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which song made history as the very first no. 1 on the billboard hot 100?

The song that made history as the very first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 was "Poor Little Fool" by Ricky Nelson , which topped the newly launched chart dated August 4, 1958.

Quick Scoop: What Happened?

  • The Billboard Hot 100 debuted as a new all-genre singles chart on August 4, 1958.
  • In that very first week, "Poor Little Fool" claimed the top spot, making it the chart’s inaugural No. 1.
  • Since then, the Hot 100 has become the main reference for tracking hit songs in the United States.

Why This Was Historic

  • Before the Hot 100, Billboard used several separate charts (like best sellers and jukebox plays), and the Hot 100 unified these into one main ranking.
  • Ricky Nelson’s "Poor Little Fool" is remembered not just as a late‑50s hit, but as the track that opened the entire Hot 100 era.

TL;DR: The very first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 was "Poor Little Fool" by Ricky Nelson, on the chart dated August 4, 1958.

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