Sept. 21 has been an important date in music history, bringing chart-topping singles, influential albums, memorable live performances, and major moments in pop culture.
On Sept. 21, 2019, Lizzo’s hit single “Truth Hurts” topped the charts for the second of an eventual 19 weeks. The song gained momentum after going viral on social media and became Lizzo’s first No. 1 hit.
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But Lizzo’s historic chart achievement is just one of many memorable events associated with Sept. 21. From ABBA and Nirvana to Taylor Swift, R.E.M., and Green Day, the date has produced plenty of milestones across multiple generations of music.
Breakthrough Hits and Music Milestones
Several influential artists marked important moments in their careers on Sept. 21.
1974: Barry White Tops the Charts
Barry White reached No. 1 with “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe.” The soulful hit became one of the singer’s signature recordings and remains closely associated with his distinctive romantic sound.
1982: Luther Vandross Releases Forever, For Always, For Love
Luther Vandross released Forever, For Always, For Love, his second studio album.
The record reached No. 20 on the Billboard 200 while spending three weeks at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album included notable songs such as “Promise Me” and “Since I Lost My Baby.”
1992: ABBA Releases Gold: Greatest Hits
A decade after ABBA’s breakup, the group released Gold: Greatest Hits.
The compilation went on to become the band’s best-selling album in the United States, helping introduce ABBA’s catalog to another generation of listeners.
1992: Radiohead Releases “Creep”
Radiohead released its debut single, “Creep,” in 1992.
Although the song did not become an immediate worldwide phenomenon, it eventually grew into an international breakthrough and one of the band’s most recognizable recordings.
1993: Nirvana Releases In Utero
Nirvana issued its third and final studio album, In Utero, in the United States in 1993.
The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and produced memorable tracks including “Heart-Shaped Box,” “Dumb,” and “Serve the Servants.”
1993: De La Soul Releases Buhloone Mindstate
Hip-hop group De La Soul released its third studio album, Buhloone Mindstate.
The record featured songs such as “Ego Trippin’ (Part Two)” and “Breakadawn.” It reached No. 40 on the Billboard 200 and climbed to No. 9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
2012: Green Day Releases ¡Uno!
Green Day released ¡Uno!, the first installment in the band’s trilogy of albums.
The record peaked at No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Rock Albums charts. It also produced “Oh Love,” which spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.
Cultural Milestones in Music
Music history is closely connected to television, pop culture, and the artists who help shape each era.
1967: Faith Hill Is Born
Country-pop superstar Faith Hill was born in Mississippi on Sept. 21, 1967.
She later became one of the most successful crossover artists in country music, scoring major hits including “This Kiss” and “Breathe.”
2011: The X Factor Arrives in the United States
After years of success in the United Kingdom, The X Factor premiered in the United States in 2011.
The American version featured Nicole Scherzinger, L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell as judges, bringing the internationally known talent competition to a new television audience.
2012: No Doubt Returns With Push and Shove
After an 11-year gap between studio albums, No Doubt released Push and Shove in 2012.
The album marked the band’s return to the spotlight and continued the group’s evolution from its ska and punk roots into mainstream pop-rock.
Notable Recordings and Live Performances
Live performances can become defining moments in an artist’s career. Sept. 21 has been connected to several memorable concerts and music events over the years.
2001: America: A Tribute to Heroes
Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Tom Petty, and other major artists came together for America: A Tribute to Heroes, a benefit concert held following the Sept. 11 attacks.
The event brought musicians together to raise money for victims and their families while offering a nationally televised moment of remembrance and solidarity.
2010: Tom Petty Takes the Mojo Tour to Dallas
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers brought their Mojo Tour to the Superpages.com Center in Dallas, Texas, in 2010.
The set included songs such as “Don’t Do Me Like That” and “Learning to Fly.” The tour supported Mojo, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
2018: Taylor Swift Performs in Nashville
Taylor Swift brought her Reputation Stadium Tour to Nashville in 2018.
During the performance, Hunter Hayes joined Swift onstage for a duet, giving the Nashville audience a memorable collaboration during the stadium tour.
2019: Post Malone Performs in Fresno
Post Malone performed a 21-song set at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, in 2019.
The set included “Congratulations,” “Psycho,” and “White Iverson.” The concert was part of his Runaway Tour, which supported his No. 1 album Hollywood’s Bleeding.
2019: Avril Lavigne Brings Head Above Water to Denver
Avril Lavigne’s Head Above Water Tour stopped at the Paramount Theatre in Denver, Colorado, in 2019.
The tour supported her album Head Above Water, which reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and marked another chapter in the career of the “Complicated” hitmaker.
2025: Twenty One Pilots Performs in Toronto
Twenty One Pilots performed songs including “Heathens” and “Ride” at Budweiser Stage in Toronto, Canada, in 2025.
The concert was part of The Clancy Tour: Breach, supporting the duo’s albums Clancy and Breach. Both records reached the top five of the Billboard 200.
Industry Changes, Career Transitions and Losses
Sept. 21 has also been associated with significant developments behind the music.
1972: In Concert Begins
Hofstra University in New York hosted the taping of the first episode of In Concert in 1972.
The program featured performances by artists including Alice Cooper and Bo Diddley, helping establish another platform for televised live music.
1996: Meg White and Jack Gillis Marry
Meg White and Jack Gillis married in 1996. Gillis took White’s last name, and the two later formed The White Stripes.
The duo went on to score major U.K. hits including “Icky Thump,” “Blue Orchid,” and “Seven Nation Army.” They divorced in 2000.
2009: Rev. John “Bootsie” Wilson Dies
Rev. John “Bootsie” Wilson died in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in 2009 at age 69.
Wilson was the final surviving member of the Silhouettes, whose “Get a Job” became a major hit and spent more than 10 weeks atop Billboard’s R&B chart.
2011: R.E.M. Announces Its Breakup
After more than three decades together, R.E.M. announced in 2011 that the band would disband.
The group had built a highly influential career that helped bring alternative rock into the mainstream, making its decision to end its run a significant moment in modern rock history.
2020: Tommy DeVito Dies
Tommy DeVito died in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2020 at age 92.
DeVito was a founding member of The Four Seasons, the group behind U.S. chart-toppers such as “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Sherry,” and “Walk Like a Man.” Reports attributed his death to complications from COVID-19.
2024: ABBA Drummer Roger Palm Dies
Roger Palm died in 2024 at age 75 from complications associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
The longtime ABBA drummer contributed to recordings of some of the group’s best-known songs, including “Take a Chance on Me,” “Dancing Queen,” and “Mamma Mia.”
Why Sept. 21 Matters in Music History
From chart-topping singles and landmark albums to major tours, television milestones, and influential artists, Sept. 21 has repeatedly appeared in the timeline of popular music.
Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” provides one of the date’s most notable modern chart milestones, while albums from Nirvana, Green Day, Luther Vandross, De La Soul, and No Doubt demonstrate the wide range of music connected to the date.
The history also extends beyond recordings. Concerts featuring artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, Tom Petty, Post Malone, Avril Lavigne, and Twenty One Pilots show how Sept. 21 has been part of memorable live-music moments as well.
Whether you remember In Concert, grew up listening to Faith Hill, discovered Radiohead through “Creep,” or watched Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” become a viral sensation, Sept. 21 offers something for virtually every music fan.
That’s what makes music history so fascinating: one date can connect generations of artists, songs, albums, performances, and cultural moments.