Adult Contemporary (chart)

{{Short description|US record chart published by Billboard magazine}} {{Other uses|Adult contemporary (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}} The '''Adult Contemporary''' chart is published weekly by ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on [[adult contemporary music|adult contemporary]] radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by stations that are members of the Adult Contemporary radio panel. The chart debuted in ''Billboard'' magazine on July 17, 1961.<ref name="Hyatt">Hyatt, Wesley (1999). ''The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits''. New York City: [[Billboard Books]]. {{ISBN|978-0-823-07693-2}}.</ref> Over the years, the chart has undergone a series of name changes, being called '''Easy Listening''' (1961–1962; 1965–1979), '''Middle-Road Singles''' (1962–1964), '''Pop-Standard Singles''' (1964–1965), '''Hot Adult Contemporary''' (1984–1996) and '''Adult Contemporary''' (1979–1984, 1996–present). The current number-one song on the chart, as of the issue of ''Billboard'' dated May 23, 2026, is "[[Ordinary (Alex Warren song)|Ordinary]]" by [[Alex Warren]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2026-05-30|title=Adult Contemporary: Week of May 30, 2026|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 27, 2026}}</ref>

==Chart history== The ''Billboard'' [[Easy listening]] chart, as it was first known, was born of a desire by some radio stations in the late 1950s and early 1960s to continue playing current hit songs but distinguish themselves from being branded as "[[rock and roll]]" stations. ''Billboard'' had written articles about this trend during the time, and the magazine's editors decided to publish a separate chart for these songs beginning in 1961. The magazine offered an "Easy Listening" programming guide beginning January 9, 1961, which continued until the numbered chart appeared in July. The first No. 1 song on the ''Billboard'' Easy Listening chart was "[[Boll Weevil (song)|The Boll Weevil Song]]" by [[Brook Benton]].<ref name="Hyatt"/>

From 1961 to 1965, this chart was compiled from the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart by removing songs that were deemed rock and roll by the magazine and re-ranking the remaining songs. (''[[Record World]]'s'' equivalent "non-rock" chart followed the same criteria from 1967 through 1971.) Beginning in 1965, the Easy Listening chart would begin to be compiled by a method similar to the one used for other ''Billboard'' singles charts: reported playlists from radio stations airing the format as well as sales data submitted by record stores. By the early 1990s, [[Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems|automatic song detection]] and [[Nielsen SoundScan|barcode sales information]] had begun to be the norm for most of the ''Billboard'' charts, although by this time the AC chart was based entirely on radio airplay and no longer incorporated retail sales reports. Currently the Adult Contemporary chart is compiled in much the same way as for other radio formats.

The chart was known as the Easy Listening chart until 1962, when it was renamed '''[[Middle of the road (music)|Middle-Road]] Singles'''. In 1964, the name changed again, this time to '''[[Adult standards|Pop-Standard]] Singles'''. After alternating the name of this chart twice more in less than a year, Easy Listening was again chosen as the chart name in 1965 when the change in compilation occurred. In April 1979, the Easy Listening chart officially became known as '''Adult Contemporary''', and those two words have remained consistent in the name of the chart ever since.

In 1996, ''Billboard'' created a new chart called [[Adult Top 40]], which reflects radio station programming that exists somewhere between "adult contemporary" music and "pop" music. Although they are sometimes mistaken for each other, the Adult Contemporary chart and the Adult Top 40 chart are separate charts, and songs reaching one chart might not reach the other. In addition, the term "[[Hot adult contemporary|hot AC]]" refers to another subgenre of radio programming that is distinct from the Adult Contemporary chart, despite the apparent similarity in name.

==Decades==

===The 1960s=== In the early years of the Easy Listening chart, the top song on the chart was generally always a Top 10 pop hit as well. The method for compiling the chart at that time allowed some rock and roll artists, such as [[Lesley Gore]] and [[the Drifters]], to make the chart on occasion with their softer or ballad releases, regardless of whether Easy Listening and [[middle of the road (music)|middle of the road]] radio stations were actually playing those songs. In 1965, no No. 1 pop hits appeared on the Easy Listening chart. After 1965, differences between the Hot 100 chart and the Easy Listening chart became more pronounced. Better reflecting what middle of the road stations were actually playing, the composition of the chart changed dramatically. As rock music continued to harden, there was much less crossover between the Hot 100 and Easy Listening chart than there had been in the early half of the 1960s.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

Several No. 1 Easy Listening hits of the late 1960s only "Bubbled Under" on the pop chart (for example, [[Andy Russell (singer)|Andy Russell]]'s 1967 version of [[It's Such a Pretty World Today#Andy Russell version|"It's Such a Pretty World Today"]] that peaked at #119), or (as was the case with [[John Gary]]'s 1967 hit "Cold") failed even to "Bubble Under."<ref name="BU">{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/ask-billboard-chicagos-ac-six-cess/ |date=August 5, 2011 |work=Billboard.com |title=Ask Billboard: Chicago's AC Six-Cess |access-date=June 11, 2014}}</ref> In 1967, only one single reached No. 1 on both charts{{spaced ndash}} "[[Somethin' Stupid]]" by [[Frank Sinatra]] and [[Nancy Sinatra]]. This trend began to reverse by the end of the decade.

