Country fans still have much to love on the charts this month. Morgan Wallen remains on top, while another artist’s ballad has also made inroads into the top 10.
The current crop of country music artists represents a diverse group with crossover appeal. Their songs can range from pop to country genres; each song leaves audiences wanting more!
Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan, one of the kings of bro-country music, kicked off this year’s Country Music Awards with “Knocking Boots.” He called it an honor and expressed that he’d love to collaborate with Lionel Richie at one point; additionally he has shown support for numerous charities by giving away one month’s royalties from “Rain Is A Good Thing” single sales royalty income for Cyndi Lauper’s charity organization.
The singer has twice been nominated as entertainer of the year. With hit singles such as, “Doin’ My Thing,” “Strip It Down,” Spring Break… Here to Party,” Crash My Party” and more under his belt. Born and raised on his family peanut farm near Leesburg Georgia.
At 16, he began performing at local bars. By graduation, he had written songs with two local songwriters. Once in Nashville, he pursued music full time; earning numerous awards along the way as well as hosting for CMA Awards ceremonies.
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood has revolutionized country music. After winning season four of American Idol and initially appealing to a wide pop audience with her coronation song, “Inside Your Heaven”, Carrie quickly established herself with Hearts: her debut album featuring two number one hits that have since become timeless classics.
Fans never forget Carrie Underwood’s unforgettable performance at the CMT Music Awards 2021, when she made an unforgettable tribute to Oklahoma with pyrotechnics and fireworks that stunned everyone present. Carrie dazzled everyone with lungs that continue to expand as well as an iconic voice that only gets better over time.
Carrie released “Two Black Cadillacs,” her unconventional cover of Motley Crue’s song that put an edge into country music and earned a Grammy nomination, shortly after winning CMT Music Award Video of the Year 2022. Additionally, this single was included as an additional track on her self-titled album which debuted with two Top Country Albums chart number ones and also contained duet “If I Didn’t Love You” featuring Jason Aldean which would eventually win Single of Year at 2022 Country Music Awards.
Chris Young
Chris Young rose to stardom as the winner of season 4 of Nashville Star and now stands as a Grammy nominated country superstar with over 5 billion on-demand streams and thirteen career No.1 singles, both sold-out performances at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and membership of Grand Ole Opry. A Tennessee Music Pathways marker honors him and other significant musicians associated with Murfreesboro’s rich musical history.
Young’s charttopping album Famous Friends contains this anthemic tribute to his hometown crew with its soaring guitar solo and driving beat, plus real-life friend Kane Brown who lends her unique vocals. Sure to become an instant classic live, this tune promises an instantaneous hit!
Young used the Country Music Awards as an opportunity to show his gratitude and show support for music education across the board, by surprising his high school music teacher with a wonderful gesture – giving her a brand new car! In turn, Young thanked all other music teachers present, thanking each of them individually while showing his support of nationwide music education initiatives – leaving everyone present at the CMAs beaming with happiness!
Chris Chesney
Chesney has sold more than 30 million albums since he first came to fame in the ’80s, scoring 43 Top 10 singles along the way. In 2004 alone he won multiple Country Music Association Awards including Entertainer of the Year. Chesney has also performed at multiple major festivals worldwide.
Chesney’s latest album stands out in an otherwise unpredictable country music landscape by showing his songwriting talent at its best. Titled “One Thing at a Time”, his fourth solo effort shows Chesney expanding upon this creative expression while touching upon the struggles associated with maintaining oneself while keeping your head above water.
His album includes two singles from it – “I Don’t Know Why” and “You and Me”. Additionally, he will open for Dan + Shay, Old Dominion and Carly Pearce during his 2019 Life on a Rock Tour this summer.
Country Top 40 features an eclectic variety of songs and styles that span decades of country music history. Additionally, it includes exciting and engaging new features to bring it forward into its next chapter of legacy; one such feature is CT40 Vault at the end of every hour which acts like the Kingsley-era American Country Countdown’s ACC Calendar feature by playing songs from past decades (for instance a #1 that peaked 48 years, 28 years and 18 years ago) completely in their entirety (i.e. an album or single which peaked 48 years ago or 18 years ago).
Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney has returned to the top of the Country Music charts with his single, “One Thing At A Time,” performed during Kelsea Ballerini’s 2022 CMT Awards show and performed it live alongside new band members drummer Nick Buda and guitarist Danny Rader. This marks Chesney’s first performance there in seven years!
This song has already reached number three on the country chart and marks his fourth top five hit of 2017. Additionally, he was honored by the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles with an exhibit and performance as part of their Person of the Year Gala to raise funds for MusiCares – an organization that provides assistance to musicians in need.
At this tribute to Jimmy Buffett, Chesney and 10-time CMA winner Mac McAnally collaborated in honoring him, honoring their long-term working relationship with Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band. Together they performed an acoustic cover of “A Pirate Looks At Forty”, under blue lighting on stage. Following that were Jackson, Zac Brown Band, HARDY (CMT Vocal Group of the Year nominees), performing a medley of Buffett songs including an ocean-themed rendition of his iconic song “Margaritaville”. All performances were dedicated in memory of Jimmy Buffett who passed away earlier this year.
Brad Paisley
Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley have long been a powerhouse duo in country music. Over their many performances on the CMA stage – duets, her win for female video of the year 2011 among others -, they’ve shared several duets together while serving as co-hosts of Country Music’s Biggest Night (CMBN) on Wednesday for 11 consecutive times, officially planning it three months prior and coming up with fun ideas all year. Last year alone they released some spoof songs as well as sharing some lighthearted jabs at stars and events such as how Underwood had given birth to her son (who turned out to be male).
Paisley will release “Bucked Off,” an upbeat relationship-gone-wrong rodeo tune he co-wrote with Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois and produced by multiple CMA nominee Dan Huff.
Fans can expect both serious and humorous moments at this year’s show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Nominees Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line with Bebe Rexha, LANCO Midland Kacey Musgraves Old Dominion are scheduled to perform. ABC will broadcast live coverage.
Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum, previously spelled Lady A due to concerns regarding its association with slavery in the American South, hit number one with their song “Never Alone”. Prior to this victory they held the highest-charting country album with Need You Now.
Eddy Arnold’s final chart-topper “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” marks an unbroken run at number one on country music charts by male artists; surpassing Connie Smith’s eight week run with “Once A Day”. Furthermore, Hot Country Songs’ methodology has been changed to account for sales and streaming as well as airplay playback; therefore the name has been updated accordingly to Country Airplay.
Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” and Luke Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” once again take the top two slots, having not held onto these spots since 1981 when Eddie Rabbitt’s “I Love a Rainy Day” and Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” held onto them respectively.
One could posit that Wallen’s success on the pop charts was propelled by his anti-Woke rhetoric and inarguable crossover appeal; but what’s also evident is that the song has already spent 14 weeks at #1 on Hot Country Songs chart.