The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, who amassed 13 No. 1 Hot 100 singles during his career, has now added another historic Billboard milestone to his legendary resume. With a track from 'Xscape' finding its way onto the charts, Jackson's reign over pop culture shows no signs of fading. And following the release of Michael in April, it seems fans appear to be revisiting the singer's catalogue in full force.

'Chicago', which debuted at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 6, 2026, has officially made Jackson the first and only artist to earn a new Hot 100 hit across six consecutive decades. The song originally began life as 'She Was Lovin' Me' during the recording sessions for Invincible before later finding a place on Jackson's posthumous album 'Xscape'. However, it was the box-office success of Michael that reignited global interest in the singer's catalogue, triggering a remarkable 146% surge in worldwide listening activity.

The attention translated into more than 10.7 million U.S. streams in a single week, fueling a 30% jump. Interestingly, the song wasn't featured on the film's official soundtrack and instead exploded independently through a viral TikTok trend.

Jackson first entered the Hot 100 as a solo artist in the 1970s with 'Got to Be There', before dominating the 1980s through blockbuster albums such as 'Thriller and Bad', powered by hits like 'Billie Jean', 'Beat It', and 'Man in the Mirror'. He continued his chart success through the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s with era-defining tracks including 'Black or White', 'Remember the Time', 'You Rock My World', and 'Love Never Felt So Good'.

Meanwhile, chart records aren't the only thing soaring, as Jackson's biopic continues its box-office domination.

Michael continues its record-breaking run

Directed by Antoine Fuqua and led by Jaafar Jackson in the title role, Michael has emerged as one of the biggest cinematic success stories of the year. The biographical drama stormed into theatres with a staggering $217.4 million global opening weekend, surpassing both Oppenheimer ($180 million) and Bohemian Rhapsody ($124 million) to secure the biggest opening ever for a biopic. Since then, the film has raced past $851 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing release of 2026 and one of the most successful biographical films ever produced.

The film's impact has stretched far beyond cinemas. Alongside its box-office success, Michael triggered a massive resurgence across Jackson's catalogue, with streams for The Jackson 5 jumping from 4.3 million to 10.1 million per week, while The Jacksons saw their weekly numbers more than double from 2.1 million to 4.9 million. With nearly 60% of its revenue coming from international markets, the film is now tracking toward the $1 billion mark.

Thus, even more than a decade after his passing, Michael Jackson continues to rewrite the record books and remind the world why his legacy remains untouchable.

What are your thoughts on Michael Jackson becoming the first artist to earn a new Hot 100 hit across six consecutive decades? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Lisa Roy

Edited by

Aliza Siddiqui