Last year, Rihanna matched Whitney Houston’s tally of 11 #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and now she is inching closer to equalling another of the late diva’s feats. Indeed, Rihanna is just a single song away from tying Houston’s total number of top 10 tunes on the chart.

Rihanna’s ‘Where Have You Been’ has advanced to #9 on the Hot 100 and ranks as her 22nd song to climb to the top 10 of the chart in just 7 years. Houston, on the other hand, notched 23 such singles throughout her career, all of which were logged during the 16-year period of 1985 to 2001.

Leading female artists – actually, all acts in the history of the Hot 100 – with the most top 10 hits is Madonna with 38 entries. Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson are tied in 2nd place with 27 songs each and Houston is 3rd with the previously noted 23.

‘We Found Love’ became Rihanna’s 11th #1 single on the Hot 100 in late 2011. The song lead the chart for 10 non-consecutive weeks and is ranked as her longest-running #1 song on the chart. The only female artists with more #1 hits are Carey (18), Madonna (12) and The Supremes (12).

2005, No. 2, “Pon De Replay”

2006, No. 1 (three weeks), “SOS”

2006, No. 6, “Unfaithful”

2007, No. 9, “Break It Off” (Rihanna and Sean Paul)

2007, No. 1 (seven weeks), “Umbrella” (ft. Jay-Z)

2007, No. 7, “Hate That I Love You” (ft. Ne-Yo)

2008, No. 3, “Don’t Stop the Music”

2008, No. 1 (one week), “Take a Bow”

2008, No. 1 (two weeks), “Disturbia”

2008, No. 1 (six weeks), “Live Your Life” (T.I. ft. Rihanna)

2009, No. 2, “Run This Town” (Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West)

2009, No. 9, “Russian Roulette”

2010, No. 8, “Hard” (featuring Jeezy)

2010, No. 1 (five weeks), “Rude Boy”

2010, No. 1 (seven weeks), “Love the Way You Lie” (Eminem ft. Rihanna)

2010, No. 1 (one week), “Only Girl (In the World)”

2010, No. 1 (one week), “What’s My Name?” (ft. Drake)

2011, No. 1 (one week), “S&M” (ft. Britney Spears)

2011, No. 7, “Cheers (Drink to That)”

2011, No. 1, (ten weeks) “We Found Love” (ft. Calvin Harris)

2011, No. 7 “Take Care” (Drake ft. Rihanna)

2012, No. 9 (to-date), “Where Have You Been”

Rihanna is also the best selling digital act in U.S. History and the 10th highest selling singles act in British history

US Charts: Rihanna Nears ...ava Lizard

I'm cool with it as long as it isn't Beyonce.

She's doing too much.

I don't get her popularity at all.

Notice that a fair number of Rihanna's hits has her either as a featured artist on someone else's track, or sharing top billing with one or more people. On the other hand, the bulk of Madonna's, Whitney's and Janet's hits has them sharing top billing with no one.

[Edited 6/9/12 10:28am]

HAPPYPERSON said:

2005, No. 2, “Pon De Replay”

2006, No. 1 (three weeks), “SOS”

2006, No. 6, “Unfaithful”

2007, No. 9, “Break It Off” (Rihanna and Sean Paul)

2007, No. 1 (seven weeks), “Umbrella” (ft. Jay-Z)

2007, No. 7, “Hate That I Love You” (ft. Ne-Yo)

2008, No. 3, “Don’t Stop the Music”

2008, No. 1 (one week), “Take a Bow”

2008, No. 1 (two weeks), “Disturbia”

2008, No. 1 (six weeks), “Live Your Life” (T.I. ft. Rihanna)

2009, No. 2, “Run This Town” (Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West)

2009, No. 9, “Russian Roulette”

2010, No. 8, “Hard” (featuring Jeezy)

2010, No. 1 (five weeks), “Rude Boy”

2010, No. 1 (seven weeks), “Love the Way You Lie” (Eminem ft. Rihanna)

2010, No. 1 (one week), “Only Girl (In the World)”

2010, No. 1 (one week), “What’s My Name?” (ft. Drake)

2011, No. 1 (one week), “S&M” (ft. Britney Spears)

2011, No. 7, “Cheers (Drink to That)”

2011, No. 1, (ten weeks) “We Found Love” (ft. Calvin Harris)

2011, No. 7 “Take Care” (Drake ft. Rihanna)

2012, No. 9 (to-date), “Where Have You Been”

Of those 22 top 10 hits, 11 feature additional "artists". 3 of Janet's top 10 hits feature additional artists, 5 of Mariah's feature additional artists (one being her backup vocalist), and two of Madonna's and Whitney's feature additional artists

[Edited 6/12/12 14:56pm]

Even with all the top 10 hits she has... only a few are ever really played anymore.

