Kirstin Maldonado has earned a special first on the Billboard charts.
The 33-year-old Spanish & Mexican American Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and her Pentatonix group mates’ Frank Sinatra collaboration, “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” is the new No. 1 song on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, surging four spots to the top of the list dated December 20.
The carol, from Pentatonix’s new album, Christmas in the City, marks Pentatonix’s first No. 1 on Adult Contemporary — or any Billboard airplay chart.
Sinatra, who died in 1998, adds his seventh Adult Contemporary No. 1 — and first since the chart dated September 30, 1967, when “The World We Knew (Over and Over)” wrapped a five-week reign. He linked five No. 1s in a row, with that single following “Somethin’ Stupid” with daughter Nancy, “That’s Life,” “Summer Wind” and “Strangers in the Night.” He first led with “It Was a Very Good Year” in February 1966.
For “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” the Frank Sinatra Estate allowed Pentatonix to mix its vocals with a previously unreleased vocal take of Sinatra singing the Irving Berlin-penned classic.
“Frank Sinatra is truly the blueprint for vocalists,” Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying tells Billboard. “Being connected to his music is beyond an honor, and we feel endless gratitude for this mind-blowing opportunity. We hope to make the Sinatra family proud and truly honor his culture-altering legacy.”
The Chairman of the Board ends the longest break between Adult Contemporary No. 1s: 58 years, two months and three weeks. He also claims the longest span of ruling the chart: 59 years, 10 months and two weeks, dating to the first week at No. 1 for “It Was a Very Good Year.” Plus, he boasts the longest span of appearing on the list overall: 64 years and five months, as he placed on the inaugural edition dated July 17, 1961.
Sinatra bookends Billboard chart archives, as he sang on the No. 1 song — “I’ll Never Smile Again,” billed as by Tommy Dorsey — on the first nationwide sales chart, the National List of Best Selling Retail Records, published in the July 27, 1940, issue.
