Michael Jackson continues to make history with his timeless hits. The King of Pop’s iconic “Thriller” has re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10, marking an extraordinary achievement that no other artist has ever reached. With this week’s chart, the song soars from No. 32 to No. 10, driven by a massive Halloween resurgence in streaming, airplay, and sales.
The milestone makes Jackson the first artist in history to score Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in six different decades — the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s, 2000s, ’10s, and now the 2020s. His remarkable chart longevity surpasses that of the late Andy Williams, whose beloved holiday classic “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” has kept him in the top tier for five distinct decades.
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Originally peaking at No. 4 in 1984, “Thriller” has long been synonymous with the Halloween season, thanks to its groundbreaking short film directed by John Landis and its unforgettable choreography.
Michael Jackson’s chart history is as legendary as his artistry. He first entered the Hot 100’s Top 10 as a solo artist in November 1971 with “Got to Be There,” at just 13 years old. Over the next five decades, he amassed 30 Top 10 singles, including 13 No. 1 hits such as “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Black or White,” and “You Are Not Alone.” His posthumous appearance in 2018 as a featured artist on Drake’s “Don’t Matter to Me” previously marked his most recent Top 10 entry — until now.
Notably, Jackson’s Hot 100 story technically began even earlier. In December 1969, when he was just 11, he appeared in the Top 10 as part of The Jackson 5 with their breakout hit “I Want You Back.” That means his presence on the chart now spans parts of seven decades — a feat unmatched by any performer in modern music history.
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