Taylor Swift’s “Opalite” Hits No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, continues to deliver chart-topping success, with the single “Opalite” ascending to Number One on the Billboard Hot 100. The achievement marks Swift’s fourteenth song to reach the pinnacle of the charts, tying her with Rihanna for the third-most Number One hits in Hot 100 history, surpassed only by The Beatles and Mariah Carey.

The singer celebrated the milestone on social media Monday, sharing a carousel of behind-the-scenes photos and video clips from the making of “Opalite” on Instagram. The post included moments with co-writers and producers Max Martin and Shellback, studio recording sessions and snippets from the song’s music video. She captioned the post, “Just a few Opalite memories to celebrate the Hot 100 #1 you guys just got this song!!”

The success of “Opalite” is particularly notable as it follows the impressive ten-week run of “The Fate of Ophelia,” the lead single from The Life of a Showgirl, which also topped the Billboard Hot 100. This marks only the second time Swift has achieved two Number One singles from a single album, the first being 2014’s 1989, with “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space,” and “Bad Blood.”

According to Billboard, “Opalite” garnered 11.4 million official streams and 168,000 sales in the U.S. During the week of February 13-19, a 2,290 percent increase in sales. The surge in sales was fueled by the release of CD singles, remixes, and vinyl versions of the track. Physical sales accounted for 144,000 of the total.

The song, released on January 12, 2026, is described as an upbeat pop rock, soft rock, and synth-pop track, with lyrics that utilize gemstone metaphors to explore themes of love and happiness found after past hardships. The title itself references artificial opals, symbolizing a created joy. Swift co-wrote and co-produced the song with Max Martin, and Shellback.

The achievement solidifies Swift’s dominance on the charts this decade, with “Opalite” being her ninth Number One hit of the 2020s. This extends her lead as the artist with the most chart-topping songs during that period.

In a post accompanying the chart news, Swift expressed her gratitude to fans, stating, “I’m so blown away by the love you’ve shown this song and video… I know that’s a lot of numbers but it all adds up to me being so thankful to the fans who helped make this happen by welcoming this song into your lives with open arms.” She playfully added that she might celebrate with a giant pretzel at the mall, a reference to a running joke with her fanbase.

“Opalite” initially debuted at Number Two on the Hot 100 upon its release, before climbing to the top spot thanks to the boost in sales and streaming numbers. The song has also seen success internationally, reaching Number One in the Philippines and the United Kingdom, and achieving a peak of Number Two on charts in Australia, Austria, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Portugal, and Switzerland.

The success of The Life of a Showgirl, and specifically “Opalite,” is noteworthy given the album’s reception as Swift’s most “divisive” work to date, according to some industry observers. The album’s willingness to experiment with sound and lyrical themes has sparked conversation among fans and critics alike, but has clearly not hindered its commercial performance.

The song’s music video, released earlier in February, adopts a Nineties aesthetic, further contributing to the track’s appeal and cultural resonance. Swift described feeling “so myself” while filming the video, suggesting a personal connection to the song’s message and visual style.

The continued success of Taylor Swift underscores her enduring influence on the music industry and her ability to connect with audiences on a deeply personal level. “Opalite” represents not only another chart-topping achievement but also a testament to her creative evolution and unwavering fan base.