June 12 has seen many exciting moments in music history, from cross-genre milestones to chart-topping hits. On this day, Kelly Clarkson and her husband, Brandon Blackstock, welcomed a baby, while Harry Styles had a special guest at his Nashville concert. Let’s take a look at some significant events in Top 40 music history.
In 1990, Mariah Carey released her self-titled debut album, which achieved massive success, topping the Billboard 200 for 11 weeks and producing four No. 1 hits. Five years later, Fugazi released their fourth album, Red Medicine, which, despite not making the U.S. Top 40, became their highest-charting record in the U.K. in 1995.
Fast forward to 2004, Usher’s hit was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, followed by Mario Winans featuring Enya and P. Diddy at No. 2, and Beyoncé at No. 3. In 2008, Coldplay dropped their album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, which hit No. 1 in both the U.S. and U.K. and included the GRAMMY-winning single.
In 2010, Usher featuring will.i.am debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while previous chart-toppers by Taio Cruz and B.o.B. fell in rankings. More recently, in 2021, Olivia Rodrigo’s hit debuted at No. 2, with Silk Sonic entering at No. 4.
June 12 is also a day for celebrating birthdays in music. Vic Damone was born in 1928 in Brooklyn and became famous for hits like “” and “.” He passed away in 2018. Don Toliver, born in 1994 in Houston, has made a name for himself in the music scene.
