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Taylor Swift Passes Michael Jackson With A New No. 1

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Consumption of Taylor Swift’s current single “Opalite” has been growing lately due to a variety of factors. Fans of the singer-songwriter know that she has chosen it as the second official single from her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, and there seems to be an eagerness to support the tune and to make it as big as is possible.

A star-studded music video, as well as multiple additional pieces of visual content and a handful of remixes and alternative recordings of “Opalite” ensure that it rises to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week. Swift earns not just another champion, but a historic winner, as she tops the list of the most consumed songs in America yet again.

Taylor Swift’s “Opalite” Becomes Her Latest Billboard Hot 100 No. 1

“Opalite” is the singer’s fourteenth career No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Here are all of Taylor Swift’s champions on the chart:

  • “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)”
  • “Anti-Hero”
  • “Bad Blood” with Kendrick Lamar
  • “Blank Space”
  • “Cardigan”
  • “Cruel Summer”
  • “Fortnight” with Post Malone
  • “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) [From The Vault]”
  • “Look What You Made Me Do”
  • “Opalite”
  • “Shake It Off”
  • “The Fate Of Ophelia”
  • “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
  • “Willow”

Taylor Swift Passes Michael Jackson and Drake

Last week, Swift was matched with both Michael Jackson and Drake, as the three artists jointly claimed the fourth-most No. 1s in the more than half-century-long history of the Billboard Hot 100. Now she has passed both of those powerhouses, although it may only be a matter of time before Drake increases his sum as well.

Taylor Swift Matches Rihanna’s No. 1s Count

Swift advances on the list of the most successful artists on the Billboard Hot 100 – looking solely at total No. 1s count – and she is now matched with Rihanna. The two chart toppers share the honor of having accrued the third-most leaders ever, though both women have a long way to go if they want to rise again on this tally.

Here are all of Rihanna’s No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100:

  • “Diamonds”
  • “Disturbia”
  • “Live Your Life” with T.I.
  • “Love The Way You Lie” with Eminem
  • “Only Girl (In The World)”
  • “Rude Boy”
  • “SOS”
  • “S&M” with Britney Spears
  • “Take A Bow”
  • “The Monster” with Eminem
  • “Umbrella” with Jay-Z
  • “We Found Love” with Calvin Harris
  • “What’s My Name?” with Drake
  • “Work” with Drake

The Beatles and Mariah Carey Sit Above Taylor Swift

As has been the case for more than five decades, The Beatles own the record for the most No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100. The British pop-rock group accrued 20 rulers between 1964 and 1970.

Mariah Carey comes next, and she’s only one smash away from tying the most successful musical act of all time. Carey has seen 19 compositions lead the charge on the Billboard Hot 100. She added to that figure several years back when her holiday classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” finally made its way all the way to the peak position.

Six Taylor Swift No. 1s Lasted Just One Week

Of Swift’s 14 No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100, half a dozen have spent just one week on the throne. That includes “Opalite,” although the track could double its sum very soon. “Opalite” joins “Bad Blood” with Kendrick Lamar, “Cardigan,” “Willow,” “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” and “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault).” All of those tunes, except for “Bad Blood,” debuted at the summit and then stepped back right away.

Swift’s longest-running champion, and her only double-digit ruler, remains “The Fate of Ophelia.” That song opened at No. 1 in October 2025, at the same time that The Life of a Showgirl debuted atop the Billboard 200 with the largest starting number of all time, just slightly over four million equivalent units.

“Opalite” Sales Surge While Streaming Activity Falters

A massive increase in purchases of “Opalite” – sales of the pop cut jumped several thousand percent thanks to the release of multiple remixes and the single becoming available on physical formats for the first time – as well as an increase in plays across a variety of radio stations, help turn the cut into a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1.

The track hits new peaks on both the Digital Song Sales and Radio Songs charts, while oddly falling from No. 11 to No. 17 on the Streaming Songs roster. The Billboard Hot 100 is compiled each week with sales and streaming data as well as information about the most-played tunes on radio stations across the country.

“Opalite” Leads Three Additional Billboard Tallies

In addition to the Hot 100, “Opalite” reaches No. 1 for the first time on three additional tallies in America. “Opalite” leaps from No. 7 to No. 1 on the Digital Song Sales roster, and it also commands both the Pop Airplay and Adult Pop Airplay lists, adding to Swift’s already-historic list of champions.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2026/02/26/taylor-swift-passes-michael-jackson-with-a-new-no-1/