Lorde (born Ella Yelich-O’Connor on Nov. 7, 1996) becomes the third-youngest solo artist to crown Pop Songs (which launched in 1992). JoJo was 13 years and seven months old when “Leave (Get Out)” began a five-week reign in 2004, while Miley Cyrus was 16 years, 11 months and two weeks old when “Party in the U.S.A.” reached No. 1 in 2009. The five youngest soloists to top the chart are all female, in fact: Britney Spears was 17 years two months and three weeks old when “…Baby One More Time” hit the top in 1999 and Avril Lavigne was 17 years and 10 months when “Complicated” climbed to the summit in 2002.
(Including group members, Hanson’s Zac Hanson is the youngest artist to rule Pop Songs. He was a mere 11 years and six months old when the brother trio’s “MmmBop” reached No. 1 in 1997.)
