As the Billboard Hot 100 celebrates its 66th anniversary this week, the spotlight turns to the Jamaican women who’ve made their mark on America’s definitive singles chart. Since its debut on August 4, 1958, only 27 Jamaican women have entered the Hot 100—most during the last century, when reggae, ska, and dancehall first began breaking into U.S. pop culture.
But in the 21st century, that number has sharply declined with just six Jamaican female artists reaching the Hot 100 since 2000, as the genre’s mainstream crossover moments became more limited. Still, those who broke through did so with impact—whether in the form of chart-topping pop collaborations or brief but significant appearances tied to major cultural moments.
Leading the 21st-century cohort is Lady Saw, now known as Minister Marion Hall, whose 30-week run with No Doubt’s “Underneath It All” remains the longest stretch on the Hot 100 for any Jamaican female act in the new millennium.
Grace Jones, the iconic performer and provocateur, remains the only Jamaican female artist—indeed, one of the few women globally—to chart across three different decades: the 1970s, 1980s, and 2020s. Her most recent entry came in 2022 via a feature on Beyoncé’s Renaissance album.
Tessanne Chin also holds a singular place in history as the only Jamaican solo female act to debut on the Hot 100 this century through a talent show, entering the chart three times during her winning stint on The Voice.
Below is a full breakdown of the Jamaican women who’ve made it onto the Hot 100 in the last 25 years.
Lady Saw (Marion Hall)
Total Weeks on Hot 100: 30 weeks
Songs:
•Underneath It All — No Doubt featuring Lady Saw
•Peak Position: No. 3
•Weeks on Chart: 30
•Year: 2002
Lady Saw’s collaboration with No Doubt remains the highest-charting Hot 100 appearance by a Jamaican woman and one of the most enduring, holding in the Top 10 for several weeks. Her earlier feature on Smile helped build her U.S. profile in the crossover pop market.
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Sasha
Total Weeks on Hot 100: 25 weeks
Song:
•I’m Still In Love With You — Sean Paul featuring Sasha
•Peak Position: No. 14
•Weeks on Chart: 25
•Year: 2004
Sasha’s duet with Sean Paul became a global success, extending the reach of lovers rock-inspired dancehall into U.S. radio and earning one of the highest peaks for a Jamaican female act.
Nyla
Total Weeks on Hot 100: 20 weeks
Song:
•Light It Up — Major Lazer featuring Nyla & Fuse ODG
•Peak Position: No. 73
•Weeks on Chart: 20
•Year: 2016
Formerly of Brick & Lace, Nyla returned to international charts as a solo act with this global EDM hit, further highlighting Jamaica’s influence in electronic dance music.
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Shenseea
Total Weeks on Hot 100: 11 weeks (up to August 9)
Song:
•Shake It To The Max (FLY) Remix — Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea
•Peak Position: No. 44
•Weeks on Chart: 11
•Year: 2025
Shenseea’s latest entry marks her first appearance on the Hot 100 as a credited artist. The collaboration with Moliy and others continues her crossover efforts following features on albums by Kanye West and Megan Thee Stallion.
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Tessanne Chin
Total Weeks on Hot 100: 3 weeks
Songs:
•Bridge Over Troubled Water
•Peak Position: No. 64
•Weeks on Chart: 1
•Year: 2013
I Have Nothing
•Peak Position: No. 51
•Weeks on Chart: 1
•Year: 2014
•Let It Be (with Adam Levine)
•Peak Position: No. 76
•Weeks on Chart: 1
•Year: 2014
Following her win on The Voice, Chin charted briefly with covers released during the competition, making her one of the few Jamaican female artists to enter the chart through reality television.
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Grace Jones
Total Weeks on Hot 100 (this century): 1 week
Song:
•Move — Beyoncé featuring Grace Jones & Tems
•Peak Position: No. 55
•Weeks on Chart: 1
•Year: 2022
A legacy artist and fashion icon, Grace Jones made a surprise Hot 100 return through a feature on Beyoncé’s Renaissance album. She is the only Jamaican artist to chart three separate decades on the Hot 100.
