Donna Summer and Lynyrd Skynyrd songs rise on charts due to Winter Olympics

Donna Summer’s hit song “MacArthur Park” has seen a resurgence on the Billboard charts due to its utilization by figure skater Alysa Liu during her gold medal-winning performance at the winter Olympics. As a result of this exposure, the track has soared to the top spot on the Dance Digital Song Sales chart, experiencing a 575% increase in sales with 2,000 downloads sold from February 20th to the 26th. Originally released in 1978 as part of Summer’s album “Live and More,” the song achieved a three-week stint at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was honored with a double Platinum certification by the RIAA.

In a poignant turn of events following Summer’s passing in 2012, a remix of “MacArthur Park” resurfaced on the charts in 2013, conquering the former Dance Club Songs chart. Another musical beneficiary of the winter Olympics spotlight is Lynyrd Skynyrd’s timeless anthem “Free Bird.” Becoming the unofficial anthem for both the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams, the song has leaped to #15 on the Rock & Alternative Songs chart, #1 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart, and #6 on the Digital Song Sales chart, basking in the glow of its newfound popularity during the games.

As musical legacies are revived and reinvigorated by the winter Olympics, the power of these timeless tracks to captivate new audiences remains evident. With Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” once again reigning supreme on the charts and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” soaring to new heights, the enduring magic of these songs continues to resonate across generations. Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.