Despite Their Popularity, These Billboard 100 Hits Never Reached No. 1

When we think of the most popular artists of any given era, multiple names come to mind. But how many of these artists have reached the Billboard Hot 100? With massive fan followings, radio dominance, and streaming ubiquity, it's easy to assume their songs must have topped the charts. But even music legends and chart mainstays sometimes fall short of the very top.

Since its launch in 1958, the Billboard Hot 100 has served as the industry standard for measuring a song's popularity in the U.S. Initially, it factored in record sales, jukebox play, and radio spins. Over time, it's evolved significantly. Still, the chart's methodology can lead to unexpected results, where wildly popular or influential songs peak just shy of the top due to competition or imbalances across platforms.

To identify the biggest songs that never reached No. 1, 24/7 Tempo analyzed Billboard Hot 100 records. Songs were ranked using an inverse points system: a week at No. 1 equals 100 points, No. 2 earns 99, and so on down to one point for No. 100. Data was sourced directly from Billboard's historical charts and related reporting.

This post was updated July 5th, 2025, to reflect additional data.

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