In an industry as fickle as the music business, longevity can be an elusive concept. For the lucky (but often deserving) batch who manage to see their respective impacts survive changing musical trends and tides, a particularly fortunate class – even among that small group – vaunt relevance.
Granted, the ageist industry sees less women than men score the latter, but the list of female acts who have remained competitive far beyond their commercial peaks – especially on Billboard – is nothing to dismiss.
Look inside to see who made the ultra-exclusive list. Don’t be surprised if your fave is absent…
Three Decades
*Editor’s note: Only chart placements of solo acts are included*
Beyonce
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Crazy in Love,’ ‘Single Ladies,’ etc.)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘Formation,’ ‘Drunk in Love,’ etc.)
- 2020s (e.g. ‘Savage (Remix),’ ‘Black Parade,’ ‘Break My Soul,’ etc.)
Miley Cyrus
- 2000s (e.g. ‘See You Again,’ ‘7 Things,’ ‘Party in the U.S.A.,’ etc.)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘We Can’t Stop,’ ‘Malibu,’ ‘Wrecking Ball,’ etc.)
- 2020s (e.g. ‘Midnight Sky,’ ‘Flowers,’ etc.)
Kylie Minogue
- 1980s (e.g. ‘I Should Be So Lucky,’ etc.)
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head,’ etc.)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘Higher’)
Taylor Swift
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Love Story,’ ‘You Belong With Me,’ etc.)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘Shake It Off,’ ‘Look What You Made Me Do,’ etc.)
- 2020s (e.g. ‘Willow,’ ‘Cardigan,’ ‘Anti-Hero,’ etc.)
Natalie Cole
- 1970s (e.g. ‘This Will Be’)
- 1980s (e.g. ‘Pink Cadillac’)
- 1990s (e.g. ‘Unforgettable’)
Katy Perry
- 2000s (‘I Kissed a Girl,’ ‘Hot & Cold,’ etc.)
- 2010s (‘Never Really Over,’ ‘Roar,’ etc.)
- 2020s (‘Daisies’)
Janet Jackson
- 1980s (e.g. ‘Control,’ ‘What Have You Done For Me Lately,’ ‘Pleasure Principle,’ etc.)
- 1990s (e.g. ‘Together Again,’ ‘Love Will Never Do,’ ‘If,’ etc.)
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Feedback,’ ‘All For You,’ ‘Doesn’t Really Matter,’ etc.)
Special Note: ‘Doesn’t Really Matter’ made Janet the first female artist to have a Hot 100 #1 single in three consecutive decades
Dionne Warwick
- 1960s (e.g. ‘Walk On By,’ ‘Say a Little Prayer,’ etc.)
- 1970s (e.g. ‘I’ll Never Love This Way Again,’ ‘Then Came You,’ etc.)
- 1980s (e.g. ‘That’s What Friends are For,’ ‘Love Power,’ etc.)
Rihanna
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Rude Boy,’ ‘Unfaithful,’ ‘S.O.S.,’ ‘Umbrella,’ etc.)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘Work,’ ‘Diamonds,’ ‘What’s My Name,’ etc.)
- 2020s (e.g. ‘Believe It,’ ‘Lift Me Up’)
Christina Aguilera
- 1990s (e.g. ‘Genie in a Bottle,’ etc.)
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Beautiful,’ ‘Fighter,’ ‘Not Myself Tonight,’ etc.)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘Feel This Moment,’ ‘Moves Like Jagger,’ ‘Say Something,’ etc.)
Dolly Parton
- 1970s (e.g. ‘Two Doors Down,’ ‘Baby I’m Burning,’ ‘Here You Come Again,’ etc.)
- 1980s (e.g. ‘9 to 5,’ ‘Islands in the Stream,’ ‘Starting Over Again,’ etc.)
- 2000s (e.g. ‘When I Get Where I’m Going’)
Lady Gaga
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Poker Face,’ ‘Just Dance,’ etc.)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘Applause,’ ‘Shallow,’ etc.)
- 2020s (e.g. ‘Stupid Love,’ etc.)
Carly Simon
- 1970s (e.g. ‘You’re So Vain,’ ‘Nobody Does It Better,’ etc.)
- 1980s (e.g. ‘Coming Around Again,’ ‘Jesse,’ etc.)
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Son of a Gun’)
Chaka Khan
- 1970s (e.g. ‘I’m Every Woman,’ etc.)
