Taylor Swift‘s track ‘Cruel Summer’ has clinched the coveted Number One spot on the Billboard Hot 100, a remarkable feat considering it was released four years ago as part of her 2019 album ‘Lover’. Co-written by Jack Antonoff and St. Vincent, this achievement marks Swift’s 10th chart-topping single, following her 2022 hit ‘Midnights’ and the extended 10-minute version of ‘All Too Well’ in 2021.
.@taylorswift13's "Cruel Summer" officially hits No. 1 on this week's #Hot100.
— billboard charts (@billboardcharts) October 23, 2023
It earns Swift her 10th career No. 1 hit, and first from her 2019 album 'Lover.'
Originally a beloved fan favorite from the ‘Lover’ album, ‘Cruel Summer’ remained relatively under the radar until this year. Its ascent to stardom began during Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’, where she showcased the track live for the first time. The song’s popularity soared on platforms like TikTok, where it became a soundtrack to millions of videos, breathing new life into its appeal. Furthermore, with additional mixes including a live version and a remix by LP Giobbi, ‘Cruel Summer’ witnessed a surge in streams and sales.
IT’S COOL 😎 pic.twitter.com/KcmNvBRR4Y
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) October 23, 2023
Swift and Antonoff, both elated by this unexpected triumph, expressed their gratitude on X (formerly known as Twitter). Antonoff reminisced, “Our favorite song from ‘Lover’, from five years ago. This song that we said was the best, but we thought, ‘You know what, this will be our secret best song’.” Swift chimed in, “We just wanted to say thank you so much for making ‘Cruel Summer’ a Hot 100 Number One, and it’s not even the summer anymore. It’s deep fall, I’m wearing a sweater. We love you guys.”
Swift now stands proudly alongside iconic names like The Beatles (20), Mariah Carey (19), and Rihanna (14), cementing her status as one of the industry’s enduring chart dominators.
