Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” could tie major records held by Drake and BTS while extending several of her own Billboard achievements. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – DECEMBER 06: EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO STANDALONE PUBLICATION USE (NO SPECIAL INTEREST OR SINGLE ARTIST PUBLICATION USE; NO BOOK USE). Taylor Swift performs onstage during “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at BC Place on December 06, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Kevin Winter/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
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Taylor Swift has made a habit of sending her new releases immediately to the top of the Billboard charts. Her upcoming single “Patient Zero” could not only become another leader for the singer, but help her make history yet again on several of the most competitive tallies.
The track is scheduled to become available on Friday (September 25). Nothing about its commercial performance is guaranteed before anyone has heard it, but if “Patient Zero” launches like its predecessor, one song could alter Swift’s standing in the history books on several rankings at once.
Taylor Swift Could Match Drake’s Billboard Hot 100 Record
Swift currently counts 15 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, which places her alone in third place on the ranking of artists who have conquered the roster most frequently, behind the Beatles with 20 and Mariah Carey with 19. “Patient Zero” could become her sixteenth champion, but an immediate debut in first place would bring Swift to an even more impressive statistic.
“I Knew It, I Knew You” became Swift’s ninth song to open at No. 1 this summer, extending her record among women. Drake remains the only artist ahead of her with 10 such debuts – a figure that also expanded earlier this year with his own “Janice STFU.”
If “Patient Zero” starts atop the Billboard Hot 100 – and many of her tunes that front new eras, as this latest song seems to – Swift will tie Drake’s all-time record and become the first woman to reach 10 No. 1 debuts. The cut might also become her third new No. 1 of 2026, which would be another personal best.
Taylor Swift Could Tie BTS on the Billboard Global 200
Swift is also one smash away from matching the greatest accumulation of leaders on the Billboard Global 200. “I Knew It, I Knew You” debuted at No. 1 on the worldwide ranking in June and became her seventh champion as it launched. That gave Swift more leaders than any other solo act, but BTS still owns the overall record with one more No. 1. A “Patient Zero” coronation would pull Swift level with the South Korean boy band, at least for now.
SOUTH KOREA – NOVEMBER 22: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY; NO BOOK COVERS.) In this image released on November 22, J-Hope, Suga, V, Jimin, Jin, Jungkook, RM of BTS perform onstage for the 2020 American Music Awards on November 22, 2020 in South Korea. (Photo by Big Hit Entertainment/AMA2020/Getty Images via Getty Images)
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Taylor Swift Could Extend Her Digital Song Sales Chart Record
Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart is one ranking where Swift does not need to catch up to anybody. “I Knew It, I Knew You” became her record-extending thirty-second No. 1 after selling 70,000 downloads in America during its opening week. Swift already leads every other artist by an enormous margin, so another winner would simply push her total to 33.
Taylor Swift Could Add Another Streaming Songs No. 1
Swift also sits near the top of the list of acts with the most Streaming Songs chart No. 1s. “I Knew It, I Knew You” became her eleventh leader on the ranking, placing her second among all acts and first among women.
Drake is far ahead with 22 champions – twice as many as Swift has managed thus far. If “Patient Zero” opens in first place, or eventually climbs to that position, it will not threaten Drake’s overall record. A No. 1 debut would extend her already considerable lead when looking solely at female musicians.
Taylor Swift Could Soon Tie Several Other Stars Globally
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 26: Bad Bunny attends Columbia Pictures’ “Caught Stealing” premiere at Regal Union Square on August 26, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
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The Billboard Global Excl. U.S. may present the toughest challenge. “I Knew It, I Knew You” topped the Billboard Global 200 but stalled in third place on the roster that excludes American consumption.
Swift currently has four No. 1s on the international-only ranking, and she’s tied with Bad Bunny, Blackpink and Ariana Grande for the second-most rulers. BTS has twice as many No. 1s as any other act.
If “Patient Zero” manages to reach the summit, Swift will break out of that crowded tie and move into sole possession of the second-most rulers on the worldwide tally.
Three months ago, “I Knew It, I Knew You” simultaneously debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Streaming Songs, Digital Song Sales and the Billboard Global 200. “Patient Zero” is certainly in a great place to repeat that kind of sweep — and several all-time records are sitting only one No. 1 away.
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