Having a song become a No. 1 hit is a huge accomplishment at any age. But, amazingly, some singers manage this achievement while they’re still teenagers. It’s rare and difficult to have the talent and opportunity to do this at such a young age, so it’s no wonder that the feat makes the young artists even bigger sensations when it happens. Here are five artists who scored a No. 1 hit well before their 20th birthdays.
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1. Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish’s career has been more than just impressive; it’s been history in the making. Her song “Bad Guy,” released in 2019, went to No. 1, making her the first artist born in the 21st century to score a No. 1 hit. Eilish was only 17 at the time. While incredibly impressive right out of the gate, it was just the first of many accomplishments. Eilish won seven Grammy Awards and broke two Guinness World Records for her following work, all before hitting 22. Talent runs in the family—Eilish’s brother and songwriting and production partner, Finneas O’Connell, was only 23 when he and Eilish conquered the Grammys together.
2. Lorde
In 2013, New Zealand singer Lorde dominated the charts with her single “Royals.” At the time, she was only 16 years old. Although her producers were hesitant about the possibility of widespread success for her debut, “Royals” was a worldwide hit that earned her two Grammy Awards. Though her subsequent work hasn’t had quite the same level of popularity, she remains an incredibly successful singer and songwriter after her career exploded before she even finished school.
3. Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder is undoubtedly one of the most famous musicians in the world. His impressive career kicked off when “Little Stevie Wonder,” as he was first known, was only 13 years old. The song “Fingertips” went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963 when he was that age—making him, still, the youngest ever to do it (as of this writing).
Wonder had recorded the song the year before. when he was only 12 (and he signed his first record deal at age 11). Wonder’s career has only grown since his debut, particularly during the age of electronic music, which he helped pioneer throughout the 1970s. But his talent was already evident while he was still a pre-teen, promising great things ahead for him.
4. Britney Spears
Britney Spears was one of the earliest late-’90s teen pop idols, rising to prominence when she was only 15. Her first two albums, both released before her 20th birthday, made her the most successful teen musician in history. 1999 brought her debut, …Baby One More Time, a bubblegum pop album that crafted Spears’ image as a wholesome teenage girl-next-door type. The record was a global success, with the title song climbing to No. 1 and making her a chart-topper at age 17. “…Baby One More Time” became one of the most successful singles ever released, making Spears’ future as a pop diva, for better or (much) worse, inevitable.
5. LeAnn Rimes
Country singer LeAnn Rimes became a worldwide sensation in 1997, becoming the youngest solo artist to win a Grammy Award. In fact, Rimes won two Grammys that year, both for her smash No. 1 single “Blue.” At the time, she was only 14 years old. These amazing achievements signaled great things to come for Rimes’ career, including another massive hit, “How Do I Live.” She recorded it the same year she won those first Grammys, and it spent a mind-boggling 69 weeks on the charts, breaking records for the time.
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