List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 1981

In 1981, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the adult contemporary music (AC) market.

[1] In the January 3 issue of Billboard, the number one position was held by the British singer Leo Sayer with "More Than I Can Say", which retained the top spot from the last week of 1980.

Rabbitt's song was one of two tracks which reached the number one spot on the AC, country and pop charts during the early part of 1981, along with Dolly Parton's "9 to 5".

Soon after Parton's song exited the number one position on the AC listing, the Scottish singer Sheena Easton topped the chart with "Morning Train (9 to 5)".

[6] The longest-running number one of the year was "I Don't Need You" by Kenny Rogers, which spent six weeks in the top spot.

Two long-haired men, one with a beard, and two women, one with dark curly hair and one with blonde hair, standing together and all smiling
The Swedish group ABBA topped the chart with " The Winner Takes It All ".
Two women, one with blonde hair and one with dark hair, both smiling broadly
Dolly Parton (left) topped the chart with " 9 to 5 ", the theme song from the film of the same name , in which she starred.
The duo Air Supply performing
The British-Australian soft rock duo Air Supply 's song " Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) " spent a total of three weeks at number one.
A brown-haired woman standing at a microphone and looking to her right
Sheena Easton reached number one with " Morning Train (9 to 5) ". The song had been titled simply "9 to 5" in her native United Kingdom, but was re-titled for the American market to avoid confusion with Parton's song.
A man with grey hair and beard
Kenny Rogers spent six weeks at number one with " I Don't Need You ", the longest-running chart-topper of the year.