50 Very Popular Songs That Actually Never Got to Be No. 1

Even iconic musicians such as The Beatles, Whitney Houston, and Stevie Wonder, as well as contemporary chart-toppers like Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and Dua Lipa, have experienced major hits that didn’t reach the top spot on the Hot 100. Ed Sheeran, in particular, has encountered this with two songs that peaked at No. 2 on the chart.

To determine the biggest charting songs that never reached no. 1, we reviewed performance data on the Billboard Hot 100. Songs were ranked based on an inverse scoring system – No. 1 for 100 points, No. 2 for 99 points, etc. Only non-No. 1 songs were included.

Each track on the list demonstrated endurance, remaining in the Billboard Hot 100 for a minimum of 45 weeks, with the majority surpassing the 50-week mark. For instance, Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive,” despite peaking at No. 3, maintained its presence on the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive 87 weeks. (These are the most dominant reigns in Billboard history.)

50. CeeLo Green, “Forget You”

• Entered Hot 100: Sept. 11, 2010
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 4 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 48

49. Taio Cruz, “Dynamite”

• Entered Hot 100: June 19, 2010
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 3 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 47

48. Usher, “You Make Me Wanna…”

• Entered Hot 100: Aug. 23, 1997
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 7 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 47

47. Chris Brown featuring Drake, “No Guidance”

• Entered Hot 100: June 22, 2019
• Peak position on Hot 100: #5 (for 4 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 46

46. Faith Hill, “The Way You Love Me”

• Entered Hot 100: March 11, 2000
• Peak position on Hot 100: #6 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 56

45. Tag Team, “Whoomp! (There It Is)”

• Entered Hot 100: May 29, 1993
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 7 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 45

44. Silento, “Watch Me”

• Entered Hot 100: March 14, 2015
• Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 6 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 51

43. Panic! At The Disco, “High Hopes”

• Entered Hot 100: June 9, 2018
• Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

42. Shawn Mendes, “Stitches”

• Entered Hot 100: June 13, 2015
• Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

41. 3 Doors Down, “Here Without You”

• Entered Hot 100: Aug. 30, 2003
• Peak position on Hot 100: #5 (for 3 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 51

40. fun., “Some Nights”

• Entered Hot 100: March 10, 2012
• Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 6 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 56

39. Elton John & Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)”

• Entered Hot 100: Aug. 28, 2021
• Peak position on Hot 100: #7 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

38. Imagine Dragons, “Believer”

• Entered Hot 100: Feb. 25, 2017
• Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 2 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 51

37. Train, “Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me)”

• Entered Hot 100: March 17, 2001
• Peak position on Hot 100: #5 (for 2 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 53

36. 3 Doors Down, “Kryptonite”

• Entered Hot 100: April 8, 2000
• Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 3 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 53

35. Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly, “Cruise”

• Entered Hot 100: Sept. 1, 2012
• Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 54

34. Taylor Swift, “You Belong With Me”

• Entered Hot 100: Nov. 22, 2008
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 50

33. Justin Bieber, “Ghost”

• Entered Hot 100: April 3, 2021
• Peak position on Hot 100: #5 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

32. AWOLNATION, “Sail”

• Entered Hot 100: Sept. 3, 2011
• Peak position on Hot 100: #17 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 79

31. Juice WRLD, “Lucid Dreams”

• Entered Hot 100: May 26, 2018
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 2 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 48

30. Taylor Swift, “Love Story”

• Entered Hot 100: Sept. 27, 2008
• Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 49

29. Harry Styles, “Adore You”

• Entered Hot 100: Dec. 21, 2019
• Peak position on Hot 100: #6 (for 2 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 50

28. benny blanco, Halsey & Khalid, “Eastside”

• Entered Hot 100: July 28, 2018
• Peak position on Hot 100: #9 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

27. Paula Cole, “I Don’t Want To Wait”

• Entered Hot 100: Nov. 1, 1997
• Peak position on Hot 100: #11 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 56

26. Train, “Hey, Soul Sister”

• Entered Hot 100: Oct. 17, 2009
• Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 4 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 54

25. The Chainsmokers featuring Daya, “Don’t Let Me Down”

• Entered Hot 100: Feb. 27, 2016
• Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 2 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

24. matchbox twenty, “Unwell”

• Entered Hot 100: March 22, 2003
• Peak position on Hot 100: #5 (for 2 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 54

23. Faith Hill, “Breathe”

• Entered Hot 100: Nov. 6, 1999
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 5 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 53

22. Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, “Meant To Be”

• Entered Hot 100: Nov. 11, 2017
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 3 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 51

21. Lifehouse, “You And Me”

• Entered Hot 100: Feb. 12, 2005
• Peak position on Hot 100: #5 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 62

20. Sam Smith, “Stay With Me”

• Entered Hot 100: April 19, 2014
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 2 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 54

19. Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now”

• Entered Hot 100: Nov. 16, 2019
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

18. Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy”

• Entered Hot 100: May 23, 2020
• Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

17. Avicii, “Wake Me Up!”

• Entered Hot 100: July 13, 2013
• Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 6 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 54

16. Lifehouse, “Hanging By A Moment”

• Entered Hot 100: Feb. 10, 2001
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 4 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 54

15. Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”

• Entered Hot 100: Feb. 7, 2015
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 3 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

14. Ed Sheeran, “Shivers”

• Entered Hot 100: Sept. 25, 2021
• Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

13. The Lumineers, “Ho Hey”

• Entered Hot 100: June 23, 2012
• Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 5 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 62

12. Post Malone, “Better Now”

• Entered Hot 100: May 12, 2018
• Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 2 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

11. Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”

• Entered Hot 100: Oct. 25, 2014
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 8 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 58

10. Marshmello & Bastille, “Happier”

• Entered Hot 100: Sept. 1, 2018
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52

9. Carrie Underwood, “Before He Cheats”

• Entered Hot 100: Sept. 16, 2006
• Peak position on Hot 100: #8 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 64

8. Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now”

• Entered Hot 100: Aug. 29, 2009
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 2 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 60

7. Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth, “I Hope”

• Entered Hot 100: Jan. 11, 2020
• Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 62

6. Ed Sheeran, “Bad Habits”

• Entered Hot 100: July 10, 2021
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 2 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 56

5. OneRepublic, “Counting Stars”

• Entered Hot 100: July 6, 2013
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 2 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 68

4. Jason Mraz, “I’m Yours”

• Entered Hot 100: May 3, 2008
• Peak position on Hot 100: #6 (for 1 week)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 76

3. Jewel, “Foolish Games/You Were Meant for Me”

• Entered Hot 100: Nov. 30, 1996
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 2 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 65

2. LeAnn Rimes, “How Do I Live”

• Entered Hot 100: June 21, 1997
• Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 4 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 69

1. Imagine Dragons, “Radioactive”

• Entered Hot 100: Aug. 18, 2012
• Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 4 weeks)
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 87