Jordan Davis ‘Up’ to No. 1 On Country Airplay; Bebe Rexha & FGL Lead Hot Country Songs For 20th Week
Louisiana-born singer-songwriter Jordan Davis' debut hit "Singles You Up" (MCA Nashville) climbs 2-1 in its 43rd week on Billboard's Country Airplay chart (dated April 21), increasing 6 percent to…
Louisiana-born singer-songwriter Jordan Davis‘ debut hit “Singles You Up” (MCA Nashville) climbs 2-1 in its 43rd week on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart (dated April 21), increasing 6 percent to 42.4 million audience impressions in the week ending April 15, according to Nielsen Music.
Penned by Davis with Steven Dale and Justin Ebach, “Singles” is from Davis’ first full-length, Home State, which debuted at No. 6 on the Top Country Albums chart dated April 7 with 11,000 equivalent units.
“This past year has been crazy and beyond my wildest dreams,” Davis tells Billboard. “I’m so grateful to the fans, country radio and everyone who helped make this happen.”
“Every No. 1 single is special,” says MCA Nashville vp of promotion Katie Dean. “However, a debut single by a new artist doesn’t get there unless all the stars align. Right out of the gate, we saw early metrics on ‘Singles’ showing hit potential. Also, Jordan is such a hard worker and he’s genuinely such a great guy that everyone roots for to succeed.”
“Singles” is the first career-opening Country Airplay No. 1 since Russell Dickerson‘s “Yours” (Jan. 27).
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ROARING TO 20: On Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart, which blends streaming, airplay and sales data, Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line‘s “Meant to Be” (Warner Bros./Big Machine Label Group) extends its reign to 20 weeks at No. 1.
The collaboration is now alone in third place among the longest-leading hits in the tally’s 59-year history, passing Leroy Van Dyke‘s “Walk On By” (19 weeks at No. 1 in 1961 and 1962). Florida Georgia Line boasts two of the three longest-ruling No. 1s: Sam Hunt‘s “Body Like a Back Road” holds the record with 34 weeks at No. 1 in 2017, while FGL’s debut “Cruise” ranks second with 24 weeks on top in 2012 and 2013.
Helping “Meant” rent another week in the Hot Country Songs penthouse, it increases 4 percent to 40.2 million and pushes 3-2 on Country Airplay. It tops the all-genre Radio Songs chart (136 million impressions, up 4 percent) for a second week and hits No. 1 on the Adult Pop Songs airplay survey.
‘PRETTY’ GOOD START: Carrie Underwood charts her 40th song on Country Airplay, and her first on Capitol Nashville, as “Cry Pretty,” released April 11, flies in at No. 20 (10.7 million impressions).
The launch marks Underwood’s highest since the spiritual-leaning “Something in the Water” (No. 17, Oct. 18, 2014; it went on to hit No. 3).
Underwood, who performed “Pretty” on the 53rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, broadcast live on CBS (April 15), is slated to release a new album this fall. She has collected 15 Country Airplay No. 1s, among 26 top 10s.
TOP 10 ALBUM DEBUTS: Country-rock band Blackberry Smoke‘s Find a Light (3 Legged Records/Thirty Tigers) debuts at No. 3 on Top Country Albums with 16,000 equivalent album units. On Americana/Folk Albums, it opens at No. 2.
The set marks the group’s fourth Top Country Albums top 10, a total that includes two No. 1s: Like an Arrow (2016; 18,000 sold) and Holding All the Roses (2015; a career-best 19,000 sold).
Arriving at No. 4 is Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin (HST Global/MCA Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville), with 15,000 units. The 13-track compilation sports an assortment of country artists interpreting John- and Taupin-written songs over their 50-year-plus partnership, including Little Big Town (“Rocket Man”), Maren Morris (“Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters”) and Willie Nelson (“Border Town”).
Another tribute, Johnny Cash:Forever Words (Columbia Nashville/Legacy) enters Top Country Albums at No. 9 and Americana/Folk Albums at No. 4 (9,000). With artists ranging from daughter Rosanne Cash to Elvis Costello, the set features the late Man in Black’s poetry, letters, and lyrics set to music. It was produced by John Carter Cash, the son of Johnny and June Carter Cash.
‘AMEN,’ IT’S TOP 10: Dierks Bentley banks his 23rd Country Airplay top 10, as his co-penned “Women, Amen” rises 11-10, increasing 7 percent to 22.9 million impressions. He also sang the song on the ACM Awards April 15.