- 1980s (e.g. ‘Ain’t Nobody,’ ‘I Feel For You,’ etc.)
- 1990s (e.g. ‘Missing You’)
Roberta Flack
- 1970s (e.g. ‘First Time I Ever Saw Your Face,’ ‘Killing Me Softly,’ ‘Closer I Get To You,’ etc.)
- 1980s (e.g. ‘Tonight I Celebrate My Love’)
- 1990s (e.g. ‘Set the Night to Music’)
Bette Midler
- 1970s (e.g. ‘Do You Want to Dance,’ etc.)
- 1980s (e.g. ‘The Rose,’ ‘Wind Beneath My Wings,’ etc.)
- 1990s (e.g. ‘From a Distance’)
Jennifer Lopez
- 1990s (e.g. ‘If You Had My Love’)
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Ain’t It Funny,’ ‘Get Right,’ ‘Love Don’t Cost a Thing,’ etc.)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘Booty,’ ‘On the Floor’)
Demi Lovato
- 2000s (e.g. ‘This is Me’)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘Sorry Not Sorry,’ ‘Heart Attack,’ etc.)
- 2020s (e.g. ‘I Love Me’)
Carole King
- 1960s (e.g. ‘It’s Too Late,’ ‘So Far Away,’ etc.)
- 1970s (e.g. ‘Jazzman,’ ‘Nightingale,’ etc.)
- 1980s (e.g. ‘One Fine Day’)
Kelly Clarkson
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Breakaway,’ ‘Moment Like This,’ ‘My Life Would Suck Without You,’ etc.)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘Catch My Breath,’ ‘Stronger,’ etc.)
- 2020s (e.g. ‘Underneath the Tree’)
Shakira
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Whenever, Wherever,’ ‘Hips Don’t Lie,’ etc.)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘Can’t Remember to Forget You,’ Waka Waka,’ etc.)
- 2020s (e.g. ‘Bzrp Music Sessions’)
Missy Elliott
- 1990s (e.g. ‘Hot Boyz,’ ‘Sock It 2 Me,’ etc.)
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Get Ur Freak On,’ ‘Work It,’ etc.)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘WTF’)
Special note: Missy Elliott is the only female rapper to have a Hot 100 top 40 hit in three or more decades.
Four Decades
Madonna
- 1980s (e.g. ‘Like a Virgin,’ ‘Material Girl,’ ‘Like a Prayer’)
- 1990s (e.g. ‘Vogue,’ ‘Take a Bow,’ ‘Ray of Light’)
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Music,’ ‘Hung Up,’ ‘4 Minutes’)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’)
Cher
- 1960s (e.g. ‘Bang Bang,’ etc.)
- 1970s (e.g. ‘Dark Lady,’ ‘Gypsies, Tramps, & Thieves,’ ‘Half Breed,’ etc.)
- 1980s (e.g. ‘I Found Someone,’ ‘If I Could Turn Back Time,’ etc.)
- 1990s (e.g. ‘The Shoop Shoop Song,’ ‘Believe,’ etc.)
Aretha Franklin
- 1960s (e.g. ‘Chain of Fools,’ ‘Respect,’ etc.)
- 1970s (e.g. ‘Day Dreaming,’ ‘Rock Steady,’ ‘Until You Come Back to Me,’ etc.)
- 1980s (e.g. ‘Jump To It,’ ‘Freeway of Love,’ ‘I Knew You Were Waiting,’ etc.)
- 1990s (e.g. ‘A Rose is Still a Rose’)
Barbra Streisand
- 1960s (e.g. ‘People,’ ‘Second Hand Rose,’ etc.)
- 1970s (e.g. ‘No More Tears,’ ‘You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,’ ‘Evergreen,’ ‘The Way We Were,’ etc.)
- 1980s (e.g. ‘Woman in Love,’ ‘Guilty,’ etc.)
- 1990s (e.g. ‘I Finally Found Someone’)
Britney Spears
- 1990s (e.g. ‘Baby One More Time,’ etc.)
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Toxic,’ ‘Womanizer,’ ‘I’m a Slave 4 U,’ etc.)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘Work B*tch,’ ‘Hold It Against Me,’ etc.)
- 2020s (e.g. ‘Hold Me Closer’)
Whitney Houston
- 1980s (e.g. ‘Saving All My Love for You,’ ‘How Will I Know,’ etc.)
- 1990s (e.g. ‘I Will Always Love You,’ ‘All the Man I Need,’ ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight,’ etc.)
