First female artist to replace herself at No.1 on UK singles chart

Ariana Grande (USA) spent three weeks at No.1 on the UK’s Official Singles Chart with “7 Rings” before knocking herself off the top with “Break up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored”, on 21 February 2019. In the 66-year history of the UK singles chart, no female had previously replaced herself at No.1.

Madonna, the only other female to have songs at No.1 (“Into the Groove”) and No.2 (“Holiday”) simultaneously in the UK, on 17 August 1985, was unable to replace herself at the top of the chart, although the “Material Girl” does have 13 UK chart-toppers to her name (as of 21 February 2019).

Grande is the seventh act to replace themselves at No.1 on the UK’s Official Singles Chart, and the first in 38 years to achieve it, since John Lennon’s “Woman” succeeded “Imagine” at the top on 7 February 1981.

Both tracks are taken from Thank U, Next, which bowed at No.1 on the Official Albums Chart on 21 February 2019.