Billboard’s latest Ask Billboard column dug into the songs with the longest spans on the Hot 100, and the top spot belongs to Chuck Berry’s“Run Rudolph Run”at 67 years and 3 weeks. Yes, a holiday song from the fifties is the reigning champion of chart longevity. Holiday classics and patriotic anthems dominate the list, mostly because they return every single year like clockwork.
The other big story is Dolly Parton.“Jolene”returned to the Hot 100 and hit No. 16, a new peak for the song 52 years and 7 months after its 1974 debut, the longest ride to a peak for a non-holiday hit in chart history. The resurgence followed her passing, with tributes pouring in from fans and stars alike. Brenda Lee’s“Rockin’Around the Christmas Tree”also holds the record for the longest gap between chart appearances at 51 years, while songs from Jimmy Buffett and Michael Jackson re-entered after their own cultural moments.
The column wrapped with a fun reader question about musical commemorative dates, and the picks are hard to argue with: Earth, Wind&Fire’s“September”for Sept. 21 and Mariah Carey’s“All I Want for Christmas Is You”for Nov. 1. The more musical holidays, the merrier, right?
Which song do you think deserves its own official holiday? Tell us in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.