Mariah Carey adds to Hot 100 legacy

As "#Beautiful" bounds onto the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 24, Mariah Carey continues as one of the chart's most accomplished visitors dating to its August 4, 1958, launch. The lead single (featuring Miguel) from Carey's 13th studio album marks her 45th Hot 100 hit. Here's an updated look at the women with the most appearances:

73, Aretha Franklin
58, Taylor Swift
56, Madonna
56, Dionne Warwick
53, Connie Francis
48, Brenda Lee
46, Nicki Minaj
45, Mariah Carey
41, Rihanna
41, Barbra Streisand
40, Mary J. Blige
40, Diana Ross
39, Whitney Houston
39, Janet Jackson

 (Not to stir up trouble ahead of tonight's "American Idol" season finale, but - since Nicki Minaj has already Tweeted about the topic -: While Carey ups her count by one, fellow "Idol" judge Minaj passes her by charting two debuts this week, pushing her total to 46 career Hot 100 hits. Minaj bows as a featured act on Carly Rae Jepsen's "Tonight I'm Getting Over You" at No. 90 and Rich Gang's "Tapout" at No. 100. Notably, Carey has sported lead billing on 43 of her entries; Minaj, as rappers regularly chart in featured roles, has served as lead on 17 of hers.)
 With "#Beautiful" bowing, Carey also claims her 35th top 40 Hot 100 hit, tying Island Def Jam labelmate Rihanna's total. Here's a look at the solo females to make the most visits to the chart's top 40:

49, Madonna
43, Aretha Franklin
41, Taylor Swift
35, Mariah Carey
35, Rihanna
33, Connie Francis
32, Janet Jackson
31, Dionne Warwick
29, Whitney Houston
29, Brenda Lee

 Carey continues to boast one of the most vaunted of all Hot 100 records: her 18 No. 1s are the most among solo acts (and second overall only to the Beatles' 20). With 54 million albums sold, Carey is also the best-selling female album artist since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking U.S. sales in 1991. She trails only overall leader Garth Brooks (68.6 million) and runners-up the Beatles (64.4 million).
 Miguel, meanwhile, easily makes his best Hot 100 start with "#Beautiful". Of his prior seven charted titles, he'd debuted as high as No. 82 with his eventual No. 17-peaking "Adorn", still his highest-charted hit.
 Momentum for "#Beautiful" should continue: Carey is scheduled to perform the song tonight on the "Idol" season finale when either Candice Glover or Kree Harrison is named the series' newest champion.
(Billboard)