Taylor Swift’s Song ‘Cruel Summer’ Breaks Record on Hot 100 Chart

Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” has officially made its mark as one of her career’s standout hits, claiming the top spot among her 263 entries on the Hot 100 chart. This achievement solidifies Swift’s position as the woman with the most entries in the chart’s history.

Originally featured on Swift’s 2019 album “Lover” under Republic Records, “Cruel Summer” gained momentum when the label began promoting it as a single last June. The song garnered even more attention when Swift included it in her The Eras Tour, where she showcased tracks from “Lover.”

Debuting at No. 29 on the Hot 100 in September 2019, “Cruel Summer” made its way back onto the chart on June 3, 2023. After reaching the top 10 in July, the track secured its spot at No. 1 on October 28, where it remained for four weeks. Even now, it holds strong at No. 20 on the latest Hot 100 ranking.

Not only is “Cruel Summer” one of Swift’s 12 career No. 1 hits, but it also boasts impressive statistics within her discography. With 20 weeks in the top five and 34 weeks in the top 10, this track is undeniably one of Swift’s most successful singles.

The magic behind “Cruel Summer” lies in the production collaboration between Swift, Jack Antonoff, and St. Vincent. Interestingly, during the song’s absence from the Hot 100, the trio received credit for co-writing Olivia Rodrigo’s “Deja Vu” due to its interpolation of “Cruel Summer.”

Antonoff expressed his initial belief that “Cruel Summer” was the best track on “Lover,” albeit a hidden gem. Upon the song’s ascent to No. 1 on the Hot 100, Swift graciously thanked her fans for their support, highlighting the unexpected timing of the song’s success.

When we take a closer look at Swift’s longest-charting Hot 100 hits as of May 25, 2024, “Cruel Summer” leads the pack with an impressive 54 weeks on the chart, including four weeks at the top spot starting on October 28, 2023.

53 weeks, “Anti-Hero,” No. 1, eight weeks, beginning Nov. 5, 2022
50 weeks, “Shake It Off,” No. 1, four weeks, beginning Sept. 6, 2014
50 weeks, “You Belong With Me,” No. 2 peak, Aug. 22, 2009
49 weeks, “Love Story,” No. 4, Jan. 17, 2009
48 weeks, “Teardrops on My Guitar,” No. 13, March 1, 2008
38 weeks, “Blank Space,” No. 1, seven weeks, beginning Nov. 29, 2014
36 weeks, “I Knew You Were Trouble.,” No. 2, Jan. 12, 2013
36 weeks, “Our Song,” No. 16, Jan. 19, 2008
35 weeks, “Delicate,” No. 12, July 28, 2018

Additionally, “Cruel Summer” stands out as Swift’s longest-leading hit on the all-format Radio Songs chart, reigning for a remarkable 12 weeks. This duration is twice as long as her second longest-ruling single, “Blank Space.” Furthermore, it holds the title of her longest-leading No. 1 on Adult Pop Airplay (23 weeks) and Pop Airplay (10 weeks), while also dominating the Streaming Songs and Digital Song Sales charts.