Never mind 15 minutes of fame. How about four or more decades?
An elite 13 artists have achieved top 10 placements on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart in four or more decades, led by Michael Jackson, with top 10 ranks in six decades. Andy Williams follows with appearances in the top 10 in five decades, while 11 other acts have reached the region in four decades each.
With Jackson’s “Thriller” (originally a No. 4 hit in 1984) surging 32-10 on the Nov. 15, 2025-dated Hot 100, the late King of Pop became the first artist ever to rank in the top 10 in six distinct decades (the 1970s, ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s, ‘10s and now ‘20s). He surpassed Andy Williams, who died in 2012 and whose history includes placements in the top 10 in five decades (‘50s, ’60s, ’70s, ‘10s and ’20s, extended since 2018 thanks to “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”).
Jackson first reached the Hot 100’s top 10 as a soloist in November 1971 with his debut on his own, “Got To Be There.” Jackson boasts 30 top 10s, including 13 No. 1s. Until the resurgence of “Thriller,” Jackson, who died in 2009, last ranked in the top 10 as featured on Drake’s “Don’t Matter to Me” in 2018. (Notably, with Jackson, then just 11 years old, as a member, the Jackson 5 spent their first week in the Hot 100’s top 10 on the last chart of the ‘60s, dated Dec. 27, 1969, with their breakthrough hit, “I Want You Back.”)
Six acts have added a fourth distinct decade of appearing in the Hot 100’s top 10 in the ’20s (in addition to Williams’ haul stretching to a fifth decade): Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, Elton John, Snoop Dogg, Britney Spears and, most recently, The Beatles, whose aptly titled “Now and Then,” upon its No. 7 debut on the Nov. 18, 2023, chart, enhanced their résumé to top 10s in the ’60s, ’70s, ’90s and ’20s.
Notably, Cher inaugurated the honor, when “Just Like Jesse James” held at its No. 8 Hot 100 high on the chart dated Jan. 6, 1990, earning the iconic entertainer top 10s in the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.
With acts encompassing every decade of the Hot 100’s existence, dating to the chart’s start in August 1958, here’s a look at each enduring artist that has ranked in the top 10 in four or more distinct decades.