Oldest Acts on CHR

[johnm1120]

Inspired partly by the thread in YOP.

For the chart ending 5/12/13, Mariah Carey & Jennifer Lopez both reached the top 40 at the age of 43. JLo rises on the list, while Mariah makes her debut.

For this list, I am only including acts who hit the CHR chart after the age of 40 and citing their most recent hit.


69: Benny Bell (Shaving Cream)
63: James Newton Howard (The Hanging Tree)
63: Steven Tyler (Feels So Good)
60: Frankie Valli (December 1963 '94)^
60: Tina Turner (When the Heartache is Over)
60: Santana (Into the Night)

56: Madonna (Living For Love)
56: Cher (Song For The Lonely)
55: Ringo Starr [The Beatles] (Free As a Bird)
55: Prince (Fallinlove2nite)
54: Barbra Streisand (I Finally Found Someone)
54: Mick Jagger* [The Rolling Stones] (Anybody Seen My Baby)
54: Christine McVie [Fleetwood Mac] (Silver Springs)
53: Chaka Kahn (Missing You)
53: Eric Clapton (My Father's Eyes)
53: Rod Stewart (Ooh La La)
53: Paul McCartney [The Beatles] (Free As a Bird)*
52: George Harrison [The Beatles] (Free As a Bird)
52: Roberta Flack (Set the Night to Music)
52: James Brown (Living In America)
52: Gladys Knight (Missing You)
52: Aaron Neville (Don't Take Away My Heaven)
51: David Crosby (Hero)
51: Elton John (Recover Your Soul)
50: Bill Medley [Righteous Brothers] (Unchained Melody)^
50: Barry Gibb [The Bee Gees] (Alone)

49: Michael Jackson** (Wanna Be Starting Somethin' '08)
49: Sting (Desert Rose)
49: Stevie Nicks [Fleetwood Mac] (Silver Springs)
48: Phil Collins (You'll Be In My Heart)
48: Peter Cetera* (Feels Like Heaven)
48: Ben E. King (Stand By Me)^
48: Eddie Money (After This Love Is Gone)
48: Meat Loaf (I'd Lie For You)
48: Olivia Newton-John (Grease Megamix)
48: Steve Perry [Journey] (If He Should Ever Break Your Heart)
48: Lindsay Buckingham [Fleetwood Mac] (Silver Srings)
47: Aretha Franklin (Through the Storm)
47: David Sanborn (Bang Bang)
47: Al Jarreau (Moonlighting)
47: Grace Slick [Starship]# (It's Not Over Til It's Over)
47: Don Henley [The Eagles] (Learn to Be Still)
47: Sammy Hagar [Van Halen] (Not Enough)
47: Bruce Springsteen (Secret Garden)
47: Maurice & Robin Gibb [The Bee Gees] (Alone)
47: David Guetta (Dangerous)
47: Shaggy )Only Love)
46: Dionne Warwick (Love Power)
46: Bonnie Raitt (Rock Steady)
46: Lionel Richie (Don't Wanna Lose You)
46: Kate Pierson [The B-52s] (Meet The Flintstones)
46: Dr. Dre (I Need A Doctor)
46: Gwen Stefani (Used To Love You)
45: Bette Midler (From A Distance)
45: Tom Petty (Walls)
45: Bono [U2] (Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own)
45: Tiesto (Red Lights)
45: Jennifer Lopez (First Love)
44: Mickey Gilley (Stand By Me)
44: Lou Gramm [Foreigner] (Until The End of Time)
44: Billy Joel (All About Soul)
44: James Horner (Southhampton)
44: Jon Bon Jovi [Bon Jovi] (Who Says You Can't Go Home)
44: Mariah Carey (You're Mine)
43: Linda Ronstadt (All My Life)
43: Ann Wilson [Heart] (Will You Be There)
43: Kenny G. (Auld Lang Syne 'Millennium Mix')
43: Pat Monahan [Train] (50 Ways To Say Goodbye)
43: A.R. Rahman (Jai Ho)
43: Ozzy Osbourne (Mama I'm Coming Home)
43: Iggy Pop (Candy)
43: Sergio Mendes (Alibis)
43: Peter Gabriel (Steam)
43: Jay-Z (Holy Grail)
42: Johnnie Taylor (Disco Lady)
42: Charlie Rich (Everytime You Touch Me)
42: Sheryl Crow (The First Cut Is The Deepest)
42: Michael Bolton (Can I Touch You... There)
42: Gloria Estefan (Music of My Heart)
42: Gavin Rossdale (Love Remains The Same)
42: Peabo Bryson (By The Time This Night Is Over)
42: Robert Palmer (Mercy Mercy Me)
42: John Travolta (Grease Megamix)
42: Idina Menzel (Let It Go)
41: Englebert Humperdink (After the Lovin')
41: Joe Tex (Ain't Gonna Bump No More)
41: Alice Cooper (Poison)
41: Glen Campbell (Southern Nights)
41: Shawn Colvin (You And The Mona Lisa)
41: Loreena McKennitt (The Mummers' Dance)
41: Janet Jackson (Feedback)
41: Natalie Cole (Unforgettable)
41: Diddy (Coming Home)
41: Elvis Presley** (The Hurt)
41: Carly Simon* (Coming Around Again)
41: Diana Ross (Missing You)
41: Eminem (Headlights)
40: Eddie Rabbitt (Someone Could Lose A Heart Tonight)
40: Delbert McClinton (Giving It Up For Love)
40: Donna Summer (This Time I Know It's For Real)
40: Enya* (Only Time)
40: Timbaland (Pass at Me)
40: Bob Carlisle (Butterfly Kisses)
40: John Lennon** (Just Like Starting Over)
40: Annie Lennox (No More "I Love You's")
40: Kenny Loggins (Nobody's Fool)
40: R. Kelly* (I'm A Flirt)
40: Pharrell (Come Get It Bae)
40: Nelly (The Fix)

