| 100% | AROUND | 6 | "Rock ___ the Clock" (first #1 hit of the rock era) |
| 68% | STUCKON | 7 | __ You; first number 1 hit of the 1960s for Elvis |
| 56% | TRIASSIC | 8 | First period of the Mesozoic Era |
| 56% | ONEAD | 5 | First year of the Common Era |
| 56% | MARTYROBBINS | 12 | Singer whose "El Paso" was the first "Billboard" #1 hit of the 1960s (2 wds.) |
| 56% | TRIASSIC | 8 | The first period of the Mesozoic Era |
| 56% | ONEAD | 5 | The first year of the Common Era |
| 54% | YOUNG | 5 | Cy who pitched the first perfect game of the modern era |
| 54% | PALEOGENE | 9 | The first of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era |
| 54% | BJTHOMAS | 8 | Singer whose "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" was the first "Billboard" #1 hit of the 1970s (2 wds.) |
| 53% | ABBA | 4 | First group alphabetically in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |
| 53% | KCANDTHE | 8 | With 40-Across, group whose "Please Don't Go" was the first "Billboard" #1 hit of the 1980s (3 wds.) |
| 52% | RED | 3 | Taylor Swift album containing the longest No. 1 hit of all time |
| 52% | SWING | 5 | "Sultans of ___," classic hit by the rock band Dire Straits |
| 52% | THREETIMESALADY | 15 | First #1 hit for the Commodores |
| 52% | WORLD | 5 | The first "W" of 1-Across |
| 52% | BED | 3 | The first "B" of 1-Down |
| 51% | ELVISPRESLEY | 12 | Singer known as the "The King of Rock and Roll" whose first hit singles were with Sun Records (2 wds.) |
| 51% | HALLANDOATES | 12 | The most successful duo of the rock era, according to the Recording Industry Association of America: 3 wds. |
| 51% | IGETAROUND | 10 | First #1 hit by the Beach Boys |
| 51% | WANNABE | 7 | First #1 hit for the Spice Girls |
| 51% | MICHAELSTEELE | 13 | American bassist who was a part of one of the first all-female rock groups, "The Bangles" that created hits like "Manic Monday": 2 wds. |
| 51% | MYGIRL | 6 | The Temptations' first #1 hit |
| 51% | DONOVAN | 7 | 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who went by his first name only and had the hit "Mellow Yellow" |
| 51% | PETERCETERA | 11 | Singer with the 1986 No. 1 hit "Glory of Love" |
| 51% | OTT | 3 | First of the 49-Across to hit 500 home runs |
| 50% | ALEC | 4 | ___ Baldwin, star of the hit show "30 Rock" |
| 50% | AROUND | 6 | "Rock ___ the Clock" (1950s hit) |
| 50% | JAILHOUSE | 9 | __ Rock, Presley hit from a movie of the same name |
| 50% | TOP | 3 | The Carpenters' #1 hit "___ of the World" |