- 2000s (e.g. ‘Star Spangled Banner’)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘I Will Always Love You’ re-entry)
Mariah Carey
- 1990s (e.g. ‘Vision of Love,’ ‘Hero,’ ‘My All’)
- 2000s (e.g. ‘We Belong Together,’ ‘Don’t Forget About Us,’ ‘Touch My Body’)
- 2010s (e.g. ‘Beautiful’)
- 2020s (e.g. ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’)
Special note: Mariah is the first and only act to have a #1 single in four different decades.
*****
Honorable Mention:
Like Carey’s annually resurgent yuletide classic, ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You,’ country singer Brenda Lee (who primarily scored hits in the 50’s and 60’s), has a holiday hit that has re-entered the Hot 100 every year Billboard allowed it – ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.’
As the rules on Holiday songs’ chart eligibility have changed multiple times since the tally’s inception in 1958, ‘Rockin’ has rocked the charts in multiple decades – even hopping to #2 on the first 2020-printed edition of the Hot 100.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas lol ❤️
No Beyoncé ? The fleas will fume
That’s beause she was in a group in the 90’s idiot and the 2020’s just started.
Like Clarks00n has the IQ of an illiterate fruit fly SMH ??♂️
What about Celine and Patti
I would’ve sworn tina did too
I think Tina had hits in the 60’s and 70’s under the “Ike & Tina” moniker. However, I still think that should be counted as she was always introduced as “Tina Turner”.
I expected this list to omit people like dolly parton and bette midler tbh
and streisand.
not that i didn’t know they had the hits, i just didn’t expect tgj to recognize them
Linda Ronstadt also charted in 3 decades , Adult Contemporary radio picked up the album track “The Blue Train” which reached 31 on that chart in 1995 ” You’re No good” number 1 December 1975. June 1980 ” i can’t Let Go” number 31.. just to name a few.
lmaoooo flopmila cafloppo will NEVER be included on this list lmfaooooooooooooooo
NEVA U HEAR ME.
Artists with the most Hot 100 #1 hits since 2015:
@theweeknd 5
@Drake 5
@justinbieber 5
@PostMalone 4
@iamcardib 3
@taylorswift13 3
@ArianaGrande 2
@BrunoMars 2
@Camila_Cabello 2
@edsheeran 2
@halsey 2
@kendricklamar 2
@trvisXX 2
???
Where is normani?
Here comes the excuses…
Lol
Nicki Minaj should be on this list too. She’s had hits in 2009-2020 that’s three decades
Nicki first placement was in 2010
at first i thought nicki should be there too, but bedrock is not credited to her as a solo act
Noo.. this fatherf*cker mustnt be in list ..
Yup from 1990 -2000 Whitney had more entries than mariah..
1990 was the debut to compete with Whitney Houston she says stop comparing me to Whitney Houston…cause she knew…. . And owwww Pattie labelle on ET.
Whitney was still untouchable musically and vocally . Mariah came up when Whitney had a sore throat
Hmm Mariah is the only artist to have a number one single in 4 decades. Top 40 hits are for lessers.
Whitney had more top 40’s, Mariah had more #1’s. See how that works?
Also, coming back to this cause I figured it was a lie. Mariah had 24 Top 40 hits from 1990 – 2000 , while Whitney had 19. Y’all stay lying!
And Miss Carey wrote 99 percent of her hits. Weedney was just handed a lyric sheet. lolxxx
Artists with the most Hot 100 #1 hits since 2015:
@theweeknd 5
@Drake 5
@justinbieber 5
@PostMalone 4
@iamcardib 3
@taylorswift13 3
@ArianaGrande 2
@BrunoMars 2
@Camila_Cabello 2
@edsheeran 2
@halsey 2
@kendricklamar 2
@trvisXX 2
?????
Where is normani?
Here comes the excuses
Where is normani on the billboard, iTunes, spotify 100 charts?
Waiting for answers not excuses.
Congrats to everyone EXCEPT Gaga. F*** that b****.
Congrats to all my faves. Aretha, Whitney, Mariah, Janet, Christina, doing the damn thing!!
Also Rihanna, Missy Natalie Cole amazing body of work teach these up coming artist how it’s done longevity
According to Hits Daily Double here are the worldwide sales of Future Nostalgia Warner Records U.K. is currently heading to the top of the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart with Dua Lipa’s widely praised Future Nostalgia, which has racked up 732k worldwide sales so far. Over on Spotify, she’s the most streamed British female artist of all time and #3 in the world overall.
