Country Airplay

Country Airplay is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States since October 20, 2012, although the magazine also retrospectively recognizes the Hot Country Songs charts from January 20, 1990, through October 13, 2012, as part of the history of the Country Airplay listing. The chart lists the 60 most-listened-to records played on 150 mainstream country radio stations across the country as monitored by Nielsen BDS, weighted to each station's Nielsen ratings.

The first number-one song actually published under the Country Airplay banner was "Take a Little Ride" by Jason Aldean; but as Billboard also recognizes the history of the Hot Country Songs chart since 1990 as part of this chart, the magazine recognizes the first chart-topper as "Nobody's Home" by Clint Black.[1]

History

Earlier versions

Throughout its history of ranking country songs by popularity, Billboard has had several different airplay-only charts to measure the top-played songs on radio stations. The first of these was called "Country & Western Records Most Played By Folk Disk Jockeys", and debuted with the December 10, 1949, issue.[2] Like the other charts of the time, the number of positions was not standardized; the chart had anywhere from eight to 15 positions, varying from week to week. The chart, which had several other names, continued until October 13, 1958, when it was merged with the "best sellers" chart to become the Hot Country Songs chart.[2]

Starting with the October 20, 1984 issue, there were separate charts for radio airplay and singles sales, similar to the Hot 100 Airplay and Singles Sales charts that also debuted with this issue, it was a component chart that helped determine placement on the Hot Country Singles chart. The airplay chart was discontinued in 1987 as Hot Country songs became solely based on disc jockey reports, but the sales chart continued until 1989.[2]

With effect from the issue dated January 20, 1990, the Hot Country Singles chart began to be based solely on country music radio airplay as opposed to a combination of airplay and physical sales.[2] At this time the chart consisted of 75 positions.[2] Four weeks later, on February 17, the chart was retitled "Hot Country Singles & Tracks" to reflect the fact that songs which had not been released as singles could chart based on airplay.[2] Beginning with the January 13, 2001, issue, the chart was cut from 75 to 60 positions, and effective April 30, 2005 the chart was renamed "Hot Country Songs".[2]

Current chart

Beginning with the chart dated October 20, 2012, Billboard changed the methodology of Hot Country Songs to again incorporate sales and now also include streaming. In addition, the airplay component of the chart now factored in plays on stations of all genres instead of the previous genre-specific radio panel. At this point a second chart called Country Airplay was launched, based only on country radio airplay. Billboard now recognizes the Hot Country Songs charts from January 20, 1990, until October 13, 2012, as part of the history of both listings.[3]

Music historian Joel Whitburn, in the 2017 edition of his Top Country Singles books which tabulate every artist and song to have made the Billboard country music charts, observed that after the split of Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay in 2012, the country music industry generally favored the latter chart. In particular, he cited the fact that "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" by Taylor Swift spent ten weeks at number one on Hot Country Songs but peaked at number 13 on Country Airplay due to poor reception at country radio. He also observed that the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association continue to cite Country Airplay positions, and that the syndicated radio show American Country Countdown also continues to use the Country Airplay chart. By comparison, Whitburn observed that the Hot Country Songs chart often includes "album cuts from superstar album releases and songs from reality show contestants" which "tend to have very little lasting impact on audiences and are almost completely ignored by radio stations that depend on strong ratings to survive."[4]

Chart policies

As with most other Billboard charts, the Country Airplay chart features a rule for when a song enters recurrent rotation. Starting with the chart week of December 2, 2006, a song is declared recurrent on the country charts if it has been on the charts longer than 20 weeks; is not gaining in spins or audience impressions; and is lower than 10 in rank for either audience impressions or spins. Since December 2008, any song that is ranked below #10 in spins or audience and has not shown an increase in audience or spins for more than two weeks is also declared recurrent, even if it has not charted for 20 weeks.

Chart achievements

Chart achievements listed below cover Country Airplay since its launch in 2012 as well as Hot Country Songs between 1990 and 2012.

