Top 10 One-Hit Wonders Who Got Another Hit Years Later

#10: CeeLo Green

In 2006, he and Danger Mouse - known together as Gnarls Barkley - came together to craft “Crazy”. The beloved tune was undoubtedly successful, and easily reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Unfortunately, that was the group’s only mainstream hit, and after a series of non-charting songs, they quietly stepped back. This gave Green a chance to establish himself. He didn’t have much luck at first. In 2010, all of that turned around with “Forget You”, a scathing break-up track. It skyrocketed to #2 on the Hot 100, and picked up millions of plays in the first week alone. Though he hasn’t seen the same level of success since then, he can rest easy knowing he created one of the most recognizable pieces of the 2010s.

#9: Sara Bareilles

Who doesn’t love a pop star that isn’t afraid to speak her mind? When Sara Bareilles released the sassy 2007 hit “Love Song” as a way of pushing back against her label’s demands, she separated herself from the rest of the pack. Her unapologetically blunt lyricism was adored across the board, which led to the track reaching #4 on the Hot 100. For years afterward, her work flew under the radar. That is, until she released “Brave” in 2013. It was a return to her unapologetic roots, with lyrics urging the listener to speak their minds no matter what anyone had to say about it. The anthem re-introduced her to mainstream listeners, earning her positive reviews and a spot on the charts once more.

#8: Tracy Chapman

It’s hard to imagine a track as timeless as 1988’s “Fast Car” being considered a one-hit wonder. Unfortunately for Tracy Chapman, however, it seemed to be the case. The folk-pop masterpiece was a crossover success, and succeeded on both the pop and rock charts. Though she saw minor success with her next few releases, she wouldn’t regain that spot at the top until 1995. That year, she released “Give Me One Reason”, a blues-inspired piece begging her partner to give her a motive for staying. It resonated with the public, and it wasn’t long before she shot back up to the top ten. She even surpassed the commercial success of “Fast Car”, proving she still had what it took to outdo herself artistically.

#7: Mike Posner

If you think you’re cooler than him, think again. Mike Posner saw near-instant success with his 2010 debut single “Cooler Than Me”, which was enjoyed around the globe and established his self-referential songwriting. After that, his mainstream fame halted. Though he saw some success, it didn’t come close to the highs of his first record. In 2015, he released the acoustic “I Took a Pill in Ibiza”. It was a raw, honest look into the pitfalls of fame, especially as a one-hit wonder. A few months later, he re-released it as an EDM remix with Seeb, and everything shifted. The sad lyrics with the fun production made for the perfect juxtaposition. The track reignited his chart success, and even earned him his first Grammy nomination.

#6: Willow Smith

At just ten years old, she established herself as a star. “Whip My Hair” was all about unapologetically being yourself, which Willow sold effortlessly. After a strong start, her mainstream presence waned quickly afterward. After a series of non-charting singles, it seemed her time in the spotlight had passed. That is, until 2021, when she re-introduced herself to the world with a feature on The Anxiety’s “Meet Me at Our Spot”. Though it had originally come out a year prior, it wasn’t until TikTok got ahold of it that it truly took off. It was essentially the opposite of her debut, and showcased her matured vocals. For the first time since 2010, she re-entered the top 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

#5: Tinashe

In 2014, she and Schoolboy Q made waves with the infectiously catchy party track “2 On”. It’s pure fun bottled in song-form, and encourages listeners to simply live in the moment. It also seemed to cement Tinashe’s place as a main pop girl. Unfortunately, for the next decade, her work wasn’t able to find the same mainstream success. It wasn’t until 2024 that she re-entered the Hot 100 as a solo artist with “Nasty”. It took off on TikTok that year, propelling her back into the mainstream. Though it only peaked at #61, it ended up being a perfect foundation for another 2024 single, “No Broke Boys”. The remix version featuring Disco Lines became a viral hit as well, and ended up reaching #36.

#4: Hozier

A song doesn’t need to be a bop to become a hit. In 2013, Hozier proved that with the alternative-rock inspired single, “Take Me to Church”. With somber production and gorgeous lyrics, it set itself apart from other popular tracks of the time. The world clearly agreed, as it reached the top two globally. Despite the impressive debut, replicating its success proved to be difficult. Over a decade later, he released a previously-unknown tune called “Too Sweet”. It was much more optimistic in both sound and lyricism, and it wasn’t long until it blew up. It earned him his first #1 in the United States and was considered one of the best of 2024, hopefully cementing his status, permanently, as a mainstream artist.

#3: Kylie Minogue

Name someone else who returns after a decade or more with pure pop perfection. In 1987, Kylie Minogue made her debut with a cover of Little Eva’s “The Loco-Motion”. It initially did well overseas, before reaching the United States in 1988. Afterwards, she remained successful internationally, but struggled to regain her spot on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2001, she released the iconic “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”. Its infectiously catchy production and lyrics established it as a worldwide success. Over twenty years later, she blessed the world with “Padam Padam”. Though it didn’t chart as high, it went viral and was considered one of the best of that year. If that’s not indicative of a hit, we don’t know what is.

#2: Snow

Despite it being made quickly, the quality of “Informer” was undeniable. The reggae and hip-hop hit catapulted Snow to the top of the charts, and stayed there for seven weeks in 1992. Besides commercial success, it also received heaping praise from critics as well. His follow-up single was successful to a lesser extent, but in every release afterward, he struggled to make a similar impact to his debut. It wasn’t until 2019, when Latin star Daddy Yankee reimagined the piece with a 21st century twist, that it broke into the mainstream once more. It included some of Snow’s original lyrics, which in turn reintroduced them to a new generation. For the first time in twenty-seven years, he re-entered the top 25 of the Billboard Hot 100.

#1: Billy Ray Cyrus

In 1992, he achieved crossover success with both country and pop fans with the effortlessly catchy “Achy Breaky Heart”. With just one song, Billy Ray Cyrus went from living in his neighbor’s car to the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. Some of his subsequent releases landed on the country charts, but re-entering the mainstream evaded him. That is, until 2018, when Lil Nas X came along. His hit “Old Town Road” had already gone viral, and in December of that year, he expressed wanting Cyrus to feature on the track. The following April, it was released– and the country star was propelled to the top once more. His verse matched the original’s vibe perfectly, and together, they easily secured the #1 position.

Which one hit wonder would you love to see go mainstream again? Let us know in the comments below!