Oldest Artists to chart at AC

[jdanton2]

Cher reached #1 at AC this week at 77 years old which made me wonder if she was the oldest to do it and it looks like she is. Elton John in a collab with Ed Sheeran had the previous record two years ago with a Christmas song as well.third place also belongs to a Christmas song which was the previous record before that.Billboard started their AC chart in 1961 and there are a few others i found of artists over 60 .there is Louis Armstrong who had the Hot 100 record ,there a remake of a song that was popular in 1973 and became a a hit again with the original singer as a feature . also a singer that became popular in the 1940's and managed to have a #1 song in 1973. i also listed Tina Turner who was 53 . she had previously had a Hot 100 #1 at 44 but got an AC #1 nine years later. there might be others i am missing .if i get time i might add to the list or anyone else is free to add to this thread.

DJ Play a Christmas Song- Cher 77 years old 2023
Merry Christmas - Ed Sheeran and Elton John 74 years old 2022
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!- Rod Stewart 67 years old 2012
Hello Dolly - Louis Armstrong 63 years old 1964
Drift Away -Uncle Kracker featuring Dobie Gray 63 years old 2004
And I Love You So -Perry Como 61 years old 1973
I Don't Wanna Fight- Tina Turner 53 years old 1993

[johnm1120]

From the 90s-2023 that weren't listed yet:

60 Daryl Hall & 58 John Oates - It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
58 Ron Isley (w/Rod Stewart) - This Old Heart of Mine
56 Daryl Hall & 54 John Oates - Do it For Love
55 Santana (w/Michelle Branch) - The Game of Love
53 Don Henley - Taking You Home
52 Seal - This Christmas
51 Eric Clapton - Change the World
51 Phil Collins - Can't Stop Loving You
50 Huey Lewis (w/Gwyneth Paltrow) - Cruisin'
50 Elton John - Something About the Way You Look Tonight
50 Bill Champlin (Chicago) - Here in My Heart
50 Righteous Brothers (Bill Medley & Bobby Hatfield) - Unchained Melody
49 Kenny Loggins - For the First Time
49 Aaron Neville (w/Linda Ronstadt) - All My Life
48 Peter Cetera - Restless Heart

[dawhite76]

Who is the oldest artist to appear on the AC chart at any position, not just #1? Did Barry Manilow claim the honor by charting with his version of "All I Want For Christmas Is You?"

[jdanton2]

Dec 4, 2023 17:22:39 GMT -5 dawhite76 said:

Who is the oldest artist to appear on the AC chart at any position, not just #1? Did Barry Manilow claim the honor by charting with his version of "All I Want For Christmas Is You?"

Barry Manilow is 80 but he is tied with at least one artist. Tony Bennett reached the AC chart in 2006 when he was 80 in a collab with Michael Buble with the song Just In Time which reached #22.


edit


Louis Armstrong would have been 98 years old when he hit the AC chart in 1999 with a version of his song What A Wonderful World with Kenny G.. however he died in 1971 so he would not count.

[balletgirlmom]

For Cher to hit #1 with a NEW and SOLO song not "feat" a younger performer, or a duet with someone hot like Dua, or anyone who can chart easily, is amazing.  She is doing a new Pop album in 2024, so I bet she does it again and charts again on AC and maybe CHR again at age 78.  Cher began charting on the Hot 100, Bubbling Under charts in 1964 and 1965 but not on AC until 1971.  She has her #1 in 2023 and knowing her, she will do it again at some point.  

[jdanton2]

Billy Joel debuts at #9 on his first day with his new single Turn The Lights Back On . he is 74 years old .

[jdanton2]

update on some of the older artists on the AC charts.

Daryl Hall who is currently #24 with The Whole World's Better is 78.
Village People lead singer Victor Willis who is at #34 with their song Goddess Of Love is 73.
Jim Brickman who is at #41 with My Dream is 63 . the song is a duet with Olivia Newton John who died in 2022. she would be 76 if she was still alive.

[jdanton2]

update from Mediabase . Dean Martin was born in 1917 and died in 1995 at 78 years old . in 2024 he is now charting at AC with a cover of a Christmas song that has charted before by other artists .

AC
0 26 DEAN MARTIN It's Beginning To Look A Lot.. 46 0 46 0.366


edit

looks like the last time he charted at AC was in 2006 .

"Baby, It's Cold Outside" (with Martina McBride) which peaked at #7 .

[johnm1120]

Michael W Smith is currently charting as a featured artist. He's 67.

Last year Jan Daley charted at age 75 with "The Way of a Woman."

[KeepDeanWeird]

Nov 11, 2024 10:03:45 GMT -5 jdanton2 said:

update from Mediabase . Dean Martin was born in 1917 and died in 1995 at 78 years old . in 2024 he is now charting at AC with a cover of a Christmas song that has charted before by other artists .

AC
0 26 DEAN MARTIN It's Beginning To Look A Lot.. 46 0 46 0.366


edit

looks like the last time he charted at AC was in 2006 .

"Baby, It's Cold Outside" (with Martina McBride) which peaked at #7 .

Why is this being allowed to chart? Is it a recently discovered or remixed version of the 1950’s version that’s been on streaming, YT and radio years. The YT video was uploaded 9 years ago.

What am I missing here?

[Rose-Colored Girl]

Nov 12, 2024 20:06:48 GMT -5 KeepDeanWeird said:

Why is this being allowed to chart? Is it a recently discovered or remixed version of the 1950’s version that’s been on streaming, YT and radio years. The YT video was uploaded 9 years ago.

What am I missing here?

It appears that it's a remastered stereo version released for the first time. (A quick Google search brought up this Instagram announcement and a new YouTube video). My guess would be that it's being treated similarly to Taylor Swift's re-records.

