Music

Rihanna ties Madonna and The Supremes as the fourth most frequent chart topper of all time

by Aaron Zorgel

November 21, 2012

All of the media frenzy surrounding the Rihanna Plane blogger hostage fiasco might be doing the “Diamonds” singer a favour, since her new single is sitting pretty on top of the Billboard Hot 100 this week. If first week sales projections are any indication, she’ll also have a number one record on the Billboard 200 next week.

In its third week on the charts, Rihanna’s “Diamonds” has dethroned Maroon 5’s “One More Night” at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, securing Rihanna’s seat as one of the biggest hitmakers of all time. This is the Bajan singer’s twelfth stay atop the Hot 100, which ranks her in a fourth place tie amongst the chart’s most frequent visitors.

Rihanna finds herself tied with Madonna and The Supremes in terms of number one hits, with only Michael Jackson (13), Mariah Carey (18), and The Beatles (20) standing in her way. Elvis Presley’s career began before the Hot 100 was initiated, but if you count his career number ones including the pre-Hot 100 hits, he has seventeen.

If Rihanna has another number one up her sleeve on Unapologetic, which seems like a possibility, she’ll be tied with Michael Jackson.

Check out the official number one singles power rankings below, and then treat yourself to any one of Rihanna’s twelve number one hits.

Most career number one hits on the Hot 100

The Beatles (20)
Mariah Carey (18)
Elvis Presley (17) (Pre-Hot 100 charts and Hot 100)
Michael Jackson (13)
Madonna (12) tie
Rihanna (12) tie
The Supremes (12) tie
Whitney Houston (11) tie
Janet Jackson (10) tie
Stevie Wonder (10) tie

“SOS”