Dua Lipa’s Radical Chart Achievements: How the Pop Superstar Made Billboard History

From her first Hot 100 appearance to the record-breaking success of “Levitating,” Dua Lipa has established herself as one of the defining chart forces of modern pop.

Dua Lipa’s rise to global superstardom has been reflected not only in sold-out concerts and international acclaim, but also in a remarkable series of achievements on the Billboard charts.

As the pop superstar prepared to release her album Radical Optimism, Billboard looked back at the career milestones that helped define her extraordinary journey—from her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 to the historic success of “Levitating.”

The Beginning of a Billboard Journey

Dua Lipa made her Billboard Hot 100 debut with “Blow Your Mind (Mwah),” which reached No. 72 in November 2016.

That first chart appearance marked the beginning of an impressive run. Since then, the singer has earned 23 career entries on the Hot 100, including five Top 10 hits.

Among her biggest chart successes are:

• “New Rules” — peaked at No. 6
• “Don’t Start Now” — peaked at No. 2
• “Levitating” — peaked at No. 2

These achievements helped establish Dua Lipa as one of the most consistent hitmakers of her generation.

“Levitating” Becomes a Historic Hit

Few songs in recent pop history have matched the extraordinary chart performance of “Levitating.”

The song became a massive commercial success and was named the No. 1 year-end Billboard Hot 100 song of 2021.

But its success went even further.

“Levitating” holds the record for the longest-charting song by a woman in Billboard Hot 100 history, with a total of 77 weeks on the chart.

The song also set another major record, spending 41 weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10, the most among women in the chart’s history.

For Dua Lipa, “Levitating” became much more than another hit single. It became one of the defining songs of her career—and a landmark moment in modern pop music.

Dominating the Pop Airplay Chart

Dua Lipa’s success has extended beyond the Hot 100.

On the Pop Airplay chart, she has earned 23 career entries, including five No. 1 songs.

Among those chart-topping hits are:

• “Break My Heart”
• “Dance the Night”

Her consistent presence on radio demonstrates the extraordinary staying power of her music. From dance-pop anthems to emotional singles, Dua has repeatedly connected with audiences across multiple formats.

Success on the Billboard 200

Dua Lipa has also made her mark on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

She has achieved three charting albums, including the acclaimed Future Nostalgia, which reached No. 3.

The album became a defining release of its era, delivering a series of successful singles and strengthening Dua Lipa’s reputation as one of pop music’s most powerful album artists.

Looking Ahead to Radical Optimism

As Dua Lipa prepared to enter a new musical era with Radical Optimism, the question was simple: how would her next chapter perform on the charts?

The album’s title reflected a powerful creative philosophy. As Dua explained, the project explores the idea of chaos happening around her while she tries to push through it in a way that feels authentic and honest.

That combination of personal honesty and ambitious pop production has long been central to Dua Lipa’s artistic identity.

A Chart Legacy Still Growing

Dua Lipa’s Billboard achievements reveal the scale of her impact.

From a No. 72 debut with “Blow Your Mind (Mwah)” to multiple Top 10 hits, No. 1 radio singles, and the record-breaking success of “Levitating,” her career has become a story of remarkable consistency and global influence.

With each new era, Dua Lipa continues to expand her musical legacy.

And as the world looked toward Radical Optimism, one thing was already clear: Dua Lipa’s chart story was far from over.

Watch the Full Billboard Explains Feature

Discover the story behind Dua Lipa’s radical chart achievements, including her Billboard Hot 100 debut, the record-breaking success of “Levitating,” her Pop Airplay milestones, and the chart history behind her biggest hits.

Watch the full video above and explore the remarkable Billboard journey of one of pop music’s biggest global stars.