* Mick Jagger featured on will.i.am's hit "T.H.E." and was 68 at the time.
* Carly Simon was featured on Janet Jackson's hit "Son of a Gun" and was 56 at the time.
* Peter Cetera featured on Az Yet's hit "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" and was 53 at the time.
* Enya was featured on Mario Winans' 2004 hit "I Don't Wanna Know" and was 43 at the time.
* Paul McCartney featured on Rihanna's FourFiveSeconds at the age of 71.
* R. Kelly was featured on Lady Gaga's "Do What U Want" at the age of 47.

** Michael Jackson charted posthumously and would have been 55 at the time "Love Never Felt So Good" charted
** Elvis Presley charted posthumously in 2002 with a remix of "A Little Less Conversation." He would have been 67 at the time.
** John Lennon charted posthumously 4 times. He would have been 43 at the time "Nobody Told Me" charted, and would have been 55 when "Free As a Bird" charted.

# Grace Slick left Starship in 1988 before their final CHR hit "It's Not Enough." She was 49 when the song charted.

^ The Four Seasons' "December 1963" was re-released in 1994 when a new mix reached #7 on the chart.
^ The Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody" was re-released in 1990 and reached #3 after being used in the film "Ghost."
^ Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" was re-released in 1986 and hit the top 20 when the song was used in the film "Stand By Me."


Other notes:

Nat King Cole's version of "Unforgettable" was mixed as a duet with daughter Natalie in 1991. He would have been 72 at the time. He died in 1965 at the age of 45, pre-dating this chart.

Tammy Wynette was a featured vocalist on The KLF's 1992 hit "Justified & Ancient. She was 49 at the time. Unfortunately as a lead artist, she did not reach the Pop chart.

Freddie Mercury charted posthumously when Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" was re-released in 1992 and reached #2 after being used in the movie "Wayne's World." Mercury would have been 45 at the time. He was 38 when Queen last charted with "Radio Ga-Ga" in 1984 making him ineligible for this list.

Stevie Wonder was featured on 98 Degrees' hit "True to Your Heart" and was 48 at the time. His last appearance on the chart as the lead artist was "Skeletons" when he was 37.

Dobie Gray was featured on Uncle Kracker's 2003 hit "Drift Away," a cover of Gray's song. Gray's version pre-dated the CHR/Pop chart. Gray was 63 at the time.

Wanz was featured on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' #1 hit "Thrift Shop." He was 51 at the time. He has not reached the chart as a lead artist currently.

