Michael Jackson Achieves Historic Record No Other Musician Has Ever Matched

Jun 11, 2026 by apost team

More than 15 years after his death, Michael Jackson is still making music history. The King of Pop has officially become the first and only artist to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in every decade since the 1970s, extending a streak that now spans six different decades.

The latest milestone comes thanks to “Chicago,” a track originally released on Jackson’s posthumous 2014 album “Xscape.” The song debuted at No. 30 on the June 6, 2026 Billboard Hot 100 chart, giving Jackson his first new chart entry of the 2020s. With the achievement, his Hot 100 history now stretches from the 1970s through the 2020s, something no other artist has accomplished.

What makes the feat even more remarkable is that “Chicago” was never considered one of Jackson’s signature hits. Unlike classics such as “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” or “Rock with You,” the song arrived years after his death and initially generated modest attention compared to other releases from “Xscape.” Yet over several weeks, interest in the track grew steadily.

According to Billboard, “Chicago” generated 10.7 million official on-demand streams in the United States during the period after its release, marking another significant jump in activity. The achievement also adds another entry to Jackson’s already staggering chart résumé. Since first appearing on the Hot 100 with “Got To Be There” in 1972, he has now accumulated 52 solo Hot 100 hits.

For many artists, chart success fades with time. For Jackson, however, new generations continue to discover music released decades ago, helping keep his catalog alive in ways few could have predicted.

While Jackson’s newest Billboard record is impressive on its own, the story behind “Chicago” may be even more remarkable. The song’s resurgence was not driven by a major anniversary campaign or a high-profile rerelease.

Instead, it found an entirely new audience through streaming platforms and social media, where younger listeners began sharing and rediscovering the track. Billboard reported that the song’s weekly streaming numbers climbed steadily, growing from 3.8 million streams in early May 2026 to more than 10 million streams by the end of the month.

The renewed attention also arrived during a period of heightened interest in Jackson’s catalog, as the “Michael” biopic, released in April 2026, continued to generate conversation worldwide. Interestingly, “Chicago” was not even featured in the film, making its sudden popularity even more unexpected. The song surpassed 388 million streams globally and sits alongside some of Jackson’s most celebrated recordings to make the Hot 100 chart.

“Chicago” ranks behind only “Billie Jean,” while also charting ahead of classics like “Human Nature” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.” The accomplishment followed another remarkable moment earlier in 2026 when six Jackson songs appeared on the Hot 100 simultaneously, including “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Human Nature,” “Rock with You,” “Dirty Diana,” and “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough.”

But perhaps the most extraordinary part of the story is not where “Chicago” landed on the chart. It is what that appearance represents. More than five decades after his first Billboard hit, Jackson has now officially charted songs in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s, making him the first and only artist ever to achieve the feat of charting across six consecutive decades.

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Are you still listening to Michael Jackson’s music today? Which of his songs do you think has stood the test of time better than any other? Let us know, and then pass this on to your family, friends, and other Jackson fans out there!