Lionel Richie and Diana Ross have the most enduring love song of all time.
The Motown icons’ 1981 ballad, “Endless Love,” ranks as No. 1 on Billboard’s list of Top 50 Hot 100 hit about love (or with it in its title).
The music industry trade publication based the list on weeks at No. 1 and covered songs from all eras of the chart’s history, with the oldest song being 1958′s “To Know Him Is To Love Him” from the Teddy Bears.
The most recent song on the full list is Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi’s 2019 hit “Someone You Loved.”
Written by Richie, “Endless Love” was used as the theme for the Franco Zeffirelli’s 1981 romantic drama of the same name starring Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt.
Released as a duet with Ross, the song spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and garnered Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for original song.
It was the best-selling single of Ross’ career. The Detroit-born diva recorded a solo version of the ballad that was released on her first RCA album, “Why Do Fools Fall in Love.”
The next year, Richie would record a solo version of the five-time Grammy Award-nominated song, which would be later covered by Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey, and country crooner Kenny Rogers.
In 2011, Richie recorded a country-styled version of the song with Shania Twain for his “Tuskegee” opus.
Other notable entries include Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” at No. 44, Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It” at No. 35, Beyoncé́ and Jay-Z’s “Crazy In Love” at No. 26, and Barbra Streisand’s “Woman in Love” at No. 15.
Billboard’s top 10 love songs of all time are below:
10. “Best of My Love” – The Emotions
9. “I Love Rock n’ Roll” – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
8. “Because I love You (The Postman Song)” – Stevie B.
7. “Let Me Love You” – Mario
6. “I Will Always Love You” – Whitney Houston
5. “Silly Love Songs” – Wings
4. “We Found Love” – Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris
3. “How Deep Is Your Love” – Bee Gees
2. “I’ll Make Love to You” – Boyz II Men
1. “Endless Love” – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
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