Rachel Zegler Revives A Theater Classic And Scores A Rare Chart Smash

Rachel Zegler’s “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” reenters three U.K. charts, fueled by the hit Evita revival, marking a rare chart win for a theater song. LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 18: Members of the public watch Rachel Zegler perform “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” live on the balcony as she plays Eva Peron in “Evita” at the London Palladium on June 18, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

Rachel Zegler is commanding the West End in a new revival of Evita, and the production is doing more than drawing standing ovations and selling out night after night. The show has also produced an unusual chart win — the kind that rarely comes from a theatrical production. Less than a month after first arriving on the weekly music lists in the United Kingdom, one of the musical’s signature numbers is back on multiple rankings, decades after it first became a hit.

“Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” Reappears

Evita centerpiece “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and performed by Zegler, reenters three U.K. charts this frame. The cut returns at No. 4 on both the Official Physical Singles and Official Vinyl Singles lists, while also managing to reclaim a spot on the Official Singles Sales roster at No. 68. The song is credited to Zegler, the performer, and Webber, which is unusual, as composers don’t often earn that kind of distinction.

A Quick Return After a Short Absence

This week marks the track’s second on all three rankings on which it appears. “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” originally debuted in mid‑July, then disappeared entirely after just one stint. Now, only a few weeks later, it’s back, showing that demand for the revival — and for Zegler’s rendition of the classic — extends beyond opening week excitement.

First No. 1 Wins for Rachel Zegler

When “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” first arrived last month, it opened at No. 1 on both the Official Physical Singles and Official Vinyl Singles charts. It marked Zegler’s first leaders on the two tallies. Webber, a longtime star in both theater and pop, has previously managed just one No. 1 on the physical ranking, with “Make a Joyful Noise.”

A week after Zegler’s version launched, Webber also appeared on the Official Singles Sales chart with his own solo recording of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.”

The Song’s Lasting Legacy

Originally written for the 1976 concept album of Evita and brought to the stage in the 1978 West End production, “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” quickly became the musical’s defining anthem. Over the years, it has been recorded by a wide range of vocalists, from Elaine Paige to Madonna — and now Zegler — with each offering a unique take on the role of Eva Perón, Argentina’s former First Lady.