“Old Town Road,” the Western-themed hit song from rapper Lil Nas X featuring country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, has been the No. 1 song in the U.S. since April. While the song represents one of the most bizarre musical collaborations in recent memory, it’s far from the first musical partnership to result in a chart-topping tune.
When multiple musicians team up on a song they can draw from one another’s fan bases. They can also work off of one another’s strengths. For instance, pop singers frequently collaborate with rappers to bring an additional dimension to their songs. The results are often enthusiastically embraced by listeners.
24/7 Tempo has identified the top musical collaborations based on Billboard performance. Each song has not only reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 music chart, but also spent multiple weeks in that position.
Many of the most popular musical collaborations feature two or more of the music industry’s biggest stars working together.
Prior to their marriage, Beyoncé and Jay-Z scored a huge hit with “Crazy in Love” in 2003. Twenty years earlier, Beatle Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson sent their collaborative song “Say Say Say” to No. 1, where it stayed for six weeks. These artists are among those with the most No. 1 hits in music history, so it’s unsurprising that they’ve had success working together.
Independent success, however, is not necessary to the release of a popular collaborative song. Singer Halsey hadn’t released a Top 10 single before being featured on The Chainsmokers’ No. 1 hit “Closer.” Houston rapper Slim Thug also had limited success on the pop charts before appearing on Beyoncé’s hit song “Check on It.”
To identify the top musical collaborations that hit No. 1, 24/7 Tempo identified the songs on which multiple independent musicians perform that spent at least five weeks in the top position on Billboard’s Hot 100 pop music chart. Songs that spent more weeks in the No. 1 position were ranked higher than those that spent fewer. In cases where multiple songs spent the same number of weeks at No. 1, the total number of weeks spent on the Hot 100 in any position was used to determine which song was ranked higher.
America’s most violent state? Louisiana. What’s the most peaceful one?
51. Lady Marmalade
• Artist: Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya & P!nk
• Date song reached No. 1: June 2, 2001
• Total weeks at No. 1: 5
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 20
50. Check On It
• Artist: Beyoncé feat. Slim Thug
• Date song reached No. 1: February 4, 2006
• Total weeks at No. 1: 5
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 28
49. Lollipop
• Artist: Lil Wayne feat. Static Major
• Date song reached No. 1: May 3, 2008
• Total weeks at No. 1: 5
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 28
48. Empire State Of Mind
• Artist: Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
• Date song reached No. 1: November 28, 2009
• Total weeks at No. 1: 5
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 30
47. E.T.
• Artist: Katy Perry feat. Kanye West
• Date song reached No. 1: April 9, 2011
• Total weeks at No. 1: 5
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 30
46. I’m Real
• Artist: Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule
• Date song reached No. 1: September 8, 2001
• Total weeks at No. 1: 5
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 31
45. Can’t Hold Us
• Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton
• Date song reached No. 1: May 18, 2013
• Total weeks at No. 1: 5
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 39
44. I’m Your Angel
• Artist: R. Kelly & Celine Dion
• Date song reached No. 1: December 5, 1998
• Total weeks at No. 1: 6
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 18
43. Say Say Say
• Artist: Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
• Date song reached No. 1: December 10, 1983
• Total weeks at No. 1: 6
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 22
42. My Boo
• Artist: Usher and Alicia Keys
• Date song reached No. 1: October 30, 2004
• Total weeks at No. 1: 6
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 26
41. Promiscuous
• Artist: Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland
• Date song reached No. 1: July 8, 2006
• Total weeks at No. 1: 6
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 26
Is the American dream dead? Middle-class families aren’t so optimistic, report finds
40. Ain’t It Funny
• Artist: Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule
• Date song reached No. 1: March 9, 2002
• Total weeks at No. 1: 6
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 27
39. California Gurls
• Artist: Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg
• Date song reached No. 1: June 19, 2010
• Total weeks at No. 1: 6
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 27
38. Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down
• Artist: Puff Daddy feat. Mase
• Date song reached No. 1: March 22, 1997
• Total weeks at No. 1: 6
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 28
37. Live Your Life
• Artist: T.I. feat. Rihanna
• Date song reached No. 1: October 18, 2008
• Total weeks at No. 1: 6
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 28
36. We Are Young
• Artist: fun. feat. Janelle Monae
• Date song reached No. 1: March 17, 2012
• Total weeks at No. 1: 6
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 42
35. Thrift Shop
• Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz
• Date song reached No. 1: February 2, 2013
• Total weeks at No. 1: 6
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 49
34. Party Rock Anthem
• Artist: LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock
• Date song reached No. 1: July 16, 2011
• Total weeks at No. 1: 6
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 68
33. Ebony And Ivory
• Artist: Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
• Date song reached No. 1: May 15, 1982
• Total weeks at No. 1: 7
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 19
32. Black Beatles
• Artist: Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane
• Date song reached No. 1: November 26, 2016
• Total weeks at No. 1: 7
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 27
