Artists With the Most No. 1 Hits

Music has such a way of inspiring and motivating people. It can get you to feel powerful emotions and even push you to try new things. Some music though is a lot more popular than others. Artists with talent, skill, popularity, and a little bit of luck constantly produce and release hot number-one hits. But which artists have the most? Do you recognize any of their songs?

Currently, the artist with the most number-one hits is no longer active but is iconic nonetheless. It’d be difficult for you to find a person who has never heard of The Beatles. Even if you don’t recognize their faces, you know the name of the band and songs like “Hey Jude.”

The Beatles produced 20 number-one singles, with the biggest number-one being “Hey Jude.” This song was released in August of 1968 and over forty years later continues to be popular. This number-one hit single has been in multiple large films and has been covered by popular artists. (Click here to read about the 25 biggest billboard hits of the 1960s.)

Another artist with some of the most number-one hits ever produced is Elvis Presley, with 18 number-one singles. Elvis Presley has plenty of hits. Who doesn’t know songs like “Hound Dog?” But not all artists with many number-one hits are old and inactive. Even modern artists like Mariah Carey and Taylor Swift make our list and may continue to rise on this list for years to come. Taylor Swift has been active in the music industry since 2004 and has produced hit singles like “Shake it Off” and “You Belong with Me.” She continues to release music, and can easily create new top hit singles.

Keep reading down below to discover some artists with the most No.1 hits.

To determine the artists with the most No. 1 hits, 24/7 Tempo reviewed Hot 100 chart data from Billboard magazine. Artists were ranked based on the total number of No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 through March 16, 2024. Songs were ranked based on an inverse point system wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 1 worth one point.

46. Paula Abdul

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 12 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 15 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Straight Up (No. 1 for 3 weeks)

45. Eagles

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 5 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 21 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Hotel California (No. 1 for 1 week)

44. Lionel Richie

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 21 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 20 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: All Night Long (All Night) (No. 1 for 4 weeks)

43. Adele

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 34 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 25 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Rolling In The Deep (No. 1 for 7 weeks)

42. The 4 Seasons

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 18 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 42 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) (No. 1 for 3 weeks)

41. Barbra Streisand

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 13 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 41 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Woman In Love (No. 1 for 3 weeks)

40. Boyz II Men

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 50 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 18 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: I’ll Make Love To You (No. 1 for 14 weeks)

39. Olivia Newton-John

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 18 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 38 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Physical (No. 1 for 10 weeks)

38. Christina Aguilera

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 20 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 30 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Genie In A Bottle (No. 1 for 5 weeks)

37. Britney Spears

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 6 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 36 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: …Baby One More Time (No. 1 for 2 weeks)

36. Lady Gaga

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 12 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 36 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Just Dance (ft. Colby O’Donis) (No. 1 for 3 weeks)

35. Prince

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 12 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 47 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: When Doves Cry (No. 1 for 5 weeks)

34. Cardi B

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 16 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 47 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: I Like It (ft. Bad Bunny & J Balvin) (No. 1 for 1 week)

33. Eminem

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 25 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 96 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Love The Way You Lie (ft. Rihanna) (No. 1 for 7 weeks)

32. Justin Timberlake

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 14 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 39 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Can’t Stop The Feeling! (No. 1 for 1 week)

31. Ludacris

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 18 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 56 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Stand Up (ft. Shawnna) (No. 1 for 1 week)

30. Kanye West

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 5 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 18 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 157 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Gold Digger (ft. Jamie Foxx) (No. 1 for 10 weeks)

29. BTS

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 6 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 16 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 27 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Dynamite (No. 1 for 3 weeks)

28. KC And The Sunshine Band

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 6 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 6 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 15 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Please Don’t Go (No. 1 for 1 week)

27. Daryl Hall John Oates

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 6 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 14 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 34 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Maneater (No. 1 for 4 weeks)

26. Diana Ross

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 6 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 23 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 40 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Endless Love (ft. Lionel Richie) (No. 1 for 9 weeks)

25. Phil Collins

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 7 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 15 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 27 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) (No. 1 for 3 weeks)

24. Elvis Presley

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 7 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 22 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 109 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: It’s Now Or Never (ft. The Jordanaires) (No. 1 for 5 weeks)

23. The Weeknd

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 7 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 18 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 98 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Blinding Lights (No. 1 for 4 weeks)

22. George Michael

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 8 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 18 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 19 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me (ft. Elton John) (No. 1 for 1 week)

21. The Rolling Stones

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 8 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 17 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 57 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Miss You (No. 1 for 1 week)

20. Bruno Mars

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 8 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 32 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 32 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: That’s What I Like (No. 1 for 1 week)

19. Justin Bieber

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 8 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 32 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 105 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Love Yourself (No. 1 for 2 weeks)

18. Paul McCartney

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 9 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 21 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 47 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Say Say Say (ft. Michael Jackson) (No. 1 for 6 weeks)

17. Bee Gees

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 9 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 27 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 43 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: How Deep Is Your Love (No. 1 for 3 weeks)

16. Katy Perry

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 9 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 33 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 35 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Dark Horse (ft. Juicy J) (No. 1 for 4 weeks)

15. Beyonce

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 9 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 40 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 85 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Irreplaceable (No. 1 for 10 weeks)

14. Ariana Grande

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 9 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 22 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 85 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: 7 Rings (No. 1 for 8 weeks)

13. Usher

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 9 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 47 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 53 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Yeah! (ft. Lil Jon & Ludacris) (No. 1 for 12 weeks)

12. Elton John

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 9 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 28 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 71 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Candle In The Wind 1997/Something About The Way You Look Tonight (No. 1 for 14 weeks)

11. Janet Jackson

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 10 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 21 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 41 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Again (No. 1 for 2 weeks)

10. Stevie Wonder

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 10 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 18 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 63 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: I Just Called To Say I Love You (No. 1 for 3 weeks)

9. Whitney Houston

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 11 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 31 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 40 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: I Will Always Love You (No. 1 for 14 weeks)

8. Taylor Swift

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 11 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 34 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 232 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Anti-Hero (No. 1 for 8 weeks)

7. The Supremes

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 12 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 22 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 45 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Come See About Me (No. 1 for 2 weeks)

6. Madonna

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 12 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 32 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 58 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Take A Bow (No. 1 for 7 weeks)

5. Michael Jackson

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 13 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 37 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 51 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Billie Jean (No. 1 for 7 weeks)

4. Drake

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 13 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 56 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 329 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: God’s Plan (No. 1 for 11 weeks)

3. Rihanna

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 14 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 60 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 63 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: We Found Love (ft. Calvin Harris) (No. 1 for 10 weeks)

2. Mariah Carey

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 19 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 93 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 49 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: All I Want For Christmas Is You (No. 1 for 14 weeks)

1. The Beatles

• No. 1 entries on the Hot 100: 20 songs
• Total time spent at No. 1: 59 weeks
• Total Hot 100 entries: 72 songs
• Biggest No. 1 song: Hey Jude (No. 1 for 9 weeks)