Since 1958, Billboard Magazine has published the Hot 100 Singles chart each week. Since that first chart on August 4, 1958 that listed “Poor Little Fool” by Ricky Nelson as the number one song, 1,180 different songs have topped the Hot 100 chart; but only 84 of them debuted in the number one spot.
Billboard uses radio airplay, sales data – physical and digital, and streaming activity to determine the song rankings. Prior to 1991, only radio airplay was used to determine the Hot 100 songs.
The Hot 100 chart is considered the industry standard for song rankings in the United States.
Canadian artist Drake tops the list with a total of nine songs that debuted in the number one spot!
Songs that debuted at number one on the Hot 100:
“You are Not Alone” by Michael Jackson – the first artist and song to debut at number one in 1995
“Fantasy” by Mariah Carey
“Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” by Whitney Houston
“One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
“I’ll Be Missing You” by Puff Daddy (Sean “Diddy” Combs) and Faith Evens with 112
“Honey” by Mariah Carey
The Princess Diana tribute single “Candle in the Wind”/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight” by Sir Elton John – the song went on to be the first ever single to be certified Diamond for selling at least 10 million copies in the U.S.
“My Heart Will Go One” by Celine Dion
“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
“Doo Wop (That Thing)” by Lauryn Hill
“This is the Night” by season two “American Idol” alum Clay Aiken – his debut single
“I Believe” by season three “American Idol” winner Fantasia – it was her debut single
“Inside Your Heaven” by season four “American Idol” winner Carrie Underwood – it was her debut single the first Country music single to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart
“Do I Make You Proud” by season five “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks – his debut single
“3” by Britney Spears
“Not Afraid” by Eminem
“We R Who We R” by Ke$ha
“Hold it Against Me” by Britney Spears
“Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
“Part of Me” by Katy Perry
“Harlem Shake” by Baauer
21. “Harlem Shake” by Baauer – the first single to include YouTube data
“Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift
“What Do You Mean?” by Justin Bieber
“Hello” by Adele
“Pillowtalk” by Zayn
“Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake
“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran
“I’m the One” by DJ Khaled with Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne
“God’s Plan” by Drake
“Nice for What” by Drake
“This is America” by Childish Gambino – the song went on to be the first Rap song to win Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards
“Thank U, Next” by Ariana Grande
“7 Rings” by Ariana Grande
“Sucker” by the Jonas Brothers
“Highest in the Room” by Travis Scott
“Toosie Slide” by Drake
“The Scotts” by The Scotts (Travis Scott and Kid Cudi)
“Stuck With U” by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber – charity single for First Responders Children’s Foundation
“Rain on Me” by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande
“Trollz” by 6in9ine and Nicki Minaj
“Cardigan” by Taylor Swift – her album “Folklore” also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album chart to make her the first artist to have a single and album debut at number one in the same week
“WAP” by Cardi B with Megan Thee Stallion – the song also set a streaming record with 93 million in the first week
“Dynamite” by the Korean group BTS – the first all South Korean group to top the Hot 100
“Franchise” by Travis Scott with Young Thug and M.I.A. – it was Scott’s third debut number one of the year to become the first artist with the fastest to reach number one in Hot 100 history
“Positions” by Ariana Grande – she became the first artist to have three number one singles in a single calendar year on the Hot 100
“Life Goes One” by BTS
46. “Life Goes On” by BTS – their album “Be” also debuted at number on in the same week
“Willow” by Taylor Swift – her album “Evermore” also debuted at number in the same week making her the first artist to achieve the feat twice
“Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo – her debut single – at 17 she is the youngest artist to have a song debut at number one on the Hot 100
“What’s Next” by Drake – first rapper in history to have three songs in the Hot 100 simultaneously.
“Peaches” by Justin Bieber with Daniel Caesar and Giveon
50. “Peaches” by Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon – his album “Justice” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album chart the same week
“Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” by Lil Nas X
“Rapster” by Polo G
“Good 4 U” by Olivia Rodrigo
“Butter” by BTS
“Permission to Dance” by BTS – their fourth song to top the Hott 100 in less than a year
“Way 2 Sexy” by Drake with Future and Young Thug – the album “Certified Lover Boy” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album chart the same week
“My Universe” by Coldplay and BTS – the fifth song to debut at number one for BTS
“All Too Well” (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift – her Taylor’s version of the album “Red” also debuted on the Billboard 200 Album chart the same week – there are two versions of the song; a five minute version and a 10 minute version which were combined to make one listing – at 10:13, the song officially becomes the longest song on the Billboard charts
“As it Was” by Harry Styles
59. “As It Was” by Harry Styles – after dropping out of the number one spot in the second week on the chart, the song returned to the number one spot for a 15 week stint to set a new record for a British artist
“First Class” by Jack Harlow
“Wait For U” by Future with Drake and Tems
“Jimmy Cooks” by Drake with 21 Savage – Drake’s album “Nevermind” also debuted at number one the same week on the Billboard 200 Album chart
“Super Freaky Girl” by Nicki Minaj
“Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift – her album “Midnights” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album chart. “Anti-Hero” was just one of 10 songs released as singles from “Midnights” at the same time; making Swift the first artist to fill all spots in the top 10 of the Hot 100 chart
“Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
“Like Crazy” by Jimin of BTS – he became the first solo artist from South Korea to top the Hot 100
“Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo – the only artist to have her first two singles to debut in the number one spot
“Seven” by Jung Kook of BTS with Latto – Jung Kook becomes the second member of BTS to have a single debut at the top of the Hot 100
“Rich Men North of Richmond” by Oliver Anthony Music
“I Remember Everything” by Zach Bryan with Kacey Musgraves – Bryan’s self titled album also debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 Album chart
“Slime You Out” by Drake with SZA
“First Person Shooter” by Drake with J. Cole – Drake’s album “For All the Dogs” also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album chart – Drake holds the record for the most singles to debut at number one on the Hot 100 with nine
“Is It Over Now?” by Taylor Swift – the song dethroned her single “Cruel Summer” – she is the only female artist to do so…twice
“Yes, And?” by Ariana Grande
“Hiss” by Megan Thee Stallion
“We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” by Ariana Grande – her album “Eternal Sunshine” also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album chart – Grande has the most chart topping singles by a female artist with seven
“Like That” by Future and Metro Boomin with Kendrick Lamar
“Fortnight” by Taylor Swift with Post Malone – her album “The Tortured Poets Department” also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album chart the same week to make Swift the only artist to have a single and an album debut at number one in the same week with five – she also ties Ariana Grande for the most debut number one singles at seven
“Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
“I Had Some Help” by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen
“Love Somebody” by Morgan Wallen
“Squabble Up” by Kendrick Lamar – his album “GNX” also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album chart – four other songs from the album filled out the top five of the Hot 100 – Lamar, Taylor Swift, and the Beatles are the only artists to do so
“4X4” by Travis Scott
And the most recent single to debut at number one on the Hot 100 is “What I Want” by Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae
“What I Want” by Morgan Wallen featuring Tate McRae