Hot Country Songs

Weekly chart published by Billboard

Florida Georgia Line holds the records for the most cumulative weeks atop the Hot Country Songs chart (106) and the most weeks atop the chart for a single song (50 for "Meant to Be", a collaboration with pop singer Bebe Rexha).[1]

Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.

This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data along with digital sales and streaming.

The current number-one song on the chart as of July 19, 2025, is "What I Want" by Morgan Wallen featuring Tate McRae.

## History

[edit]

Billboard began compiling the popularity of country songs with its January 8, 1944, issue. Only the genre's most popular jukebox selections were tabulated, with the chart titled "Most Played Juke Box Folk Records".[2]

For approximately ten years, from 1948 to 1958, Billboard used three charts to measure the popularity of a given song.[2] In addition to the jukebox chart, these charts included:

* The "best sellers" chart – started 15 May 1948, as "Best Selling Retail Folk Records".
* An airplay chart – started 10 December 1949, as "Country & Western Records Most Played By Folk Disk Jockeys".

The juke box chart was discontinued in June 1957. Starting with the 20 October 1958, issue, Billboard began combining sales and radio airplay in figuring a song's overall popularity, counting them in one single chart called "Hot C&W Sides".[2] The chart was published under the title Hot C&W Sides through the 27 October 1962, issue and "Hot Country Singles" thereafter, a title it would retain until 1990.[3]

On 20 January 1990, the Hot Country Singles chart was reduced from 100 to 75 positions and began to be compiled entirely from information provided by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems, a system which electronically monitors radio airplay of songs.[4] Four weeks later, on February 17, the chart was retitled "Hot Country Singles & Tracks". Beginning with the January 13, 2001, issue, the chart was reduced from 75 to 60 positions, and all songs on the chart at the time had their tally of weeks spent on the chart adjusted to count only weeks spent at No. 60 or higher.[5] Effective April 30, 2005, the chart was renamed "Hot Country Songs".

Starting in 1990, the rankings were determined by Arbitron-tallied listener audience for each spin that a song received. The methodology was changed for the first chart published in 1992 to tally the amount of spins a song received, but in January 2005, the methodology reverted to the audience format. This change was brought on because of "label-sponsored spin programs" that had manipulated the chart several times in 2004.[6]

The Hot Country Songs chart methodology was changed starting with the 20 October 2012, issue to match the Billboard Hot 100: digital downloads and streaming data are combined with airplay from all radio formats to determine position. A new chart, the Country Airplay chart, was created using airplay exclusively from country radio stations. Following the change, songs that were receiving airplay on top-40 pop were given a major advantage over songs popular only on country radio, and as an unintended consequence, such songs began having record-long runs at the top of the chart. The first song to benefit from this change was Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", which had been declining in popularity but shot up to number one on the chart the first week the change took effect and stayed there until it set an all-time record for the most weeks at No. 1 by a solo female.[7] This was followed almost immediately by Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise", which had the longest stay at number one of any song in the country chart's history (24 weeks),[8] until it was surpassed by Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" in 2017 (34 weeks). The record was subsequently broken by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line's "Meant to Be" in 2018 (50 weeks).[1]

Billboard has not explicitly defined how it determines which songs qualify for the country chart and which ones do not, only that "a few factors are determined (...) first and foremost is musical composition" and that a song must "embrace enough elements of today's country music" to qualify. The 1990–2012 chart did not have such ambiguity, being objectively measured by airplay from specifically identified country stations alone. A later statement from Billboard elaborated on what those "few factors" entailed: "most notably the song's musical composition, but also how the song is marketed and promoted, the musical history of the artist, airplay the song receives and how the song is platformed on streaming services".[9] The 2019 country rap record "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X was a subject of controversy over this ambiguous standard after it initially appeared on the country chart, where it debuted and peaked at number 19, before Billboard took the song off subsequent charts, claiming it had made a mistake in including it. The song gained popularity through viral memes rather than radio, as only one country station, Radio Disney Country, had played it at the time of the charting.[10]

## Hot Country Songs chart achievements

[edit]

### Songs with most weeks at number one

[edit]

These are the songs with 16 or more weeks at number one. Fifteen songs accomplished this feat between 1946 and 1964 (including on the country charts published by Billboard prior to the launch in 1958 of what is now the Hot Country Songs listing), but none did so again until after the 2012 reformulation; between the nine-week run of "Almost Persuaded" by David Houston in 1966 and the chart's reformulation in 2012, no song spent more than eight weeks atop the chart. Prolonged runs became commonplace again in 2012. As of May 24, 2025[update], thirteen songs from this period have topped the chart for at least 16 weeks, and the seven longest chart runs have all been since 2012.

