Taylor Swift Is Hot as Ever, 17 Years After Her Debut Album: See Where Other Chart Titans Stood at the Same Point

Debut album released: April 12, 1989

Notes: In April 2006, having become the best-selling country artist in history, Brooks was in the midst of a 13-year layoff between studio albums. His most recent studio album, Scarecrow, had reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in December 2001. His next, Man Against Machine, would peak at No. 4 in November 2014. (No. 1 at the time? Taylor Swift’s 1989.)

Debut album released: Nov. 1, 1971

Notes: The Piano Man’s most recent album as of 1988, The Bridge, had peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 in September 1986, a drop from the No. 4 peak of his hits-packed 1983 blockbuster, An Innocent Man. His next, Storm Front, would put him back on top of the Billboard 200 in December 1989. It even spawned a No. 1 single on the Hot 100, “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” which was recently revived by Fall Out Boy.

Debut album released: Aug. 12, 2005

Notes: In 2022, Rihanna was in the midst of a long layoff between studio albums (which continues to this day). Her two most recent studio albums, Unapologetic (2012) and Anti (2016), had both topped the Billboard 200. During this extended hiatus, she has reaffirmed her stardom on platforms ranging from the Super Bowl halftime show (which resulted in her first Primetime Emmy nod) to the Oscar stage, where she sang the soulful ballad “Lift Me Up” (her first Oscar nod).

Debut album released: April 7, 1978

Notes: Prince’s most recent studio album as of 1995, Prince (The Black Album), had peaked at an unprincely No. 47 in 1994 – his lowest-charting studio album since his 1978 debut, For You, peaked at No. 138. Prince, billed as The Artist (Formerly Known as Prince), would return to the top 10 with his next album, The Gold Experience, which peaked at No. 6 in October 1995. Prince returned to No. 1 with 3121 in April 2006 and The Very Best of Prince, which shot to the top following his tragic death at the age of 57 in April 2016.

Debut album released: June 15, 2010

Notes: We’ll have to wait to see where Drake stands in 2027, but for now he’s doing pretty good. For All the Dogs just became his 13th No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Debut album released: November 1969

Notes: In November 1986, Stewart was in a bit of a lull. His most recent studio album, Rod Stewart, had peaked at No. 28 in August 1986. He would return to the top 10 with Vagabond Heart in May 1991, and then with a series of albums from 2002-13, including five albums in his Great American Songbook series. I don’t think anybody expected them to do so well (outside of maybe record mogul Clive Davis, who co-produced them).

Debut album released: Sept. 21, 1982

Notes: In September 1999, Jackson was in the midst of an extended peak. Each of her four most recent studio albums had topped the Billboard 200, and her next one, 2001’s All for You, would follow suit. A much-publicized wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2004 seemed to slow her momentum – unfairly, most now agree.

Debut album released: March 23, 1956

Notes: In March 1973, Presley was on the verge of a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite, which bumped Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon from the top spot in May. It was The King’s first No. 1 album since the Roustabout soundtrack in 1965. But that live album was an outlier: Presley’s most recent pop/rock studio album, Elvis Now, had hit No. 43 in March 1972. His next one, Elvis, would reach No. 52 in August 1973. Presley died at age 42 in August 1977. He would return to the top spot in October 2002 with Elv1s: 30 #1 Hits.

Debut album released: April 17, 1970

Notes: In April 1987, McCartney wasn’t racking up chart numbers befitting a former Beatle. His most recent studio album, Press to Play, had peaked at No. 30 in October 1986, making it his lowest-charting studio album to that point. His next album of original material, Flowers in the Dirt, would do a bit better, reaching No. 21 in July 1989.

Debut album released: Feb. 14, 1985

Notes: The Voice’s most recent studio album as of February 2002, the R&B-focused My Love Is Your Love, had peaked at No. 13 in December 1998. Her next, Just Whitney, would hit No. 9 in September 2002. Houston returned to No. 1 in September 2009 with I Look to You, which turned out to be her last studio album. She nearly landed another No. 1 with The Greatest Hits following her death in February 2012 at age 48. The album logged three weeks at No. 2 behind Adele’s unbudgeable blockbuster 21.

Debut album released: April 28, 1969

Notes: In April 1986, Chicago, the top American group on this list, was in the midst of a comeback. Their two most recent studio albums, Chicago 16 and Chicago 17, had made the top 10 and had spawned a combined three top five hits on the Hot 100. Their next, Chicago 18, wouldn’t do as well, peaking at No. 35 in March 1987.

