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Rimes, Aerosmith Set Records

Billboard

LeAnn Rimes and Aerosmith both set new records on Billboard’s Hot 100 this week, and both did it with songs written by Diane Warren.

As predicted, “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” (Columbia) from the “Armageddon” soundtrack becomes the ninth single to enter the Hot 100 at No. 1. That gives Aerosmith the distinction of taking the longest time from first chart entry to first No. 1 in the history of the chart.

The record was previously held by Tina Turner, who first appeared on the Hot 100 the week of Aug. 29, 1960, with “A Fool In Love,” recorded with then husband Ike Turner. But Tina didn’t collect a No. 1 until “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” which reached pole position exactly 24 years later, the week of Sept. 1, 1984.

Fourteen years on, Aerosmith has taken an even longer road to No. 1. The group first appeared on the Hot 100 the week of Oct. 20, 1973, with “Dream On.” It’s taken almost 25 years to get to the top with “Thing,” which replaces “Angel” as the highest-ranking Aerosmith single. That Geffen single peaked at No. 3 in 1988.

“I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” is Warren’s eighth chart-topper, stretching back 11 years to Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.” That ties Warren with Carole King in third place for the most No. 1’s by a female songwriter.

The only women with more are Mariah Carey (12) and Madonna (nine). Carey, Madonna and King are also artists, although most of King’s No. 1 titles have been recorded by others. Still, Warren is the only female songwriter among the top four who does not record her own material.

As for Rimes’ reason to send a little gift to the songwriter, the teenager breaks the record for the most weeks in the top 40 portion of the Hot 100, as “How Do I Live” (Curb), composed by Warren, holds at No. 40 in its 61st week on the chart. As only two singles in history have been on the entire chart for 61 weeks or more, it’s not hard to figure out which title previously held the record. Jewel’s two-sided “You Were Meant For Me”/ “Foolish Games” was in the top 40 for 60 weeks.