31. Love The Way You Lie
• Artist: Eminem feat. Rihanna
• Date song reached No. 1: July 31, 2010
• Total weeks at No. 1: 7
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 29
Busted: Father-son duo arrested for making fake Ferraris and ‘Shamborghinis’ in Brazil
30. Umbrella
• Artist: Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
• Date song reached No. 1: June 9, 2007
• Total weeks at No. 1: 7
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 33
29. Goodies
• Artist: Ciara feat. Petey Pablo
• Date song reached No. 1: September 11, 2004
• Total weeks at No. 1: 7
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 38
28. Fancy
• Artist: Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX
• Date song reached No. 1: June 7, 2014
• Total weeks at No. 1: 7
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 39
27. Crazy In Love
• Artist: Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z
• Date song reached No. 1: July 12, 2003
• Total weeks at No. 1: 8
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 27
26. It’s Now Or Never
• Artist: Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
• Date song reached No. 1: August 15, 1960
• Total weeks at No. 1: 8
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 34
25. Rockstar
• Artist: Post Malone feat. 21 Savage
• Date song reached No. 1: October 28, 2017
• Total weeks at No. 1: 8
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 46
24. Girls Like You
• Artist: Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B
• Date song reached No. 1: September 29, 2018
• Total weeks at No. 1: 8
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 49
23. Somebody That I Used To Know
• Artist: Gotye feat. Kimbra
• Date song reached No. 1: April 28, 2012
• Total weeks at No. 1: 8
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 59
22. Candy Shop
• Artist: 50 Cent feat. Olivia
• Date song reached No. 1: March 5, 2005
• Total weeks at No. 1: 9
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 23
21. Endless Love
• Artist: Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
• Date song reached No. 1: August 15, 1981
• Total weeks at No. 1: 9
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 27
20. Baby Boy
• Artist: Beyoncé feat. Sean Paul
• Date song reached No. 1: October 4, 2003
• Total weeks at No. 1: 9
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 29
19. Work
• Artist: Rihanna feat. Drake
• Date song reached No. 1: March 5, 2016
• Total weeks at No. 1: 9
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 36
18. Maria Maria
• Artist: Santana feat. The Product G&B
• Date song reached No. 1: April 8, 2000
• Total weeks at No. 1: 10
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 26
17. Dilemma
• Artist: Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland
• Date song reached No. 1: August 17, 2002
• Total weeks at No. 1: 10
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 29
16. One Dance
• Artist: Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla
• Date song reached No. 1: May 21, 2016
• Total weeks at No. 1: 10
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 36
15. Gold Digger
• Artist: Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx
• Date song reached No. 1: September 17, 2005
• Total weeks at No. 1: 10
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 39
14. Low
• Artist: Flo Rida feat. T-Pain
• Date song reached No. 1: January 5, 2008
• Total weeks at No. 1: 10
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 40
13. We Found Love
• Artist: Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris
• Date song reached No. 1: November 12, 2011
• Total weeks at No. 1: 10
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 41
12. Are You Lonesome To-night?
• Artist: Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
• Date song reached No. 1: November 28, 1960
• Total weeks at No. 1: 11
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 23
11. I’ll Be Missing You
• Artist: Puff Daddy & Faith Evans feat. 112
• Date song reached No. 1: June 14, 1997
• Total weeks at No. 1: 11
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 33
10. Yeah!
• Artist: Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris
• Date song reached No. 1: February 28, 2004
• Total weeks at No. 1: 12
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 45
9. Blurred Lines
• Artist: Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell
• Date song reached No. 1: June 22, 2013
• Total weeks at No. 1: 12
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 48
8. See You Again
• Artist: Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
• Date song reached No. 1: April 25, 2015
• Total weeks at No. 1: 12
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52
7. Closer
• Artist: The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey
• Date song reached No. 1: September 3, 2016
• Total weeks at No. 1: 12
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52
6. Smooth
• Artist: Santana feat. Rob Thomas
• Date song reached No. 1: October 23, 1999
• Total weeks at No. 1: 12
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 58
Lightning strikes twice: Dad wins 6 figures in lottery for the second time in 18 months
5. The Boy Is Mine
• Artist: Brandy & Monica
• Date song reached No. 1: June 6, 1998
• Total weeks at No. 1: 13
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 27
4. Uptown Funk!
• Artist: Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
• Date song reached No. 1: January 17, 2015
• Total weeks at No. 1: 14
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 56
3. Old Town Road
• Artist: Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
• Date song reached No. 1: April 13, 2019
• Total weeks at No. 1: 15
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 19
2. One Sweet Day
• Artist: Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men
• Date song reached No. 1: December 2, 1995
• Total weeks at No. 1: 16
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 27
Is college worth it? Here are the top 50 schools that pay off the most
1. Despacito
• Artist: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
• Date song reached No. 1: May 27, 2017
• Total weeks at No. 1: 16
• Total weeks on Hot 100: 52
24/7 Wall Street is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
