Sam Smith, Kim Petras Make Trans History With Number 1 Song
This week marked a pivotal moment for trans talent in music. After climbing the charts over the past few weeks, Sam Smith’s track “Unholy” featuring Kim Petras reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, marking the first single by an openly nonbinary artist (Smith) and an openly trans artist (Petras) in history.
Billboard confirmed the achievement on Twitter on Monday, saying, “@samsmith and @kimpetras are the first publicly non-binary and transgender artists, respectively, to earn a No. 1 song on the #Hot100, thanks to ‘Unholy.'”
.@samsmith and @kimpetras are the first publicly non-binary and transgender artists, respectively, to earn a No. 1 song on the #Hot100, thanks to “Unholy.”
— billboard charts (@billboardcharts) October 24, 2022
The track, documenting an illicit affair, climbed the charts after its September release, notably gaining traction throughout October on TikTok. The music video currently has 29 million views.
“Unholy” was the first-ever Billboard Hot 100 entry for Petras, following five years of singles, three albums, and the Slut Pop EP, released earlier this year. Smith previously dominated the charts with 2014’s ballad, “Stay With Me,” though the track peaked at number two for two weeks without ever reaching the top spot.
Smith took to Instagram to celebrate the song’s number-one status, saying, “I can’t believe it. Number 1 in America. I am honestly speechless, overwhelmed, nautious (sic) and extremely happy. This song is so special to me for so many reasons and I am just so proud of everyone involved for their bravery and guts and spirit.”
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Petras similarly celebrated on Insta, shouting out Smith along with a screenshot of the Top 10, followed by a collection of BTS photos and videos of the pair.
Before hitting the number-one spot, Petras told Billboard she hopes she isn’t “the last” trans artist to top the charts.
“There’s always been incredible and talented trans artists, and they have been paid dust, you know? I mean, I was friends with SOPHIE—her influence can be heard on practically every popular song these days. But in her lifetime, she didn’t get what she deserved to get. Looking at artists like Amanda Lear in the 70s and 80s, who was an absolute disco queen, she got paid dust. People don’t talk about her the way they should. Ayesha Erotica has been so influential for me, and did not get what she deserved at all,” Petras says. “That same story just keeps repeating over and over for trans girls who have been making exceptional music and have been pushed under the rug while someone else takes credit from them.”
Watch the video for “Unholy” here:
Screenshot courtesy of Sam Smith on YouTube.
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