“Montero,” released March 26 on Columbia Records, is the 1,120th No. 1 in the Hot 100’s 62-year history. It’s the 51st single to debut at No. 1, and Lil Nas X’s first.
“Montero” drew 46.9 million U.S. streams and sold 21,000 downloads in the week ending April 1, according to MRC Data. It also attracted 1.1 million radio airplay audience impressions in the week ending April 4.
The track opens at No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart, where it’s Lil Nas X’s second leader, after “Old Town Road” ruled for a record 20 weeks, and No. 2 on Digital Song Sales. It was available in three versions in its first week: its original version; its “Satan’s Extended Version”; and its “But Lil Nas X Is Silent the Entire Time” instrumental version (all sale-priced as of March 30 to 69 cents).
Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” dominated the Hot 100 for 19 weeks beginning on the April 13, 2019-dated chart. On the Aug. 3, 2019, survey, it spent its record-breaking 17th week on top, passing the 16-week No. 1s “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, featuring Justin Bieber, in 2017, and Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day,” in 1995-96.
“Montero” is Lil Nas X’s fifth Hot 100 entry, all of which have hit the top 40. Between his two leaders, he charted with “Rodeo,” with Cardi B/Nas (No. 22 peak, July 2019); “Panini” (No. 5, September 2019); and “Holiday” (No. 37, November 2020).
“Montero” references Lil Nas X’s real name, Montero Lamar Hill (and is the second Hot 100 No. 1 in less than a year to shout-out the name of the artist that recorded it, after “The Scotts” by The Scotts, Travis Scott and Kid Cudi). In a statement accompanying the release of “Montero” (whose profile was also boosted in the tracking week by the arrival of, and subsequent legal action regarding, his #satanshoes line), Lil Nas X wrote that the song “begs the question: do you truly love your neighbor as yourself, enough to call them by your own name?”
Justin Bieber’s “Peaches,” featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon, drops to No. 2 a week after debuting atop the Hot 100. The song slips from No. 1 to No. 2 on Streaming Songs (27.1 million, down 12%) and falls 3-7 on Digital Song Sales (11,000, down 31%), while entering Radio Songs at No. 35 (23.2 million, up 92%), as it wins the Hot 100’s top Airplay Gainer award.
“Peaches” posts a second week at No. 1 on the multi-metric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot R&B Songs charts, which use the same methodology as the Hot 100.
“Leave the Door Open” by Silk Sonic, the duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, holds at No. 3 on the Hot 100, after hitting No. 2, and Cardi B’s “Up” slips 2-4, two weeks after reaching No. 1. “Up” adds a sixth week atop the multi-metric Hot Rap Songs chart.
Olivia Rodrigo’s former eight-week Hot 100 No. 1 “Drivers License” backs up from No. 4 to No. 5, as it spends a fourth week at No. 1 on the Radio Songs chart (68.2 million, down 3%).
The Weeknd’s “Save Your Tears” retreats 5-6 on the Hot 100, after reaching No. 4, and Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” featuring DaBaby, holds at No. 7, after lifting to No. 5.
The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” descends 6-8 on the Hot 100, after spending four weeks at No. 1 in April-May 2020. It adds a record-extending 56th week in the top 10, after it became the first song to total a year in the bracket.
The track ties for the fourth-longest overall stay in the Hot 100’s history and makes more history: It passes LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem,” featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock, for the most weeks spent on the Hot 100 among No. 1 hits.
Most Weeks on the Billboard Hot 100:
87, “Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons, No. 3 peak, 2012-14
79, “Sail,” AWOLNATION, No. 17, 2011-14
76, “I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz, No. 6, 2008-09
69, “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd, No. 1 (four weeks), 2020-21
69, “How Do I Live,” LeAnn Rimes, No. 2, 1997-98
68, “Counting Stars,” OneRepublic, No. 2, 2013-14
68, “Party Rock Anthem,” LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock, No. 1 (six weeks), 2011-12
24kGoldn’s “Mood,” featuring Iann Dior, repeats at No. 10 on the Hot 100, after eight nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 in October through mid-January. It concurrently leads the multi-metric Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Hot Alternative Songs charts for a 31st week each.
Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Pop Smoke’s “What You Know Bout Love” drops to No. 10 from its No. 9 peak.
Again, for all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram and all charts (dated April 10), including the Hot 100 in its entirety, will refresh on Billboard.com tomorrow (April 6).