Notable artists with multiple No. 1 songs on this chart during the 1960s include [[Elvis Presley]], [[Roy Orbison]], [[Connie Francis]], [[Dean Martin]], [[Andy Williams]], [[the 5th Dimension]], and [[Glen Campbell]]. "[[L'amour est bleu|Love Is Blue]]" by [[Paul Mauriat]] held the top of the Easy Listening chart for 11 weeks in 1968, which remained the longest stay at No. 1 until 1993.<ref name="Hyatt"/>

===The 1970s=== The Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts became more similar again toward the end of the 1960s and into the early and mid-1970s, when the texture of much of the music played on [[Top 40]] radio once more began to soften. Contemporary artists who recorded adult-appeal music, such as [[the Carpenters]], [[Barbra Streisand]], [[Barry Manilow]], [[Anne Murray]], [[John Denver]], and [[Helen Reddy]] began to be played more often on Top 40 radio. Much of the music recorded by singer-songwriters such as [[James Taylor]], [[Carole King]], and [[Janis Ian]] got as much, if not more, airplay on this format than on Top 40 stations. A few of the acts that came of age as pop artists targeting younger audiences in the 1960s and early 1970s started moving toward easy listening as they matured ([[Neil Sedaka]], [[Paul Anka]] and [[the Osmonds]] being prime examples). Easy Listening radio also began including songs by artists who had begun in other genres, such as rock and roll, [[R&B]], or even [[country music|country]] (it was during this time frame that a number of songs charted on the country and easy listening charts, often not on the Hot 100).

The longest stay at No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart in the 1970s was "[[Time Passages (song)|Time Passages]]" by [[Al Stewart]], which remained atop the chart for ten weeks. More common, however, was a high turnover rate at the summit of the Easy Listening survey during this decade. Over a three-year period from 1973 through 1975, there were 100 No. 1 songs on this chart, and most remained atop the chart for a single week. Among songs which topped both the Easy Listening (renamed '''Adult Contemporary''' in 1979) and pop charts in the 1970s were "[[(They Long to Be) Close to You]]" and "[[Please Mr. Postman]]" by [[the Carpenters]], "[[Song Sung Blue]]" by [[Neil Diamond]], "[[Annie's Song]]" by John Denver, "[[You Are the Sunshine of My Life]]" by [[Stevie Wonder]], "[[I Honestly Love You]]" and "[[Have You Never Been Mellow (song)|Have You Never Been Mellow]]" by Olivia Newton-John, "[[Love Will Keep Us Together]]" by [[Captain & Tennille]], and "[[You Light Up My Life (song)|You Light Up My Life]]" by [[Debby Boone]].<ref name="Hyatt"/>

===The 1980s=== On August 21, 1982, the Adult Contemporary chart began ranking only airplay.<ref>Trust, Gary (July 23, 2011). "Vanilla Is Licking the Competition". ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. Vol. 123, Issue 25.</ref>

Some of the artists who achieved success on the adult contemporary chart in the 1980s were already established names, such as [[Elton John]], [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]], [[Barbra Streisand]], [[Dan Fogelberg]], [[Sheena Easton]], [[Kenny Rogers]], and [[Dionne Warwick]], while newer acts such as [[Whitney Houston]], [[Madonna]], [[Air Supply]], [[Lionel Richie]], and [[Gloria Estefan]] also made an impact on the chart. The amount of crossover between the AC chart and the Hot 100 has varied based on how much the passing pop music trends of the times appealed to adult listeners. Not many [[disco]] or [[New wave music|new wave]] songs were particularly successful on the AC chart during the late 1970s and early 1980s, and much of the hip-hop and harder rock music featured on [[Contemporary hit radio|CHR]] formats later in the decade would have been unacceptable on AC radio.

No song spent more than six weeks at No. 1 on this chart during the 1980s, with nine songs accomplishing that feat. Two were by Lionel Richie, "[[You Are (Lionel Richie song)|You Are]]" in 1983 and "[[Hello (Lionel Richie song)|Hello]]" in 1984, which also reached No. 1 on the Hot 100. Other songs reaching the summit on both the AC and pop charts were "[[Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper song)|Time After Time]]" by [[Cyndi Lauper]], "[[I Just Called to Say I Love You]]" by [[Stevie Wonder]], "[[Live to Tell]]" by [[Madonna]], "[[I Just Can't Stop Loving You]]" by [[Michael Jackson]] (his only No. 1 on both charts), "[[Seasons Change (song)|Seasons Change]]" by [[Exposé (group)|Exposé]], "[[Look Away]]" by [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]], "[[Tell Her About It]]" by [[Billy Joel]], and "[[Right Here Waiting]]" by [[Richard Marx]].<ref name="Hyatt"/>

===The 1990s=== With changes in methodology made to the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in the early 1990s, many of the secondary charts began to experience differences as well. Certain songs achieved higher debut positions on the Hot 100 due to the new formulas used to calculate chart positions, and lengthy stays at number one became more common. This trend began to surface on the AC chart in 1993 after ''Billboard'' began using data received from [[Broadcast Data Systems]] as its measure for calculating the number of airplay songs on adult contemporary stations.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Hot AC Chart Is Converted to BDS |magazine=Billboard |date=July 17, 1993 |volume=105 |issue=29 |page=107}}</ref> Two consecutive singles ("[[The River of Dreams]]" by [[Billy Joel]] and "[[Said I Loved You...But I Lied]]" by [[Michael Bolton]]) logged twelve weeks apiece atop the AC chart, surpassing "Love Is Blue"'s previous mark of eleven weeks at number one. As the decade progressed, other songs had even longer stays at number one, including "[[Change the World]]" by [[Eric Clapton]] (13 weeks, 1996), "[[Un-Break My Heart]]" by [[Toni Braxton]] (14 weeks, 1997), "[[Because You Loved Me]]" by [[Celine Dion]] (19 weeks, 1996) and "[[You'll Be In My Heart]]" by [[Phil Collins]] (19 weeks, 1999).

