become No. 1. Typically, it takes artists many years, sometimes decades to produce a No. 1 hit.

One artist on our list, The Miracles, had an intense long climb and a gap of 16 years and 1 month. The Miracle’s first Hot 100 entry was “Bad Girl,” released in 1959. This band’s first hit though was “Love Machine (Part 1),” released in 1975.

Artists aren’t considered successful just because they have plenty of No. 1 hits. Sometimes, artists just have one or two, or even none, and yet are recognizable. (If you’re interested, you can read about 40 very successful artists who never had a No. 1 hit.)

Another artist with a long climb is the second on our list. Aerosmith is a massively popular and well-known band. Even people who don’t listen to rock music know of Aerosmith. This rock band from Boston has been active since 1970 and continues to perform and tour the world. Their first entry to the Hot 100 was “Dream On” in 1973. Between this very popular song and the band’s first No. 1 billboard hit are nearly 25 years. The band’s first No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 song was “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” (1998). Other great Aerosmith songs include “Crazy,” “No More,” “Train Kept a Rolling,” and “All Your Love.”

So, can you guess which artist has the longest climb to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100? Or how many years it took? Follow along to find out.

To determine the artists with the longest climbs to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, 24/7 Tempo reviewed Hot 100 chart data from Billboard magazine. Artists were ranked based on the total time elapsed between their first chart appearance on the Hot 100 and their first No. 1 hit. Chart data is current through March 16, 2024.

40. Heart

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 9 years, 9 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Crazy On You (1976)
• First No. 1 hit: These Dreams (1986)

39. The J. Geils Band

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 9 years, 11 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Looking For A Love (1971)
• First No. 1 hit: Centerfold (1981)

38. Boston

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 10 years
• First Hot 100 entry: More Than A Feeling (1976)
• First No. 1 hit: Amanda (1986)

37. Future

Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 10 years, 2 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Magic (2012)
• First No. 1 hit: Wait For U (2022)

36. Selena Gomez

Source: Amy Sussman / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

 

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 10 years, 10 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Tell Me Something I Don’t Know (2009)
• First No. 1 hit: Lose You To Love Me (2019)

35. Snoop Dogg

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• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 10 years, 10 months
• First Hot 100 entry: What’s My Name? (1993)
• First No. 1 hit: Drop It Like It’s Hot (2004)

34. DJ Khaled

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 10 years, 11 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Holla At Me (2006)
• First No. 1 hit: I’m The One (2017)

33. Peabo Bryson

Source: Larry French / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 10 years, 11 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Let The Feeling Flow (1982)
• First No. 1 hit: A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme) (1992)

32. Robert John

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 11 years, 1 month
• First Hot 100 entry: If You Don’t Want My Love (1968)
• First No. 1 hit: Sad Eyes (1979)

31. Kool & the Gang

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 11 years, 1 month
• First Hot 100 entry: Kool And The Gang (1969)
• First No. 1 hit: Celebration (1980)

30. The Manhattans

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 11 years, 3 months
• First Hot 100 entry: I Wanna Be (Your Everything) (1965)
• First No. 1 hit: Kiss And Say Goodbye (1976)

29. Kenny Rogers

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 11 years, 4 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town (1969)
• First No. 1 hit: Lady (1980)

28. Luis Fonsi

Source: Jason Koerner / Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 11 years, 5 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Nada Es Para Siempre (2005)
• First No. 1 hit: Despacito (2017)

27. Kenny Loggins

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 11 years, 9 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Vahevala (1972)
• First No. 1 hit: Footloose (1984)

26. Jonas Brothers

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 12 years, 1 month
• First Hot 100 entry: Year 3000 (2007)
• First No. 1 hit: Sucker (2019)

25. Yes

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 12 years, 1 month
• First Hot 100 entry: Your Move (I’ve Seen All Good People) (1971)
• First No. 1 hit: Owner Of A Lonely Heart (1983)

24. Johnnie Taylor

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 12 years, 2 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Baby, We’ve Got Love (1963)
• First No. 1 hit: Disco Lady (1976)

