1960 Rock Classic, Banned by Some Radio Stations, Became a No. 1 Hit Twice

In 1960, not even being banned on certain radio stations and in U.S. schools interfered with Chubby Checker's ability to hit No. 1 two separate times with his smash cover of "The Twist."

Released in June 1960 as a single from his debut studio album, Twist with Chubby Checker, Checker's rendition of "The Twist" was an instant sensation. Following a lively performance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, the track captivated young audiences after Checker popularized a new style of dancing. Fueled by this young demographic, sales skyrocketed and the song climbed up the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 1 for one week in September.

Although the song fell out of the Hot 100 in December 1960, its journey was far from over. In early 1962, "The Twist" re-entered the charts after celebrities began engaging with the dance trend, capturing the attention of older audiences.

On January 13, 1962, the song hit No. 1 for a second time, holding the position for two consecutive weeks and marking the only time in history that a single song has reached No. 1 during two completely separate chart runs. Its dominance was reflected in its commercial success, selling over 15 million copies worldwide by 1965.

Despite its undeniable cultural impact, the song faced significant pushback. During its second chart run, "The Twist" was banned in some Catholic schools across the U.S. as leaders deemed the dance "lewd" and "un-Christian." Even Hank Ballard's original 1959 version faced resistance; Ballard reported that several TV and radio programs restricted the song due to its "suggestive" nature.

Regardless of this localized pushback, the song was an enduring cultural phenomenon. In 2018, Billboard named it the all-time No. 1 single in the history of the Hot 100, a title it held until 2020. "The Twist" was also inducted into numerous Halls of Fame for it's impact, including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

To this day, Checker's rendition of "The Twist" continues to resonate. On Spotify alone, the track has garnered over 112 million streams, attesting to its unique ability to captivate both older audiences and new generations alike.

Related: 1974 Soft Rock Classic, Originally Rejected by '70s Legend, Became a No. 1 Hit

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This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 11:46 AM.