Reba McEntire, Sam Hunt & Dustin Lynch Leap to New No. 1s on Country Charts
Reba McEntire's first faith-based set, the double album Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope, arrives atop Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, as well as Top Christian Albums (dated Feb. 25).
Reba McEntire‘s first faith-based set, the double album Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope, arrives atop Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart, as well as Top Christian Albums (dated Feb. 25). It earns 54,000 equivalent albums (52,000 in traditional sales) in the week ending Feb. 9, according to Nielsen Music. On the all-genre Billboard 200, McEntire notches her 10th top 10, as the LP launches at No. 4.
This is McEntire’s 13th leader on Top Country Albums and first on Top Christian Albums, where she makes her debut appearance. She extends her record for the most Top Country Albums No. 1s among women; Loretta Lynn follows with 10. With 26, George Strait leads all acts.
“This is such a special project for me personally, and I’m so thankful to see that the music is touching so many other hearts,” McEntire tells Billboard. “To see that so many fans, both old and new, are sharing in the power of faith and hope is exciting and encouraging.”
McEntire is the first artist to simultaneously rule Top Country Albums and Top Christian Albums since Joey + Rory‘s Hymns album topped both surveys for four weeks in 2016 (the last dated April 9). Prior to Hymns, Alabama had last doubled up when Songs of Inspiration launched atop both lists dated Nov. 11, 2006. Only two other sets scored such twofers in the past two decades: Alan -Jackson‘s Precious Memories (2006) and LeAnn Rimes‘ You Light Up My Life — Inspirational Songs (1997-98).
‘ROAD’ TO NO. 1 Sam Hunt notches his fourth Hot Country Songs No. 1, as “Body Like a Back Road” speeds 2-1 in just its second week. Following its Feb. 1 release, the first single (which he co-wrote) from his forthcoming album debuts atop Country Streaming Songs (7 million U.S. streams, up 426 percent), where it’s Hunt’s fifth No. 1, and tops Country Digital Song Sales for a second week (72,000 sold, up 36 percent), following its first full week of tracking.
The track’s two-week trip to the Hot Country Songs Summit is easily Hunt’s quickest. It passes the 15-week ascent of “Take Your Time” in 2014-15.
‘RED’ HOT Dustin Lynch continues his winning streak on Country Airplay, banking his fourth straight (and total) No. 1, as “Seein’ Red” gains 7 percent to 42.1 million in audience impressions and romps 3-1 in its 34th week. The song, from Lynch’s upcoming third studio album, follows previous leaders “Mind Reader” (June 4, 2016, one week), “Hell of a Night” (Sept. 19, 2015, one week) and “Where It’s At (Yep, Yep)” (Sept. 27, 2014, two weeks).
NEW TOP 10s On Hot Country Songs, Zac Brown Band‘s “My Old Man” flies 49-10, marking the group’s 16th top 10. It arrives at No. 2 on Country Digital Song Sales, shifting 38,000 downloads in its first frame. The acoustic-driven track is the first single from ZBB’s May 12 studio album Welcome Home, produced by Dave Cobb.
Meanwhile, Luke Bryan inks his 23rd Country Airplay top 10, and sixth from his Kill the Lights LP, as “Fast” bumps 11-10 (25.6 million, up 1 percent). All five of Bryan’s previous singles from Lights led Country Airplay, tying for the most No. 1s from a set and making him the only artist with five Country Airplay leaders from two albums apiece. His “Move” topped the Nov. 12, 2016, chart (for two weeks), following “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day” (July 2, one week); “Home Alone Tonight,” featuring Karen Fairchild (Feb. 13, two weeks); “Strip It Down” (Oct. 31, 2015, two weeks); and “Kick the Dust Up” (Aug. 15, 2015, one week).
Bryan’s prior LP, Crash My Party, generated five Country Airplay leaders in 2013-15 (and also produced six top 10s). It matched Blake Shelton‘s Based on a True Story …, which rattled off a quintet of No. 1s in 2013-14, while Brad Paisley established the mark with five leading songs from his aptly titled 5th Gear in 2007-08.
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