In addition to Collins, who has had significant success on this chart, other artists with multiple number ones in the 1990s include [[Mariah Carey]], [[Michael Bolton]], Whitney Houston, and [[Shania Twain]]. Newer female singer-songwriters such as [[Sarah McLachlan]], [[Natalie Merchant]], [[Jewel (singer)|Jewel]], [[Melissa Etheridge]], and [[Sheryl Crow]] also broke through on the AC chart during this time.<ref name="Hyatt"/>

===The 2000s and 2010s=== A notable pattern that developed during the 2000s has been for certain pop songs to have lengthy runs on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, even after the songs have fallen off the Hot 100. Songs such as "[[Love Story (Taylor Swift song)|Love Story]]" and "[[You Belong with Me]]" by [[Taylor Swift]], "[[Waiting on the World to Change]]" by [[John Mayer]], "[[Love Song (Sara Bareilles song)|Love Song]]" by [[Sara Bareilles]] and "[[You're Beautiful]]" by [[James Blunt]] have remained on the AC chart for many weeks, in some cases over a year after the song was originally released. An article on [[MTV]]'s website by Corey Moss describes this trend: "In other words, AC stations are where pop songs go to die a very long death. Or, to optimists, to get a second life."<ref name="MTV">Moss, Corey (November 1, 2006). [https://web.archive.org/web/20061126131331/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1544498/20061031/gnarls_barkley.jhtml "Never A 'Bad Day'{{spaced ndash}} Adult-Contemporary Radio, Where Pop Hits Live Strong{{spaced ndash}} Months After They Become Smash Singles, Songs Find New Audiences on Older-Skewing Stations"]. [[MTV News]]. Retrieved December 9, 2012.</ref> One theory states that many adult contemporary stations play less newer music because they also give ample airtime to hits of the past, so the de-emphasis on new songs slows the progression of the AC chart. Also, certain program directors have asserted that AC is a song-based format, as opposed to other radio formats that are infused with singer-based programming, so there is no guarantee that a new single by a certain artist will appeal to the listeners.<ref name="MTV"/>

The record for most time atop the Adult Contemporary chart is 57 non-consecutive weeks, achieved by [[Miley Cyrus]] with her 2023 release, "[[Flowers (Miley Cyrus song)|Flowers]]". A number of other songs have logged more than 20 weeks apiece at the summit; The 2003, [[Uncle Kracker]]'s collaboration with [[Dobie Gray]] on Gray's own 1973 hit, [[Drift Away]] spent 28 weeks at No. 1. Ed Sheeran's "[[Shape of You]]" from 2017 has logged 24 weeks at No. 1 on the AC chart. In addition, Celine Dion's "[[A New Day Has Come (song)|A New Day Has Come]]" from 2002 and [[Kelly Clarkson]]'s 2004 song "[[Breakaway (Kelly Clarkson song)|Breakaway]]". Both songs spent 21 weeks at No. 1 on the AC chart.

Through 2022, Celine Dion has logged 87 weeks atop the AC chart, which is the most for any artist; Adele has moved into second place with 83 weeks, Ed Sheeran holds third place and the most for a solo male artist with 67 weeks, followed by Elton John with 63 weeks. Maroon 5 is the current top group, and fifth overall, with 62 weeks. Elton John also has the most chart-toppers on this survey with 18, while the Carpenters hold the record for the most chart toppers among groups with 15, and Celine Dion has the most #1's among female artists with 11.<ref>[[Joel Whitburn|Whitburn, Joel]] (2007). ''Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961–2006{{spaced ndash}} Chart Data Compiled from Billboard's Adult Contemporary Charts, 1961–2006, and Adult Top 40 Charts, 1996–2006''. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 373. 978-0-898-20169-7.</ref>

In 2011, Billboard announced the top 100 performing songs on the AC chart and the top 50 performing artists to celebrate the 50th anniversary on the chart. The top song on the list was "[[Truly Madly Deeply (song)|Truly Madly Deeply]]" by [[Savage Garden]], which hit number one for 11 weeks in 1998, spent a total of 58 weeks in the top 10, and spent 123 weeks on the chart. That chart longevity would only be passed by another one of their songs, "[[I Knew I Loved You (Savage Garden song)|I Knew I Loved You]]" (which ranked at #21 on that list), from their album ''[[Affirmation (Savage Garden album)|Affirmation]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/darren-hayes-talks-savage-gardens-truly-big-ac-no-1/|date=July 15, 2011|magazine=Billboard|title= Darren Hayes Talks Savage Garden's 'Truly' Big AC No. 1|access-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/76766/chart-beat-bonus|date=February 15, 2002|magazine=Billboard|title= CHART BEAT BONUS: Chart-based stories on Savage Garden, Mary J. Blige, and "Star Academy." |access-date=February 15, 2002}}</ref> [[Elton John]] was nominated the top performing AC artist through that time, and also holds the record for the most No. 1 AC singles, top 10 singles, and singles on the chart. His song "[[The One (Elton John song)|The One]]" was ranked on No. 53 on the top 100 performing songs on the AC chart.

