Topline
In a year dominated by modern pop mainstays like Taylor Swift (age 34) and rising stars like 20-year-old Olivia Rodrigo, musicians hailing from a bygone era still managed to carve out some big successes, with nine musicians over 70 hitting the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 singles or Top 200 albums in 2023.
Key Facts
The Beatles had its first Billboard Top 10 single since 1996 with the artificial-intelligence-aided “Now and Then” debuting at No. 7 on the Hot 100, featuring vocals from surviving members Paul McCartney, 81, and Ringo Starr, 83.
The Rolling Stones’ new album “Hackney Diamonds” peaked at No. 3 on the Top 200, with surviving members Mick Jagger, 80, Keith Richards, 80, and Ronnie Wood, 76.
77-year-old Dolly Parton’s new album, “Rockstar,” debuted at No. 3 on the Top 200 last month, making it her highest charting album ever.
79-year-old Brenda Lee became the oldest artist to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100 when her holiday classic “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” completed its 65-year climb to the top of the charts in December.
She wasn’t the only holiday crooner with old-time classic singles that made a seasonal run to the Top 10 : The Ronnettes, who are still survived by 77-year-old Nedra Talley, returned to the Top 10 with their 1963 recording of “Sleigh Ride,” along with 78-year-old Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad.”
Big Number
4. That’s how many music acts with musicians over 70 landed Top 10 singles this year—the same as last year, though last year’s group included Elton John, who hit the Top 10 twice with his collaborations with Dua Lipa and Britney Spears. There were two albums made by septuagenarian musicians that hit the top 10 this year—one less than in 2022, a year that included a remaster of the Beatles “Revolver” album, as well as new albums by Bruce Springsteen and Ozzy Osbourne.
Key Background
For musical icons like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Dolly Parton, the latest chart accomplishments continue adding to their ever-growing legacies. With “Hackney Diamonds,” the Stones became the first band to chart a Top 10 album in every decade since the ’60s. With “Now And Then,” the Beatles joined an elite group of only 13 artists to land a top-10 hit single in every decade since the ’60s. And Parton’s album—billed as her first-ever “rock album”—handily landed her on top of the Top Rock and Alternative albums list for the first time in her record-breaking career. Brenda Lee’s rise to the top of the charts garnered attention after it set a record for largest climb to the top of the charts. Older musicians had big successes off the charts, as well. Before Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour crossed a billion dollars this year, Elton John’s sprawling Goodbye Yellow Brick Road temporarily set the record for highest-grossing tour of all time when it closed in July. And Bruce Springsteen (74) had the third-highest grossing tour of the year, behind only megastars Taylor Swift and Beyonce, according to Pollstar.
Tangent
Jimmy Buffett, who died this year at 76 years old, also hit the top 10 on the charts—twice. His 1985 album “Songs You Know By Heart” hit the Top 10 after his death in September. And his posthumously released album of new music—”Equal Strain On All Parts”—reached No. 6 after its November release.
