Florida Georgia Line Reaches No. 1 On Top Country Albums
The duo ends the longest wait to hit the summit since Taylor Swift's debut album in 2007. If that's not enough, FGL's 'Cruise' ties for the longest reign on Hot Country Songs in 50 years
Florida Georgia Line scores its first leader on Top Country Albums, as “Here’s to the Good Times” rises from its previous No. 3 peak to No. 1 with 33,000 copies sold (up 20%), according to Nielsen SoundScan, in its 28th week. The duo’s album is the first in more than a year, and one of just three during the past six years, to reach No. 1 without having debuted on top (excluding titles that bowed early due to street-date violations). Jason Aldean had last accomplished the feat with “My Kinda Party,” which reached No. 1 in its 14th week (Feb. 19, 2011) after it had opened at No. 2.
This week’s coronation marks the longest climb to No. 1 since Taylor Swift’s self-titled debut took 39 weeks (2006-07), eventually dominating for 24 frames.
‘CRUISE’ CONTROL: Florida Georgia Line likewise logs a notable week atop Hot Country Songs, where the twosome’s “Cruise” leads for a 16th cumulative week. The reign is the longest since Buck Owens’ “Love’s Gonna Live Here” topped the survey for an equal stretch in 1963-64.
HOUSER, UNDERWOOD HIT TOP 10: Randy Houser claims his third top 10 on Hot Country Songs with “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight,” which earns the Airplay Gainer nod (up 19%, according to Nielsen BDS) and rises 12-8. He previously competed in the upper tier with “How Country Feels,” which reached No. 6 in February, and “Boots On” (No. 2) four years ago.
Carrie Underwood also pads her Hot Country Songs top 10 count with “See You Again,” which becomes her 18th top 10 with top Streaming Gainer honors (778,000 U.S. streams, up 36%, according to BDS) in its first complete Monday-Sunday tracking week following the song’s June 5 video premiere on “Good Morning America” (and simultaneously on ABCnews.com).
All 18 of Underwood’s singles promoted to country radio (excluding holiday tracks) have reached the Hot Country Songs top 10, with 12 climbing all the way to No. 1.
‘VOICE’ CARRIES: The Swon Brothers follow a third-place finish on NBC’s “The Voice” on Tuesday (June 18) with Hot Shot Debut applause on Hot Country Songs, as “Danny’s Song” opens at No. 16. Anne Murray’s recording of the composition (written by Kenny Loggins) rose to No. 10 on Hot Country Songs in 1973. The Swon Brothers also bow at No. 29 with their cover of Bob Seger’s 1973 classic “Turn the Page.”
Also on Hot Country Songs, “Voice” winner Danielle Bradbery debuts two titles: “Who I Am” (No. 22), which originally spent three weeks at No. 1 for Jessica Andrews in 2001, and “Please Remember Me” (No. 30), written by Rodney Crowell and Will Jennings and a former five-week chart-topper for Tim McGraw in 1999.
‘BOYS’ GONE WILD: Blake Shelton claims his 14th leader on the Country Airplay tally, as “Boys ‘Round Here” rises 2-1. The track, which features Pistol Annies & Friends, is Shelton’s ninth consecutive No. 1 (counting only non-seasonal, promoted singles), a string that started with “Hillbilly Bone” (featuring Trace Adkins) three years ago. The new leader follows “Sure Be Cool If You Did,” which topped the chart for two weeks in March/April. Both tracks are from Shelton’s new album, “Based on a True Story.”
The featured group on “Boys” is led by Shelton’s wife, Miranda Lambert, marking the second time in the Country Airplay chart’s 23-year history that a married couple has shared a No. 1. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill spent six weeks at No. 1 in 1997 with “It’s Your Love.” (Clint Black’s wife, Lisa Hartman Black, was not officially credited, although she provided vocals on, his two-week No. 1 “When I Said I Do” in 1999.)
“Boys” also boasts the highest weekly audience (43.1 million impressions, according to BDS) since the chart adopted audience measurement in 2005. The song that the new leader replaces at No. 1, McGraw’s “Highway Don’t Care” (with Swift), had established the previous best weekly reaches in both of its chart-topping weeks.
MOORE AND MORE: Kip Moore and Hunter Hayes freshen up the Country Airplay top 10, led by an 11-8 hop for Moore’s “Hey Pretty Girl,” which becomes his third straight top 10. He previously rose to No. 3 with “Beer Money” last December and scored his first leader with “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck” a year ago.
Hayes also notches his third consecutive top 10 with “I Want Crazy” (12-10). Both of his prior top 10s reached the summit: “Wanted” last fall and “Somebody’s Heartbreak” in April.