I feel it's the same for Mariah, Whitney, Janet, Aretha etc.

I haven't heard Break It Off since 2007 or hate that i love you.

Unfaithful i barely even remember hearing in 2006 and sure not now.

But i think this happens with these artists with so many top `10 hits, only a handful are usually played years later.

Hell when is the last time anyone heard Make It Happen by Mariah on the radio

Gunsnhalen said:

Hell when is the last time anyone heard Make It Happen by Mariah on the radio

That really is the only song from her "classic" period that no one really remembers. ashame too cause it's one of my faves.

Being that the industry has been in a total and complete shambles for so many years now, I'm not surprised. But, someone even worse than her is going to come along soon and break her record. As long as there are people who are willing to buy music from a horrible singer with a pretty face, the industry will never change.

And watch out! Once Beyonce gets wind of this, she's going to have 20 singles out by the end of the year.

aardvark15 said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Hell when is the last time anyone heard Make It Happen by Mariah on the radio

That really is the only song from her "classic" period that no one really remembers. ashame too cause it's one of my faves.

All artists have had Top 10 singles in the past that don't get radio play any more. There are a lot of artists who had Number 1 songs that don't get played anymore. Then there are those songs that didn't even crack the Top 40 when they were originally released but they are songs that an artist is most associated with and get the most airplay.

Two examples that immediately come to mind are Teena Marie's "Portogesse Love" and Jean Carn's "Don't Let It Go To Your Head". Both were huge flops when they were originally released but, in both cases, those songs continue to be staples on urban adult radio. Jean had a #1 record with "Closer Than Close" and Teena with "Ooo La La La". I haven't heard either one of those songs played on the radio in years!

kitbradley said:

Being that the industry has been in a total and complete shambles for so many years now, I'm not surprised. But, someone even worse than her is going to come along soon and break her record. As long as there are people who are willing to buy music from a horrible singer with a pretty face, the industry will never change.

And watch out! Once Beyonce gets wind of this, she's going to have 20 singles out by the end of the year.

Gunsnhalen said:

Even with all the top 10 hits she has... only a few are ever really played anymore.

I feel it's the same for Mariah, Whitney, Janet, Aretha etc.

I haven't heard Break It Off since 2007 or hate that i love you.

Unfaithful i barely even remember hearing in 2006 and sure not now.

But i think this happens with these artists with so many top `10 hits, only a handful are usually played years later.

Hell when is the last time anyone heard Make It Happen by Mariah on the radio

That happens to every single artist that ever came out thats just radio common sense.

Make It Happen ...hmm on the internet radio..but not so much adult contemporary. They usually play the beginning 5 seconds in football games for some reason. I wonder if she knows that.

aardvark15 said:

HAPPYPERSON said:

2005, No. 2, “Pon De Replay”

2006, No. 1 (three weeks), “SOS”

2006, No. 6, “Unfaithful”

2007, No. 9, “Break It Off” (Rihanna and Sean Paul)

2007, No. 1 (seven weeks), “Umbrella” (ft. Jay-Z)

2007, No. 7, “Hate That I Love You” (ft. Ne-Yo)

2008, No. 3, “Don’t Stop the Music”

2008, No. 1 (one week), “Take a Bow”

2008, No. 1 (two weeks), “Disturbia”

2008, No. 1 (six weeks), “Live Your Life” (T.I. ft. Rihanna)

2009, No. 2, “Run This Town” (Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West)

2009, No. 9, “Russian Roulette”

2010, No. 8, “Hard” (featuring Jeezy)

2010, No. 1 (five weeks), “Rude Boy”

2010, No. 1 (seven weeks), “Love the Way You Lie” (Eminem ft. Rihanna)

2010, No. 1 (one week), “Only Girl (In the World)”

