Michael Jackson Denied A New No. 1 By Yet Another Superstar

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentMichael Jackson Denied A New No. 1 By Yet Another SuperstarByHugh McIntyre,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts.Follow AuthorJun 12, 2026, 09:15am EDTSeveral singles from names like Drake, Bruno Mars and even Rob Base, have all kept Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" from hitting No. 1 on one Billboard chart. VARIOUS, VARIOUS - JUNE 25: Michael Jackson performs in concert circa 1983. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)WireImageThroughout much of the spring of 2026, Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" has ranked as not only one of his biggest hits, or even one of the most successful R&B tunes in America, but one of the most-consumed songs, period. The decades-old smash has reached new heights and conquered various tallies since Jackson's semi-self-titled biopic Michael became a box office smash. There is one roster, however, where "Billie Jean" has yet to dominate, though it has come frustratingly close to doing so during multiple weeks. Once again, "Billie Jean" is denied the summit on a sales ranking once more as one champion backtracks and another blocks the King of Pop from a new ruler."Billie Jean" Misses No. 1 AgainOn this week's R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart, which ranks the top-selling tracks classified by Billboard as hip-hop, R&B or rap, "Billie Jean" climbs from No. 4 to No. 2. The Thriller single originally reached second place – which continues to stand as its all-time high – less than a month ago, on the chart dated May 23. Since then, several bestsellers have stood in the way of the beloved powerhouse doubling his total number of winners.Bruno Mars Blocks "Billie Jean" From Finally Hitting No. 1This time around, Bruno Mars returns to the throne with "I Just Might," the lead single from his recentl...