Ahead of her debut project Sour arriving at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums ranking, which is all but certain to happen next week, Olivia Rodrigo scores not just another No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 songs chart this frame, but a second instant leader on the most important roster of tunes in the U.S. The teen singer-songwriter’s latest single “Good 4 U” opens in first place on the competitive list, and with another immediate champion to her credit, the 18-year-old star has tied some of the most successful female artists of all time.
Only six women have scored more than one No. 1 debut on the Hot 100, and with a second already featured in her discography, Rodrigo is now tied with two other beloved musicians for the fourth-most instant rulers ever.
Rodrigo made history when she debuted her first proper single “Drivers License” atop the Hot 100 earlier this year. The track wasn’t a quick win that disappeared, as so many other recent chart-topping starters have turned out to be, as it went on to rule the roster for eight frames. That cut still stands as the longest-running No. 1 on the tally in 2021. Now, “Good 4 U” has no higher to climb, though it’s yet to be seen for how many turns it will end up running the show.
With just a pair of Hot 100 No. 1 starts, Rodrigo ties both Lady Gaga and Britney Spears for the fourth-most instant champions on the chart among female artists. Gaga has now started both “Born This Way” and “Rain on Me” with Ariana Grande atop the tally. Spears managed the feat before the two women she’s tied with, as her smashes “3” and "Hold It Against Me" opened in first place less than two years apart from one another.
Grande leads the way with the most No. 1 debuts on the Hot 100 among all artists, as she has already seen five different singles open in first place on the important ranking. The two-time Grammy winner’s hits "Thank U, Next,” “7 Rings” and “Positions,” as well as collaborations “Stuck With U” with Justin Bieber and the aforementioned “Rain on Me” also kicked off their time on the tally at No. 1.
Behind that pop singer come two others, who have found incredible success with both pop and other genres. Taylor Swift and Mariah Carey have both now sent three tracks right to No. 1 on the Hot 100 without delay, and they are tied with one another for the second-most instant controllers among female artists. Swift’s "Shake It Off," "Cardigan" and “Willow” all entered the race as high as a cut can go. Carey was the first musician to collect a trio of quick rulers, as her singles "Fantasy," "One Sweet Day" with Boyz II Men and “Honey” made history by beginning their time on the roster at the top within just two years.
