This Day in Top 40 History: December 22
On Dec. 22, 1993, Meghan Trainor was born to Gary and Kelli Trainor in Nantucket, Massachusetts. She started singing at her local church when she was 6 years old. Trainor’s…
On Dec. 22, 1993, Meghan Trainor was born to Gary and Kelli Trainor in Nantucket, Massachusetts. She started singing at her local church when she was 6 years old. Trainor's 2014 debut single, "All About That Bass," hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the beginning of her successful music career. Trainor's other Top 10 hits include "Like I'm Gonna Lose You," "NO," and "Lips Are Movin."
Many other artists also celebrate their birthdays on Dec. 22. Keep reading to learn more about the notable Top 40 music events from this day.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Several births, weddings, and deaths took place on Dec. 22, including:
- 1989: Jordin Sparks was born in Phoenix, Arizona. She's known for Top 10 hits such as "No Air," featuring Chris Brown, "Battlefield," and "Tattoo." When the "One Step At a Time" hitmaker won American Idol at age 17 in 2007, she became the show's youngest winner.
- 1998: Latto was born to Shayne Stephens and Misti Pitts in Columbus, Ohio. She rose to fame after winning The Rap Game, a TV show created and produced by Queen Latifah and Jermaine Dupri. Latto's hit "Big Energy" peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her a GRAMMY nomination. Her collaboration with BTS' Jung Kook, "Seven," reached the top of the Billboard chart and spent 15 weeks on it.
- 2000: "Take a Bow" singer Madonna and Guy Ritchie got married at a castle near Dornoch, Scotland. They share two sons, Rocco and David. However, they divorced in 2008 and had a prolonged custody battle over their son, Rocco, which was settled in 2016.
- 2003: Dave Dudley died in Danbury, Wisconsin. His wife, Marie, revealed that he had suffered a heart attack. Dudley had multiple Top 40 hits in the 1960s and 1970s, such as "What We're Fighting For" and "Six Days on the Road." The latter peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
- 2006: Mashonda Tifrere and Swizz Beatz, who have contributed to at least four Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, became parents to their son, Kasseem Dean Jr. In 2010, they divorced, and Beatz married "No One" hitmaker Alicia Keys. The latter penned "Blended Family (What You Do For Love)" about the couple's extended family shared with Tifrere, but the song didn't chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
- 2014: Joe Cocker died from lung cancer at 70. His enviable music career spanned over five decades, and he won a GRAMMY in 1983. Cocker had several Top 100 hits, including "You Are So Beautiful," which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and his No. 1 single, "Up Where We Belong."
It's evident that Dec. 22 is an unforgettable date for Top 40 music fans. Come back to this page tomorrow to discover all the noteworthy events associated with that day in Top 40 history.
