How Is That Possible?
There have been over 1,000 songs that have reached the top spot on the iconic Billboard Hot 100 chart. But shockingly, these huge music stars have never done it.
One Direction
They had a bunch of top 10 hits, but even their "Best Song Ever" only got as high as number two on the chart. What they couldn't do as a band, though, both Zayn Malik and Harry Styles have done as solo artists.
Bruce Springsteen
"Dancing in the Dark" got stuck at number two behind "When Doves Cry" by Prince and the Revolution, and that's as high as a Springsteen-sung song has ever gotten. But...
Bill Ebbesen, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bruce Springsteen
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s cover of the Boss' Blinded By the Light did hit number one back in 1977.
DoD News Features, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Backstreet Boys
Another shocking boy band to have never had a number one hit on the Hot 100 are the Backstreet Boys. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" reached number two.
jenniferlinneaphotography, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Shania Twain
She had three consecutive diamond records and one of the best-selling albums ever. Yet, the Canadian songstress has only seen as high as number two on the Hot 100, with her track, "You’re Still The One".
Imagine Dragons
These dragons can still only imagine what it would be like to have a number one hit on the Hot 100. 2013's "Radioactive" is their highest charting song thus far—it reached number three.
Alexandra Sermon, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Missy Elliott
The hip-hop icon worked it up to number two with "Work It", but that's as high as she's ever been.
Nikola Spasenoski, Shutterstock
R.E.M.
Losing My Religion got as high as number four.
Metallica
One of, if not the most popular heavy metal band of all time, Metallica has had some big hits, but even "Enter Sandman" only got as high as number 16. Their best showing ever was "Until It Sleeps", at number 10.
Library of Congress Life, Wikimedia Commons
David Guetta
There have been years where it was impossible to go to a club and not hear a David Guetta track. But it's always been possible to look at the Billboard Hot 100 and not see him in the number one spot. "Without You", at number four, is the closest he's come so far.
Nicovdwoude, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Green Day
The band has had to say good riddance to the number one spot on the Hot 100. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" hit number two but that's as far as they've been.
Pearl Jam
Staying true to the title of their debut album, Pearl Jam has had a couple songs enter the top 10. Last Kiss got up to number two.
Chaka Khan
"Tell Me Something Good" and "I Feel For You" both reached number three on the charts.
Demi Lovato
"Sorry Not Sorry" is, so far, Lovato's only track to crack single digits—stalling out at number six.
Bob Marley
Not only did Marley never have a number one hit, he only had one song chart on the Billboard Hot 100. "Roots, Rock, Reggae" topped out at 51.
Eddie Mallin, CC BY 2.0,Wikimedia Commons
En Vogue
En Vogue got close three times, hitting number two with "Hold On, My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)" and "Don’t Let Go (Love)".
Sheryl Crow
Everyday may be a winding road, but Crow's road never winded its way all the way to that top spot on the Hot 100. The highest she got was number two with, "All I Wanna Do".
Nirvana
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" only sniffed as high as number 6 on the chart.
James Brown
We hope Brown felt good about the third spot on the charts, because that's as high as he got with "I Got You (I Feel Good)".
Roger Woolman, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Don Henley
With the Eagles, Henley sat atop the Billboard Hot 100 on five different occasions. But while he did see six solo efforts crack the top 10, the highest he got after the Eagles was his collab with Patty Smyth, "Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough"—which hung out in the number two position for six weeks, behind Boyz II Men's "End of the Road".
Derek Russell, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Martha & The Vandellas
You might've assumed that at least one of "Heat Wave", "Dancing in the Street", or "Nowhere to Run" would've made it all the way up to number one. But no. "Dancing in the Street" got the highest, peaking at number two.
James J. Kriegsmann, Wikimedia Commons
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Can you imagine having five songs reach number two on the Billboard Hot 100 but never having a number one hit? CCR Can. In case you were wondering, those five songs were: "Proud Mary", "Bad Moon Rising", "Green River, Travelin’ Band/Who’ll Stop the Rain", and "Lookin’ Out My Back Door/Long As I Can See the Light".
Fantasy Records, Wikimedia Commons
Bob Dylan
We know what you're thinking. But no, "Like a Rolling Stone" only reached number two.
Rowland Scherman, Wikimedia Commons
Babyface
As a writer and producer, Babyface had a bunch of number one hits. But we're talking performers here, and as a performer of songs, Babyface reached the top 10 five times, but never number one. "When Can I See You" rose up to number four and that's his highest charter as a performer.
Randy Miramontez, Shutterstock
MC Hammer
Maybe the only thing more shocking than the fact that MC Hammer never had a number one hit on the Hot 100, was that his highest ranking track was "Pray"—reaching as high as number two. "U Can’t Touch This" peaked at number eight.
Pat Benatar
Like "love", the Hot 100 is also a battlefield—and Benatar's best showing in the fight was her classic, "Love Is a Battlefield"—as well as "We Belong". Both songs peaked at number five.
New Edition
Bobby Brown had a couple number one hits on his own, but New Edition never found the top spot. In fact, it was their 1996 reunion track "Hit Me Off" that is their highest charting song ever. It reached number three.
Likehonesty, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Pointer Sisters
These sisters never got to point to a number one hit, but they did reach the second spot on the charts twice: with "Fire" and "Slow Hand".
Rob Mieremet, Wikimedia Commons
Jody Watley
Watley can say she won a Grammy for Best New Artist, but she can't tell anyone she had a number one hit on the Hot 100. She did get all the way up to number two twice, though, with "Looking for a New Love" and "Real Love".
APK, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
AC/DC
"Moneytalks" reached number 23 on the chart back in 1990 and that's the closest AC/DC has ever gotten to the top of the Hot 100 mountain.
Teodoromix, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Crosby Stills And Nash
Whether with, or without, Neil Young, CSN (and sometimes Y) never got closer than number seven on the Hot 100. They did so with "Just a Song Before I Go".
Deep Purple
If you're thinking that "Smoke on the Water" must've hit number one, you'd be wrong. It, along with "Hush", both rose as high as number four on the chart.
Jonas Rogowski, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead only ever had one song crack the top 60 on the Hot 100—"Touch of Grey" rose all the way up to number nine.
Chris Stone, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Led Zeppelin
Zeppelin only had four songs ever crack the top 20. "Whole Lotta Love" rose the highest, topping out at number four in 1969.
Atlantic Records, Wikimedia Commons
Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Sweet Home Alabama" only made it up to number eight and as for "Free Bird", that rock classic only just found its way into the top 20.
MCA Records, Wikimedia Commons
Sting
Sting has found the top spot on the Hot 100 with The Police and his duet with Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart. However, as a solo artist, the highest he's ever been was number three with "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free".
Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tom Petty
"Free Fallin'" rose up to number seven before falling back down.
Ирина Лепнёва, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Van Morrison
"Brown Eyed Girl" and "Domino" are Morrison's highest charting songs, and both only got as high as number nine.
sahlgoode, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Who
"I Can See for Miles" peaked at number nine on the Hot 100.
Jim Summaria, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Red Hot Chili Peppers
"By the Way", "Dani California", and "Under the Bridge" all hit number two on the charts, but none of them could make that final jump to number one. Ironically, "Under the Bridge" spent it's time at number two behind Kriss Kross' Jump.
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpeg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}