Famous Songs That Never Reached Number One

The Guardian recently released an article stating that The Killers' hit song "Mr. Brightside" has become the most streamed and beloved song in the UK without ever reaching No. 1. This got us thinking, what other hit songs have never actually topped the charts?

While some songs may be popular, this doesn't necessarily mean they are No. 1 hits. In order to reach this status, the song must be ranked first on specific charts. These charts are created using various metrics. Billboard, for example, uses its own reporting company to tally album and song sales, digital downloads, and airtime through both radio and streaming services.

Speaking of Billboard, when it comes to determining No. 1 chart status, artists, listeners, and music producers heavily rely on the company's Hot 100 chart in the U.S. While Billboard began with marketing posters, it soon moved on to music, releasing its first "Hot 100" list in 1958. The company also has various other charts that mark hit songs by genre. Additionally, other countries have their own charting formats. For example, the UK relies on the UK Singles Chart and Australia uses the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Top 50 Singles Chart.

Many of the songs on our list below may surprise you as they're all incredibly popular hits. For example, One Republic's "Counting Stars" was on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for nearly 70 weeks without ever reaching the No. 1 position. The songs on this list also range in genre and time frame. From Shawn Medes' 2015 pop hit "Stitches," to LeAnn Rimes' 1997 county classic "How Do I Live" these songs cover a large range in musical history. (For more reading, check out these artists with the most No. 1 albums.)

To determine the biggest songs that never went No. 1 on the Hot 100, 24/7 Tempo reviewed historical data on chart performance from the Billboard Hot 100. Songs that never reached the No. 1 position on the Hot 100 were ranked based on an inverse scoring system wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 is worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point. Chart data is current through June 8, 2024.

50. Panic! At The Disco, "High Hopes"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 52 weeks
Entered charts: June 9, 2018

49. Shawn Mendes, "Stitches"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 52 weeks
Entered charts: June 13, 2015

48. 3 Doors Down, "Here Without You"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 3 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 51 weeks
Entered charts: August 30, 2003

47. fun., "Some Nights"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 6 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 56 weeks
Entered charts: March 10, 2012

46. Elton John & Dua Lipa, "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 7 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 52 weeks
Entered charts: August 28, 2021

45. Imagine Dragons, "Believer"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 51 weeks
Entered charts: February 25, 2017

44. Train, "Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me)"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 53 weeks
Entered charts: March 17, 2001

43. 3 Doors Down, "Kryptonite"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 3 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 53 weeks
Entered charts: April 8, 2000

42. Florida Georgia Line Featuring Nelly, "Cruise"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 54 weeks
Entered charts: September 1, 2012

41. Taylor Swift, "You Belong With Me"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 50 weeks
Entered charts: November 22, 2008

40. Justin Bieber, "Ghost"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 52 weeks
Entered charts: April 3, 2021

39. AWOLNATION, "Sail"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 17 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 79 weeks
Entered charts: September 3, 2011

38. Juice WRLD, "Lucid Dreams"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 48 weeks
Entered charts: May 26, 2018

37. Taylor Swift, "Love Story"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 49 weeks
Entered charts: September 27, 2008

36. Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, "Creepin'"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 47 weeks
Entered charts: December 17, 2022

35. Harry Styles, "Adore You"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 6 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 50 weeks
Entered charts: December 21, 2019

34. benny blanco, Halsey & Khalid, "Eastside"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 9 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 52 weeks
Entered charts: July 28, 2018

33. Paula Cole, "I Don't Want To Wait"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 11 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 56 weeks
Entered charts: November 1, 1997

32. Bobby Helms, "Jingle Bell Rock"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 10 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 55 weeks
Entered charts: December 22, 1958

31. Train, "Hey, Soul Sister"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 4 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 54 weeks
Entered charts: October 17, 2009

30. The Chainsmokers Featuring Daya, "Don't Let Me Down"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 52 weeks
Entered charts: February 27, 2016

29. matchbox twenty, "Unwell"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 54 weeks
Entered charts: March 22, 2003

28. Faith Hill, "Breathe"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 5 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 53 weeks
Entered charts: November 6, 1999

27. Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, "Meant To Be"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 3 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 51 weeks
Entered charts: November 11, 2017

26. Lifehouse, "You And Me"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 62 weeks
Entered charts: February 12, 2005

25. Sam Smith, "Stay With Me"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 54 weeks
Entered charts: April 19, 2014

24. Dua Lipa, "Don't Start Now"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 52 weeks
Entered charts: November 16, 2019

23. Chris Brown & Young Thug, "Go Crazy"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 52 weeks
Entered charts: May 23, 2020

22. Avicii, "Wake Me Up!"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 6 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 54 weeks
Entered charts: July 13, 2013

21. Lifehouse, "Hanging By A Moment"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 4 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 54 weeks
Entered charts: February 10, 2001

20. Fetty Wap, "Trap Queen"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 3 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 52 weeks
Entered charts: February 7, 2015

19. Ed Sheeran, "Shivers"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 52 weeks
Entered charts: September 25, 2021

18. The Lumineers, "Ho Hey"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 5 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 62 weeks
Entered charts: June 23, 2012

17. Post Malone, "Better Now"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 52 weeks
Entered charts: May 12, 2018

16. Morgan Wallen, "Thinkin' Bout Me"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 7 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 55 weeks
Entered charts: March 18, 2023

15. Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 8 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 58 weeks
Entered charts: October 25, 2014

14. Marshmello & Bastille, "Happier"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 52 weeks
Entered charts: September 1, 2018

13. Carrie Underwood, "Before He Cheats"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 8 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 64 weeks
Entered charts: September 16, 2006

12. Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 60 weeks
Entered charts: August 29, 2009

11. Zach Bryan, "Something In The Orange"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 10 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 66 weeks
Entered charts: May 7, 2022

10. Gabby Barrett Featuring Charlie Puth, "I Hope"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 62 weeks
Entered charts: January 11, 2020

9. Luke Combs, "Fast Car"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 8 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 56 weeks
Entered charts: April 8, 2023

8. Ed Sheeran, "Bad Habits"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 56 weeks
Entered charts: July 10, 2021

7. Morgan Wallen, "You Proof"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 62 weeks
Entered charts: May 28, 2022

6. OneRepublic, "Counting Stars"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 68 weeks
Entered charts: July 6, 2013

5. Jason Mraz, "I'm Yours"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 6 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 76 weeks
Entered charts: May 3, 2008

4. Jewel, "Foolish Games/You Were Meant For Me"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 65 weeks
Entered charts: November 30, 1996

3. LeAnn Rimes, "How Do I Live"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 4 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 69 weeks
Entered charts: June 21, 1997

2. SZA, "Snooze"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 70 weeks
Entered charts: December 24, 2022

1. Imagine Dragons, "Radioactive"

Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 4 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 87 weeks
Entered charts: August 18, 2012