[johnm1120]

(Dean's Version) (From The Vault)

[balletgirlmom]

So, I guess AC songs have to be new ones, right? It makes sense sine all 30 slots would just be the old songs by Bing, Dean, Elvis, Brenda and all those old songs.  I did not realize this.  An artist can chart a Christmas song in its first year that it makes it on the AC, but it is ineligible in another year, right?    If that is the case, I love that rule.   It gives NEW songs a chance.

On the Hot 100, new Christmas songs struggle to even get on the Hot 100 because the chart is clogged with old Christmas songs.  Most of those songs are by artists who died long ago or are no longer active (like Brenda Lee).  The only artist who really pushes a song is Mariah and it is like THAT song IS her career.  Now I understand how the AC chart works.  Based on this, Dean Martin's song is considered new this year, so will chart but is ineligible next year.  Great rule!  I like seeing new artists get a chance.  By new, I do not mean young or an artist with a new career, I just mean new songs to the chart.  If Dean's is a new version, great!

[johnm1120]

Johnny Mathis got to #4 with Jim Brickman in 2013. He was 78 at the time.

[johnm1120]

Joey McIntyre scores his first solo AC hit this week at age 51.

[goodcatch]

Everyone seems to forget that George Burns charted in 1980 with I Wish I Was Eighteen Again. It peaked at #25 on the AC chart, and he was 84 years old at the time.

[jdanton2]

Dec 7, 2024 13:37:01 GMT -5 goodcatch said:

Everyone seems to forget that George Burns charted in 1980 with I Wish I Was Eighteen Again. It peaked at #25 on the AC chart, and he was 84 years old at the time.

looks like that is the record for a living person at the time.

[johnm1120]

Dec 7, 2024 13:37:01 GMT -5 goodcatch said:

Everyone seems to forget that George Burns charted in 1980 with I Wish I Was Eighteen Again. It peaked at #25 on the AC chart, and he was 84 years old at the time.

Even the big George Burns fan in me didn't realize this charted on AC. I knew it charted on the Hot 100 and on Country.

[balletgirlmom]

Go George!!!!!

[jdanton2]

don't think it has been mentioned . Lenny Kravitz who made a recent comeback is 60 years old.

AC
46 42 LENNY KRAVITZ Honey 29 17 12 0.03

[balletgirlmom]

Madonna must be up there to.  Does anyone know Madonna's last time at AC?  While she would not be the oldest, she must be way up there.

[jdanton2]

Dec 28, 2024 16:30:41 GMT -5 balletgirlmom said:

Madonna must be up there to.  Does anyone know Madonna's last time at AC?  While she would not be the oldest, she must be way up there.

in 2019 she reached #11 with Crave on the Billboard AC chart. she would have been 61 years old.

[balletgirlmom]

Thanks for the info.  I knew she had to be up there somewhere. Both Cher and Madonna have new albums in 2025 so maybe they will chart again in 2025.

[jdanton2]

Carlos Vives who is a feature on this is 63 years old. Luis Fonsi a bit younger at 46 years old.

AC
-- 50 LUIS FONSI Santa Marta f/Carlos Vives 9 0 9 0.030

[jdanton2]

the Fire Aid concert have bought some older artists on to the AC chart.Graham Nash is 83 , Stephen Stills is 80 ,John Foerty is 79,Mike Campbell is 75 and Dr Dre is 59

0 43 ANDERSON .PAAK & DR. DRE California Love 9 0 9 0.038
0 44 ANDERSON .PAAK & DR. DRE Still D.R.E. 9 0 9 0.038
0 46 STEPHEN STILLS/CAMPBELL/DAWES For What It's Worth 9 0 9 0.038
0 48 STEPHEN STILLS/NASH/CAMPBELL.. Teach Your Children 9 0 9 0.038
0 50 BLACK CROWES & JOHN FOGERTY Have You Ever Seen the Rain? 9 0 9 0.031

[jdanton2]

Elton John is back on the AC chart in a collab with Brandi Carlile.Elton is now 77 years old while Brandi is alot younger at 43.

AC
0 19 ELTON JOHN & BRANDI CARLILE Who Believes In Angels? 71 0 71 0.467

[jdanton2]

another couple of performance from Fire Aid bringing more older artist on the AC chart .both songs feature Stevie Wonder who is 74 and Sting who is 73. i am surprised they are both so close in age since Stevie predated Sting on the charts by over a decade . Stevie was only 13 when he debuted which is why they are so close in age.

AC
0 47 STEVIE WONDER & STING Higher Ground 8 0 8 0.007
0 49 STEVIE WONDER & STING Superstition 8 0 8 0.007

[jdanton2]

i will post this here since this seems sort of random and Natalie Cole would be quite old if she was alive.she died in 2015 at 65 and would be 75 now. she charted with this back in 1991 in a duet with her late father Nat King Cole who died in 1965 . their version peaked at #3 at AC.

AC
0 46 NATALIE COLE Unforgettable 5 0 5 0

[jdanton2]

Dec 7, 2024 13:37:01 GMT -5 goodcatch said:

Everyone seems to forget that George Burns charted in 1980 with I Wish I Was Eighteen Again. It peaked at #25 on the AC chart, and he was 84 years old at the time.

looks like we have a new record . 90 year old Pat Boone debuts today .

AC
0 38 PAT BOONE One  Voices For Tanzania 8 0 8 0.002

[Michael1973]

Mar 26, 2025 14:39:00 GMT -5 jdanton2 said:

looks like we have a new record . 90 year old Pat Boone debuts today .

AC
0 38 PAT BOONE One  Voices For Tanzania 8 0 8 0.002

I've been saying for years that the AC chart has become pointless. If songs can hit the top 40 from getting played *eight times* throughout the entire country, what does that tell you?