Dua has no place in the convo here hunty
This Is for legends
Tell the rat
????
Number one in the uk
????
Sold 18k pure sales.
Gurl bye
Lil uzi vert album is 3 weeks old and still managed to outpeaked dua lipa’s future nostalgia.
Embarrassing
I cannot wait to see Dua’s total sales.
18k pure sales
Number 4 on the billboard 200
????
Go to Hits Daily Double website and read the article https://m.hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=320846&title=
Also Dua sold 66k with streaming 18k pure sales in the US.
Read what?
She.sold 18k pure sales
Why are u emotional
???
Lil uzi vert album is 3.weeks old and still charted higher and sold more than future nostalgia
I liked dua until u guys started saying she will.end Camila with future nostalgia.
U dont mess with queen Camila
Go against Camila, its gonna cost u.
I am responding to the person above not you, who is ignorant on this blog. No one is being emotional, read the article and you will see the sales for yourself worldwide. I’ve never mentioned anything about Camila you brought her name up. Not sure who “you guys” are couldn’t be referring to me because I don’t reply to your stupiidty.
Ur so emotional
??
Stop being emotional
U are.deep in ur feelings
18k pure sales, now that’s embarrassing
Now I understand why u are emotional.
??
If she sold 737K
The dragging will be nonstop
Can’t wait for numbers tomorrow
The rat is consoling its self
????
18k pure sales
Debuted at number 4
Lil uzi vert 3 week old album charted higher and sold more than future nostalgia
Let that sink in
???
They really thought she was gonna end Camila cause she had 2 cute songs. Lol
They really thought she was gonna sell 300k first week
The delusion
Clowns. Smh
Lol your the IGNORANT rat looking for attention. You repeat yourself non stop about the same thing over and over. We are aware and we get it 18k pure sales in the US. As I have mentioned before the article states worldwide sales do not include me in your vile commentary. These are FACTS from the website. If You read it for yourself then you will see. There is nothing to debate.
@DMNTQ, more great news for Dua Slaylipa lol ?? She has THREE of the Top 10 songs in the WORLD ? Them other heauxs can’t relate ?
http://www.mediatraffic.de/tracks.htm
Camicky The Clown MOM isn’t even top 40
??????????????????????????????
She’s supposed to be a global star?
??????????????????????????????
Edit.
Camicky MOM is #38
Awww that’s cute. Poor thang. ?
Can’t wait for the album charts to update
So far Dua did 100K+ with only two countries reported
??????????????????????????????
Camicky did 130K Bromance debut with all countries reported
@Nicky, the Grammys was right chile ???????
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3jA5woMR6k
??????
https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/podcasts/9353099/2021-grammys-predictions-pop-shop-podcast-dua-lipa-post-malone-harry-styles
We ❤️ to see it ?
The rats are adding sales from countries around the world
???
The struggle is real
???
Yall dont wanna go down without a fight
Take ur L in peace
Look at @onlyshìts, the rat took his L and has been quiet ever since.
18k pure sales
Number 4 on the billboard 200
Lil uzi vert 3 week old album outcharted and old sold future nostalgia
Let’s not forget dua was literally begging fans to buy her album.
Dua Lipa is selling Future Nostalgia bundles in Australia that include a delivered cocktail
???
I always bet on the right horse! ?????
What a DUMMY ?????
The industry adds global sales
What a DUMMY
It’s not our fault that Camickyhas low Ww sales
130K ????????????????????????????????????????????????
Even Roddy rich did more
What industry?
I’m talking about the us the number one music market
The billboard 200. The number one album chart
18k pure sales
????
Number 4
And they said she was gonna sell 300k first week
????
these rats are really trying it.
Worldwide sales? The reach
????
Walk away, you know how! Don’t start caring about me NOW ???????
This is great news for Dua. It shows she can also be successful internationally. Having three songs simultaneously on any chart of that matter is a success period. The U.S. Billboard 200 Charts is NOT the only main chart that determines an Artist success. Global sales are always factored into the success of an Artists album, why do you think they market themselves internationally? More revenue duh DUMMY. Please ignore this IGNORANT RAT, it keeps repeating itself over and over about 18k pure sales when in fact the album sold 66k first week and yes, we are all aware it debuted at number 4. Check Hits daily double website read the article. Far from a FLOP, no Best New Artist curse here for this double Grammy Award. Longevity!! Ha!!
MARIAH. That’s all.