2010, No. 1 (one week), “What’s My Name?” (ft. Drake)

2011, No. 1 (one week), “S&M” (ft. Britney Spears)

2011, No. 7, “Cheers (Drink to That)”

2011, No. 1, (ten weeks) “We Found Love” (ft. Calvin Harris)

2011, No. 7 “Take Care” (Drake ft. Rihanna)

2012, No. 9 (to-date), “Where Have You Been”

Of those 22 top 10 hits, 11 feature additional "artists". None of Janet's top 10 hits feature additional artists, only 5 of Mariah's feature additional artists (one being her backup vocalist), and only two of Madonna's and Whitney's feature additional artists

Actually, at least 3 of Janet's feature other artists. Scream (with MJ), What's It Gonna Be (with Busta Rhymes), and The Best Things in Life Are Free (with Luther Vandross). And depending on how Billboard credited certain singles (ie: "You Want This" feat MC Lyte or "I Get Lonely" with Blackstreet), she might have a few more, too. I guess the 27 top 10 hits for Janet doesn't include "Diamonds", because that was just credited to Herb Albert. That would be number 28 for her, if my count is correct.

Not that there is a comparison between Janet and Rihanna. I'm just a little pedantic

It's kinda ridiculous anyway that features are counted but band efforts are not counted. Michael had a couple of #1 and top 10 songs with the Jackson 5 and Jacksons, where he was the lead singer. That should count for something as well.

Axchi696 said:

aardvark15 said:

Of those 22 top 10 hits, 11 feature additional "artists". None of Janet's top 10 hits feature additional artists, only 5 of Mariah's feature additional artists (one being her backup vocalist), and only two of Madonna's and Whitney's feature additional artists

Actually, at least 3 of Janet's feature other artists. Scream (with MJ), What's It Gonna Be (with Busta Rhymes), and The Best Things in Life Are Free (with Luther Vandross). And depending on how Billboard credited certain singles (ie: "You Want This" feat MC Lyte or "I Get Lonely" with Blackstreet), she might have a few more, too. I guess the 27 top 10 hits for Janet doesn't include "Diamonds", because that was just credited to Herb Albert. That would be number 28 for her, if my count is correct.

Not that there is a comparison between Janet and Rihanna. I'm just a little pedantic

I wasn't counting the songs she was featured in!! Also I don't think You Want This counts and definetly I Get Lonely doesn't considering the remix wasn't nearly as popular as the original. Also I don't know if Diamonds counts or not.

PatrickS77 said:

It's kinda ridiculous anyway that features are counted but band efforts are not counted. Michael had a couple of #1 and top 10 songs with the Jackson 5 and Jacksons, where he was the lead singer. That should count for something as well.

Well in bands the money is often split between the people in it, even with the lead singer (this isn't taking into account production, song writting ect.)

aardvark15 said:

Axchi696 said:

Actually, at least 3 of Janet's feature other artists. Scream (with MJ), What's It Gonna Be (with Busta Rhymes), and The Best Things in Life Are Free (with Luther Vandross). And depending on how Billboard credited certain singles (ie: "You Want This" feat MC Lyte or "I Get Lonely" with Blackstreet), she might have a few more, too. I guess the 27 top 10 hits for Janet doesn't include "Diamonds", because that was just credited to Herb Albert. That would be number 28 for her, if my count is correct.

Not that there is a comparison between Janet and Rihanna. I'm just a little pedantic

I wasn't counting the songs she was featured in!! Also I don't think You Want This counts and definetly I Get Lonely doesn't considering the remix wasn't nearly as popular as the original. Also I don't know if Diamonds counts or not.

Your right.

aardvark15 said:

PatrickS77 said:

It's kinda ridiculous anyway that features are counted but band efforts are not counted. Michael had a couple of #1 and top 10 songs with the Jackson 5 and Jacksons, where he was the lead singer. That should count for something as well.

Well in bands the money is often split between the people in it, even with the lead singer (this isn't taking into account production, song writting ect.)

And what does that have to do with charts? Does that lessen a #1? Does that make it not a #1? He had 4 #1s with the Jackson 5 and several Top 10s with them and the Jacksons, he sang lead on all of them. So it has to count for something, especially since a "feat." or duet counts too.

Shes a great singles artist.