From the summer you learned to drive to your first romance, music often marks life’s milestones. This year, TikTok has placed a 2011 classic back at the top of the summer soundtrack.

Katy Perry’s comeback

TikTok announced that Perry’s “The One That Got Away” is the No. 1 global and U.S. song of summer 2026. The platform reports the track appears in more than 42 million videos and has amassed over 55 billion views. The viral boost sent the single back onto the Billboard Global 200 chart and generated 1.8 billion Spotify streams, according to TikTok data.

In response, Perry released a director’s cut of the music video featuring new narration by rock legend Stevie Nicks, adding fresh appeal for today’s listeners.

Spotify’s summer leader

While Perry’s hit dominates social media, Spotify’s own summer ranking places Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” at the top. The song held the No. 1 spot in the United States for 70 consecutive days and has led Billboard’s summer‑song chart for 14 weeks.

Billboard has maintained a summer‑song list each year since the Hot 100 began in 1958, highlighting how the nation’s musical tastes evolve over time.

Interactive tool for personal nostalgia

The Get the Facts Data Team has created an interactive feature that lets users select the year they were born and explore the summer songs that defined key moments in their lives. By clicking the iPod‑style interface, readers can travel back to the soundtrack of their own summers, from first drives to first loves.

This tool offers a fun, nostalgic way to connect personal memories with the broader cultural trends shaping today’s music landscape.

Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.