==Other formats== Relatively few [[urban contemporary]] and [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] artists manage to successfully cross over to AC, although there were a few exceptions in the later part of the 2000s decade, such as [[Beyoncé Knowles|Beyoncé]]'s "[[Irreplaceable]]", [[Fergie (singer)|Fergie]]'s ballad "[[Big Girls Don't Cry (Fergie song)|Big Girls Don't Cry]]", [[Gnarls Barkley]]'s "[[Crazy (Gnarls Barkley song)|Crazy]]", [[Rihanna]]'s "[[Take a Bow (Rihanna song)|Take a Bow]]", and [[Timbaland]]'s remix of [[OneRepublic]]'s "[[Apologize (OneRepublic song)|Apologize]]". R&B artists who have achieved major success on the AC chart in the past include [[Dionne Warwick]], [[Aaron Neville]], [[Diana Ross]] (with her solo career), [[James Ingram]], [[Lionel Richie]], [[Whitney Houston]] and [[Mariah Carey]].

Crossover from the [[country music|country]] charts has also been common on the AC chart since the chart began. Among the country stars who had a number of singles cross over to the AC chart (and the pop chart as well) from the 1960s through the 1980s included [[Brenda Lee]], [[Ray Price]], [[Patsy Cline]], [[Johnny Cash]], [[Anne Murray]], [[Ronnie Milsap]], [[Barbara Mandrell]], [[Dolly Parton]], [[Kenny Rogers]], [[Eddie Rabbitt]], [[Crystal Gayle]], [[Willie Nelson]], and [[Juice Newton]]. The huge growth of country music as a radio format in the 1990s brought a number of new country crossovers onto the AC airwaves, including [[Martina McBride]], [[Wynonna Judd]], [[LeAnn Rimes]], Shania Twain, [[Billy Joel]], [[Lonestar]], [[Mary Chapin Carpenter]], and [[Garth Brooks]]. More recently, a new wave of country performers has been crossing over to AC, including [[Tim McGraw]], the [[Dixie Chicks]] (who topped the AC chart with their cover of [[Fleetwood Mac]]'s "[[Landslide (Fleetwood Mac song)|Landslide]]"), [[Rascal Flatts]], [[Keith Urban]], [[Carrie Underwood]], [[Taylor Swift]], [[Sugarland]], [[Lady Antebellum]], [[Jason Aldean]] (whose AC success came by way of his duet with Kelly Clarkson, "[[Don't You Wanna Stay]]"), [[The Band Perry]], [[Sam Hunt]], and [[Dan + Shay]].

[[Contemporary Christian music]] has also been relatively successful in crossing over to mainstream radio. In the mid-1980s, the most successful CCM artist at the time, [[Amy Grant]], crossed over into secular music with the 1985 single "[[Find a Way (Amy Grant song)|Find a Way]]", which became a Top Ten AC hit and a No. 1 Christian single simultaneously. In the 1990s and into the 2000s, other artists such as [[Lifehouse (band)|Lifehouse]], [[MercyMe]], [[Natalie Grant]], [[Kathy Troccoli]], [[Sixpence None the Richer]], [[Steven Curtis Chapman]], and [[Michael W. Smith]] have crossed in between the Christian and secular worlds with little disapproval from their fan bases.

Many notable [[classic rock]] artists have also crossed over to the adult contemporary chart as well by way of releasing power ballads. Artists such as [[Journey (band)|Journey]], [[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]], [[Pat Benatar]], and [[John Mellencamp]] among many other artists have had AC chart hits in addition to charting on the [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|Mainstream Rock]] chart.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/journey/chart-history/tlp/ | title=Journey | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/foreigner/chart-history/tlp/ | title=Foreigner | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/pat-benatar/chart-history/tlp/ | title=Pat Benatar | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/john-mellencamp/chart-history/tlp/ | title=John Mellencamp | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref> In addition, newer recordings by established classic rock artists have also gotten some airplay on adult contemporary stations. [[Heart (band)|Heart]], [[Bob Seger]], and [[Elton John]] are just some of the artists to have some of their 21st-century songs played on adult contemporary.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/rockers-adult-contemporary/ | title=Up Where They Belong?: How Rockers Went Adult Contemporary | date=November 8, 2017 }}</ref>

In addition, some classic rock artists whose songs did not chart on the adult contemporary chart during their initial heyday have been played on AC stations in recent years: [[Whitesnake]] with [[Here I Go Again]], [[Joan Jett]] with [[I Love Rock and Roll]], and [[Def Leppard]] with [[Pour Some Sugar on Me]] among other artists.{{Efn|Whitesnake's and Def Leppard's songs "[[Is This Love (Whitesnake song)|Is This Love]]" and "[[Two Steps Behind]]" did hit the charts, their sole adult contemporary charting songs. Joan Jett had no adult contemporary charting songs until 2022's "(I'm Gonna) Run Away".<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/joan-jett-the-blackhearts/chart-history/rtt/ | title=Joan Jett & the Blackhearts | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>}}

==Recurrents== The '''Adult Contemporary Recurrent''' charts ranks airplay from the adult contemporary radio stations in the United States chart that have reached recurrent criteria. Descending songs are moved to recurrent status based upon the following three-tiered system: if they rank below the top five after 52 weeks, if they rank below the top 10 after 26 weeks, or if they rank below the top 15 after 20 weeks.

