'90s Rock Band Still Charting 32 Years After Disbandment
The music charts are constantly filling up with new releases from both new and old artists in the industry. But sometimes, old hits come back around into popularity, surging up the charts, or something puts a new spotlight on past music, like a movie soundtrack or cover performance.
But in the case of one legendary 1990s band, they've stuck around on the Billboard Artists 100 chart for years, despite the fact that the band broke up more than three decades ago. The band in question is Nirvana, and if you're familiar with them, it's likely not a big surprise to learn that their music is still popular.
Nirvana disbanded in 1994 after the death of lead singer Kurt Cobain, but they produced plenty of hits and made a huge impact on the rock music industry during the band's short-lived life. Now, in 2026, the band is still holding a high spot on the Billboard Artists 100 chart, which depicts the top trending artists in the U.S. at the moment.
The iconic group, which included Cobain, Dave Grohl, and Krist Novoselic, currently holds the 49th spot on the chart. Nirvana has been featured on the chart for a total of 317 weeks, which adds up to just over 6 years, and they've peaked at No. 20.
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In the current edition of the chart, Nirvana sits higher than other rock bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Eagles, AC/DC, and more. But it's even more impressive considering Nirvana hasn't made new music since 1994. The final song the band recorded together in 1994 before Cobain's death, "You Know You're Right," was finally released years later, in 2002.
Nirvana is most well-known for their hit song "Smells Like Teen Spirit," which was released in 1991 as the lead single on the band's second album, Nevermind.
While Nirvana was nominated for several Grammy Awards before their disbandment, the band won its one and only Grammy (aside from an honorary Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023) in 1996, two years after the band's conclusion. The group won the award for Best Alternative Music Performance for the live album MTV Unplugged in New York, which was released in late 1994.
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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 11:49 PM.