Taylor Swift, The Beatles, Elvis & More Artists With the Most Weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200: Full List
Written by Paul Grein on January 2, 2024
As Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) logs a fifth nonconsecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 (dated Jan. 6, 2024), Swift surpasses Elvis Presley for the most weeks at No. 1 by a solo artist. As Billboard reported on New Year’s Eve, Swift has now logged 68 weeks at No. 1, one more week than Presley, who logged 67 weeks on top between 1956 and 2002. The Beatles continue to lead all artists, with 132 weeks on top between 1964 and 2001.
Swift’s strong showing is impressive when you consider that the chart dates back to March 1956, more than 33 years before she was born.
Also of note, while Presley’s feats on the Billboard Hot 100 are shortchanged by the fact that his breakthrough in 1956 pre-dated the launch of Billboard’s flagship songs chart by more than two years, the Billboard 200 captures Presley’s entire career. His debut album, Elvis Presley, entered the chart at No. 11 in the issue dated March 31, 1956 – which was the chart’s second week.
Here’s a look at all acts with 30 or more weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 since March 24, 1956, when the chart began publishing on a consistent weekly basis. Ties are shown in alphabetical order.
Two quick notes: The Beatles and Presley could add to their weeks-at-No.-1 totals with the arrival of a new compilation or if one of their existing albums returns or finally reaches No. 1.
Also, If you count the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack (which logged 24 weeks at No. 1 in 1978) as a Bee Gees album, the trio had 31 weeks on top. Bee Gees had six tracks on the album — five of which were No. 1 hits on the Hot 100. But Billboard counts it as a multi-artist soundtrack album.
