Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” rewrites the longest reign in the history of Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, logging a 37th week at the summit on the ranking dated Jan. 20.
The single surpasses the command of Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You” in 2018-19.
Here’s an updated look at the songs that have dominated Adult Contemporary the longest over the chart’s 62-plus-year archives.
Most Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart:
37 (to date), “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, beginning April 15, 2023
36, “Girls Like You,” Maroon 5, Nov. 10, 2018
35, “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd, Nov. 7, 2020
28, “Drift Away,” Uncle Kracker feat. Dobie Gray, June 7, 2003
24, “Easy on Me,” Adele, Nov. 13, 2021
24, “Shape of You,” Ed Sheeran, May 6, 2017
22, “Perfect,” Ed Sheeran, Feb. 24, 2018
22, “Hey, Soul Sister,” Train, July 3, 2010
21, “Hello,” Adele, Nov. 28, 2015
21, “Breakaway,” Kelly Clarkson, March 12, 2005
21, “A New Day Has Come,” Celine Dion, March 30, 2002
20, “Memories,” Maroon 5, March 21, 2020
20, “Just the Way You Are,” Bruno Mars, Feb. 5, 2011
“Flowers,” released on Smiley Miley/Columbia Records, previously topped the mainstream top 40-based Pop Airplay chart (which began in 1992) for 10 weeks and the adult top 40-focused Adult Pop Airplay ranking (which dates to 1996) for 17 frames.
Meanwhile, the single’s combined 64 weeks atop Adult Contemporary (37), Adult Pop Airplay (17) and Pop Airplay (10) mark the most for any hit. The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” ranks second with 61 weeks atop the trio of charts combined, followed by “Girls Like You” (55); 51 songs have led all three lists.
“Flowers,” which Cyrus co-wrote, launched at No. 1 on the all-genre, multimetric Billboard Hot 100 last January and ruled for eight weeks, becoming her second leader. It’s from Cyrus’ album Endless Summer Vacation, which debuted at its No. 3 best on the Billboard 200 albums chart in March, marking her 14th top 10.
“Flowers” went on to land No. 1 finishes on Billboard’s 2023 year-end Radio Songs and Adult Pop Airplay Songs charts. Cyrus also scored six 2024 Grammy nominations, including three for “Flowers”: record and song of the year and best pop solo performance.
The Adult Contemporary chart ranks titles by weekly plays on a panel of over 80 adult contemporary radio stations. The tally began in Billboard’s pages (as the “Easy Listening” chart) on July 17, 1961. Once Luminate data began powering the chart exactly 32 years later (July 17, 1993), lengthy reigns became much more common than before. (Airplay is now provided to Luminate by Mediabase.)
Notably, the longest No. 1 Adult Contemporary run on the chart prior to Luminate tracking belongs to Paul Mauriat’s “Love Is Blue” (11 weeks, 1968), followed by three 10-week leaders: Al Stewart’s “Time Passages” (1978-79), Herb Alpert’s “This Guy’s in Love With You” (1968) and Roger Miller’s “King of the Road” (1965).
Bryan Adams’ “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” claimed the longest Adult Contemporary rule of the ‘90s before the adoption of Luminate data (eight weeks, 1991), while nine tracks share the longest No. 1 stays of the ‘80s (six weeks each): Richard Marx’s “Right Here Waiting,” Simply Red’s “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” (both 1989), Kool & The Gang’s “Cherish” (1985), Lionel Richie’s “Hello” (1984), Barry Manilow’s “Read ‘Em and Weep” (1983-84), Richie’s “You Are” (1983), Neil Diamond’s “Yesterday’s Songs” (1981-82), Kenny Rogers’ “I Don’t Need You” (1981) and Air Supply’s “Lost in Love” (1980).
All charts dated Jan. 20 will update on Billboard.com Wednesday, Jan. 17 (a day later than usual due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday on Jan. 15).