Jamie Miller first Welsh artist to top UK singles chart in 15 years

Jamie Miller has become the first Welsh artist to top the UK singles chart in 15 years with his viral track “Babydoll,” according to the Official Charts Company. The 29-year-old singer, originally from Pontprennau in Cardiff, secured the UK Number 1 spot on Friday, narrowly beating Tate McRae and her single “Housewife.”

The achievement marks a milestone for Welsh representation on the charts. Miller is the first Welsh artist to claim the top spot since Sian Evans featured on DJ Fresh’s “Louder” in 2011. He is also the first solo male Welsh artist to top the singles chart in 41 years, following Shakin’ Stevens with his 1985 festive hit “Merry Christmas Everyone.”

From Near-Quit to Chart Peak

“Babydoll” was released on August 7, 2026, arriving months after Miller considered quitting music entirely. The track initially entered the charts in September at Number 84 before climbing into the Top 10 at the start of October.

Momentum for the track accelerated after actress Jennifer Love Hewitt posted videos featuring the song in mid-August 2026. Hewitt shared a piano cover of the track on August 12 and subsequently posted a dance video with Miller on August 17. The resulting social media engagement helped drive a viral two-step dance trend across TikTok, with subsequent videos from users drawing millions of views.

Reflecting on the chart position, Miller told the Official Charts Company, “I don’t even know what to say other than thank you so much for getting me Number 1, this is the biggest thing that’s ever happened to me in my life, I love you guys.”

Babydoll Reaches Number 1 in the UK Charts

The race for the top position came down to a narrow margin. “Babydoll” climbed to Number 1 with 47,548 chart units, finishing just 556 units ahead of Tate McRae’s “Housewife,” which debuted at Number 2 for Ministry of Sound. The single’s total UK consumption reached 191,742 units.

The track is distributed via Island and Republic records. Island EMI Label Group president Louis Bloom praised the achievement, stating that the success shows the artist's self-belief and the power of a pop song. Republic Collective global marketing EVP Mike Alexander highlighted Miller’s work ethic and authentic connection with fans.

Beyond the UK, “Babydoll” reached a peak of Number 70 on the US Hot 100 and amassed over 10 million streams a week on Spotify, climbing into the Top 75 on the platform’s global chart. Miller’s career previously gained traction following a major online breakthrough in 2020 and the success of his single “Here’s Your Perfect,” which passed 600 million streams on Spotify, alongside a debut album titled Long Way Home, as reported in the sources.

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