Etta James' vocals from her 1962 single "Something's Got A Hold On Me" were sampled in Avicii's "Levels" and Flo Rida's "Good Feeling." She was 73 at the time. She died while both songs were still charting. She however never saw a CHR/Pop hit other than these samples since the chart's 1973 debut.

Snoop Dogg featured on Prince Royce's "Stuck On a Feeling" at the age of 43. As a lead artist, he last charted at age 38.

(I'll make this look a little more pretty later)

[Cerebro]

May 23, 2013 15:39:51 GMT -5 johnm1120 said:

60: Frankie Valli (December 1963 '94)

This one shouldn't really count. This wasn't a new recording, but, rather, a remix of a hit from 1976 (though Valli was over 40 when the original charted).

Frank Sinatra would be a, notable, addition to the list. He last hit the top 40 in 1980 at the age of 64 with "Theme From New York, New York".

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

Yeah, if you include Frankie Valli, you'd have to include the Beatles too since they charted in early 1996.

[Cerebro]

If you're counting featured credits, two more come to mind. 63 year old Dobie Gray performed on Uncle Kracker's 2003 remake of his hit "Drift Away". Mick Jagger, at age 68, was featured on Will.I.Am's "T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)" in 2011.

[spoonabdul3]

Thanks for the list
I was more wondering if there has ever been a time when 5+ older acts have been in the chr top 10 at one time. Bc we have seven songs with big bullets all featuring older (35-45) artists; Mariah Carey, Robin Thicke, Pharrell, Jennifer Lopez, Adam Levine, Nelly, Will I Am and Daft Punk

[SPRΞΞ]

Wouldn't the record go to Louie Armstrong for "What a Wonderful World"?

[johnm1120]

May 23, 2013 21:13:34 GMT -5 SPRΞΞ said:

Wouldn't the record go to Louie Armstrong for "What a Wonderful World"?

This list is specifying the CHR/Pop Chart which began in 1973. WAWW charted in 1967.

[johnm1120]

May 23, 2013 15:54:20 GMT -5 Cerebro said:

Frank Sinatra would be a, notable, addition to the list. He last hit the top 40 in 1980 at the age of 64 with "Theme From New York, New York".

Sadly, while NYNY got to #32 on the Hot 100, it missed the pop chart. :(

[johnm1120]

May 23, 2013 15:59:12 GMT -5 Rose "Payola" Nylund said:

Yeah, if you include Frankie Valli, you'd have to include the Beatles too since they charted in early 1996.

Added all of the Beatles since they all had solo hits.

[johnm1120]

May 23, 2013 16:10:14 GMT -5 Cerebro said:

If you're counting featured credits, two more come to mind. 63 year old Dobie Gray performed on Uncle Kracker's 2003 remake of his hit "Drift Away". Mick Jagger, at age 68, was featured on Will.I.Am's "T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)" in 2011.

I added Mick jagger with an * since he was 54 when The Rolling Stones charted, however Dobie Gray's hit was pre-CHR and he was also under 40 at the time, so I did not include him.

[SPRΞΞ]

May 23, 2013 21:40:11 GMT -5 johnm1120 said:

May 23, 2013 21:13:34 GMT -5 SPRΞΞ said:

Wouldn't the record go to Louie Armstrong for "What a Wonderful World"?

This list is specifying the CHR/Pop Chart which began in 1973. WAWW charted in 1967.

It doesn't matter, cuz we all know that song. He holds the record regardless.

it's like saying AIWFCIY is the biggest Xmas song of all-time, but in reality, it's really Bing Crosby's "White Christmas." We've all heard it. It's not like i'm saying some unknown song.

[Deleted]

I read that the guy on Thrift Shop is also above 40.

[Cerebro]

May 23, 2013 21:42:32 GMT -5 johnm1120 said:

May 23, 2013 15:54:20 GMT -5 Cerebro said:

Frank Sinatra would be a, notable, addition to the list. He last hit the top 40 in 1980 at the age of 64 with "Theme From New York, New York".

Sadly, while NYNY got to #32 on the Hot 100, it missed the pop chart. :(

True. Though bear in mind that the R&R pop chart was only 30 positions deep from late 1976 to 1983. Had it been a top 40, then, NYNY probably would have made it. The Hot 100 and the R&R pop chart were pretty similar until the end of 1991.

