Oldest female artist to reach No. 1 on the US Hot 100

Cher (USA, b. Cherilyn Sarkisian, 20 May 1946) was 52 years 318 days old when “Believe” spent a fourth and final week at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 3 April 1999. It was Cher’s first US No.1 since “Dark Lady” on 23 March 1974.

The indefatigable “All I Want for Christmas Is You” returned to No.1 on the Hot 100 on 8 January 2022 for Mariah Carey (b. 27 March 1969), who was 52 years 287 days old at the time – just 31 days younger than Cher was on 3 April 1999.

Meanwhile, in the UK, Cher was previously the oldest female solo chart-topper on the Official Singles Chart with “Believe” – which had its seventh and final week at the top on 12 December 1998 when she was 52 years 206 days old – before “Running Up that Hill (A Deal with God)” by Kate Bush (63 years 328 days) took the accolade on 23 June 2022.