HUNTR/X isn’t your average girl group — and not just because it has a fictional foundation. The trio are the animated stars of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, where the members lead double lives as both global pop sensations and demon slayers. The group — Rumi, Mira and Zoey, whose music is voiced by real-life singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI — joins elite history this week (on the chart dated Aug. 16) by hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Golden.” After debuting in early July, the track has snowballed into a phenomenon, powered by gains across multiple metrics. It rises to the top with 31.7 million official streams (up 10%), 8.4 million radio audience impressions (up 71%) and 6,000 sold (up 35%) in the United States Aug. 1-7, according to Luminate. Fictional or not, HUNTR/X now joins an exclusive club. The trio becomes the 23rd all-woman group in the Hot 100’s 67-year history to hit No. 1, and the first in nearly a quarter-century. The last time it happened was with Destiny’s Child in 2001, with “Bootylicious.” Even though that’s a long drought, girl groups have a deep history on the Hot 100, stretching back to a golden age in the 1960s, when acts like the Supremes and the Shirelles ruled. As we look back on every Hot 100 No. 1 song by girl groups, it’s worth noting that some of these acts would likely shy away from calling themselves a “girl group” (with some preferring to be known simply as a band, especially if its members play instruments). There also isn’t one specific “girl group sound” — HUNTR/X and the Supremes don’t have much in common beyond having all-female lineups. So for this list, we’re counting all the No. 1s by all-female acts with at least three members. That rules out female-dominated but mixed-gender bands including Fleetwood Mac and Heart; male-female family groups such as the Staple Singers; and superstar one-offs by soloists, such as 2001’s “Lady Marmalade” by Christina Aguilera, Mya, P!nk and Lil’ Kim. Before we get into it, other beloved such acts came close to reaching No. 1 on the Hot 100, but just missed the pinnacle. That’s a list that includes BLACKPINK, En Vogue, Fifth Harmony, TWICE and the Go-Go’s — the lattermost are the only all-woman rock band to ever ever top the Billboard 200 albums chart. By the definition above, 44 songs by girl groups have reached No. 1 on the Hot 100. Let’s break them down by decade, starting with the era when girl groups largely defined pop music. ‘60s Girl Group Hot 100 No. 1s Artist, Title, Peak DateThe Shirelles, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” 1/30/1961The Marvelettes, “Please Mr. Postman,” 12/11/1961The Shirelles, “Soldier Boy,” 5/5/1962The Crystals, “He’s a Rebel,” 11/3/1962The Chiffons, “He’s So Fine,” 3/30/1963The Angels, “My Boyfriend’s Back,” 8/31/1963The Dixie Cups, “Chapel of Love,” 6/6/1964The Supremes, “Where Did Our Love Go,” 8/22/1964The Supremes, “Baby Love,” 10/31/1964The Shangri-Las, “Leader of the Pack,” 11/28/1964The Supremes, “Come See About Me,” 12/19/1964The Supremes, “Stop! In the Name of Love,” 3/27/1964The Supremes, Back in My Arms Again,” 6/12/1965The Supremes, “I Hear a Symphony,” 11/20/1965The Supremes, “You Can’t Hurry Love,” 9/10/1966The Supremes, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” 11/19/1966The Supremes, “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone,” 3/11/1967The Supremes, “The Happening,” 5/13/1967Diana Ross & the Supremes, “Love Child,” 11/30/1968Diana Ross & the Supremes, “Someday We’ll Be Together,” 12/27/1969 The ‘60s were the most dominant era for girl groups, with 20 of the 44 total Hot 100 No. 1s achieved in that decade. Of those 20 No. 1s, 12 were by the Supremes alone — the most by an all-woman group in the chart’s history. The sound was pure pop with strong R&B roots, largely produced by legendary producers Phil Spector and Motown’s Holland-Dozier-Holland trio. ‘70s Girl Group Hot 100 No. 1s Artist, Title, Peak DateThe Honey Cone, “Want Ads,” 6/12/1971Labelle, “Lady Marmalade,” 3/29/1975Silver Convention, “Fly, Robin, Fly,” 11/29/1975The Emotions, “Best of My Love,” 8/20/1977 Girl groups took a relative dip in the ‘70s, with only four No. 1s, compared to 20 the previous decade. That’s perhaps partially due to Diana Ross’ split from the Supremes (she earned four solo No. 1s this decade outside the group). Still, the sound didn’t disappear — it just evolved into disco anthems from Silver Convention and Labelle, and more R&B sounds from the Emotions and Honey Cone. ‘80s Girl Group Hot 100 No. 1s Artist, Title, Peak DateBananarama, “Venus,” 9/6/1986The Bangles, “Walk Like an Egyptian,” 12/20/1986Exposé, “Seasons Change,” 2/20/1988The Bangles, “Eternal Flame,” 4/1/1989 The ‘80s brought a different flavor to girl group No. 1s on the Hot 100. These bands may not define the “girl group” label, but they fit the criteria here. The decade’s four No. 1s were bright, catchy pop songs and ballads, some with a rock edge. ‘90s Girl Group Hot 100 No. 1s Artist, Title, Peak DateWilson Phillips, “Hold On,” 6/9/1990Sweet Sensation, “If Wishes Came True,” 9/1/1990Wilson Phillips, “Release Me,” 9/15/1990Wilson Phillips, “You’re In Love,” 4/20/1991SWV, “Weak,” 7/10/1993TLC, “Creep,” 1/28/1995TLC, “Waterfalls,” 7/8/1995Spice Girls, “Wannabe,” 2/22/1997Divine, “Lately,” 11/28/1998TLC, “No Scrubs,” 4/10/1999Destiny’s Child, “Bills, Bills, Bills,” 7/17/1999TLC, “Unpretty,” 9/18/1999 The ‘90s brought girl groups back to the forefront with 12 Hot 100 No. 1s. R&B ruled, largely thanks to TLC’s four No. 1s, along with leaders from SWV and Divine. Pop acts including Wilson Phillips, Sweet Sensation and Spice Girls also brought their own styles to the summit. Even compared to the 20 No. 1s in the ‘60s, the ‘90s make the case for the most diverse decade for girl groups, encompassing pop, rock and R&B. 2000s Girl Group Hot 100 No. 1s Artist, Title, Peak DateDestiny’s Child, “Say My Name,” 3/18/2000Destiny’s Child, “Independent Women Part I,” 11/18/2000Destiny’s Child, “Bootylicious,” 8/4/2001 Destiny’s Child picked up right where the ‘90s left off, tallying three more Hot 100 No. 1s in less than two years. Similar to Diana Ross’ exit from the Supremes, the group’s reign ended when Beyoncé went solo — Bey has since tallied
