I was thinking about Gwen Stefani’s career today . . . and something dawned on me:
From fronting No Doubt to her solo career, Gwen’s collective body of work across multiple genres is impressive, to say the least.
Her latest feat? Gwen topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart this week for the first time with “Nobody But You,” her duet with boyfriend Blake Shelton. Gwen has now scored No. 1 singles on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, Billboard pop chart, Billboard rap chart and Billboard country chart.
Take a look at a partial list of Billboard chart highlights from Gwen’s career.
No. 1 Singles with No Doubt
- Billboard Mainstream Top 40: “Don’t Speak” (12/13/1996)
- Billboard Mainstream Top 40: “Hey Baby” feat. Bounty Killer (3/1/2002)
- Billboard Mainstream Top 40: “Underneath It All” feat. Lady Shaw (11/1/2002)
- Billboard Rap Airplay: “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” by Eve feat. Gwen Stefani (7/6/2001)
- Billboard Mainstream Top 40: “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” by Eve feat. Gwen Stefani (8/24/2001)
- Billboard Hot 100: “Hollaback Girl” (5/6/2005)
- Billboard Mainstream Top 40: “Hollaback Girl” (5/20/2005)
- Billboard Country Airplay: “Nobody But You” with Blake Shelton (5/1/2020)
Over the course of her 30-plus-year career, Gwen has built a remarkable résumé, especially when you think of it in terms of induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which isn’t just for “rock” acts anymore. In fact, you can make a compelling case that No Doubt deserves to be in the HOF now.
Performers become eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first record. No Doubt released its self-titled debut album in 1992, while Gwen released her debut solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby., in 2004. Criteria for the Hall of Fame include the “influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll.”
With No. 1 singles that span more than 23 years across multiple genres, Gwen’s musical catalog is gaining more and more “significance” every year.
“Nobody But You” is Blake Shelton’s 27th No. 1 single on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, which puts him in third place on the all-time list, but Gwen’s first No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart may be even more significant.
Blake is a lock for the Country Music Hall of Fame in the future.
Gwen is still making her case for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . . . and it’s looking rock-solid.
