This Week in Billboard Chart History: In 2009, Kelly Clarkson Made a Record Leap to No. 1 on the Hot 100
"My Life Would Suck Without You" rocketed 97-1. Plus, remembering feats by Paula Abdul, Katy Perry & Al Green.
Your weekly recap celebrating significant milestones from more than seven decades of Billboard chart history.
Feb. 6, 1988
Tiffany began a two-week stay atop the Billboard Hot 100 with her ballad “Could’ve Been,” the follow-up to her career-opening No. 1, “I Think We’re Alone Now.”
Feb. 7, 2009
Kelly Clarkson scored her second of three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s to date, as “My Life Would Suck Without You” rocketed 97-1. The vault remains the biggest to the top (or any position) in the chart’s history. Three months earlier, Britney Spears had soared 96-1 with “Womanizer.”
Feb. 8, 1992
Before there was LMFAO and “Sexy and I Know It,” Right*Said*Fred similarly boasted “I’m Too Sexy,” which began a three-week Billboard Hot 100 command 25 years ago today.
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Feb. 9, 1991
Everybody danced then: C+C Music Factory took over atop the Billboard Hot 100 for the first of two weeks with “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now).”
Feb. 10, 1990
Paula Abdul and her cartoon pals the Wild Pair began a three-week reign atop the Billboard Hot 100 with “Opposites Attract,” the fourth No. 1 from her debut album Forever Your Girl. Almost exactly a year earlier (Feb. 11, 1989), “Straight Up” had become the set’s first leader.
Feb. 11, 2012
Katy Perry made history that will be tough to top: “The One That Got Away” became the record-extending sixth No. 1 on the Pop Songs airplay chart from her album Teenage Dream. The set had previously made its mark by tying Michael Jackson’s Bad (1987-88) as the only releases to generate five No. 1s apiece on the Billboard Hot 100.
Feb. 12, 1972
One of the all-time slow jams, Al Green‘s “Let’s Stay Together” grooved to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.