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.

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. 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.

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.

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. At this time the chart consisted of 75 positions. 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. 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".

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.

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."

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

TotalSongArtist(s)Year(s)ref
10"You Proof"Morgan Wallen2022–2023
"World on Fire"Nate Smith2023–2024
8"Amazed"Lonestar1999
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett2003
"Last Night"Morgan Wallen2023
"I'm the Problem"2025
7"The Good Stuff"Kenny Chesney2002
"Have You Forgotten?"Darryl Worley2003
"There Goes My Life"Kenny Chesney2003–2004
"Live Like You Were Dying"Tim McGraw2004
"Beautiful Crazy"Luke Combs2019
"A Bar Song (Tipsy)"Shaboozey2024

Longest climbs to number-one

TotalSongArtistYearref
67"Time's Ticking"Justin Moore2026
66"Kid Myself"John Morgan2026
65"After a Few"Travis Denning2020
"Whiskey and Rain"Michael Ray2022
63"In Between"Scotty McCreery2020
62"Can't Have Mine"Dylan Scott2023
60"23"Chayce Beckham2024
58"Make Me Want To"Jimmie Allen2020
56"Single Saturday Night"Cole Swindell2021
"To Be Loved by You"Parker McCollum2022
"Gonna Love You"Parmalee2024

Most number-ones

TotalArtistSource(s)
34Kenny Chesney
30Blake Shelton
29Tim McGraw
27 Jason Aldean
26Alan Jackson
George Strait
Luke Bryan
22 Morgan Wallen
21Keith Urban
Thomas Rhett
Luke Combs

Most number-ones by women

TotalArtistSource(s)
16Carrie Underwood
11Reba McEntire
9Faith Hill
7Shania Twain
Taylor Swift
Miranda Lambert
6Dixie Chicks
Ella Langley
5Trisha Yearwood
Martina McBride
Sara Evans
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Lauren Alaina

Most number-ones by duos or groups

TotalDuo/GroupSource(s)
20Brooks & Dunn
16Florida Georgia Line
14Rascal Flatts
13Zac Brown Band
11Lady Antebellum
9Lonestar
8Dan + Shay
7Alabama
Old Dominion
6Dixie Chicks

Most top 10 entries

TotalArtistSource
62Kenny Chesney
61George Strait
Tim McGraw
51Alan Jackson
44Keith Urban
42Jason Aldean
41Brooks & Dunn
39Blake Shelton
37Reba McEntire
37Luke Bryan

Most top 10 entries by men

TotalArtistSource
62Kenny Chesney
61George Strait
Tim McGraw
51Alan Jackson
44Keith Urban
42Jason Aldean
41Brooks & Dunn
39Blake Shelton
37Luke Bryan
36Garth Brooks

Most top 10 entries by women

TotalArtistSource
37Reba McEntire
31Carrie Underwood
23Faith Hill
20Martina McBride
19Trisha Yearwood
Taylor Swift
16Shania Twain
15Miranda Lambert
14Dixie Chicks
Patty Loveless

Most top 10 entries by duos or groups

TotalDuo/GroupSource
41Brooks & Dunn
32Rascal Flatts
24Alabama
19Diamond Rio
Florida Georgia Line
18Lonestar
17Zac Brown Band
16Montgomery Gentry
15Lady Antebellum
14Dixie Chicks

Most entries

TotalArtistSource
101Kenny Chesney
100George Strait
93Garth Brooks
90Tim McGraw
82Alan Jackson
73Reba McEntire
65Blake Shelton
62Brooks & Dunn
56Martina McBride
55Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts

Most entries by women

TotalArtistSource
73Reba McEntire
56Martina McBride
51Trisha Yearwood
50Carrie Underwood
48Faith Hill
40Taylor Swift
39Miranda Lambert
35LeAnn Rimes
Shania Twain
34Patty Loveless

Most entries by men

TotalArtistSource
101Kenny Chesney
100George Strait
93Garth Brooks
90Tim McGraw
82Alan Jackson
65Blake Shelton
62Brooks & Dunn
55Brad Paisley
55Rascal Flatts
52Keith Urban

Most entries by duos or groups

TotalDuo/GroupSource(s)
62Brooks & Dunn
55Rascal Flatts
45Alabama
37Lonestar
33Diamond Rio
Lady Antebellum
32Montgomery Gentry
31Little Big Town
28Zac Brown Band
27Dixie Chicks

Use in media

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

See also

Notes

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

References

  1. ↑ "Country Airplay Chart". Billboard.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 3 4 "Lonestar Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Alan Jackson Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Kenny Chesney Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Darryl Worley Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Country Songs That Took a Year to Hit No. 1 on Country Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Billboard Country Update (October 9, 2026)" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Mahananda, Bibhu Prasad (January 9, 2026). "Blake Shelton Country Airplay Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  17. 1 2 Asker, Jim (June 19, 2018). "David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney Set Records Atop Country Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  18. 1 2 3 "Jason Aldean Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 "Luke Bryan Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Morgan Wallen Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  21. 1 2 3 4 "Keith Urban Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Thomas Rhett Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Luke Combs Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  24. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 5 "Reba McEntire Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  27. 1 2 3 Jessen, Wade. "Carrie Underwood Has Her Longest Reign at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  28. 1 2 3 "Miranda Lambert Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dixie Chicks Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Ella Langley Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  31. 1 2 3 "Trisha Yearwood Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  32. 1 2 3 4 "Martina McBride Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Sara Evans". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Lainey Wilson Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Lauren Alaina Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  37. 1 2 3 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.
  38. 1 2 "Florida Georgia Line Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rascal Flatts Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  40. ↑ Asker, Jim. "Zac Brown Band Makes History on Country Airplay Chart; Randy Houser Debuts". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  41. ↑ Mahananda, Bibhu Prasad (December 8, 2020). "Dan+Shay Country Airplay Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  42. 1 2 3 "Alabama Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Old Dominion Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  44. 1 2 3 4 "George Strait Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  45. 1 2 3 4 "Brooks & Dunn Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  46. 1 2 3 "Garth Brooks Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  47. 1 2 "Carrie Underwood". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  48. ↑ "Faith Hill". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  49. 1 2 "Taylor Swift". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  50. 1 2 "Shania Twain". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  51. 1 2 "Patty Loveless". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  52. 1 2 "Brooks & Dunn Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  53. 1 2 "Diamond Rio Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  54. 1 2 "Zac Brown Band Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  55. 1 2 "Montgomery Gentry Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  56. 1 2 "Lady Antebellum Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  57. 1 2 "Brad Paisley Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  58. ↑ "Faith Hill". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  59. ↑ "LeAnn Rimes". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  60. ↑ "Little Big Town Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  61. ↑ "American Country Countdown Returns to Billboard Chart". Inside Radio. August 14, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2023.