Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” has now led the Hot 100 for seven weeks, tying with “Blank Space” as her second-longest-ruling smash, behind only “Anti-Hero” by one week. LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS — Episode 1713 — Pictured: Singer Taylor Swift during an interview with host Seth Meyers on October 8, 2025 — (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty Images)
Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty Images
With her last several albums, Taylor Swift has bucked the traditional promotional strategy of sharing a single to hype audiences for a full-length, instead withholding all music until the project appears in its entirety. Not many artists can get away with such a move, but Swift is popular and powerful enough that it has worked time and time again.
At the same time that The Life of a Showgirl was unleashed, lead single “The Fate of Ophelia” became available for the first time. Both the album and its lead promotional cut debuted at No. 1 on their respective charts and so far have refused to move, despite tough competition.
Both bestsellers remain at No. 1 this week, and as “The Fate of Ophelia” leads the Hot 100 for yet another frame, it moves up inside her discography and ties one of her most famous pop tunes for a special place within her catalog.
“The Fate of Ophelia” Holds at No. 1
“The Fate of Ophelia” is steady at No. 1 on the Hot 100, Billboard’s list of the most consumed songs in the United States. The lead single from The Life of a Showgirl has now commanded the roster for seven frames, making it one of the longest-running leaders of 2025 and of her career.
“The Fate of Ophelia” Ties “Blank Space” as it Rules the Hot 100 Again
As “The Fate of Ophelia” holds on and blocks all other competitors from dominating the Hot 100, it ties as her second-longest-running leader ever. “The Fate of Ophelia” is now on the same level as “Blank Space,” which also ruled for seven stints.
“Blank Space” debuted on the Hot 100 in November 2014 and needed just two weeks before it rose to the top spot. At the time, Swift managed a relatively rare feat, as “Blank Space” replaced “Shake It Off” at No. 1, making her one of only a handful of women who have been able to trade one champion for another on Billboard’s busiest roster for songs.
Will “The Fate of Ophelia” Tie “Anti-Hero” in a Few Days?
If “The Fate of Ophelia” can lead the Hot 100 next week, which seems entirely plausible, it will match her all-time longest reign. “Anti-Hero” debuted at No. 1 in November 2022 and ruled for eight weeks, spending just over a year in total on the list.
Who Could Beat Taylor Swift to No. 1 on the Hot 100?
While “The Fate of Ophelia” is performing well across all important metrics, which gives it a great shot at claiming an eighth week atop the Hot 100 in a few days, competition is always fierce for the throne. Sitting just behind Swift on the current edition of the chart are former leaders “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, as well as Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” either of which would love to surge and add another turn on top. Newcomer Olivia Dean’s breakout smash “Man I Need” is steady at its No. 4 high this time around, but it is gaining in popularity and could make a real play for No. 1.
At the same time, the holiday music season has begun, and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” bounds into the top 10, pushing from No. 11 to No. 8. It is likely only another frame or two before it reconquers the Hot 100, a phenomenon that has occurred every year for the past half decade.
How is the Hot 100 Compiled?
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – MARCH 02: EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO BOOK COVERS Taylor Swift performs during “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at the National Stadium on March 02, 2024 in Singapore. (Photo by Ashok Kumar/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
The Hot 100 is compiled using a methodology that factors in streaming, sales, and airplay data in an effort to measure what Americans are listening to. “The Fate of Ophelia” is a non-mover at No. 1 on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart this frame. The tune also climbs to a never-before-seen peak of No. 3 on the Radio Songs list, inching north one space from where it sat just a few days ago. “The Fate of Ophelia” has ruled the Digital Song Sales tally for multiple periods, but this time around, it descends to second, making way for Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” to vault to the summit.
“The Fate of Ophelia” Lives at No. 1 on Two Pop Radio Charts
“The Fate of Ophelia” is also growing at pop radio. The Life of a Showgirl cut leads two of Billboard’s three pop-focused rosters, as it holds atop the Pop Airplay list and reaches the highest rung on the Adult Pop Airplay roster for the first time. Over on the Adult Contemporary ranking, which is known to move much slower than the other two aforementioned rosters, “The Fate of Ophelia” is steady at its all-time high of No. 9, and it will likely continue to ascend in the coming weeks.