Looking back at the biggest hit singles of every year, dating to the Hot 100's 1958 launch.
Billboard has been publishing weekly rankings in one form or another for over a century.
Early in the 1900s, Billboard published charts detailing the popularity of sheet music in the U.S. In July 1940, though, Billboard unveiled its first chart ranking the sales of recorded songs, the 10-position “National List of Best Selling Retail Records,” with Bing Crosby, Jimmy Dorsey and Glenn Miller among its ranks.
Billboard expanded its number of weekly charts over the next few years, starting recaps for R&B in 1942 and country in 1944. In March 1956, the weekly Billboard 200 albums chart premiered (at just 10 positions deep). Two years later, in August 1958, the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart began.
At the end of 1958, Billboard printed a recap of the year’s biggest songs for the first time (that year also encompassed songs’ performance on the pre-Hot 100 charts leading up to its launch in August). Domenico Modugno’s “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)” finished as Billboard‘s first year-end No. 1 Hot 100 song. The track, which spent five total weeks at No. 1, was the second song to top the weekly Hot 100, after Ricky Nelson’s “Poor Little Fool.”
Also in the 1958 year-end issue, Billboard continued its tradition of surveying the music industry via “The Billboard Eleventh Annual Disc Jockey Poll,” which “Volare” also crowned. “[The song] was really a left-field hit … one of the few disks in recent years with a non-English lyric to reach the top,” Billboard wrote at the time. In 2023, such hits are plentiful, as seven non-English language songs reached the top 10 alone during the year — the most ever in a calendar year. Thus, this line from that 1958 issue proved prophetic, given the sonic, and geographic scope of that year’s biggest titles: “The preference in tunes indicates that no one type of song or artist reigns supreme among jockeys. The list also includes several types of songs with many extremes, ranging from an old folk song to European, Latin American and tunes by American cleffers.”
Jumping to the latest year-end Hot 100 Songs ranking — which now blends streaming, radio airplay and sales data — Morgan Wallen’s 16-week No. 1 “Last Night” finished as 2023’s top track. It’s the first single that topped the Hot Country Songs chart to finish at No. 1 since Faith Hill’s “Breathe” in 2000, and the first by a male artist since Johnny Horton’s “The Battle of New Orleans” in 1959.
Today, Billboard not only has its year-end Hot 100 Songs ranking, but also annual recaps for all 200-plus weekly charts, reflecting chart performance of songs, albums and artists over a 12-month tracking period.
From “Volare” to “Last Night” and every top title in between, here’s a look at every year-end No. 1 Hot 100 single since 1958, as published in every year-end issue.
Additional research by Gary Trust, Paul Grein and Alex Vitoulis
2023
Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 11, 2023
Hot 100 peak date: March 18, 2023
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 16 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 462022
Glass Animals, “Heat Waves”
Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 16, 2021
Hot 100 peak date: March 12, 2022
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 912021
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”
Hot 100 debut date: Oct. 17, 2020
Hot 100 peak date: May 22, 2021
Hot 100 peak position: No. 2
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 772020
The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”
Hot 100 debut date: Dec. 14, 2019
Hot 100 peak date: April 4, 2020
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 902019
Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, “Old Town Road”
Hot 100 debut date: March 16, 2019
Hot 100 peak date: April 13, 2019
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for a record 19 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 452018
Drake, “God’s Plan”
Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 3, 2018
Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 3, 2018
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 11 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 362017
Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”
Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 28, 2017
Hot 100 peak date: Jan. 28, 2017
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 12 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 592016
Justin Bieber, “Love Yourself”
Hot 100 debut date: Dec. 5, 2015
Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 13, 2016
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 41
Notes: Bieber also had the No. 2 song of 2016, with “Sorry.”2015
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!”
Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 29, 2014
Hot 100 peak date: Jan. 17, 2015
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 562014
Pharrell Williams, “Happy”
Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 18, 2014
Hot 100 peak date: March 8, 2014
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 10 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 472013
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz, “Thrift Shop”
Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 15, 2012
Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 2, 2013
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 492012
Gotye feat. Kimbra, “Somebody That I Used to Know”
Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 21, 2012
Hot 100 peak date: April 28, 2012
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 8 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 592011
Adele, “Rolling in the Deep”
Hot 100 debut date: Dec. 25, 2010
Hot 100 peak date: May 21, 2011
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 652010
Kesha, “Tik Tok”
Hot 100 debut date: Oct. 24, 2009
Hot 100 peak date: Jan. 2, 2010
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 9 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 382009
The Black Eyed Peas, “Boom Boom Pow”
Hot 100 debut date: March 28, 2009
Hot 100 peak date: April 18, 2009
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 12 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 332008
Flo Rida feat. T-Pain, “Low”
Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 10, 2007
Hot 100 peak date: Jan. 5, 2008
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 10 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 402007
Beyoncé, “Irreplaceable”
Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 4, 2006
Hot 100 peak date: Dec. 16, 2006
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 10 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 302006
Daniel Powter, “Bad Day”
Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 25, 2006
Hot 100 peak date: April 8, 2006
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 322005
Mariah Carey, “We Belong Together”
Hot 100 debut date: April 16, 2005
Hot 100 peak date: June 4, 2005
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 432004
Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris, “Yeah!”
Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 10, 2004
Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 28, 2004
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 12 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 452003
50 Cent, “In Da Club”
Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 11, 2003
Hot 100 peak date: March 8, 2003
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 9 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 302002
Nickelback, “How You Remind Me”
Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 8, 2001
Hot 100 peak date: Dec. 22, 2001
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 492001
Lifehouse, “Hanging by a Moment”
Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 10, 2001
Hot 100 peak date: June 16, 2001
Hot 100 peak position: No. 2
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 542000
Faith Hill, “Breathe”
Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 6, 1999
Hot 100 peak date: April 22, 2000
Hot 100 peak position: No. 2
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 531999
Cher, “Believe”
Hot 100 debut date: Dec. 19, 1998
Hot 100 peak date: March 13, 1999
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 311998
Next, “Too Close”
Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 14, 1998
Hot 100 peak date: April 25, 1998
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 531997
Elton John, “Candle in the Wind 1997″ / “Something About the Way You Look Tonight”
Hot 100 debut date: Oct. 11, 1997
Hot 100 peak date: Oct. 11, 1997
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 421996
Los Del Río, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)”
Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 2, 1995
Hot 100 peak date: Aug. 3, 1996
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 601995
Coolio feat. L.V., “Gangsta’s Paradise”
Hot 100 debut date: Aug. 19, 1995
Hot 100 peak date: Sept. 9, 1995
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 381994
Ace of Base, “The Sign”
Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 1, 1994
Hot 100 peak date: March 12, 1994
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 411993
Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You”
Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 14, 1992
Hot 100 peak date: Nov. 28, 1992
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 291992
Boyz II Men, “End of the Road”
Hot 100 debut date: July 18, 1992
Hot 100 peak date: Aug. 15, 1992
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 13 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 321991
Bryan Adams, “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”
Hot 100 debut date: June 29, 1991
Hot 100 peak date: July 27, 1991
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 221990
Wilson Phillips, “Hold On”
Hot 100 debut date: March 17, 1990
Hot 100 peak date: June 9, 1990
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 1 week)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 251989
Chicago, “Look Away”
Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 24, 1988
Hot 100 peak date: Dec. 10, 1988
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 241988
George Michael, “Faith”
Hot 100 debut date: Oct. 24, 1987
Hot 100 peak date: Dec. 12, 1987
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 211987
The Bangles, “Walk Like an Egyptian”
Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 27, 1986
Hot 100 peak date: Dec. 20, 1986
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 231986
