advertisement
Chart Beat

Every Canadian Artist Who Has Had More Than One No. 1 Hit on the Billboard Hot 100

Since the chart launched in 1958, dozens of Canadian songs have climbed to the top spot — but only eight Canadian stars have ever hit No. 1 more than once, including Drake, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd and Paul Anka.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber

Evan Paterakis

Canadians have had their share of No. 1 hits since the Billboard Hot 100 first launched in 1958, but only a select group of Canadian artists have ever done it twice.

Number one on the Billboard Hot 100 is a coveted spot, with artists and their teams battling it out to claim the placement. Teen idol Paul Anka was the first Canadian to hit that height in July of 1959 with "Lonely Boy," (also the title of an influential Canadian documentary about him).


60 Canadian songs have achieved that feat, and eight Canadian artists have done it more than once. Drake has the most No. 1 hits, with 13 to his name so far. But he doesn't have the longest No. 1 streak — that goes to Justin Bieber, whose assist on "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee topped the charts for 16 weeks. Bieber is also the youngest solo artist to notch 100 tracks on the chart.

advertisement

Bieber has the second most No. 1 hits, scoring eight in his career, followed by the Weeknd with seven, Bryan Adams and Celine Dion with four each, Nelly Furtado with three, and Paul Anka and Randy Bachman with two each (Bachman had one with The Guess Who and one with Bachman Turner Overdrive).

That list is a reminder that it's not always the most iconic stars who are landing No. 1 placements — Alanis Morissette and Shania Twain, two of the most successful Canadian artists of the '90s, have no No. 1 hits. Neither does Joni Mitchell, though fellow Yorkville folk scene icon Neil Young grabbed one in 1972 with "Heart of Gold," as did the late Gordon Lightfoot in 1974 with "Sundown."

It's also a testament to the strategy of the featured artist: several of Drake and Bieber's No. 1 hits come through their work as featured artists, like Bieber's spot on DJ Khaled's "I'm The One" and Drake's verse on Rihanna's "Work" (the latter song was also written by Canadian PartyNextDoor).

advertisement

Find the full list of artists with more than one Hot 100 hit below, and find every Canadian artist's No. 1 song in a list at the end of this article.

Every Canadian Artist to Top The Billboard Hot 100 Twice

  1. Drake
  2. Justin Bieber
  3. The Weeknd
  4. Bryan Adams
  5. Celine Dion
  6. Nelly Furtado
  7. Paul Anka
  8. Randy Bachman

Looking at how the songs break down over decade, it seems like the 2010s were easily the most successful era for Canadian artists on the Hot 100. That decade had 18 Canadian No. 1s, including Carly Rae Jepsen's incredibly catchy "Call Me Maybe," Shawn Mendes' sultry "Señorita."

But for the most part, those No. 1's came from the same three artists: Drake, The Weeknd and Bieber. The 2020s seem poised to repeat the same pattern, with 13 Canadian No. 1's so far, all by those three.

The '70s, on the other hand, had fewer Canadian No. 1's, but more Canadian No. 1 artists, with eight Canadian acts claiming the top spot. In addition to Lightfoot, Young, Anka and Bachman's bands, Canadian musicians Nick Glider, Terry Jacks and Andy Kim all scored No. 1's in the '70s.

The difference in decades points out how rarefied that top spot has become, harder to achieve without megastar status and a massive fanbase. Canadian Tate McRae nearly became the newest Canadian with a Hot 100 No. 1 with "Greedy," but peaked at No. 3 on the U.S. Hot 100. As the 2020s roll on, Canadian superstars are likely to grab some more hits, but it remains to be seen whether any rising acts are able to join them.

advertisement

Every Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 by a Canadian artist:

1959 - Paul Anka, "Lonely Boy,"

1960 - Percy Faith, "Theme From A Summer Place"

1964 - Lorne Greene, "Ringo"

