Youngest Artists to Hit #1

When Paul Anka hit #1 with "Diana" on September 9, 1957, it proved that artists could break through with a big hit as a teenager.  In the years in which rock & roll was in its infancy, it became fairly common for young musicians to score hits; after all, it was a new form of music that they had created and called their own.  By the late-60's, though, rock & roll had evolved, becoming more complex, with intricate harmonies, innovative chords and guitar riffs, and deep lyrics.  Those are components of music that are tough for a teenager to master.

The following is our calculation of the youngest artists to hit #1.  Inside The Rock Era is the first source to publish such a list.  We have checked our data using the most common dates listed as birthdays for each of the artists below.  If you notice someone that has been omitted from the list, please add your comment below this story so we can look into it and correct it if necessary.


Youngest Artists to Reach #1:

1.  Stevie Wonder (13 years, 89 days when "Fingertips-Pt. 2" hit #1 on August 10, 1963)

2.  Little Peggy March (15 years and 50 days when "I Will Follow Him" went to #1 on April 27, 1963)

3.  Brenda Lee (15 years, 220 days when "I'm Sorry" went to #1 on July 18, 1960)

4.  Tiffany (16 years, 36 days when "I Think We're Alone Now" took over at #1 on November 7, 1987)

5.  Lorde (16 years, 339 days when "Royals" reached #1 on October 12, 2013)

6.  Lesley Gore (17 years, 30 days when "It's My Party" rose to #1 on June 1, 1963)

7.  Britney Spears (17 years, 59 days when "...Baby One More Time" topped the chart on January 30, 1999)

8.  Debbie Gibson (17 years, 299 days when "Foolish Beat" topped the chart on June 25, 1988)

9.  Monica (17 years, 344 days when "The First Night" went to #1 on October 3, 1998)



Youngest Male Artists to Reach #1:

1.    Stevie Wonder (13 years, 89 days when "Fingertips-Pt. 2" hit #1 on August 10, 1963)

 

2.    Donny Osmond (13 years, 275 days on the day that "Go Away Little Girl" topped the chart on September 11, 1971)

3.    Michael Jackson (14 years, 46 days when "Ben" took over at #1 on October 14, 1972)

4.    Paul Anka (16 years, 41 days) when "Diana" topped the chart on September 9, 1957)

5.    Chris Brown (16 years, 205 days on the day that "Run It!" went to #1 on November 26, 2005)

6.    Brian Hyland (16 years, 270 days when "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini" was the #1 song on August 8, 1960)

7.    Soulja Boy (17 years, 49 days when "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" topped the chart on September 15, 2007)

8.    Sean Kingston (17 years, 189 days on the day that "Beautiful Girls" went to #1 on August 11, 2007)

9.    Ricky Nelson (18 years, 88 days) when "Poor Little Fool" took over at #1 on August 4, 1958)

10.    Bobby Vee (18 years, 141 days when "Take Good Care Of My Baby" took over at #1 on September 18, 1961)

11.  Frankie Avalon (18 years, 172 days as "Venus" went to #1 on March 9, 1959) 

12.  Mario (18 years, 127 days on the day that "Let Me Love You" went to #1 on January 1, 2005)

13.  Shaun Cassidy (18 years, 292 days when "Da Doo Ron Ron" was the top song on July 16, 1977)




Youngest Person to Reach #1:

                Michael Jackson, bottom right

 

1.    Michael Jackson (11 years, 155 days when "I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5 became the #1 song on January 31, 1970)

     Taylor,  Zac Hanson (middle), and Isaac Hanson

2.    Zac Hanson (11 years, 214 days when "Mmmbop" by Hanson took over at #1 on May 24, 1997)

                Marlon Jackson (bottom left)

3.    Marlon Jackson (12 years, 325 days when "I Want You Back" became the #1 song for the Jackson 5 on January 31, 1970

4.    Donny Osmond (13 years, 66 days when "One Bad Apple" by the Osmonds reached #1 on February 13, 1971)

5.    Stevie Wonder (13 years, 89 days when "Fingertips-Pt. 2" hit #1 on August 10, 1963)

             Chris Kelly (left), Chris Smith, right  

6.    Chris Smith (13 years, 106 days when "Jump" reached #1 for Kris Kross on April 25, 1992)

7.    Chris Kelly (13 years, 258 days on the day when "Jump" by Kriss Kross reached #1 on April 25, 1992)

8.    Taylor Hanson (14 years, 71 days as "Mmmbop" by Hanson took over at #1 on May 24, 1997)

9.    Little Peggy March (15 years and 50 days when "I Will Follow Him" went to #1 on April 27, 1963)

              Jermaine Jackson (top right)

10.  Jermaine Jackson (15 years, 51 days on the day that "I Want You Back" became the #1 song for the Jackson 5 on January 31, 1970

