Pop music history is full of milestones, but when it comes to the first female solo artists to officially top the charts in the UK and USA, the stories are not just impressive, they’re groundbreaking. From torch ballads to teenage pop, these women didn’t just open the door. They kicked it off its hinges.
Here’s a look at the pioneers who hit Number One first in the UK and US, and in a few rare cases, both.
UK FIRSTS: Who Broke Through In Britain
Vera Lynn – “My Son, My Son” (1954)
While the UK’s Official Singles Chart only launched in 1952, Dame Vera Lynn, already famous for her WWII anthems, became the first British female soloist to reach Number One with this heartfelt ballad. The date? October 1954. At a time when the charts were dominated by crooners and orchestras, her success was a moment of national pride.
Doris Day – “Secret Love” (1954)
One of Hollywood’s golden girls, Doris Day was the first American female solo artist to top the UK charts. “Secret Love” from Calamity Jane reached the top in April 1954, predating Lynn’s hit. Her crossover success proved American women were chart forces too.
Connie Francis – “Who’s Sorry Now” (1958)
Connie didn’t quite top the UK charts with this hit (it peaked at Number One in New Zealand and went Top 5 in the UK), but she paved the way. Her actual UK Number One came in 1960 with “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool”, making her the first female artist to top both the US and UK charts with different songs.
Shirley Bassey – “As I Love You” (1959)
This sultry Welsh powerhouse became the first British-born female solo artist to top the UK charts after the official launch of the singles list, with her 1959 classic. Bassey’s reign in UK music would only grow from here, culminating in James Bond themes and global recognition.
USA FIRSTS: Topping Billboard’s Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 was launched in August 1958. Before that, various charts tracked sales and radio plays, but the Hot 100 became the definitive list.
Connie Francis – “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” (1960)
The first woman to top the Hot 100 as a solo artist. Connie broke through the male-dominated landscape with this pop standard, paving the way for every female artist who followed. It sold over a million copies and made Connie a household name worldwide.
Brenda Lee – “I’m Sorry” (1960)
Just 15 years old, Brenda Lee’s aching ballad hit Number One a few weeks after Connie Francis. She’d go on to score multiple Number Ones in the US and become one of the decade’s biggest teen idols.
Tammy Wynette – “Stand By Your Man” (1968)
Not the first, but significant. Wynette became a crossover queen when her defining hit went mainstream in the US. It also proved country women could command pop charts.
DOUBLE WINNERS: Artists Who Topped Both UK & US Charts
Whitney Houston
First Black female artist to have seven consecutive US Number Ones. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” (1987) topped both US and UK charts, showing just how global her appeal was.
Céline Dion
With “Think Twice” (UK, 1995) and “My Heart Will Go On” (US, 1998), Céline joined the rare club of women who could sell ballads in every market. She’s sold more than 200 million records globally.
Adele
A modern-day chart icon, Adele has topped both charts repeatedly. Her first UK Number One was “Someone Like You” in 2011. Her first US Number One was “Rolling in the Deep” that same year.
Kate Bush – “Running Up That Hill” (2022)
Originally a Top 3 hit in 1985, the track finally went to Number One in the UK in 2022 after its inclusion in Stranger Things. It also became her first US Top 5 single. Proof that pioneering talent always finds new audiences.
And finally…
These weren’t just chart positions, they were breakthroughs. In decades when women were often expected to be backup singers, muses or teenybopper idols, these artists claimed the top spot. They proved women could sell records, set trends and shape pop music history.
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