King in a 1978 novelty hit

TUT

This Egyptian ruler’s name was chanted in a catchy disco-era song about ancient royalty.

This clue refers to the 1978 novelty song "King Tut" by Steve Martin, a comedic track that became a surprise hit. The answer is "TUT," short for King Tutankhamun, the famous Egyptian pharaoh the song is about. The wordplay is straightforward—just the name of the king from the song’s title.