[pnobelysk]

May 23, 2013 22:42:30 GMT -5 Codex said:

I read that the guy on Thrift Shop is also above 40.

He's actually 50 or 51

[Deleted]

Dr. Dre was 46 when "I Need A Doctor" peaked at #20 on CHR (along with Eminem and Skylar Grey).

[SPRΞΞ]

You should put the peak behind these singles cuz wasn't Eric Clapton's " My Father's Eyes" a huge hit?!?! He was 53!

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

It hit #17 or something like that but didn't have much longevity. Change The World from a few years before that was much bigger, hitting #2.

[spoonabdul3]

i dont think people are understanding my question.
there are 8 songs with big bullets on CHR now featuring acts over the age of 35. im wondering if these songs were to all hit the top 10 at the same time, has there ever been another time where so many "older" acts occupied the chr top 10?

[onefrayedrepublic]

Pass At Me was the only good song of the bunch. Apparently an age limit is a good idea for CHR.

[HolidayGuy]

Yah, I think lead credit is more significant here, than a "featuring" one. Also, would top 40 be more significant in this case? Tina Turner's single barely scraped the top 50. Not sure if any of the others missed top 40.

[johnm1120]

Edited to move Jay-Z up the ladder. He is now 43 and "Holy Grail" is charting.

[thisbeautifulmess]

The Eagles charted in 1995, so that will add some people.

Robert Palmer charted in 1991.

Meat Loaf charted in 1995.

Van Halen charted in 1995.

Bob Carlisle charted in 1997.

Bruce Springsteen charted in 1995.

B-52s charted in 1994.

Bee Gees charted in 1997.

Eddie Money charted in 1995.

Steve Perry charted in 1994.

Tom Petty charted in 1996.

Foreigner charted in 1995.

Apparently the 90s had alot of them.

[popbox]

Cher really needs to snatch Steven Tyler's busted weave here. Him holding this record just feels wrong.

[johnm1120]

Updated to add Eminem.

[Arnold]

I just thought I would mention that Walter Brennan was 67 years old when he reached number 5 on the Hot 100, with "Old Rivers", in 1962.

[neverduplicated]

Not sure how you're counting groups, but every member of No Doubt was over 40 when "Settle Down" went top 40 in 2012. The youngest of the bunch was Tony, 42, and the oldest was Tom, 44.

Also, Mariah might have been 44 as her birth year has been disputed.

[Lahey's Lucky Star]

Jan 13, 2014 13:52:39 GMT -5 neverduplicated said:

Not sure how you're counting groups, but every member of No Doubt was over 40 when "Settle Down" went top 40 in 2012. The youngest of the bunch was Tony, 42, and the oldest was Tom, 44.

Also, Mariah might have been 44 as her birth year has been disputed.

I say just count Gwen or something. She charted as a solo artist as well.

[Deleted]

Christine McVie was 46 when Fleetwood Mac's "Save Me" went Top 40 (and she sang lead on it). In her solo career, she was 40 when both of her solo hits went Top 40 ("Got A Hold On Me" and then "Love Will Show Us How").

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2014 15:31:29 GMT -5 Libra said:

Old one, but:

May 23, 2013 21:40:11 GMT -5 johnm1120 said:

This list is specifying the CHR/Pop Chart which began in 1973. WAWW charted in 1967.

It also scraped the chart in 1988 (reaching #37); basically it's the same idea as with Ben E. King, who's listed.

Posthumous hits are always exceptions in my book, especially when putting together a list like this. It's not like Ben E. King really had a hit at 48 years old (different because he was alive, but similar because it wasn't actually a hit at the age listed). He recorded that song when he was much, much younger. The recording just happened to become a hit a second time. Similarly, if credited, would Etta James have been considered a 73 year old having a CHR/Pop hit in 2012, when you consider the vocals were from a hit she had in her 20s? The recording isn't of a 73 year old. I look at it similarly to how I look at including Michael Jackson for a hit that came out a year after he died (which this list doesn't). It's not exactly the same as someone who is actually 52 having a hit.

[BadRomance]

I thought Mick Jagger was the oldest since T.H.E. charted in 2011 he was 68 at that time.