Hilary Duff Pops 'Idol' Stars' Reign

By Alison M. Rosen

Monday August 25, 2003 01:00 PM EDT

Move over, Clay and Ruben: another TV star has taken over the pop charts.

Fresh-faced teen queen Hilary Duff has the No. 1 single in America, and it's the first time in four months that the spot is being held by someone not connected with "American Idol," says Billboard magazine.

Duff, 15, best known for playing Lizzie McGuire in the Disney TV and movie franchise of the same name, captured the coveted spot on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart with her track "So Yesterday," from her new album, "Metamorphosis," in stores Tuesday.

"Idol" stars have held the top position since April 26, when the finalists' cover of Lee Greenwood's patriotic "God Bless the USA" knocked Kid Rock's "Picture," featuring Sheryl Crow, out of the No. 1 spot and remained there for eight weeks. Second season runner-up Clay Aiken then followed with a nine-week reign for "This is the Night/Bridge Over Troubled Water."

Meanwhile, over on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (not to be confused with the 100 Hot Singles chart), Duff's single falls to No. 55. Had it not slipped, Duff would've been one of the youngest teens to top the chart since Little Peggy March -- who had a three-week run with "I Will Follow Him" in April 1963.

March -- who still holds the record for being the youngest solo female artist to have a No. 1 hit on the chart -- was 15 years old and one month at the time. Duff is 15 years old and 11 months.