Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” has stayed at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a second straight week, according to Billboard and Variety. It is the lead single from “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore,” the deluxe edition of her 2025 album.
The numbers behind the second week
Billboard says “Patient Zero” drew 17.4 million official U.S. streams, down 50% from its first week, plus 26.1 million radio airplay audience impressions, 8,000 downloads and 134,000 first-week CD copies for the tracking period of Oct. 2 to 8. The song slips from No. 1 to No. 2 on the Streaming Songs chart but adds a second week at No. 1 on Digital Song Sales.
The deluxe edition came out Sept. 25 and includes four new songs. Variety notes that the Encore also gave Swift a 100th combined week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for her albums, reported a day earlier.
A place in the record books
The week brings Swift’s career total to 51 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, which Billboard and Variety both say is the fifth-highest in the chart’s history. Only Mariah Carey (101), Rihanna (60), the Beatles (59) and Drake (58) have more. Billboard adds that “Patient Zero” is her 16th Hot 100 No. 1 and her 10th to stay on top for two or more weeks, making her one of four acts with at least 10 multiweek chart-toppers.
Who else is on the chart
Drake and Don Toliver debut at No. 5 with “Solar Eclipse,” which works in a spin on Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas.” Billboard says it is Drake’s 91st top 10, a record. Langley’s hit holds at No. 2 after a record 24 weeks at No. 1. We also covered Ella Langley’s decision to cancel a Tulsa show over a security threat earlier today.
The Slovak newcomer ADÉLA earns her first top 10 as “Nicole Kidman” climbs from No. 12 to No. 9, per Billboard. The Hot 100 combines U.S. streaming, radio airplay and sales data.
Sources: Billboard, Variety. The featured image is an editorial illustration and not a photo of Taylor Swift or her album artwork.