Weeks | Song | Artist | Year(s) | Source

|
|
|
|

50 | "Meant to Be" | Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line | 2017–18 | [11]
45  | "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" | Shaboozey | 2024–25 | [12]
34 | "Body Like a Back Road" | Sam Hunt | 2017 | [13]
27 | "I Hope" | Gabby Barrett | 2020–21 | [14]
25 | "Last Night" | Morgan Wallen | 2023 | [15]
24 | "Cruise" | Florida Georgia Line  | 2012–13  | [13]
"Fancy Like" | Walker Hayes | 2021–22 | [16]
21 | "I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)"† | Eddy Arnold | 1947–48 | [17]
"I'm Moving On"‡ | Hank Snow | 1950 | [18]
"In the Jailhouse Now"† | Webb Pierce | 1955 | [19]
"10,000 Hours"  | Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber | 2019–20 | [20]
20 | "I Don't Hurt Anymore"†‡ | Hank Snow | 1954 | [21]
"Crazy Arms"§ | Ray Price | 1956 | [22]
"I Remember Everything" | Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves | 2023–24 | [23]
19  | "Bouquet Of Roses"‡ | Eddy Arnold | 1947–48 | [17]
"Walk On By" | Leroy Van Dyke | 1961–62 | [24]
"The Bones" | Maren Morris | 2020 | [25]
"You Proof" | Morgan Wallen | 2022 | [15]
18 | "H.O.L.Y." | Florida Georgia Line | 2016 | [13]
17  | "Slippin' Around"‡ | Jimmy Wakely and Margaret Whiting | 1949–50 | [26]
"Slowly"†‡ | Webb Pierce | 1954 | [19]
"Heartbreak Hotel"‡ | Elvis Presley | 1956 | [27]
"Die a Happy Man" | Thomas Rhett | 2015–16 | [28]
16 | "Guitar Polka"† | Al Dexter | 1946 | [29]
"New Spanish Two Step"† | Bob Wills | 1946 | [30]
"Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)"† | Tex Williams | 1947–48 | [31]
"Lovesick Blues"‡ | Hank Williams | 1949–50 | [32]
"Love's Gonna Live Here" | Buck Owens | 1963–64 | [33]

Note: Songs marked † achieved the listed run on the Most Played in Juke Boxes chart (published 1944–57). Songs marked ‡ achieved the listed run on the Best Sellers on Stores chart (published 1948–58). Songs marked § achieved the listed run on the Most Played by Jockeys chart (published 1949–58). All these songs also had shorter runs at number one on the other charts not indicated. In 1958 the best sellers and jockeys charts were merged to create the multimetric Hot C&W Sides listing (now Hot Country Songs).

### Artists with most cumulative weeks at number one

[edit]

With at least 50+ weeks at # 1. As of the issue of Billboard dated July 19, 2025

Weeks at
number one | Artist | Source

|
|

106

| Florida Georgia Line | [34]

| George Strait | [35]

| Buck Owens | [33]

| Morgan Wallen | [15]

| Tim McGraw | [36]

| Kenny Chesney | [37]

| Alan Jackson | [38]

| Sonny James | [39]

| Merle Haggard | [40]

| Toby Keith | [41]

| Sam Hunt | [42]

| Keith Urban | [43]

| Bebe Rexha | [44]

### Artists with the most number one hits

[edit]

George Strait has the most number one hits, at 44.[45] Dolly Parton has the most number ones of any female artist, with 25.[46]

## See also

[edit]

* List of number-one country hits (United States)
* American Country Countdown
* List of years in country music
* List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Hot country chart
* Country Airplay

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Billboard Country Update: November 12, 2018" (PDF). Billboard. November 12, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
2. ^ a b c Campbell, Michael (1 January 2012). Popular Music in America:The Beat Goes On. Chapter 30 Honky Tonk: Cengage Learning. p. 125\. ISBN 978-1133712602. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2018.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location (link)
3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944–2005. Record Research. p. ix. ISBN 9780898201659.
4. ^ "R&B Enjoying Rare Dominance Over Rap". Billboard. 24 April 2004. p. 68\. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
5. ^ Jessen, Wade (January 13, 2001). "Country Corner" (PDF). Billboard.
6. ^ "Country returns to audience-based chart". 20 November 2004: 88. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2016. `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help)
7. ^ Jessen, Wade (6 December 2012). "Taylor Swift Makes Country Songs History". Billboard Magazine. Billboard Musix. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
8. ^ Jessen, Wade (August 1, 2013). "Florida Georgia Line's 'Cruise' Sets Record For Longest No. 1 Run On Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 7, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
9. ^ ""Old Town Road" is only the third country song in 30 years to make it to make it to number one". 11 April 2019. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
10. ^ Elias Leight (March 26, 2019). "Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Was a Country Hit. Then Country Changed Its Mind". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 13, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
11. ^ "Hot Country Songs". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
12. ^ "Shaboozey Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
13. ^ a b c Asker, Jim (April 3, 2018). "Florida Georgia Line Now Has 3 of the 5 Longest-Leading Hot Country Songs No. 1s, Thanks to 'Meant to Be'". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 3, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
14. ^ "Hot Country Songs Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2022-12-25. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
15. ^ a b c "Morgan Wallen Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
16. ^ "Walker Hayes". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
17. ^ a b "Eddy Arnold Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
18. ^ "Hank Snow Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
19. ^ a b "Hank Snow Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
20. ^ Asker, Jim (March 10, 2020). "Maren Morris Scores First No. 1 on Hot Country Songs Chart, Kane Brown Crowns Country Airplay". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
21. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. p. 515. ISBN 0823076326.
22. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. p. 516. ISBN 0823076326.
23. ^ "Zach Bryan Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
24. ^ "Leroy Van Dyke Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
25. ^ "Maren Morris". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
26. ^ "Jimmy Wakely Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
27. ^ "Elvis Presley Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
28. ^ "Thomas Rhett". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2021-05-16. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
29. ^ "Al Dexter Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
30. ^ "Hank Snow Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
31. ^ "Tex Williams Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
32. ^ "Hank Williams Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
33. ^ a b "Buck Owens Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
34. ^ "Florida Georgia Line Marks One Hundred Total Weeks Atop Hot Country Songs With 'Meant To Be'". Billboard. October 2, 2018. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
35. ^ "Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line's 'Meant to Be' Breaks New Record". Billboard. July 22, 2018. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
36. ^ "Tim McGraw Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
37. ^ "Kenny Chesney Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
38. ^ "Alan Jackson Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
39. ^ "Sonny James Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
40. ^ "Merle Haggard Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
41. ^ "Toby Keith Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
42. ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
43. ^ "Keith Urban Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
44. ^ "Bebe Rexha Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
45. ^ "George Strait". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
46. ^ "Dolly Parton". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2022-06-19. Retrieved 2021-12-01.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Whitburn, Joel. Top Country Songs 1944-2005 - 6th Edition. 2006.