1970 - The Guess Who, "American Woman" / "No Sugar Tonight"

advertisement

1972 - Neil Young, "Heart of Gold"

1974 - Terry Jacks, "Seasons in the Sun"

1974 - Gordon Lightfoot, "Sundown"

1974 - Paul Anka and Odia Coates, "(You're) Having My Baby"

1974 - Andy Kim, "Rock Me Gently"

1974 - Bachman-Turner Overdrive, "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"

1978 - Nick Glider, "Hot Child In The City"

1985 - Anne Murray, "You Needed Me"

1985 - Bryan Adams, "Heaven"

1989 - Sheriff, "When I'm With You"

1990 - Alannah Myles, "Black Velvet"

1991 - Bryan Adams, "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You"

1993 - Snow, "Informer"

1994 - Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting, "All For Love"

1994 - Céline Dion, "The Power of Love"

1995 - Bryan Adams, "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?"

1996 - Céline Dion, "Because You Loved Me"

1998 - Céline Dion, "My Heart Will Go On,"

1998 - Barenaked Ladies, "One Week"

1998 - R. Kelly and Céline Dion, "I'm Your Angel"

2001 - Nickelback, "How You Remind Me,"

2006 - Daniel Powter, "Bad Day"

2006 - Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland, "Promiscuous"

2007 - Nelly Furtado, "Say It Right"

2007 - Timbaland featuring Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake, "Give It To Me"

2007 - Avril Lavigne, "Girlfriend"

2010 - Rihanna featuring Drake, "What's My Name?"

2012 - Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe"

2014 - Magic! "Rude"

2015 - The Weeknd, "Can't Feel my Face"

2015 - Justin Bieber, "What Do You Mean?"

2015 - The Weeknd, "The Hills"

2016 - Justin Bieber, "Sorry"

2016 - Justin Bieber, "Love Yourself"

2016 - Rihanna, featuring Drake, "Work"

2016 - Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla, "One Dance"

2017 - The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk, "Starboy"

2017 - DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne, "I'm the One"

advertisement

2017 - Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber, "Despacito"

2018 - Drake, "God's Plan"

2018 - Drake, "Nice for What"

2018 - Drake, "In My Feelings"

2019 - Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, "Senorita"

2019 - The Weeknd, "Heartless"

2020 - The Weeknd, "Blinding Lights"

2020 - Drake, "Toosie Slide"

2020 - Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, "Stuck with U"

2021 - Drake, "What's Next"

2021 - Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon, "Peaches"

2021 - The Weeknd and Ariana Grande, "Save Your Tears"

2021 - The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber, "Stay"

2021 - Drake featuring Future and Young Thug, "Way 2 Sexy"

2022 - Future featuring Drake and Tems, "Wait for U"

2022 - Drake featuring 21 Savage, "Jimmy Cooks"

2023 - The Weeknd featuring Ariana Grande, "Die for You"

2023 - Drake featuring SZA, "Slime You Out"

2023 - Drake featuring J. Cole, "First Person Shooter"

advertisement
Diljit Dosanjh photographed by Lane Dorsey on July 15 in Toronto. Styling by Alecia Brissett.

Diljit Dosanjh photographed by Lane Dorsey on July 15 in Toronto. Styling by Alecia Brissett. On Diljit: EYTYS jacket, Levi's jeans.

Music

Diljit Dosanjh Has Arrived: The Rise of a Global Star

The first time the Punjabi singer and actor came to Canada, he vowed to play at a stadium. With the Dil-Luminati Tour in 2024, he made it happen – setting a record in the process. As part of Billboard's Global No. 1s series, Dosanjh talks about his meteoric rise and his history-making year.

Throughout his history-making Dil-Luminati Tour, Diljit Dosanjh has a line that he’s repeated proudly on stage, “Punjabi Aa Gaye Oye” – or, “The Punjabis have arrived!”

The slogan has recognized not just the strides made by Diljit, but the doors his astounding success has opened for Punjabi music and culture.

keep readingShow less
advertisement