Exceptions are sometimes made, usually on a case-by-case basis. Occasionally an older song is re-released (for example, featured on a current movie soundtrack and given a renewed promotional push from a record label) or a song can take an extended amount of time to climb to position fifteen. ''Billboard'' chart managers ultimately make the decision about which songs can remain on the current chart in such cases.

==Records and achievements== <!--This table needs a source. ===Most consecutive number-ones===

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ !scope="col" style="width:6em;"| Number of songs !scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Artist name !scope="col" style="width:13em;" class="unsortable"| First hit and date !scope="col" style="width:13em;" class="unsortable"| Last hit and date !scope="col" style="width:16em;" class="unsortable"| Streak breaking song and date |- | 6 | [[Helen Reddy]] | "[[Delta Dawn]]" (June 1973) | "[[Amoureuse|Emotion]]" (January 1975) | "Free and Easy" (May 5, 1975)<ref>[https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1975-05-02 nztop40.co.nz] {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2022}}</ref> |- |rowspan="4"| 5 |[[Whitney Houston]] |"[[Saving All My Love for You]]" (August 13, 1985) |"[[Didn't We Almost Have It All]]" (August 13, 1987) |"[[So Emotional]]" (#8) (October 12, 1987) |- |[[Lionel Richie]] |"[[Endless Love]]" (with [[Diana Ross]]) (August 1, 1981) |"[[All Night Long (All Night)]]" (August 31, 1983)<ref>http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2022}}</ref> |"[[Running with the Night]]" (#6) (November 1983) |- |[[Barry Manilow]] |"[[I Write the Songs]]" (November 15, 1975) |"[[Looks Like We Made It]]" (April 20, 1977) |"[[Daybreak (Barry Manilow song)|Daybreak]]" (#7) (September 1977) |- |[[The Carpenters]] |"[[Please Mr. Postman]]" (November 8, 1974) |"[[I Need to Be in Love]]" (May 21, 1976) |"[[Goofus]]" (#4) (June 11, 1976) |- |rowspan="5"| 4 |[[Michael Bolton]] |"[[Love Is a Wonderful Thing (Michael Bolton song)|Love Is a Wonderful Thing]]" (April 1, 1991) |"[[Missing You Now]]" (with [[Kenny G]]) (December 1991) |"Steel Bars" (#7) (February 1992) |- |[[Lionel Richie]] |"[[Hello (Lionel Richie song)|Hello]]" (February 13, 1984) |"[[Say You, Say Me]]" (October 1985) |"[[Dancing on the Ceiling (Lionel Richie song)|Dancing on the Ceiling]]" (#3) (July 15, 1986) |- |[[Anne Murray]] |"[[I Just Fall in Love Again]]" (September 23, 1977) |"[[Daydream Believer]]" (December 1979) |"[[Lucky Me (Anne Murray song)|Lucky Me]]" (#8) (March 1980) |- |[[Captain & Tennille]] |"[[The Way I Want to Touch You]]" (September 1975) |"[[Muskrat Love]]" (September 1976) |"[[Can't Stop Dancin' (Captain & Tennille song)|Can't Stop Dancin']]" (#12) (February 1977) |- |[[John Denver]] |"[[Sunshine on My Shoulders]]" (October 22, 1973) |"[[Sweet Surrender (John Denver song)|Sweet Surrender]]" (December 1974) |"[[Thank God I'm a Country Boy]]" (#5) (March 1975) |} {{Clear}} -->

===The top 10 adult contemporary songs (1961–2011)=== {| class="wikitable" |- !Rank !Single !Year released !Artist(s) !Peak and duration |- | align="center" | 1 |"[[Truly Madly Deeply (song)|Truly Madly Deeply]]" | align="center" | 1997 |[[Savage Garden]] |#1 for 11 weeks |- | align="center" | 2 |"[[Lead Me On (Maxine Nightingale song)|Lead Me On]]" | align="center" | 1978 |[[Maxine Nightingale]] |#1 for 7 weeks |- | align="center" | 3 |"[[Drift Away]]" | align="center" | 2003 |[[Uncle Kracker]] featuring [[Dobie Gray]] |#1 for 28 weeks |- | align="center" | 4 |"[[Heaven (Los Lonely Boys song)|Heaven]]" | align="center" | 2004 |[[Los Lonely Boys]] |#1 for 18 weeks |- | align="center" | 5 |"[[Born Free (song)|Born Free]]" | align="center" | 1966 |[[Roger Williams (pianist)|Roger Williams]] |#1 for 6 weeks |- | align="center" | 6 |"[[Hello Dolly! (song)|Hello Dolly!]]" | align="center" | 1964 |[[Louis Armstrong]] and The All Stars |#1 for 9 weeks |- | align="center" | 7 |"[[You Needed Me]]" | align="center" | 1978 |[[Anne Murray]] |#3 for 3 weeks |- | align="center" | 8 |"[[Change the World]]" | align="center" | 1996 |[[Eric Clapton]] |#1 for 13 weeks |- | align="center" | 9 |"[[Hero (Enrique Iglesias song)|Hero]]" | align="center" | 2001 |[[Enrique Iglesias]] |#1 for 15 weeks |- | align="center" | 10 |"[[Lonely No More]]" | align="center" | 2005 |[[Rob Thomas (musician)|Rob Thomas]] |#1 for 18 weeks |- | colspan="5" style="text-align: center;" | '''Source:'''<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/the-top-100-adult-contemporary-songs-ever/|date=July 15, 2011|magazine=Billboard|title= The Top 100 Adult Contemporary Songs Ever|access-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref> |}

