Janet Jackson Makes History with Billboard Hot 100 Milestone

Janet Jackson has achieved an unprecedented milestone on the Billboard Hot 100, with her featured appearance on Cardi B's track "Principal." The song debuted at number 92 on the chart dated October 4, 2025, marking Jackson's first Hot 100 entry since 2018 and underscoring her enduring presence in the music industry.

"Principal" is featured on Cardi B's latest album, "Am I the Drama?", which was released on September 19, 2025. The track cleverly samples Janet Jackson's 1987 hit, "The Pleasure Principle." The original 1987 track, written and produced by Monte Moir, became Jackson's fifth number one hit on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and also reached 14th place on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song's successful debut was driven by strong streaming numbers, significant radio airplay, and robust digital sales, highlighting the continued appeal of both artists.

With this latest chart appearance, Janet Jackson has become the first Black woman to secure a new Hot 100 hit in five different decades, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s. This remarkable feat places her in an exclusive group of artists, including Madonna and Cher, who have also achieved new song chart placements in five distinct decades. Among Black performers, only Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder have a comparable multi-decade presence on the Hot 100. Jackson's chart history includes 10 entries in the '80s, 19 in the '90s, 10 in the 2000s, two in the 2010s, and now one in the 2020s, totaling 42 entries.

The song "Principal" garnered approximately 5.3 million U.S. streams, around 800 digital downloads, and reached approximately 700,000 listeners through radio airplay during the tracking week. The collaboration not only celebrates Jackson's historic achievement but also showcases Cardi B's ability to blend established legacies with current musical trends. Cardi B's album "Am I the Drama?" has also achieved commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200.