Ask Billboard: Lady Gaga 'Born' To Be At No. 1

Ask Billboard is updated every Friday. As always, submit your questions about Billboard charts, sales and airplay, as well as general music musings, to askbb@billboard.com. Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and country, if outside the U.S.

LADY GAGA 'BORN' TO BE AT NO. 1

Dear Gary,

First, happy 30th anniversary to Chart Beat!

Secondly, Monday (March 28), as Naima Adedapo followed Ashthon Jones and Karen Rodriguez from the competition. Sadly for me (and, of course, for Adedapo and Thia Megia), with last night's double-elimination that also ousted Megia, my goal of correctly guessing this season's finalists' order was snuffed after three triumphant weeks.

(A significant consolation for Adedapo and Megia following their departures is that all top 11 finalists will join this year's "American Idol" tour).

Noticeable about Wednesday's (March 30) episode was the lack of any John songs that appeared (in their original forms) on Billboard charts after 1983.

In honor of John's numerous hits since, how about a nod to his 10 Adult Contemporary No. 1s over the past 28 years? (Pia Toscano performed "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," which John took to No. 3 on AC in 1974 and returned in a chart-topping live version as a duet 18 years later):

1986, "That's What Friends Are For" (Dionne [Warwick] & Friends)
1988, "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That"
1989, "Healing Hands"

1990, "You Gotta Love Someone"
1992, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" ( George Michael/Elton John)
1992, "The One"
1993, "Simple Life"

1994, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"
1995, "Believe"
1997, "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"

John pads his chart legacy by ranking in the top 20 for a third frame this week on the Triple A adult alternative airplay ranking with "Hey Ahab" (No. 19), from "The Union," his album with Leon Russell. Reaching No. 3 in September, the set became John's highest-ranking Billboard 200 album since 1976. John hosts "Saturday Night Live" tomorrow night (April 2), with Russell slated to assist on the night's musical performances.

Have a great weekend!

As always, follow Billboard.com's complete coverage of the 10th season of "American Idol" and please feel free to share your opinions in the comments section below or by e-mailing askbb@billboard.com.