The Music Artists With the Most No. 1 Hits

Chances are that if you have turned on the radio in the last fifty years, you have heard one of these number-one hit songs, the songs that we all know by heart, the songs that we sing along with in the car, the songs that get stuck on a loop in our brains and we just can’t seem to get them out of our heads. Whether you like them or not, these songs are part of the fabric of pop culture.

Have you ever wondered what makes a number-one song? A number-one song is a song that captures the attention with stand out lyrics that may be silly or sad, and a melody that listeners just can’t get enough of, so they play it over and over.

Any artist can be a one-hit wonder; with a little talent and a lot of luck, every musician can squeeze out at least one hit song. But the musicians who really stand out are able to create amazing music and number-one hits over and over during their careers. These are the artists who are masters of their craft and consistently make music that connects with listeners.

There is no magic formula for writing music that climbs the charts; some hit songs make listeners want to dance, others make them want to cry, and others take listeners on a three-minute joyride, and they can forget their troubles and find solace in the music.

The artists with the most number-one hits are creative forces of nature and keep showing up for their art and their loyal fans. They know that music makes everything better.

To determine the artists with the most No. 1 hits, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on the Hot 100 chart from Billboard magazine. Artists were ranked based on the total number of No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 through June 1, 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. (Also See Songs That Stayed the Longest At No. 1 on the Hot 100)

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)