Musicians Achieve First No. 1 Hit After Age 50

albums, Armstrong added a Hot 100 No. 1 solo single to his collection in May 1964, as “Hello, Dolly!” held the top spot for a week. The second-oldest act to reach No. 1 after Percy Faith, Armstrong was 63 years old when he hit the top of the charts. It made Armstrong the oldest solo performer to have a Billboard No. 1.

When it comes to landing their first No. 1 hits on the Billboard charts, these musicians provide a different perspective that challenges the idea that age in the music industry equates to being past your prime. Despite typically being considered a young person’s game, music-making can be a lifelong pursuit that can bear tremendous fruit even later in a musician’s career. The stories of these artists prove that success doesn’t always come in the youth of a career, and sometimes, it’s worth the wait.