Ranking 2025's Billboard No. 1 Hits from Best to Worst

by Tyler Glover

They don’t make as many Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits as they used to in this streaming music era, playing a role in how the charts are compiled. That’s a big reason why there were only nine Billboard No. 1 hits in 2025, not counting Mariah Carey’s perennial Christmas classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which once again found its way onto the chart this holiday season, and has now spent more weeks at No. 1 than any song in Billboard Hot 100 history.
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Here is a ranking of all of the year’s new No. 1s from best to worst… 
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Photos: Island Records, Interscope, Republic Records & PGLang

1. “The Fate of Ophelia” by Taylor Swift 
Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” is the best song of the year that went No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has spent eight weeks at No. 1, tying “Anti-Hero” as Swift’s most successful single to date. Upon the release of Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, “The Fate of Ophelia” was released as the lead single. Something Swift is notoriously known for among her fandom is how, sometimes, she does not always pick the most successful single that represents the album, or they feel others may have performed better. There is no doubt that this was the correct choice. “The Fate of Ophelia” has Swift rewriting Shakespeare's “Hamlet” into a happy ending. This is something she first did with “Love Story” on her second studio album, Fearless, which re-wrote the tragic love story “Romeo & Juliet.” “The Fate of Ophelia” is a bop that will surely be remembered by the Grammys in 2027 and be nominated for Record and Song of the Year. It is one of Taylor Swift’s best singles to date. 
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2. “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars 
“Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars is not only one of my favorite songs that topped the Billboard Hot 100 this year, but also already one of my favorites of all time. “Die With A Smile” won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo Group Performance for Gaga and Mars and was nominated for Song of the Year. “Die With A Smile” was the most listened to song of 2025 on Spotify, and it is not shocking to see why. There is just something incredibly romantic about someone saying that when the world is ending, that you are the person they want to be with. It tugs on the heartstrings and makes us all want to sway to the powerhouse vocals by Gaga and the incredibly charming Mars. In 2025, “Die With A Smile” was No. 1 for five weeks. It is a genuinely touching song that will be remembered for decades not only as a No. 1 hit but also as one that touches people’s hearts. 
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3. “Golden” by HUNTR/X: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami 
​“Golden,” the incredibly popular song from the blockbuster phenomenon, “KPOP Demon Hunters, went No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks. “KPOP Demon Hunters” was a movie I was a little late to, but finally gave in to the hype and had to see what all the excitement was about. After watching the incredible film, I was in love with the phenomenal soundtrack. “Golden” is my favorite song from the film, but all of the songs are incredible. ”Golden” has been nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Original Song and is considered a frontrunner for the Academy Award in the same category. Anytime a song from an animated “children’s” film reaches No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, it shows that the music has transcended the film and into mainstream pop culture. “Golden” is a powerhouse anthem sung by the fictional K-pop female group, HUNTR/X. It is an inspiring song that makes us all believe that anything is possible and that we can achieve our dreams. It has also been nominated for Song of the Year at the Grammys and is considered a major contender in the category. “Golden” will definitely be seeing some gold in the coming months of this award season. 
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4. “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter 
Sabrina Carpenter’s lead single, “Manchild,” from her seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend, only managed to go No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in its debut week. That does not diminish how amazing it is! Carpenter chose the perfect lead single for the album, and it is equally catchy as her previous top-10 Billboard hits, “Taste,” “Please, Please, Please” and “Espresso.” “Manchild” is nominated for Record and Song of the Year at the upcoming Grammy Awards. It is a song in which Carpenter criticizes an ex-boyfriend for being “stupid, slow, useless” and incompetent. Carpenter feels like she only attracts the boys who can’t seem to work on becoming men. It is a playful, catchy song for anyone who has dealt with difficult boyfriends.  

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5. “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar 
“Not Like Us” was the winner of the Record and Song of the Year Grammy Award this year. The song went No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week this year. Lamar has had quite a year: he performed at the Super Bowl, won two of the most significant Grammy awards of the night and released the single “Luther,” which spent many weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Not Like Us” is a catchy rap song that attracts people who are not even casual rap listeners. I absolutely love the song, and rap is something I never really choose to listen to. It is a diss track to fellow rapper Drake, but through the power of music, we all identify with this by inserting our own enemies into Drake’s place. Lamar’s ability to attract more listeners to the rap genre is remarkable.
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6. “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA 
“Luther” is a really personal song. The “Luther” in the song refers to the dearly departed R&B singer Luther Vandross. It interpolates his hit song, “If This World Were Mine.” The song, featuring Grammy winner SZA, is a romantic love song in which the lovers tell each other what they would do for each other if the world were theirs. The expression of love in this song is the kind of love we all hope to achieve in this world. We all want someone not only to choose us but to make us their world. “Luther” went No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks, making it the longest-running No. 1 of 2025. It is nominated for Record and Song of the Year at the upcoming Grammy Awards and is considered a frontrunner by many pundits. The song is one of the best of the year, and one of the best love songs of all time. 

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7. “Ordinary” by Alex Warren  
Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” went No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks. I personally don’t get the appeal at all. Every time it comes on the radio, I want to skip it, but my daughters love it. The fact that this No. 1 hit is one of the few that didn’t receive nominations in the big Grammy categories makes me believe I am not alone in not seeing the appeal. “Ordinary” is a song that has a sweet sentiment: the person they love makes them feel that life is extraordinary. That alone does not save a song, though. It is such a boring song that lacks any real drama or significant depth, and it will be forgotten in years to come. 
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8. “What I Want” - Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae 
Morgan Wallen has some good songs, but I won’t listen to them because I genuinely don’t think he is a good person. I ranked this Billboard Hot 100 above Travis Scott simply because I do prefer country music, but this song, even though it became a hit, will not stand the test of time.  
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9. “4x4” by Travis Scott 
Travis Scott’s song, “4x4,” went No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week. Rap is not a genre that I normally vibe with, and this song is a clear example of why. I want to listen to music that really tries to say something and speak to the world we live in. Songs like this lack depth and are not catchy enough to really vibe with. It is difficult for me to form an opinion about this song.
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Which of these No. 1 hits was your favorite of 2025?