History has been made. Breakout star Lizzo has earned her first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 with fan-favorite “Truth Hurts.” The bouncy record moves from No. 3 to the top spot this week. Perhaps even more impressive, Lizzo is the first Black solo female R&B artist to peak at the top position since Rihanna’s “Diamonds” in 2012.
Lizzo’s road to becoming the first female R&B ruler of the Hot 100 in seven years started back in May after “Truth Hurts” debuted at No. 50. It wasn’t the first time fans heard the track, though. The unflinching break-up anthem, which appears on the deluxe edition of Cuz I Love You, first surfaced on digital platforms in September 2017.
Nine weeks after making its first appearance on the popular singles chart, “Truth Hurts” became Lizzo’s first top 10 single, jetting from No. 11-6.
With a number of high-profile performances (2019 MTV Video Music Awards), a sinfully-good remix with DaBaby and a splurge in streams, Lizzo is now the new queen of the Hot 100.
For many music fans, it may be hard to believe that no Black female solo R&B artist has occupied the pole position since Rihanna in 2012. Surprisingly, it’s true.
While Beyoncé earned her sixth number-one hit (“Perfect”) with Ed Sheeran in 2017 and Rihanna reached the summit in 2016 for “Work,” both records were for collaborations and not solo visits.
Ella Mai was the closest to the top spot as a solo artist with “Boo’d Up” last year. The summertime jam made it to No. 5 on the Hot 100.
In the past 20 years, only 11 Black female R&B artists have went number one without a featured artist on the Hot 100 chart. Brandy, who is set to release her untitled seventh album this year, scored her highest-ranked single as a solo artist for “Have You Ever” in 1999. The Diane Warren-penned ballad camped out in first place for two weeks.
Two weeks later, Monica made her third trip to the number-one spot with “Angel of Mine.” It was her first chart-topper as a solo artist since “The First Night” in 1998. Monica previously held the lead title with Brandy for their duet “The Boy Is Mine,” which still remains the longest-running number-one single (13 weeks) in Hot 100 history for a female collaboration.
A year later, Aaliyah claimed her first number-one single for “Try Again” from the Romeo Must Die soundtrack. This history-making feat also marked the first time an airplay-only track topped the Hot 100, as the Timbaland-produced cut soared from No. 6-1 in June 2000.
“Doesn’t Really Matter,” co-produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, was the second soundtrack record to top the Hot 100 in 2000. The catchy bop, lifted from the Nutty Professor II: The Klumps soundtrack, notched the global icon’s first number-one single since 1998’s “Together Again” and ninth hit overall.
Mary J. Blige made her first (and only so far) hike at the Hot 100 peak for “Family Affair” in 2001. The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul came close as a solo artist back in 1996 for Waiting to Exhale’s “Not Gon Cry,” which made it to No. 2.
On the Hot 100 in 2004, Fantasia made her inaugural appearance groundbreaking. The Grammy winner was crowned the first artist in Hot 100 history to open at number one with her first chart entry. Tasia was the first female chart-holder in 2004 as well as the only female artist to occupy the top slot alone that year.
Mariah Carey touched the top position three times between 2005 and 2008, with “We Belong Together” as her most successful solo single on the Hot 100 chart to date.
For the first time ever in 2006, Beyoncé traveled to the number one spot without a featured artist for her B’Day single “Irreplaceable.” The kiss-off anthem spent 10 weeks total in first place.
Meanwhile, Rihanna has collected the most number one hits as a solo act on the Hot 100 in the last 20 years, with a total of six.
To celebrate Lizzo’s Hot 100 landmark, let’s spotlight the Black female solo R&B artists inducted into the prestigious hall of fame of number-one singles over the last two decades.
Janet Jackson [2001]
“All For You” — (7 consecutive weeks)
Alicia Keys [2001]
“Fallin’” — (6 non-consecutive weeks)
Ashanti [2002]
“Foolish” — (10 consecutive weeks)
Mariah Carey [2006]
“Don’t Forget About Us” (1 consecutive week)
Rihanna [2006]
“SOS” — (3 consecutive weeks)
Alicia Keys [2007]
“No One” — (5 consecutive weeks)
Mariah Carey [2008]
“Touch By Body” — (2 consecutive weeks)
Rihanna [2008]
“Take a Bow” — (1 consecutive week)
Rihanna [2008]
“Disturbia” — (2 consecutive weeks)
Beyoncé [2008-2009]
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” — (4 non-consecutive weeks)
Rihanna [2010]
“Rude Boy” — (5 consecutive weeks)
Rihanna [2010]
“Only Girl (In the World)” — (1 consecutive week)
Rihanna [2012]
“Diamonds” — (3 consecutive weeks)
