This Week in Billboard Chart History: In 1995, Whitney Houston Led the Hot 100 With ‘Exhale (Shoop Shoop)’
Plus, remembering feats by Nelly, Nirvana & Ringo Starr.
Your weekly recap celebrating significant milestones from more than seven decades of Billboard chart history.
Nov. 19, 1994
After 16 hits, all of which reached the top 20, beginning in 1989, Mary Chapin Carpenter topped Hot Country Songs at last with “Shut Up and Kiss Me.” The sassy single introduced Stones in the Road, also Carpenter’s first No. 1 on Top Country Albums.
Nov. 20, 2010
Nelly notched his fifth, and most recent, Pop Songs No. 1, “Just a Dream.” His first four leaders: “Hot in Herre” (2002); “Dilemma,” featuring Kelly Rowland (2002); “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” with P. Diddy and Murphy Lee (2003); and “Over and Over,” featuring Tim McGraw (2004).
Nov. 21, 1981
Olivia Newton-John worked her way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Physical.” The classic would lead for 10 weeks, joining Debby Boone’s 1977 No. 1 “You Light Up My Life” as the only songs to that point to reign for double-digit weeks. (No song would lead longer until Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road,” for 13 weeks, in 1992.)
Nov. 22, 1986
Human League‘s “Human” became the group’s second Billboard Hot 100 No. 1. Four years earlier, the act had danced to the top with “Don’t You Want Me.”
Nov. 23, 1991
A milestone in the grunge era: Nirvana topped Billboard‘s Alternative Songs chart with “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
Nov. 24, 1973
After sharing a record 20 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s as a member of The Beatles, Ringo Starr drummed up his first solo leader, “Photograph.” He added a second No. 1 with follow-up “You’re Sixteen” in 1974.
Nov. 25, 1995
Whitney Houston scored her 11th, and last, Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 with “Exhale (Shoop Shoop).”
