Kenya Grace marks an incredible chart feat today as her debut single Strangers lifts to Number 1.
After a 6-week climb Kenya ends Doja Cat’s five-week reign at the top with Paint the Town Red, and in the process becomes one of only two female artists in Official Charts history to reach Number 1 with a track performed, written and produced entirely solo.
Kenya’s in elite company, as the only other act to have managed this feat is none other than Kate Bush, who in 2022 saw her 1985 single Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) reach the top of the charts following its feature on Stranger Things; RUTH was also entirely written and produced by Kate herself.
Tori Amos came close with her 1997 chart topper Professional Widow (It's Got To Be Big) but the track was boosted to Number 1 by a remix from DJ Arman Van Helden.
Strangers is also the first debut single by a British female artist to reach Number 1 in nine years, since Ella Henderson’s Ghost in 2014.
Meanwhile, cassö, Raye and D-Block Europe lift two places to a new peak of Number 2 with Prada. Could the track give Strangers a run for its money in the coming weeks?
Earning the three biggest new entries of the week is Drake, who sees First Person Shooter ft. J Cole (4), IDGAF ft. Yeat (5) and Virginia Beach (6) make their debut following the release of his latest album For All The Dogs. This pushes Drake’s number of Top 10 hits to 44.
Lifting three places this week is reigning Afrobeats Chart Number 1, Water by Tyla (7), and Sonny Fodera, MK and Clementine Douglas lift one place with Asking (10) to enter the Top 10 for the first time.
Outside the Top 10, Mitski’s My Love Mine All Mine continues to break ground, rising two to Number 13 today.
Billy Gillies & Hannah Boleyn are up one on DNA (Loving You) (17), while Suicidal-Idol’s Ecstasy rises seven (26) and indie-pop band Lovejoy earn their highest -charting single yet with Normal People Things (27).
Following the release of his latest record Crop Circle 3, Harlesden MC Nines earns a trio of Top 40 hits today; his Daily Duppy for GRM Daily is up 7 (23), while album tracks I Do with Tunde & Mugzz (35) and Toxic with Bad Boy Chiller Crew (37) earn big debuts.
Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves’ duet I Remember Everything uplifts eight to a new peak (29), while Jungle’s Back On 74 is up six (30).
And finally, Jennie becomes the second member of BLACKPINK to gain a solo UK Top 40 single. You & Me enters the chart at Number 39. Earlier this year, her bandmate Jisoo became the first BLACKPINK member to enter the UK Top 40 as a solo artist on Flower, which peaked at Number 38.
