Honestly, if you try to map out the career of Cher, you're going to get a headache. It's not just the sheer length of it—which is basically a geological era at this point—but the way she manages to die and be reborn every few years. Most artists get one "era" if they're lucky. Cher has had about nine. And yet, when people talk about Cher number 1 hits, there is a weird amount of confusion.
You've probably heard that she has topped the charts in every decade since the 1960s. That’s true, but there’s a catch. If we're talking about the big one—the Billboard Hot 100—the list is actually shorter than you might think. But if we look at the "Billboard charts" as a whole (Dance, Adult Contemporary, etc.), she’s basically the final boss of the music industry.
Let's get into what really happened on the charts and why some of her biggest songs weren't actually number ones.
The Solo Hot 100 Peaks: Only Four?
Believe it or not, Cher has only had four solo songs hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Just four. When you consider she’s been a household name since the LBJ administration, that feels... wrong. But it’s the truth.
- Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves (1971)
- Half-Breed (1973)
- Dark Lady (1974)
- Believe (1999)
Wait. You're probably thinking, "What about 'If I Could Turn Back Time'?" Nope. Peaked at number 3. What about "I Found Someone"? Number 10. Even "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)," which was a massive global smash, only hit number 33 in the States, though it was number 1 in the UK for weeks.
The 1970s were really her golden era for solo chart dominance. She was working with producer Snuff Garrett, and they leaned hard into these "story songs." They were theatrical, a bit dark, and perfectly suited for her deep contralto. "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" was a massive pivot. Before that, she was mostly seen as the "Sonny & Cher" girl. Suddenly, she was a solo powerhouse.
The "Believe" Miracle and the 25-Year Gap
Between "Dark Lady" in 1974 and "Believe" in 1999, Cher didn't have a single number 1 hit on the Hot 100.
Think about that. Twenty-five years.
Most artists are long forgotten after twenty-five minutes. But in 1998, at the age of 52, she dropped a song that changed the literal sound of music. We talk about Auto-Tune now like it’s air, but back then, that "wobble" in her voice on "Believe" was revolutionary. Or annoying, depending on who you asked in 1999.
It stayed at number 1 for four weeks. It also made her the oldest female artist to ever top the Hot 100, a record she held for a long time until the holiday charts started behaving like the Wild West.
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The Six-Decade (and now Seven) Streak
If you want to understand why Cher is a legend, you have to look past the Hot 100. In late 2023, she released "DJ Play a Christmas Song." It didn't top the Hot 100 (it’s hard to beat Mariah’s annual takeover), but it hit number 1 on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart.
This was the "mic drop" moment. By hitting number 1 on any Billboard chart in the 2020s, she became the first solo artist to have a number 1 hit in seven consecutive decades.
1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s.
The Rolling Stones have done it too, but they’re a band. As a solo woman, Cher is in a room by herself.
Breaking Down the Genre Hits
Since the 2000s, Cher has largely dominated the Dance Club Songs chart. "Song for the Lonely" (2002), "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" (2010), and "Woman's World" (2013) all went to the top of the dance charts. It’s a testament to her longevity in the LGBTQ+ community and the club scene. She knows where her audience is. She doesn't need to chase TikTok trends; she just needs a solid beat and that unmistakable voice.
What Most People Get Wrong
There's a common misconception that "I Got You Babe" is a Cher solo hit. It's not. It was Sonny & Cher, 1965. It’s her first number 1, but it belongs to the duo.
Another weird one: "After All," the duet with Peter Cetera from the movie Chances Are. It’s a wedding staple. It reached number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1989, but on the main Hot 100? It stopped at number 6.
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Why Cher Still Matters in 2026
Cher’s chart history is a lesson in resilience. She was "over" in the late 60s. She was "over" in the early 80s. She was "over" before Believe.
Her career isn't a straight line; it’s a series of peaks and valleys that would kill a lesser performer. She’s honest about it, too. She has famously said she’s not a "Cher fan," and she’s often critical of her own work. But the charts don't lie. Whether it's the folk-rock of the 60s, the campy storytelling of the 70s, the rock-belting of the 80s, or the dance-pop of the 90s and beyond, she finds a way to the top.
Actionable Insight: How to Listen to the Evolution
If you want to actually hear how she conquered seven decades, don't just put on a "Greatest Hits" album. They usually mix the eras up. Instead, listen to these four specific tracks in order to hear the vocal shift:
- "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" (1966) – The raw, early 60s vibe.
- "Dark Lady" (1974) – The peak of her theatrical, narrative era.
- "If I Could Turn Back Time" (1989) – The stadium rock transition.
- "Believe" (1998) – The digital revolution.
You'll notice that while the production changes wildly, that low, vibrating "Cher" tone is the one constant. That is why she keeps hitting number 1. You can copy the clothes or the Auto-Tune, but you can't copy the survival instinct.
To stay updated on her latest chart movements as she continues to release new material in 2026, keep an eye on the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Dance/Electronic charts, where she remains most active today.