Dionne & Friends (Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Elton John & Stevie Wonder), “That’s What Friends Are For”
Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 9, 1985
Hot 100 peak date: Jan. 18, 1986
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 231985
Wham!, “Careless Whisper”
Hot 100 debut date: Dec. 22, 1984
Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 16, 1985
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 221984
Prince, “When Doves Cry”
Hot 100 debut date: June 2, 1984
Hot 100 peak date: July 7, 1984
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 231983
The Police, “Every Breath You Take”
Hot 100 debut date: June 4, 1983
Hot 100 peak date: July 9, 1983
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 8 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 221982
Olivia Newton-John, “Physical”
Hot 100 debut date: Oct. 3, 1981
Hot 100 peak date: Nov. 21, 1981
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 10 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 261981
Kim Carnes, “Bette Davis Eyes”
Hot 100 debut date: March 28, 1981
Hot 100 peak date: May 16, 1981
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 9 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 261980
Blondie, “Call Me”
Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 16, 1980
Hot 100 peak date: April 19, 1980
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 251979
The Knack, “My Sharona”
Hot 100 debut date: June 23, 1979
Hot 100 peak date: Aug. 25, 1979
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 221978
Andy Gibb, “Shadow Dancing”
Hot 100 debut date: April 15, 1978
Hot 100 peak date: June 17, 1978
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 251977
Rod Stewart, “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)”
Hot 100 debut date: Oct. 2, 1976
Hot 100 peak date: Nov. 13, 1976
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 8 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 231976
Wings, “Silly Love Songs”
Hot 100 debut date: April 10, 1976
Hot 100 peak date: May 22, 1976
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 191975
Captain & Tennille, “Love Will Keep Us Together”
Hot 100 debut date: April 19, 1975
Hot 100 peak date: June 21, 1975
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 231974
Barbra Streisand, “The Way We Were”
Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 24, 1973
Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 2, 1974
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 231973
Dawn feat. Tony Orlando, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree”
Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 17, 1973
Hot 100 peak date: April 21, 1973
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 231972
Roberta Flack, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”
Hot 100 debut date: March 4, 1972
Hot 100 peak date: April 15, 1972
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 181971
Three Dog Night, “Joy to the World”
Hot 100 debut date: March 13, 1971
Hot 100 peak date: April 17, 1971
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 171970
Simon & Garfunkel, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 7, 1970
Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 28, 1970
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 141969
The Archies, “Sugar, Sugar”
Hot 100 debut date: July 26, 1969
Hot 100 peak date: Sept. 20, 1969
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 221968
The Beatles, “Hey Jude”
Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 14, 1968
Hot 100 peak date: Sept. 28, 1968
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 9 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 191967
Lulu, “To Sir With Love”
Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 9, 1967
Hot 100 peak date: Oct. 21, 1967
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 171966
The Mamas & The Papas, “California Dreamin’”
Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 8, 1966
Hot 100 peak date: March 12, 1966
Hot 100 peak position: No. 4
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 171965
Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, “Wooly Bully”
Hot 100 debut date: April 3, 1965
Hot 100 peak date: June 5, 1965
Hot 100 peak position: No. 2
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 181964
The Beatles, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 18, 1864
Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 1, 1964
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 15
Notes: The group also finished with the No. 2 song of 1964, with “She Loves You.”1963
The Beach Boys, “Surfin’ U.S.A.”
Hot 100 debut date: March 23, 1963
Hot 100 peak date: May 25, 1963
Hot 100 peak position: No. 3
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 251962
Mr. Acker Bilk, “Stranger on the Shore”
Hot 100 debut date: March 17, 1962
Hot 100 peak date: May 26, 1962
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 1 week)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 211961
Bobby Lewis, “Tossin’ & Turnin’”
Hot 100 debut date: April 24, 1961
Hot 100 peak date: July 10, 1961
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 231960
Percy Faith And His Orchestra, “Theme From A Summer Place”
Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 11, 1960
Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 22, 1960
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 9 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 211959
Johnny Horton, “The Battle of New Orleans”
Hot 100 debut date: April 27, 1959
Hot 100 peak date: June 1, 1959
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 211958
Domenico Modugno, “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)”
Hot 100 debut date: Aug. 4, 1958
Hot 100 peak date: Aug. 18, 1958
Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 16
Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox
Sign Up