23. Nicki Minaj

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 12 years, 2 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Your Love (2010)
• First No. 1 hit: Super Freaky Girl (2022)

22. Peaches

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 12 years, 2 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Let’s Fall In Love (1966)
• First No. 1 hit: Reunited (1979)

21. Gladys Knight

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 12 years, 4 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Every Beat Of My Heart (1961)
• First No. 1 hit: Midnight Train To Georgia (1973)

20. Charlie Rich

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 13 years, 7 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Lonely Weekends (1960)
• First No. 1 hit: The Most Beautiful Girl (1973)

19. Glen Campbell

Source: Bettmann / Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 13 years, 7 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Turn Around, Look At Me (1961)
• First No. 1 hit: Rhinestone Cowboy (1975)

18. Joe Cocker

Source: Fin Costello / Redferns via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 13 years, 9 months
• First Hot 100 entry: With A Little Help From My Friends (1968)
• First No. 1 hit: Up Where We Belong (1982)

17. Johnny Nash

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 13 years, 10 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Almost In Your Arms (1958)
• First No. 1 hit: I Can See Clearly Now (1972)

16. Tony Orlando

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 13 years, 10 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Halfway To Paradise (1961)
• First No. 1 hit: He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You) (1975)

15. Chuck Berry

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 13 years, 11 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Carol (1958)
• First No. 1 hit: My Ding-A-Ling (1972)

14. The Emotions

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 14 years, 6 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Echo (1962)
• First No. 1 hit: Best Of My Love (1977)

13. Mr. Big

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 14 years, 10 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Romeo (1977)
• First No. 1 hit: To Be With You (1991)

12. Sweet Sensation

Source: Amcgrath36 / Wikimedia Commons

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 15 years, 5 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Sad Sweet Dreamer (1975)
• First No. 1 hit: If Wishes Came True (1990)

11. Meat Loaf

Source: Fin Costello / Redferns via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 15 years, 6 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad (1978)
• First No. 1 hit: I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) (1993)

10. Bob Seger

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 15 years, 6 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Lookin’ Back (1971)
• First No. 1 hit: Shakedown (From “Beverly Hills Cop II”) (1987)

9. The Miracles

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 16 years, 1 month
• First Hot 100 entry: Bad Girl (1959)
• First No. 1 hit: Love Machine (Part 1) (1975)

8. Bette Midler

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• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 16 years, 2 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Do You Want To Dance? (1972)
• First No. 1 hit: Wind Beneath My Wings (From “Beaches”) (1989)

7. Jason Aldean

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• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 17 years, 11 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Hicktown (2005)
• First No. 1 hit: Try That In A Small Town (2023)

6. Billy Vera

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 18 years, 11 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Storybook Children (1967)
• First No. 1 hit: At This Moment (1986)

5. Bill Medley

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• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 19 years, 4 months
• First Hot 100 entry: I Can’t Make It Alone (1968)
• First No. 1 hit: (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life (1987)

4. Johnny Mathis

Source: P. Shirley / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 19 years, 8 months
• First Hot 100 entry: A Certain Smile (1958)
• First No. 1 hit: Too Much, Too Little, Too Late (1978)

3. Patti LaBelle

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• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 22 years, 6 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Down The Aisle (Wedding Song) (1963)
• First No. 1 hit: On My Own (1986)

2. Aerosmith

Source: Fin Costello / Redferns via Getty Images

UNITED STATES - MAY 30: Photo of AEROSMITH and Tom HAMILTON and Steven TYLER and Joey KRAMER and Joe PERRY and Brad WHITFORD; L-R: Steven Tyler, Tom Hamilton, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Joey Kramer - posed, group shot, backstage - MusicBrainz: 3d2b98e5-556f-4451-a3ff-c50ea18d57cb, (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)

• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 24 years, 11 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Dream On (1973)
• First No. 1 hit: I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing (1998)

1. Santana

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• Gap between first Hot 100 entry and first No. 1 hit: 29 years, 9 months
• First Hot 100 entry: Jingo (1969)
• First No. 1 hit: Smooth (1999)