Most weeks at number one

Total Song Artist(s) Year(s) ref
10 "You Proof" Morgan Wallen 2022–2023 [5]
"World on Fire" Nate Smith 2023–2024 [6]
8 "Amazed" Lonestar 1999 [7]
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett 2003 [8]
"Last Night" Morgan Wallen 2023 [5]
"I'm the Problem" 2025 [5]
7 "The Good Stuff" Kenny Chesney 2002 [9]
"Have You Forgotten?" Darryl Worley 2003 [10]
"There Goes My Life" Kenny Chesney 2003–2004 [9]
"Live Like You Were Dying" Tim McGraw 2004 [11]
"Beautiful Crazy" Luke Combs 2019 [12]
"A Bar Song (Tipsy)" Shaboozey 2024 [13]

Longest climbs to number one

Total Song Artist Year[a] ref
67 "Time's Ticking" Justin Moore 2026 [14]
65 "After a Few" Travis Denning 2020 [14]
"Whiskey and Rain" Michael Ray 2022 [14]
63 "In Between" Scotty McCreery 2020 [14]
62 "Can't Have Mine" Dylan Scott 2023 [14]
60 "23" Chayce Beckham 2024 [14]
58 "Make Me Want To" Jimmie Allen 2020 [14]
56 "Single Saturday Night" Cole Swindell 2021 [14]
"To Be Loved by You" Parker McCollum 2022 [14]
"Gonna Love You" Parmalee 2024 [14]

Most number-ones

Total Artist Source(s)
33 Kenny Chesney [9]
30 Blake Shelton [15]
29 Tim McGraw [16][11]
26 Alan Jackson [8]
George Strait [16]
Luke Bryan [17]
Jason Aldean [18]
21 Keith Urban [19]
Thomas Rhett [20]
20 Brad Paisley [21]
Morgan Wallen [22]
Luke Combs [23]

Most number-ones by women

Total Artist Source(s)
16 Carrie Underwood [24][25]
11 Reba McEntire [26][24]
9 Faith Hill [27]
7 Shania Twain [27]
Taylor Swift [27]
Miranda Lambert [28]
6 Dixie Chicks [29]
5 Trisha Yearwood [30]
Martina McBride [31]
Sara Evans [32]
Kelsea Ballerini [33]
Lainey Wilson [34]

Most number-ones by duos or groups

Total Duo/Group Source(s)
20 Brooks & Dunn [35]
16 Florida Georgia Line [36]
14 Rascal Flatts [37][35]
13 Zac Brown Band [35]
11 Lady Antebellum [38]
9 Lonestar [7]
8 Dan + Shay [39]
7 Alabama [40]
Old Dominion [41]
6 Dixie Chicks [29]

Most top 10 entries

Total Artist Source
61 George Strait [42]
Kenny Chesney [9]
Tim McGraw [11]
51 Alan Jackson [8]
44 Keith Urban [19]
42 Jason Aldean [18]
41 Brooks & Dunn [43]
39 Blake Shelton [15]
37 Reba McEntire [26]
37 Luke Bryan [17]

Most top 10 entries by men

Total Artist Source
61 George Strait [42]
Kenny Chesney [9]
Tim McGraw [11]
51 Alan Jackson [8]
44 Keith Urban [19]
42 Jason Aldean [18]
41 Brooks & Dunn [43]
39 Blake Shelton [15]
37 Luke Bryan [17]
36 Garth Brooks [44]

Most top 10 entries by women

Total Artist Source
37 Reba McEntire [26]
31 Carrie Underwood [45]
23 Faith Hill [46]
20 Martina McBride [31]
19 Trisha Yearwood [30]
Taylor Swift [47]
16 Shania Twain [48]
15 Miranda Lambert [28]
14 Dixie Chicks [29]
Patty Loveless [49]

Most top 10 entries by duos or groups

Total Duo/Group Source
41 Brooks & Dunn [50]
32 Rascal Flatts [37]
24 Alabama [40]
19 Diamond Rio [51]
Florida Georgia Line [36]
18 Lonestar [7]
17 Zac Brown Band [52]
16 Montgomery Gentry [53]
15 Lady Antebellum [54]
14 Dixie Chicks [29]

Most entries

Total Artist Source
100 George Strait [42]
Kenny Chesney [9]
93 Garth Brooks [44]
90 Tim McGraw [11]
82 Alan Jackson [8]
72 Reba McEntire [26]
65 Blake Shelton [15]
62 Brooks & Dunn [43]
55 Brad Paisley [21]
Rascal Flatts [37]

Most entries by women

Total Artist Source
72 Reba McEntire [26]
56 Martina McBride [31]
51 Trisha Yearwood [30]
50 Carrie Underwood [45]
48 Faith Hill [55]
40 Taylor Swift [47]
39 Miranda Lambert [28]
35 LeAnn Rimes [56]
Shania Twain [48]
34 Patty Loveless [49]

