Taylor Swift’s ‘Cruel Summer’ Hits No. 1 on Adult Contemporary Chart

Gary Trust
·3 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Surely continuing to spark warm thoughts amid winter, Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” climbs to No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, dated Jan. 27.

The song, released on Republic Records, becomes Swift’s ninth AC leader, extending her mark for the most among all acts over the 2000s, ‘10s and ‘20s. In that span, Adele, Michel Bublé and Josh Groban rank second with six No. 1s each.

More from Billboard

Meanwhile, “Cruel Summer” halts the record 37-week No. 1 run on Adult Contemporary of Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers.”

Here’s a recap of Swift’s nine Adult Contemporary No. 1s:

  • “Cruel Summer,” one week to date at No. 1, Jan. 27, 2024

  • “Anti-Hero,” three weeks, beginning March 25, 2023

  • “Delicate,” 10, Sept. 15, 2018

  • “Style,” two, July 11, 2015

  • “Blank Space,” four, Feb. 21, 2015

  • “Shake It Off,” nine, Nov. 22, 2014

  • “Mine,” one week, Dec. 11, 2010

  • “You Belong With Me,” 14, Oct. 31, 2009

  • “Love Story,” six, June 6, 2009

“Cruel Summer” was originally released on Swift’s 2019 album Lover. Republic began promoting the song as a single last June, after Swift began performing it on her The Eras Tour, her first in which she’s been able to spotlight songs from Lover, which was released shortly before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The song also adds a new milestone atop the Adult Pop Airplay chart, where it logs a 20th week at No. 1, becoming just the fourth hit to have reigned for at least that long since the survey began in Billboard’s pages in March 1996. “Cruel Summer” trails only the commands of Santana’s “Smooth,” featuring Rob Thomas (25 weeks, 1999-2000), and The Calling’s “Wherever You Will Go” (23 weeks, 2001-02) and ties the rule of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” in 2020.

Among other chart honors for “Cruel Summer,” it became the landmark 10th of Swift’s 11 career No. 1s on the all-genre, multimetric Billboard Hot 100, reigning for four weeks, and her record-breaking 12th No. 1, and her longest-leading (10 weeks), on Pop Airplay.

Plus, “Cruel Summer” is Swift’s sixth song to triple up with No. 1 ranks on Adult Contemporary, Adult Pop Airplay and Pop Airplay, joining “Anti-Hero,” “Delicate,” “Style,” “Blank Space” and “Shake It Off.” She now solely boasts the most such leaders, one-upping Adele’s five at each of the three formats (“Rolling in the Deep,” “Set Fire to the Rain,” “Hello,” “Send My Love [To Your Lover]” and “Easy on Me,” in 2011-22).

As for yet one more Swift chart feat this week, her “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]” jumps 11-8 on Adult Pop Airplay. It becomes her record-extending 30th top 10 on the tally, further distancing herself from Maroon 5, second with 27, and P!nk (20).

All charts dated Jan. 27 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, Jan. 23.

Best of Billboard