From their debut in 1997 with their self-titled album to their Celebrity era in 2001, *NSYNC captivated fans and dominated the Billboard charts with unforgettable hits like “Bye Bye Bye” and “It’s Gonna Be Me.” This iconic boy band, featuring Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, and Chris Kirkpatrick, consistently delivered chart-topping singles throughout the late 90s and early 2000s.
*NSYNC achieved remarkable success on the Pop Airplay chart, securing two No. 1 hits within just four years. “Bye Bye Bye,” from their 2000 album No Strings Attached, reigned for an impressive 10 weeks in 2000, followed by “It’s Gonna Be Me” from the same album, which held the top spot for five weeks later that year. In total, *NSYNC boasted nine top 10 hits on the Pop Airplay chart, cementing their status as pop royalty.
Their impact extended to the Billboard Hot 100, where they landed six top 10 singles and one No. 1 hit. “It’s Gonna Be Me” topped the Hot 100 for two weeks in the spring of 2000. Notably, “This I Promise You,” also from No Strings Attached, became their longest-charting song on the Hot 100, spending 26 weeks on the chart and peaking at No. 5.
No Strings Attached made history upon its release in March 2000, selling a record-breaking 2.4 million copies in its first week. This sales record stood until Adele’s 25 surpassed it in 2015. The album also dominated the Billboard 200 albums chart for eight weeks. Celebrity, released in 2001, was their only other album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, spending one week at the top in August 2001.
Below is a countdown of *NSYNC’s 10 biggest hits on the Pop Airplay chart, celebrating their enduring musical legacy.
This ranking of *NSYNC’s top Billboard hits is based on their performance on the weekly Pop Airplay chart up to September 9, 2023. The methodology uses an inverse point system, where weeks at No. 1 are awarded the highest value and weeks at No. 40 the least. Adjustments are made to account for chart methodology changes over time, ensuring fair representation across different eras.
10. “I Drive Myself Crazy”
Peak Position on Pop Airplay: No. 14
Peak Date: May 22, 1999
9. “Pop”
NSYNC performing their energetic song Pop on stage
Peak Position on Pop Airplay: No. 5
Peak Date: June 30, 2001
8. “Gone”
NSYNC performing their ballad Gone in a dimly lit setting
Peak Position on Pop Airplay: No. 7
Peak Date: Nov. 17, 2001
7. “Girlfriend,” feat. Nelly
Peak Position on Pop Airplay: No. 5
Peak Date: April 13, 2002
6. “I Want You Back”
NSYNC in their early days performing I Want You Back with iconic outfits
Peak Position on Pop Airplay: No. 7
Peak Date: May 9, 1998
5. “Tearin’ Up My Heart”
Peak Position on Pop Airplay: No. 6
Peak Date: Sept. 26, 1998
4. “This I Promise You”
NSYNC performing This I Promise You in a concert setting with fans
Peak Position on Pop Airplay: No. 4
Peak Date: Nov. 18, 2000
3. “(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You”
Peak Position on Pop Airplay: No. 5
Peak Date: Feb. 20, 1999
2. “It’s Gonna Be Me”
NSYNC in the iconic puppet music video scene for Its Gonna Be Me
Peak Position on Pop Airplay: No. 1 (five weeks)
Peak Date: July 1, 2000
1. “Bye Bye Bye”
Peak Position on Pop Airplay: No. 1 (10 weeks)
Peak Date: March 4, 2000
