The song is among one of eight songs to reach the top ten of the Pop Songs chart within two weeks of its release and is the longest-reigning number one hit among them, staying atop the chart for ten weeks. Jackson is one of the few artists with a minimum of ten top ten hits on Rhythmic formats, with "That's the Way Love Goes" being her first appearance and number one on the chart. The single was certified gold by the RIAA on November 12, 1993, and later certified platinum. It sold over 1.1 million copies domestically.