This Day in Top 40 History: January 26
On Jan. 26, 1970, Kirk Franklin, who currently ties with Mann & Wife star Tamela Mann for the most No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart, was born in Fort Worth,…
On Jan. 26, 1970, Kirk Franklin, who currently ties with Mann & Wife star Tamela Mann for the most No. 1 hits on Billboard's Gospel Airplay chart, was born in Fort Worth, Texas. On the list of his notable chart-toppers are “All Things” and “Rain Down on Me,” his collaboration with Maverick City Music and “TGIF” hitmaker Glorilla. Franklin has scored multiple Top 10 albums on Billboard's 200 chart as well, including The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin and Hello Fear. He shares his birthday with acclaimed artists such as the late Eddie Van Halen and Andrew Ridgeley of Wham!
Read on to find more events that make Jan. 26 a memorable day in Top 40 history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Jan. 26 has hosted the launch of these well-received albums and singles:
- 1973: Elton John's sixth studio album, Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player, came out. It rose to the No. 1 position on both the UK Official Albums chart and the Billboard 200 chart. Additionally, it spawned two highly successful singles, “Crocodile Rock” and “Daniel,” which cracked the Top Five on Billboard's Hot 100.
- 2009: Franz Ferdinand released their album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, which peaked at No. 2 and No. 9 in the U.K. and the U.S., respectively. The set produced a few UK Top 30 singles, including “Ulysses” and “No You Girls.”
- 2010: Lady A released their sophomore studio LP, Need You Now. It delivered two Top 40 singles, the title track, which is arguably the trio's biggest hit, and “American Honey.” This album also soared to the summit of the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 480,000 copies in its opening week.
Cultural Milestones
You might be excited to learn about the following exciting cultural moments from January 26.
- 1987: Top 40 artists such as Madonna, Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston, and Janet Jackson bagged awards in different categories at the 14th annual American Music Awards. Jackson's Top Five hit “Nasty,” won the Favorite Soul/R&B Single award.
- 2020: Billie Eilish stole the show at the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards after winning five accolades, including those in the Big Four categories — Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Best New Artist, and Record of the Year. This made her the first woman and the second musician to achieve that feat since Christopher Cross back in 1981.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Here are some industry changes and challenges that have made the headlines on January 26:
- 1968: “Another Brick In The Wall (Part II)” hitmakers played their first concert without founding member Syd Barrett at Southampton University. The band, however, officially announced their frontman's departure in May of the same year.
- 2015: Chris Brown announced that he'd put his Between the Sheets tour on hold after the judge ordered him to stay in California due to a probation violation. This joint tour supported the “Run It!” singer's X and Trey Songz's Trigga albums, which had peaked at No. 2 and No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, respectively.
The reasons Jan. 26 is an unforgettable date in Top 40 history are pretty clear. From witnessing the birth of renowned artists like Kirk Franklin to seeing Billie Eilish and Madonna outshine their peers at various award shows, this date has undoubtedly impacted the music industry.
