With songs from her passionately received Midnights album doing the trick, Taylor Swift has become the first artist in history to hold all 10 of the top slots on the Billboard Hot 100 in a single week. Drake held the previous record, locking in nine of the top ten singles when Certified Lover Boy was released in 2017.
Unholy by Sam Smith and Kim Petras, which held the top spot the previous week and left their own impressions on history, was replaced by Anti-Hero.
Smith and Petras became the first openly non-binary solo artist and the first openly transgender solo artist, respectively, to ascend to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 song chart.
On October 8, Unholy debuted at No. 3, spending two weeks there, then surpassed Steve Lacy’s Bad Habit on Monday. Both singers achieved their first No. 1 position on the Hot 100 thanks to the song; Smith’s Stay with Me peaked at No. 2 in 2014.
Also read: All songs in Taylor Swift’s Midnights album
Regarding her position at that time at No. 2 on the Hot 100 chart, Petras told Billboard, “I just really don’t want to be the last. There’s always been incredible and talented trans artists. “
She named transgender artist SOPHIE as someone she looked up to, as well as Amanda Lear and Ayesha Erotica. SOPHIE helped bring in a new age of electronic pop music.
“That same story just keeps repeating over and over for trans girls who have been making exceptional music and have been pushed under the rug while someone else takes credit from them,” Petras said. “I’m just happy that Sam gave me the chance to shine here. I hope I can help break the cycle — it feels like people are finally ready for us to succeed, and that fills me with a lot of joy.”
Also read: Taylor Swift on Midnights record-breaking 24 hours: How did I get this lucky?
Smith said they were “honestly speechless” and “extremely happy” by the success of their song.
“This song is so special to me for so many reasons and I am just so proud of everyone involved for their bravery and guts and spirit,” they wrote in an Instagram post. “I am so honored to get to work with such incredibly talented musicians and humans. And Kim… what magic you are. You are a treasure and an inspiration to so many.”