===The top 10 adult contemporary artists (1961–2011)=== {| class="wikitable" |- !Rank !Artist |- | align="center" | 1 |[[Elton John]] |- | align="center" | 2 |[[Neil Diamond]] |- | align="center" | 3 |[[Barbra Streisand]] |- | align="center" | 4 |[[Barry Manilow]] |- | align="center" | 5 |[[Kenny Rogers]] |- | align="center" | 6 |[[Chicago (band)|Chicago]] |- | align="center" | 7 |[[Billy Joel]] |- | align="center" | 8 |[[The Carpenters|Carpenters]] |- | align="center" | 9 |[[Lionel Richie]] |- | align="center" | 10 |[[Anne Murray]] |- | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Source:'''<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/469224/the-top-50-adult-contemporary-artists-ever|date=July 15, 2011|magazine=Billboard|title= The Top 50 Adult Contemporary Artists Ever|access-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref> |}

===Songs with most weeks at number one=== These are the songs with 20 or more weeks at number one as of the chart dated May 30, 2026.

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Weeks at No. 1 !! Song !! Artist !! Issue date reached No. 1 !! Source |- |align="center" | 57 || "[[Flowers (Miley Cyrus song)|Flowers]]" || [[Miley Cyrus]] || April 15, 2023 ||<ref name="Miley Cyrus Chart History">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/miley-cyrus/chart-history/asi|title=Miley Cyrus Chart History (Adult Contemporary)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 23, 2024}}</ref> |- |align="center"| 49 || "[[Lose Control (Teddy Swims song)|Lose Control]]" || [[Teddy Swims]] || August 10, 2024 |||<ref name="Teddy Swims Chart History">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/teddy-swims/chart-history/asi/|title=Teddy Swims Chart History (Adult Contemporary)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 14, 2025}}</ref> |- |align="center"| 36 || "[[Girls Like You]]" || [[Maroon 5]] || November 10, 2018 ||<ref name="Maroon5">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/maroon-5/chart-history/asi/|title=Maroon 5 Chart History (Adult Contemporary)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 6, 2024}}</ref> |- |align="center" | 35 || "[[Blinding Lights]]" || [[The Weeknd]] || November 7, 2020 ||<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2021-08-07|title=Adult Contemporary|magazine=Billboard|date=January 2, 2013|accessdate=August 3, 2021}}</ref> |- | align="center" | 30 || "[[Ordinary (Alex Warren song)|Ordinary]]" || [[Alex Warren]] || October 25, 2025 ||<ref name="Alex Warren Chart History">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Alex-Warren/chart-history/asi/|title=Alex Warren Chart History (Adult Contemporary)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 27, 2026}}</ref> |- | align="center" | 28 || "[[Drift Away#Uncle Kracker featuring Dobie Gray version|Drift Away]]" || [[Uncle Kracker]] featuring [[Dobie Gray]] || June 7, 2003 ||<ref name="perfect20weeks">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/ed-sheeran-perfect-20-weeks-number-one-adult-contemporary-chart/|date=July 3, 2018|magazine=Billboard|title=Ed Sheeran First Act With Two Songs to Top Adult Contemporary Chart for at Least 20 Weeks Each|access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" align="center" | 24 || "[[Shape of You]]" || [[Ed Sheeran]] || May 6, 2017 ||<ref name="perfect20weeks"/> |- ||"[[Easy on Me]]" ||[[Adele]] |November 13, 2021 |<ref name="Adele Chart History">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Adele/chart-history/asi/|title=Adele Chart History (Adult Contemporary)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 25, 2025}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" align="center" | 22 || "[[Hey, Soul Sister]]" || [[Train (band)|Train]] || July 3, 2010 ||<ref name="perfect20weeks" /> |- || "[[Perfect (Ed Sheeran song)|Perfect]]" || [[Ed Sheeran]] || February 24, 2018 ||<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2018-07-21/adult-contemporary|title=Adult Contemporary {{!}} Week of July 21, 2018|magazine=Billboard|date=July 17, 2018|access-date=July 23, 2018}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3" align="center" | 21 || "[[A New Day Has Come (song)|A New Day Has Come]]" || [[Celine Dion]] || March 30, 2002 ||<ref name="perfect20weeks" /> |- || "[[Breakaway (Kelly Clarkson song)|Breakaway]]" || [[Kelly Clarkson]] || March 12, 2005 ||<ref name="perfect20weeks"/> |- || "[[Hello (Adele song)|Hello]]" || [[Adele]] || November 28, 2015 ||<ref name="perfect20weeks"/><ref name="Adele Chart History"/> |- | rowspan="2" align="center" | 20 || "[[Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars song)|Just the Way You Are]]" || [[Bruno Mars]] || February 5, 2011 ||<ref name="perfect20weeks" /> |- || "[[Memories (Maroon 5 song)|Memories]]" || [[Maroon 5]] || March 21, 2020 ||<ref name="Maroon5"/> |}

