Elvis Presley & Madonna: The Day the Music Died, and Was Born
Aug. 16 marks the date that we welcomed the Queen of Pop and lost the King of Rock & Roll.

Today marks the date that we welcomed the Queen of Pop and lost the King of Rock & Roll.
Madonna was born Aug. 16, 1958. As we celebrate the Material Girl’s birthday – happy 58th! – we likewise note the 39th anniversary of the passing of Elvis Presley, who died on the same date in 1977 at age 42.
In honor of two of the most prolific hitmakers in Billboard history, here is a look at some of the chart records that the icons claim.
MADONNA
38 top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles. The Beatles, with 34, rank second. Madonna’s first top 10 was 1984’s “Borderline,” which started a streak of 17 consecutive top 10s through 1989’s “Cherish” (No. 2). Her most recent top 10 was 2012’s No. 10-peaking “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.
Seven Hot 100 No. 1s in the ’80s, tying her with Whitney Houston for most among women during the decade. Madonna’s total haul of No. 1 Hot 100 hits is 12, placing her fifth for the most leaders all-time. (The Supremes also boast 12 toppers). Only the Beatles (with 20), Mariah Carey (18), Rihanna (14) and Michael Jackson (13) have earned more No. 1s.
Coincidentally, Madonna claimed her fourth No. 1, “Papa Don’t Preach,” on this date in 1986, her 28th birthday. (Aug. 16 also doubles as the launch date of Billboard‘s Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart in 2003, a list that Madonna has led seven times.)
46 No. 1s on Billboard‘s Dance Club Songs chart. Essentially, if Madonna releases a single and it charts on Dance Club Songs, it’s a safe bet to assume it’ll go to No. 1. Rihanna ranks second with 27 toppers.
21 top 10 albums on the Billboard 200, the most such sets among all women dating to her first week in the top tier (Oct. 6, 1984) with her self-titled debut. Of those efforts, eight reached No. 1, including MDNA in 2012. In that more than 31-year span, Carey places second among women with 17 top 10s.
ELVIS PRESLEY
80 top 40 Hot 100 hits, the most such showings in the tally’s archives. Lil Wayne ranks second with 69, followed by Elton John (57). On the first Hot 100, dated Aug. 4, 1958, Presley ranked at No. 4 with “Hard Headed Woman” and at No. 34 with “Don’t Ask Me Why,” each featuring his longtime gospel backing band, the Jordanaires.
133 Billboard 200 charted albums, the highest total in the chart’s history (dating to its 1956 launch as a weekly survey). Ten of those sets reached No. 1, beginning with Elvis Presley, which ruled for 10 weeks in 1956. His most recent reign came courtesy of Elv1s: 30 #1 Hits in 2002.
67 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the most time spent at the top for a solo act. Garth Brooks is next with 52 frames in charge, followed by Jackson (51). Presley’s longest command? The Blue Hawaii soundtrack lei’d claim to 20 weeks at No. 1, beginning in December 1961.
Presley became the first rock artist to make two trips to the Hot 100 summit, as “Stuck on You” began a four-week command April 30, 1960. That song, recorded shortly after Presley’s discharge from the Army, followed “A Big Hunk O’ Love,” which led the Aug. 15, 1959, chart.