The Most Popular Artists That Never Had a No. 1 Hit

For a musician, having a number one hit is the top of the mountain. Watching a single crack the Hot 100 and slowly make its way up the chart is something of a rite of passage for any aspiring singer. Having a hit that cracks that top spot means that you’ve truly made it. But believe it or not, some of the most popular music artists of all time have never actually had a number one hit.

Considered one of the most authoritative and widely recognized music charts in the world, the Billboard Hot 100 debuted in 1958 and since then it’s provided a weekly snapshot of the most popular and successful songs based on factors such as radio airplay, digital sales and streaming data. It’s the primary reference point for fans, artists and industry insiders, and it’s eagerly anticipated by music enthusiasts to see which songs are rising, falling or debuting on the chart.

That said, there are still plenty of reasons why even the most popular artists in America can crack the Top 10 but never land in the number one slot. The timing can be off – a massive hit could hog the spot for weeks on end and not release its grasp until the other hit’s moment has passed. Factors including promotion, radio play and streaming trends can affect rankings. The artist may be immensely successful but never “mainstream” enough to score a number-one hit. They may be more focused on albums than singles, which the Hot 100 ranks. Or it could just be a case of bad luck.

To determine the most popular artists that never had a No. 1 hit, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on Billboard Hot 100 chart history. Artists who have never had a song go No. 1 on the Hot 100 were ranked based on an inverse point 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 March 16, 2024. (For artists who have faded from and returned to the spotlight, check out the biggest comebacks in music history.)

50. Tom Petty

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 27 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 321 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Free Fallin’ (No. 7 for 2 weeks)

49. En Vogue

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 14 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 264 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Don’t Let Go (Love) (No. 2 for 4 weeks)

48. Jeremih

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 24 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 359 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Down On Me (No. 4 for 1 week)

47. Fall Out Boy

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 22 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 300 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race (No. 2 for 2 weeks)

46. Thomas Rhett

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 25 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 439 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Die A Happy Man (No. 21 for 1 week)

45. 3 Doors Down

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 10 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 268 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Kryptonite (No. 3 for 3 weeks)

44. Marshmello

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 19 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 296 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Happier (No. 2 for 1 week)

43. Lady A

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 21 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 374 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Need You Now (No. 2 for 2 weeks)

42. Fabolous

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 21 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 333 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Into You (No. 4 for 1 week)

41. 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 (No. 17 for 2 weeks)

40. 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)

39. 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)

38. 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)

37. 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)

36. Electric Light Orchestra

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 24 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 326 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Don’t Bring Me Down (No. 4 for 2 weeks)

35. Jackie Wilson

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 53 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 373 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Night (No. 4 for 2 weeks)

34. Busta Rhymes

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 20 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 312 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: I Know What You Want (No. 3 for 3 weeks)

33. 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)

32. 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)

31. Lil Durk

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 92 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 409 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: All My Life (No. 2 for 1 week)

30. Juice WRLD

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 80 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 444 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Lucid Dreams (No. 2 for 2 weeks)

29. Gunna

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 79 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 403 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Fukumean (No. 4 for 1 week)

28. Journey

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 25 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 352 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Open Arms (No. 2 for 6 weeks)

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)

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)

25. Andy Williams

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 41 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 369 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Can’t Get Used To Losing You (No. 2 for 4 weeks)

24. The Pointer Sisters

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 26 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 387 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Slow Hand (No. 2 for 3 weeks)

23. Trey Songz

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 36 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 528 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Bottoms Up (No. 6 for 1 week)

22. 2 Chainz

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 40 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 505 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: We Own It (Fast & Furious) (No. 16 for 1 week)

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)

20. Brook Benton

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 48 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 398 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: The Boll Weevil Song (No. 2 for 3 weeks)

19. Toby Keith

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 38 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 548 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Red Solo Cup (No. 15 for 1 week)

18. 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)

17. David Guetta

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 23 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 398 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: I’m Good (Blue) (No. 4 for 2 weeks)

16. Rick Ross

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 55 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 576 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: The Boss (No. 17 for 1 week)

15. Brad Paisley

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 39 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 638 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Then (No. 28 for 2 weeks)

14. Big Sean

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 54 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 491 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Bounce Back (No. 6 for 1 week)

13. Blake Shelton

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 42 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 631 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Boys ’round Here (No. 12 for 1 week)

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)

11. Florida Georgia Line

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 24 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 527 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Cruise (No. 4 for 1 week)

10. Luke Combs

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 30 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 522 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Fast Car (No. 2 for 8 weeks)

9. Khalid

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

8. Keith Urban

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 46 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 777 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Kiss A Girl (No. 16 for 1 week)

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)

6. Dua Lipa

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 22 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 472 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Don’t Start Now (No. 2 for 1 week)

5. Luke Bryan

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 37 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 672 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Play It Again (No. 14 for 1 week)

4. James Brown

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 88 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 658 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: I Got You (I Feel Good) (No. 3 for 3 weeks)

3. Kenny Chesney

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 58 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 957 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: Out Last Night (No. 16 for 1 week)

2. Tim McGraw

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 61 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 931 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: It’s Your Love (No. 7 for 1 week)

1. Lil Baby

• Number of Hot 100 entries: 138 songs
• Time spent on the Hot 100: 913 weeks
• Highest-charting entry: The Bigger Picture (No. 3 for 1 week)