Debut album released: September 1962

Notes: Wonder’s two most recent studio albums as of September 1979, Fulfillingness’ First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life, had both reached No. 1. Wonder was on the verge of releasing a soundtrack, Stevie Wonder’s Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants, which would reach No. 4 in December 1979. His next regular studio album, Hotter Than July, would hit No. 3 in December 1980.

Debut album released: Oct. 24, 2006

Notes: At the 17-year mark, Swift can look back on a career that includes 12 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and 10 No. 1 singles on the Hot 100. Swift’s tally of No. 1 albums is topped only by The Beatles (19), Jay-Z (14) and Drake (13). Swift is all but certain to tie Drake’s third-place record with 1989 (Taylor’s Version), which is due Oct. 27. Swift has won three Grammys for album of the year, a feat matched only by Frank Sinatra, Wonder and Paul Simon (counting a Simon & Garfunkel album). Will Swift win her record-setting fourth award in that category on Feb. 4, 2024? Place your bets.

Debut album released: Jan. 24, 1972

Notes: In January 1989, Jackson, the top American male artist on this list, had reached No. 1 with his two most recent studio albums, Thriller and Bad, and would go on to reach No. 1 with his next three as well. Jackson’s career was rocked with allegations of child sexual abuse in 1993. He was acquitted of similar charges in a 2005 trial, and died in June 2009 at age 50.  

Debut album released: Feb. 25, 1963

Notes: In February 1980, Streisand was coming off the success of Wet, which was her 16th top 10 album on the Billboard 200. The album spawned “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough),” a Hot 100-topping duet with Donna Summer. But that was just the warm-up for Guilty, released in September 1980, which became her all-time best-selling album. During this very busy 17-year period, Streisand won six Grammys, two Oscars and a Primetime Emmy (more Grammys and Emmys would follow). She set the bar for every female artist who has followed her, including two who rank higher on this list.

Debut album released: July 27, 1983

Notes: In July 2000, Madonna was on a high. Her previous album, Ray of Light, had reached No. 2 in March 1998 and became her first (and still, only) album to receive a Grammy nod for album of the year. She was gearing up to release Music, which would become her fourth No. 1 album in October 2000. Madonna was hospitalized with a “serious bacterial infection” in June 2023, but less than four months later, she was wowing audiences with the kickoff of The Celebration Tour at the 02 Arena in London.

Debut album released: June 12, 1990

Notes: After a few comparatively dry years, Carey, the top female artist on this list, had pulled off a major comeback with The Emancipation of Mimi, which hit No. 1 in April 2005 and became that year’s best-selling album. Her next album, E=MC2, would also hit No. 1 in May 2008. By 2007, Carey was already the queen of Christmas, though without the gaudy annual coronation we have seen in recent years.

Debut album released: April 10, 1970

Notes: In April 1987, John, the top male solo artist on this list, was sputtering. His most recent studio album, Leather Jackets, had peaked at No. 91 in December 1986, becoming his lowest-charting studio album to that point. That was a humbling chart number for the artist who in 1975 released the first two albums to enter the Billboard 200 at No. 1, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy and Rock of the Westies. But he came back with his next album, the aptly-titled Reg Strikes Back, which reached No. 16 in September 1988. It even spawned a No. 2 hit on the Hot 100, “I Don’t Wanna Go on With You Like That.” In July 2023, Elton was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for outstanding variety special (live) for Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium. If he wins when the awards are finally presented in January 2024, he becomes an EGOT.

Debut album released: May 30, 1964

Notes: In May 1981, The Stones were unstoppable. Their seven most recent studio albums, stretching from 1971’s Sticky Fingers to 1980’s Emotional Rescue, had all topped the Billboard 200, as would their next release, Tattoo You, released in August 1981. Emotional Rescue and Tattoo You topped the Billboard 200 for seven and nine weeks, respectively, which were personal bests for The Stones.

Debut album released: Jan. 10, 1964

Notes: By January 1981, The Beatles had been broken up for more than a decade, and John Lennon had just been murdered the month before by a deranged fan. But new projects and collections keep introducing new fans to their undeniable magic. Five such collections have topped the Billboard 200 since their breakup – The Beatles 1967-70 in May 1973, three Anthology albums in 1995-96, and 1, quite possibly the greatest greatest hits album of all time, in December 2000.