Taylor Swift's 'Patient Zero' Dethrones 'Choosin' Texas' on Hot 100; 'Encore' Tracks Dominate Top 5

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Oct 5, 2026 10:34am PT

Taylor Swift’s ‘Patient Zero’ Bumps ‘Choosin’ Texas’ Out of No. 1 on Hot 100; ‘Encore’ Tracks Fill Four Out of Five Top Slots

By Chris Willman

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Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

ChrisWillman

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At least for one week, America finally chose differently when it came to the nation’s most consumed song. Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” took a breather from its record-breaking run atop the Billboard Hot 100 to make room for Taylor Swift ‘s “ Patient Zero ,” which claims the No. 1 spot in its first week out, to no one’s surprise.

Swift released four new tracks going into the chart week, all part of her “ The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore ” project, and all of them bowed in the uppermost rans of the Hot 100. Following the Langley song, which fell just one slot to No. 2, Swift owns the next three positions, with “Cleveland!,” “Babylon” and “Pink Clouding” landing at Nos. 3, 4 and 5, respectively.

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_Originally reported by [Variety Music](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/taylor-swift-patient-zero-number-one-hot-100-chart-single-1236899253/)._