‘Georgia’ on His Mind: Jason Aldean Debuts on Top Country Albums Chart
Plus, Walker Hayes' "AA" hits the Country Airplay top 10.
Jason Aldean‘s Georgia debuts at No. 2 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart (dated May 7). Released April 22, the set earned 26,000 equivalent album units, with 13,000 in album sales, in the week ending April 28, according to Luminate, formerly MRC Data.
The 15-track Georgia bookends Aldean’s album Macon. The latter, which also includes 15 songs, arrived at its No. 3 Top Country Albums high in November 2021 (37,000 units); Macon ranks at No. 33 on the latest list (6,000 units, up 8%).
While Macon and Georgia were released independent of each other, the combined LP Macon, Georgia includes all 30 tracks, available exclusively on vinyl. The package sold 1,200 copies in its first tracking week, ending April 28.
On Top Country Albums, Georgia gives Aldean – who hails from Macon, Ga. – his 11th top 10, all of which have debuted in the tier. Prior to Macon and Georgia, his ninth full-length, 9, opened atop the chart in December 2019, awarding him his seventh No. 1, and sixth to enter at the summit.
Before that, Aldean’s Rearview Town launched at No. 1 on Top Country Albums in April 2018. It followed Aldean’s other No. 1 debuts: They Don’t Know, in October 2016; Old Boots, New Dirt (October 2014); Night Train (November 2012); and Relentless (June 16, 2007, with 982,000 sold, marking Aldean’s biggest sales week).
Aldean’s additional Top Country Albums leader, My Kinda Party, debuted at No. 2 in November 2010 and hit No. 1 the following February. As for his other top 10s, his first entry, his 2005 self-titled set, debuted and peaked at No. 6 that August, while Wide Open entered at its No. 2 peak in April 2009.
Georgia is unable to impeach Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album from No. 1 on Top Country Albums, as the latter reigns for a record-extending 56th week (51,000 units, up 1%).
On the all-genre Billboard 200, Georgia begins at No. 8. It marks Aldean’s 10th top 10, a total that includes four No. 1s.
Concurrently, the latest single from Georgia, “Trouble With a Heartbreak,” hits the top 10 on both the multi-metric Hot Country Songs chart (surging 11-5) and Country Airplay (14-10). The song drew 8.2 million U.S. streams (up 67%) and sold 1,200 downloads in the tracking week; it scales Country Airplay with a 16% gain to 15.7 million in audience.
The track is Aldean’s 36th top 10 on Hot Country Songs and his 35th on Country Airplay.
“Trouble” follows Macon single “If I Didn’t Love You,” with Carrie Underwood. The duet dominated Country Airplay for three weeks starting last October, becoming Aldean’s 24th No. 1 and Underwood’s 16th. It entered at its No. 2 peak on Hot Country Songs last August.
‘AA’ Ascends
Walker Hayes’ “AA” becomes his third Country Airplay top 10 as the song, which he co-wrote, pushes 11-9 (16 million, up 6%).
“AA” follows Hayes’ viral smash “Fancy Like,” which topped Country Airplay for a week last November and commanded Hot Country Songs for 24 frames beginning last July, marking his first leader on both surveys.
Hayes earned his first top 10 on both Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay in 2018, when “You Broke Up With Me” hit No. 9 on the former and No. 10 on the latter.
‘Tomorrow’ Leads Today
Luke Combs scores his seventh No. 1 on Country Digital Song Sales, and makes his sixth entrance in the penthouse, as “Tomorrow Me” debuts with 5,400 downloads sold. On Hot Country Songs, it starts at No. 13. The song, which also arrives as Combs’ 25th top 10 on the tally, is from his third LP, Growin’ Up, due June 24.