SWEET 'DREAM': Nelly extends his lead for most Pop Songs No. 1s among rappers, as "Just a Dream" rises 2-1. The song is the hip-hop star's fifth No. 1, distancing him further from Eminem, who ranks second with three rap toppers.

All charts will be refreshed tomorrow (Nov. 10) on Billboard.com.

With five Pop Songs No. 1s, Nelly trails only Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, each with six leaders in the Nielsen BDS-based chart's 18-year history.

(Lifting 4-3, Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)" is two positions away from propelling the singer into solo ownership of the survey's highest No. 1 sum).

"Just a Dream" marks Nelly's first Pop Songs champion since "Over and Over," featuring Tim McGraw, reigned for 11 weeks in 2004-05. Nelly's new No. 1 is his first without assistance from another artist since his maiden leader, "Hot in Herre," led for two weeks in 2002. In between, he ruled with "Dilemma," featuring Kelly Rowland (five weeks, 2002), and "Shake Ya Tailfeather," with P. Diddy and Murphy Lee (three weeks, 2003).

At the chart's bookend position, the Black Eyed Peas preview "The Beginning," due Nov. 30, as "The Time (The Dirty Bit)," debuts at No. 40. The song borrows the chorus of Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes' 1987 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," from "Dirty Dancing."

The quartet charted four top 10s from last year's "The E.N.D.," including the twin seven-week No. 1s "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling." The group ranked as the No. 2 Pop Songs artist of 2009, trailing only Lady Gaga.


THAT'S HOW COUNTRY BOYS ROLL: Zac Brown Band scores its fifth No. 1 on Country Songs with a 4-1 vault for "As She's Walking Away." The song is the lead single from the group's first Billboard 200 No. 1, "You Get What You Give," which debuted at the apex last month.

The song becomes the 26th No. 1, and first in a guest role, for featured artist Alan Jackson. With his latest leader, Jackson enhances his standing among the artists with the most No. 1s in the almost-67-year history of Country Songs. The traditional vocalist places eighth on the esteemed tally, passing Dolly Parton:

Total No. 1s, Artist
44, George Strait
40, Conway Twitty
38, Merle Haggard
35, Ronnie Milsap
32, Alabama
29, Charlie Pride
28, Eddy Arnold
26, Alan Jackson
25, Dolly Parton
23, Sonny James
23, Reba McEntire
23, Tim McGraw


ADULT ENTERTAINMENT: While "For the First Time," the introductory single from the Script's second album, "Science & Faith," due Jan. 18, climbs Adult Pop Songs (36-30), AC radio isn't quite done with a smash from the Irish band's self-titled debut set.

"Breakeven" rises 2-1 on Adult Contemporary in 35th chart week, completing the second-longest trip to the chart's top spot. Only matchbox twenty's "If You're Gone" required longer to reign, reaching No. 1 in its 42nd frame in 2001.

"Breakeven" spent seven weeks at No. 1 on Adult Pop Songs beginning in May, the same month it rose to No. 6 on Pop Songs.