Sam Smith and Kim Petras are first openly non-binary and transgender soloists to top Billboard Hot 100
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ latest hit song ‘Unholy’ has created history after officially reaching No 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. This is time when Smith’s had reached the highest level on the US chart since 2014’s ‘Stay with Me’ reached No 2. On the other hand, Petras’ first-ever song to even reach the Hot 100 let alone being No 1.
What is most interesting is the fact that Smith becomes the first-ever openly non-binary solo artist, while Petras is now the first openly transgender solo artist to hit the top of the chart since its 1991 release, reports Billboard. "NUMBER ONEEEE HOT 100! I'm so grateful. Sam I can't thank you enough for riding with me for years at this point," wrote Petras on its Instagram. It added, "I'm so honored to be a part of your first number one in the US which you should have 500 of at this point. I love you forever angel Sam.”
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‘Unholy’ first hit on TikTok, where it had a pre-release clip shared, and finally dropped on September 22. It had been widely played on radio station across the nation since then and reached Number 1 in Australia, Ireland, and Canada, including Smith’s home country UK.
Petras recently gave an interview to Billboard where it expressed hope on the song becoming No 1 one day on the Hot 100, "It does look like a kind of [chart-topping] trajectory, not gonna lie — that No. 1 slot would be pretty sick," it shared on the magazine. "It's been such a pleasant collaboration with someone I truly respect and feel very inspired by. I'm extremely happy for Sam — and of course for me, too."
On her sexuality and referring to artists such as Amanda Lear, Ayesha Erotica, and SOPHIE, it said, "I just really don't want to be the last. There's always been incredible and talented trans artists, and they have been paid dust." She further reflected, "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. I'm just happy that Sam gave me the chance to shine here. I hope I can help break the cycle — it feels like people are finally ready for us to succeed, and that fills me with a lot of joy."
‘Unholy’ is all set to feature on Smith’s fourth studio album Gloria, which is dated on January 27, 2023 via Capitol Records, reports People.
