This Day in Top 40 History: October 14
On Oct. 14, 2020, Post Malone swept the Billboard Music Awards, taking home nine awards, including Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, and Top Rap Tour. In the years…
On Oct. 14, 2020, Post Malone swept the Billboard Music Awards, taking home nine awards, including Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, and Top Rap Tour. In the years since, he has reinvented himself as a country artist, collaborating with big names such as Beyoncé, Morgan Wallen, and Dolly Parton. Keep reading for more Top 40 music history from Oct. 14.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Hit songs and meaningful albums paint a picture of an artist's creative process over time, with Oct. 14 seeing these key moments:
- 1972: Michael Jackson's song "Ben" hit No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart. The song was Jackson's first solo single to top the charts.
- 1977: David Bowie released his 12th album, Heroes. It was the second album released as part of his Berlin Trilogy, and the title track and lead single went on to become one of his most critically acclaimed songs.
- 2000: Christina Aguilera topped the Billboard Hot 100 with "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)." It was the singer's third No. 1 hit.
- 2017: Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" kicked off the second of three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This feat cemented Cardi B's iconic status as just the second female rapper to reach No. 1 with a solo song, the first being Lauryn Hill with "Doo Wop (That Thing)."
Cultural Milestones
These events from Oct. 14 reveal how closely pop music is tied to pop culture:
- 2006: After playing too loudly and over his allotted time as the opener for Rascal Flatts, Eric Church was replaced on the tour by an up-and-coming country artist named Taylor Swift.
- 2007: At the New York Film Festival, Runnin' Down a Dream premiered. This documentary film chronicled the history of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
- 2011: The remake of Footloose aired in theaters. The movie was a great success, and the revamped soundtrack reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Live performances are where artists get to show off their talent in person, and these stars made the most of it:
- 2023: Madonna began the Celebration tour in London after a three-month delay. She had been battling a serious bacterial infection that delayed the start of the tour.
- 2024: Sabrina Carpenter performed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as part of the Short n' Sweet tour. Her surprise cover song that night was "Material Girl" by Madonna.
Cardi B made money moves, Michael Jackson sang about a pet rat, and both songs topped the charts. That's what makes Top 40 history from Oct. 14 so memorable.