===Artists with most number-one songs===  {| class="wikitable" |- ! Songs !! Artist !! Source |- | align="center" | 18 || [[Elton John]] ||<ref name="Elton John">{{cite magazine|title=Chart History Elton John|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/elton-john/chart-history/asi/|access-date=May 24, 2021}}</ref> |- | align="center" | 15 || [[The Carpenters]] ||<ref name="john72">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/elton-john-charts-record-extending-adult-contemporary-hit/|date=June 13, 2016|magazine=Billboard|title=Elton John Charts Record-Extending 72nd Adult Contemporary Hit|access-date=June 14, 2016}}</ref> |- | align="center" | 13 || [[Barry Manilow]] ||<ref name="Manilow50">{{cite magazine |last1=Trust |first1=Gary |title=Barry Manilow Scores 50th Hit On Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/chartbeat/474083/barry-manilow-scores-50th-hit-on-billboards-adult-contemporary-chart |access-date=June 19, 2018 |magazine=Billboard |date=November 19, 2012}}</ref> |- |rowspan="2" align="center" | 11 || [[Celine Dion]] ||<ref name="Billboard Music">{{cite magazine |title=Being Celine: A Look Back at the Illustrious Career of Celine Dion |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/the-illustrious-career-of-celine-dion-7776996/ |access-date=June 19, 2018 |magazine=Billboard |date=May 1, 2017}}</ref> |- || [[Lionel Richie]] ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Lionel Richie AC Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lionel-richie/chart-history/asi/ |website=billboard.com |publisher=Billboard Music |access-date=June 19, 2018}}</ref> |- |rowspan="2" align="center" |10 || [[Olivia Newton-John]] ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Olivia Newton-John AC Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Olivia-Newton-John/chart-history/asi/ |website=billboard.com |publisher=Billboard Music |access-date=June 13, 2024}}</ref> |- || [[Whitney Houston]] ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Lionel Richie AC Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lionel-richie/chart-history/asi/ |website=billboard.com |publisher=Billboard Music |access-date=June 19, 2018}}</ref> |- |rowspan="2" align="center" | 9 || [[John Denver]] ||<ref>{{cite web |title=John Denver AC Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/John-Denver/chart-history/asi/ |website=billboard.com |publisher=Billboard Music |access-date=June 13, 2024}}</ref> |- || [[Taylor Swift]] ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Taylor Swift AC Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Taylor-Swift/chart-history/asi/ |website=billboard.com |publisher=Billboard Music |access-date=June 13, 2024}}</ref> |- |rowspan="5" align="center" | 8 || [[Anne Murray]] ||<ref name ="Anne Murray Chart History">{{cite web |title=Anne Murray AC Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Anne-Murray/chart-history/asi/ |website=billboard.com |publisher=Billboard Music |access-date=June 13, 2024}}</ref> |- || [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]] ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Chicago AC Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Chicago/chart-history/asi/ |website=billboard.com |publisher=Billboard Music |access-date=June 13, 2024}}</ref> |- || [[Neil Diamond]] ||<ref name= "Neil Diamond Chart History">{{cite web |title=Neil Diamond AC Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Neil-Diamond/chart-history/asi/ |website=billboard.com |publisher=Billboard Music |access-date=June 13, 2024}}</ref> |- || [[Phil Collins]] ||<ref name= "Phil Collins Chart History">{{cite web |title=Phil Collins AC Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Phil-Collins/chart-history/asi/ |website=billboard.com |publisher=Billboard Music |access-date=June 13, 2024}}</ref> |- || [[Stevie Wonder]] ||<ref name= "Stevie Wonder Chart History">{{cite web |title=Stevie Wonder AC Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Stevie-Wonder/chart-history/asi/ |website=billboard.com |publisher=Billboard Music |access-date=June 13, 2024}}</ref> |}

===Artists with most cumulative weeks at number one=== As of the issue of ''Billboard'' dated May 30, 2026 {| class="wikitable" |- ! Weeks !! Artist !! Source |- | align="center" | 87 || [[Celine Dion]] ||<ref name="Adele_20161203">{{cite magazine |last1=Trust |first1=Gary |title=Adele's 'Send My Love' Tops Adult Contemporary Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/adele-send-my-love-adult-contemporary-chart/ |access-date=June 19, 2018 |magazine=Billboard |date=November 22, 2016}}</ref> |- | align="center" | 83 || [[Adele]] ||<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/adele/chart-history/asi/|title=Adele Chart History (Adult Contemporary)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref> |- |align="center" | 72 || [[Miley Cyrus]] || <ref name="Miley Cyrus Chart History"/> |- | align="center" | 67 || [[Ed Sheeran]] ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Ed Sheeran Chart History Adult Contemporary |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ed-sheeran/chart-history/asi/|website=billboard.com |access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref> |- |align="center" | 64 || [[Elton John]] ||<ref name="Adele_20161203"/> |- | align="center" | 62 || [[Maroon 5]] ||<ref>{{cite web|title=Maroon 5 Chart History (Adult Contemporary)|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/maroon-5/chart-history/asi/|website=billboard.com|access-date=July 6, 2020}}</ref> |- | align="center" | 56 || [[Taylor Swift]] || <ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=2024-01-19 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Cruel Summer' Hits No. 1 on Adult Contemporary Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-cruel-summer-number-1-adult-contemporary-chart-1235585166/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |align="center" | 49 || [[Teddy Swims]] || <ref name="Teddy Swims Chart History"/> |- | align="center" | 47 || [[Lionel Richie]] ||<ref name="Adele_20161203"/> |- |rowspan="2" align="center" | 43 || [[Phil Collins]] ||<ref name="Adele_20161203"/> |- || [[Faith Hill]] ||<ref name="Adele_20161203"/> |}