## External links

[edit]

* Billboard Hot Country Songs chart – online version.

* v
* t
* e

Billboard number-one country songs

* Hot Country Songs
* Country Airplay

1944–1959|

* 1940 · 1941 · 1942 · 1943 · 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959

1960–1979|

* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979

1980–1999|

* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999

2000–2019|

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

2020–present|

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Related list|

Number-one country artists

* v
* t
* e

Billboard charts

United States|

| All-genre charts|

| Songs|

* Billboard Hot 100
* Radio Songs
* Digital Song Sales
* Streaming Songs
* Bubbling Under Hot 100

|

Albums|

* Billboard 200
* Top Album Sales
* Top Streaming Albums
* Catalog Albums
* Independent Albums

Artists|

* Artist 100
* Emerging Artists

Pop|

* Pop Airplay
* Adult Contemporary
* Adult Pop Airplay

Country|

* Top Country Albums
* Hot Country Songs
* Country Airplay

Rock & Alternative|

* Hot Rock & Alternative Songs
* Mainstream Rock
* Alternative Airplay
* Adult Alternative Airplay

R&B/Hip-Hop|

* Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
* Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
* R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
* Hot Rap Songs
* Hot R&B Songs
* Adult R&B Songs
* Rhythmic

Latin|

* Top Latin Albums
* Hot Latin Songs
* Latin Airplay
* Latin Pop Albums
* Latin Pop Airplay
* Latin Rhythm Albums
* Latin Rhythm Airplay
* Regional Mexican Albums
* Regional Mexican Airplay
* Tropical Albums
* Tropical Airplay

Dance|

* Top Dance Albums
* Hot Dance/Electronic Songs
* Hot Dance/Pop Songs
* Dance/Mix Show Airplay

Christian/Gospel|

* Top Christian Albums
* Hot Christian Songs
* Christian Airplay
* Top Gospel Albums
* Hot Gospel Songs

Other charts|

* Afrobeats Songs
* Americana/Folk Albums
* Christmas/Holiday charts
* Comedy Albums
* Kid Albums
* Smooth Jazz Airplay
* Twitter Real-Time
* World Digital Song Sales

Multinational|

* Billboard Global 200
* Global Excl. US

Other countries
(Hits of the World)|

* Argentina Hot 100
* Brasil Hot 100
* Brasil Artistas 25
* Canadian Albums
* Canadian Hot 100
* Radio China Top 10
* Croatia Songs
* Hong Kong Songs
* India Songs
* Japan Hot 100
* Japanese Hot Albums
* Malaysia Songs
* Mexico Songs
* Philippines Hot 100
* Romania Songs
* South Korea Songs
* Vietnam Hot 100

Defunct charts|

| United States|

* Comprehensive Albums
* Dance Club Songs
* Dance Singles Sales
* Heatseekers charts
* Hot Crossover 30
* Hot Singles Sales
* Pop 100
* TikTok Billboard Top 50
* Top 40 Tracks
* Twitter Real-Time

|

Multinational|

* European Top 100 Albums
* European Hot 100
* European Dance Radio Chart
* Social 50

Other countries|

* Brazil Songs
* China Top 100
* China Airplay/FL
* Greek Aiprlay
* Indonesia Top 100
* K-pop Hot 100
* Mexico Airplay
* Español
* Inglés
* Philippines Songs
* Türkiye Top 20

Related articles|

* Year-End
* Top Artist
* number-one singles and albums
* Decade-End
* Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones
* K-pop on the Billboard charts
* Albums
* Songs
* Japan Hot 100
* World Digital Song Sales
* Year-end

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template