Most entries by men

Total Artist Source
100 George Strait [42]
Kenny Chesney [9]
93 Garth Brooks [44]
90 Tim McGraw [11]
82 Alan Jackson [8]
65 Blake Shelton [15]
62 Brooks & Dunn [43]
55 Brad Paisley [21]
55 Rascal Flatts [37]
52 Keith Urban [19]

Most entries by duos or groups

Total Duo/Group Source(s)
62 Brooks & Dunn [50]
55 Rascal Flatts [37]
45 Alabama [40]
37 Lonestar [7]
33 Diamond Rio [51]
Lady Antebellum [54]
32 Montgomery Gentry [53]
31 Little Big Town [57]
28 Zac Brown Band [52]
27 Dixie Chicks [29]

Use in media

Since September 2017, the Country Airplay chart has served as the data source for the weekly radio program American Country Countdown.[58]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Each song reached number one in the year given.

References

  1. ^ "Country Airplay Chart". Billboard.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 7–8. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  3. ^ Owen, Chris (2019). "The Country Music Charts Everything You Need To Know". The Boot.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2017). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2017. Record Research, Inc. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-89820-229-8.
  5. ^ a b c "Morgan Wallen Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  6. ^ Asker, Jim (February 16, 2024). "'World' Record: Nate Smith Ties for Longest-Leading No. 1 in Country Airplay Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "Lonestar Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Alan Jackson Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Kenny Chesney Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  10. ^ "Darryl Worley Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Tim McGraw Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  12. ^ "Luke Combs Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  13. ^ Asker, Jim (September 6, 2024). "Shaboozey's 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' Tops Country Airplay for 7th Week, Surpassing Carrie Underwood's Record". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Country Songs That Took a Year to Hit No. 1 on Country Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  15. ^ a b c d e Mahananda, Bibhu Prasad (January 9, 2026). "Blake Shelton Country Airplay Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  16. ^ a b Asker, Jim (June 19, 2018). "David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney Set Records Atop Country Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  17. ^ a b c "Luke Bryan Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  18. ^ a b c "Jason Aldean Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  19. ^ a b c d "Keith Urban Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  20. ^ "Thomas Rhett Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  21. ^ a b c "Brad Paisley Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  22. ^ "Morgan Wallen Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  23. ^ "Luke Combs Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  24. ^ a b Asker, Jim (July 19, 2016). "Carrie Underwood Rings in 15th No. 1; Sam Hunt Earns High Five". Billboard.
  25. ^ "Most country no.1s for a female artist in the US". Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  26. ^ a b c d e "Reba McEntire Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  27. ^ a b c Jessen, Wade. "Carrie Underwood Has Her Longest Reign at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  28. ^ a b c "Miranda Lambert Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  29. ^ a b c d e "Dixie Chicks Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  30. ^ a b c "Trisha Yearwood Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  31. ^ a b c "Martina McBride Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  32. ^ "Sara Evans". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  33. ^ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  34. ^ "Lainey Wilson Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  35. ^ a b c Asker, Jim (June 26, 2018). "Morgan Wallen 'Up' To First Country Airplay No. 1 With FGL, Who Also Top Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  36. ^ a b "Florida Georgia Line Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  37. ^ a b c d e "Rascal Flatts Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  38. ^ Asker, Jim. "Zac Brown Band Makes History on Country Airplay Chart; Randy Houser Debuts". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  39. ^ Mahananda, Bibhu Prasad (December 8, 2020). "Dan+Shay Country Airplay Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  40. ^ a b c "Alabama Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  41. ^ "Old Dominion Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  42. ^ a b c d "George Strait Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  43. ^ a b c d "Brooks & Dunn Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  44. ^ a b c "Garth Brooks Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  45. ^ a b "Carrie Underwood". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  46. ^ "Faith Hill". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  47. ^ a b "Taylor Swift". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  48. ^ a b "Shania Twain". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  49. ^ a b "Patty Loveless". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  50. ^ a b "Brooks & Dunn Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  51. ^ a b "Diamond Rio Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  52. ^ a b "Zac Brown Band Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  53. ^ a b "Montgomery Gentry Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  54. ^ a b "Lady Antebellum Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  55. ^ "Faith Hill". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  56. ^ "LeAnn Rimes". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  57. ^ "Little Big Town Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  58. ^ "American Country Countdown Returns to Billboard Chart". Inside Radio. August 14, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
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