| 100% | BOW | 3 | "Take a ___" (hit song for Rihanna or Madonna) |
| 66% | SOS | 3 | Hit song title for Abba or Rihanna |
| 60% | SOS | 3 | 2006 hit song for Rihanna |
| 55% | BOW | 3 | "Take a ___" (title of #1 hits by Madonna and Rihanna) |
| 53% | UMBRELLA | 8 | Hit song by Rihanna with a weather theme |
| 52% | FAME | 4 | Title of a hit song by Irene Cara or David Bowie |
| 52% | BOW | 3 | "Take a ___" (#1 hit for Rihanna) |
| 52% | ATALL | 5 | "When You Say Nothing ___" was a hit song for Keith Whitley, Alison Krauss and Ronan Keating |
| 52% | GOLDRECORD | 10 | Honor for a hit song |
| 52% | DIAMONDS | 8 | Hit song written by Sia for Rihanna's album "Unapologetic" |
| 51% | RIDDEN | 6 | Taken a bus or traveled on a horse, for example |
| 51% | JOKE | 4 | "Can't Take a ___" (Top 20 hit for Drake) |
| 50% | SHEENGUARD | 10 | One willing to take a bullet for Martin or Charlie? |
| 49% | CHERISH | 7 | Top 5 hit song from Madonna's "Like a Prayer" album |
| 48% | GIVEITATRY | 10 | "Go on, take a taste!" ... or an apt title for this puzzle? |
| 48% | FRANKENSTEIN | 12 | Instrumental hit song by the Edgar Winter Group named for a literary monster |
| 48% | ADORE | 5 | "___ You," hit song by Harry Styles which was nominated for a Grammy award |
| 47% | STRIPPER | 8 | Takes his or her clothes off to music for a living |
| 47% | MIA | 3 | A rapper known for her hit song "Paper Planes" |
| 47% | YOUCANCALLMEAL | 14 | 1986 hit song for Paul Simon ... or an instruction from the starts of 20-, 34- and 41-Across? |
| 47% | BLUE | 4 | "___ (Da Ba Dee)" a hit song by Eiffel 65 that won a Grammy award for "Best Dance Recording" |
| 47% | SENORITA | 8 | Hit song by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello that was nominated for a Grammy in 2020 |
| 47% | SLOW | 4 | Hit song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2005 |
| 47% | FEELSLIKE | 9 | "___ Summer," hit song by Childish Gambino which was nominated for a Grammy: 2 wds. |
| 47% | TOKE | 4 | Take a hit |
| 47% | ARIA | 4 | Song that might call for a soprano to hit a high C |
| 47% | TOKED | 5 | Took a hit |
| 47% | TOKING | 6 | Taking a hit |
| 47% | SHAFT | 5 | Its theme song was a #1 hit for Isaac Hayes |
| 46% | TALK | 4 | Hit song by Khalid from his album "Free Spirit" which was nominated for a Grammy in 2020 |