===Artists with most top 10 songs=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Songs !! Artist !! Source |- | align="center" | 42 || [[Elton John]] ||<ref name="Elton John"/> |- | align="center" | 38 || [[Neil Diamond]] ||<ref name="Elton40Top10">{{cite magazine |last1=Trust |first1=Gary |title=Elton John Notches Record-Extending 40th Adult Contemporary Top 10 With Dua Lipa Collab 'Cold Heart'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9632738/elton-john-cold-heart-40th-adult-contemporary-chart-top-10 |access-date=October 20, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |date=October 20, 2021}}</ref> |- | align="center" | 35 || [[Barbra Streisand]] ||<ref name="Elton40Top10"/> |- | align="center" | 31 || [[Elvis Presley]] ||<ref name="Elvis Presley Chart History">{{cite magazine|title=Elvis Presley Chart History|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Elvis-Presley/chart-history/asi/|access-date=June 13, 2024}}</ref> |- | align="center" | 29 || [[Dionne Warwick]] ||<ref name="Dionne Warwick Chart History">{{cite magazine|title=Dionne Warwick Chart History|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Dionne-Warwick/chart-history/asi/|access-date=June 13, 2024}}</ref> |- |rowspan="2" align="center" | 28 || [[Barry Manilow]] ||<ref name="Barry Manilow Chart History">{{cite magazine|title=Barry Manilow Chart History|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/barry-manilow/chart-history/asi/|access-date=June 13, 2024}}</ref> |- || [[Kenny Rogers]] ||<ref name="Kenny Rogers Chart History">{{cite magazine|title=Kenny Rogers Chart History|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/kenny-rogers/chart-history/asi/|access-date=June 13, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Elton40Top10"/> |- | align="center" | 26 || [[Whitney Houston]] ||<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trust|first1=Gary|title=Whitney Houston Adds 25th Adult Contemporary Top 10, First Since 2003|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8546750/whitney-houston-25th-adult-contemporary-top-10|access-date=December 19, 2019|work=billboard.com|publisher=Billboard Music|date=December 18, 2019}}</ref> |- |rowspan="4" align="center" | 24 || [[Billy Joel]] ||<ref name="Billy Joel Chart History">{{cite magazine|title=Billy Joel Chart History|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Billy-Joel/chart-history/asi/|access-date=February 19, 2024}}</ref> |- || [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]] ||<ref name="Elton40Top10"/> |- || [[James Taylor]] ||<ref name="Elton40Top10"/> |- || [[Bobby Vinton]] ||<ref name="Elton40Top10"/> |}

===Artists with most chart entries===  {| class="wikitable" |- ! Entries !! Artist !! Source |- | align="center" | 77 || [[Elton John]] ||<ref name="john74">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9618448/elton-john-hot-100-cold-heart-dua-lipa|date=August 23, 2021|magazine=Billboard|title=Elton John Returns to Billboard Hot 100 After 21 Years With Dua Lipa Collab 'Cold Heart'|access-date=|first = Gary|last = Trust|url-access = subscription}}</ref> |- | align="center" | 64 || [[Barbra Streisand]] ||<ref name="john74"/> |- | align="center" | 58 || [[Neil Diamond]] ||<ref name= "Neil Diamond Chart History"/> |- | align=center| 53 || [[Barry Manilow]] ||<ref name="Barry Manilow Chart History"/> |- | align=center|50 || [[Johnny Mathis]] ||<ref name="john72"/> |- |rowspan="3" align="center" | 48 || [[Elvis Presley]] ||<ref name="Elvis Presley Chart History"/> |- | [[Kenny Rogers]] ||<ref name="Kenny Rogers Chart History"/> |- | [[Taylor Swift]] ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Taylor Swift AC Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Taylor-Swift/chart-history/asi/ |website=billboard.com |publisher=Billboard Music |access-date=June 13, 2024}}</ref> |- | align="center" | 44 || [[Dionne Warwick]] ||<ref name ="Dionne Warwick Chart History"/> |- | align="center" | 43 || [[Celine Dion]] ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Celine Dion AC Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Celine-Dion/chart-history/asi/ |website=billboard.com |publisher=Billboard Music |access-date=February 13, 2026}}</ref> |- | align="center" | 41 || [[Anne Murray]] ||<ref name ="Anne Murray Chart History"/> |}

==See also== {{portal|Music}} * [[Adult contemporary music]] * [[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart]] * [[List of Billboard number-one adult contemporary hits|List of ''Billboard'' number-one adult contemporary hits]]

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adult Contemporary (Chart)}} [[Category:Billboard charts]]