Cher becomes the first female artist to score a Top 40 hit with new material on the Official Singles Chart for seven consecutive decades. While Cher's UK debut originally came in the form of the chart-topping Sonny & Cher duet I Got You Babe in 1965, her debut solo single All I Really Want To Do broke the UK Top 40 the same month, and Cher has gone on to record a solo single with new material in the Top 40 every decade since.
At the age of 77 years, 7 months, Cher also becomes the oldest solo female artist to reach the Top 40 on the Official Singles Chart with the lead single from her 27th studio album Christmas. DJ Play a Christmas Song enters the Top 20 at Number 20 this week.
This means Cher surpasses previous record holder Shirley Bassey, the Welsh singer-songwriter was 70 years and 4 months old when The Living Tree reached Number 37 in 2007.
Captain Sir Tom Moore holds the record for the oldest artist to score a UK Number 1 single, aged 99 years and 11 months when Michael Ball's collaboration You'll Never Walk Alone reached number 1 in 2020.
Speaking about Cher's record-breaking success, Martin Talbot, CEO, Official Charts Company, says:
“Cher cements her place as a living legend this week with two spectacular chart achievements. With top 40 hits now spanning seven straight decades, it's incredible to think that WHAM!'s Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael just made the their first steps when Cher was enjoying her first UK number 1, almost 20 years before the release of Last Christmas. Cher, we salute you!”