11.  Brenda Lee (15 years, 220 days when "I'm Sorry" went to #1 on July 18, 1960)

Judy Craig, Patricia Bennett, Barbara Lee, Sylvia Peterson

12.  Barbara Lee (15 years, 319 days when "He's So Fine" reached #1 for the Chiffons on March 30, 1963)

   Marguerite Ganser, Mary Weiss and Mary Ganser

13.  Mary Weiss (15 years, 337 days when "The Leader Of the Pack" became the #1 song for the Shangri-Las on November 28, 1964)

                     Jay Osmond (left)

14.  Jay Osmond (15 years, 348 days when "One Bad Apple" by the Osmonds reached #1 on February 13, 1971)


15.  Patricia Bennett (15 years, 357 days when "He's So Fine" reached #1 for the Chiffons on March 30, 1963)

16.  Tiffany (16 years, 36 days when "I Think We're Alone Now" took over at #1 on November 7, 1987)

17.  Paul Anka (16 years, 41 days) when "Diana" topped the chart on September 9, 1957)

                          Tito Jackson (left)

 

18.  Tito Jackson (16 years, 108 days when "I Want You Back" became the #1 song for the Jackson 5 on January 31, 1970

19.  Sylvia Peterson (16 years, 181 days when "He's So Fine" reached #1 for the Chiffons on March 30, 1963)

20.  Isaac Hanson (16 years, 188 days on the day that "Mmmbop" took over at #1 for Hanson on May 24, 1997)

Gladys Horton (top left), Katherine Anderson (top right)

21.  Gladys Horton (16 years, 195 days when "Please Mr. Postman by the Marvelettes went to #1 on December 11, 1961)

22.  Chris Brown (16 years, 205 days on the day that "Run It!" went to #1 on November 26, 2005)

23.  Judy Craig (16 years, 236 days when "He's So Fine" reached #1 for the Chiffons on March 30, 1963)

                   Joey McIntyre (bottom right)

24.  Joey McIntyre (16 years, 252 days when "Hangin' Tough" went to #1 on September 9, 1989 for New Kids on the Block)

25.  Brian Hyland (16 years, 270 days when "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini" was the #1 song on August 8, 1960)

26.  Lorde (16 years, 339 days when "Royals" reached #1 on October 12, 2013)

27.  Lesley Gore (17 years, 30 days when "It's My Party" rose to #1 on June 1, 1963)

28.  Soulja Boy (17 years, 49 days when "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" topped the chart on September 15, 2007)

29.  Britney Spears (17 years, 59 days when "...Baby One More Time" topped the chart on January 30, 1999)






30.  Lil' Fizz (17 years, 67 days when "Bump, Bump, Bump" by B2K went to #1 on February 1, 2003)

Dee Dee Kenniebrew (left), Barbara Alston (2nd from left)

31.  Dee Dee Kenniebrew (17 years, 117 days when "He's A Rebel" rose to #1 for the Crystals on November 3, 1962)

32.  Barbara Alston (17 years (BD?) when "He's A Rebel" by the Crystals rose to #1 on November 3, 1962)

33.  J-Boog (17 years, 174 days when "Bump, Bump, Bump" by B2K went to #1 on February 1, 2003)

Karl Green (left), Peter Noone (middle)

34.  Peter Noone (17 years, 177 days on the day that "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" rose to #1 for Herman's Hermits on May 1, 1965)

35.  Sean Kingston (17 years, 189 days on the day that "Beautiful Girls" went to #1 on August 11, 2007)

36.  Monica (17 years, 225 days when her duet with Brandy--"The Boy Is Mine" topped the chart on June 6, 1998)

37.  Raz-B (17 years, 233 days when "Bump, Bump, Bump" by B2K went to #1 on February 1, 2003)

38.  Karl Green (17 years, 274 days when "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" by Herman's Hermits rose to #1 on May 1, 1965)

                     Merrill Osmond  (right)

39.  Merrill Osmond (17 years, 289 days when the Osmonds reached #1 with "One Bad Apple" on February 13, 1971)

40.  Marguerite Ganser (17 years, 294 days when "The Leader Of the Pack" by the Shangri-Las became the #1 song on November 28, 1964)

40.  Mary Ann Ganser (17 years, 294 days when "The Leader Of the Pack" by the Shangri-Las went to #1 on November 28, 1964)

42.  Debbie Gibson (17 years, 299 days when "Foolish Beat" topped the chart on June 25, 1988)

                   Beyoncé Knowles (top)

43.  Beyoncé Knowles (17 years, 316 days when "Bills, Bills, Bills" reached #1 for Destiny's Child on July 17, 1999)

44.  Katherine Anderson (17 years, 329 days when "Please Mr. Postman went to #1 for the Marvelettes on December 11, 1961)

45.  Monica (17 years, 344 days when "The First Night" went to #1 on October 3, 1998)