Chart Beat
Edited by Barry A. Jeckell. May 12, 2005
THIS ONE'S BY THE GIRLS: Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway" (Hollywood) is No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart for the 11th week in a row. That's the longest consecutive reign for a solo female artist on this chart since Celine Dion set the all-time record of 21 weeks in 2002 with "A New Day Has Come," the longest-running No. 1 in AC history.
Since Dion's record-setting rule, there have been seven chart-toppers by solo female artists. Clarkson's "Breakaway" is tied with Faith Hill's "Cry" as the longest-running No. 1 by a solo female artist since Dion's "New Day." [However,] Hill's "Cry" had a non-consecutive visit at the summit.
Here is a summary of the No. 1 AC hits by solo female artists since 2002, in order of longest stretches on top:
"A New Day Has Come," Celine Dion (21 weeks), 2002
"Breakaway," Kelly Clarkson (11 weeks consecutive to date; on track to be #1 next week), 2005
"Cry," Faith Hill (11 weeks non-consecutive), 2002
"This One's for the Girls," Martina McBride (nine weeks), 2004
"A Thousand Miles," Vanessa Carlton (seven weeks), 2002
"Forever and for Always," Shania Twain (six weeks), 2003
"Beautiful," Christina Aguilera (five weeks), 2003
"The First Cut Is the Deepest," Sheryl Crow (two weeks), 2004
In addition, Kelly's "Since You Been Gone" spent 7 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Pop 100 chart, and it is now #2. Kelly's newest single "Behind These Hazel Eyes" has been flying up the Pop 100 chart and is now #10.