Never Number One?
Throughout its history, there have been over 1,000 songs that have reached the top spot on the iconic Billboard Hot 100 chart. But surprisingly, these huge music stars have never done it.
One Direction
They got up into the top 10 on multiple occasions, but even their "Best Song Ever" only got as high as number two on the chart. However, One Direction didn't do as a band, 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...
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Bruce Springsteen
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s cover of the Boss' Blinded By the Light did hit number one back in 1977.
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Backstreet Boys
Another boy band you'll be shocked to learn never had a number one hit, 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 of all time. But, the Canadian songstress has only been as high as number two on the Billboard Hot 100—she did it with, "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.
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Missy Elliott
The hip-hop icon worked it up to second place on the charts with "Work It", but that's as high as she's ever been.
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R.E.M.
Losing My Religion got up to number four.
Metallica
One of the most popular heavy metal bands of all time, Metallica has had some big hits, but even "Enter Sandman" only got up to 16 on the charts. Their best showing ever was "Until It Sleeps", at 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 top spot. "Without You", at number four, is the highest spot he's seen thus 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 got to number three on the charts.
Demi Lovato
"Sorry Not Sorry" is, so far, Lovato's only track to crack single digits—climbing up to 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.
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En Vogue
En Vogue got close three times, rising up to number 2 with "Hold On, My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)" as well as with, "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 rocked the top of the charts five times. But while he did have six solo tracks crack the top 10, the highest he got post-Eagles was his collaboration with Patty Smyth, "Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough"—which held on to the number two spot 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 these songs:: "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. 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 got as high as 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 great track, "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 as a solo artist, but New Edition never found that top spot as a group. Their 1996 reunion track "Hit Me Off" is their highest charting song ever. It reached number three.
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The Pointer Sisters
These sisters never got to point to a number one hit, but they did hit number 2 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 Hot 100 in 1990 and that's that's close as AC/DC has ever gotten to the top of the Hot 100 mountain.
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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...it didn't. It, along with "Hush", both got as high as number four on the chart.
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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.
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Led Zeppelin
Zeppelin only had four songs ever crack the top 20. "Whole Lotta Love" was their highest charter ever, 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 with 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".
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Tom Petty
"Free Fallin'" rose up to number seven.
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Van Morrison
"Brown Eyed Girl" and "Domino" are Morrison's highest charting songs, and both only got as high as number nine.
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The Who
"I Can See for Miles" peaked at 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 the top. "Under the Bridge" spent it's time at number two behind Kriss Kross' Jump.
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