Key Takeaways
- Kenny Chesney achieves a record-breaking 62nd top 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
- 'Carry On' rises two spots to No. 9, increasing by 8% in audience reach.
- Chesney's latest hit enters the top 10 in its 10th week, continuing a familiar pattern.
Country music star Kenny Chesney has achieved a new milestone on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with his latest single 'Carry On', breaking the record for most top 10 entries. The song climbed two spots to No. 9, marking Chesney's 62nd top 10 hit since the chart began in January 1990.
According to Luminate data, 'Carry On' saw an increase of 8% in audience reach over the week ending July 16, with a total of 18 million listeners. This success adds to Chesney's impressive tally and cements his status as one of the most successful artists in country music.
The ascent of 'Carry On' is part of a familiar pattern for Chesney, who has seen many of his songs enter the top 10 within their first ten weeks. Thirty-four out of his 62 top 10 hits have done so, including notable entries like 'Young' in 2002 and 'Here and Now' in 2020. His fastest entry was 'Don’t Blink', which made its way to the top 10 in just three weeks in 2007.
Chesney's latest achievement also marks a significant moment for Hey Now Records, the recently launched label by Clint Higham, John Esposito, and Kris Lamb. The song is the first top 10 entry on the chart for this new venture, highlighting Chesney’s continued influence in the industry.
Among his contemporaries, Tim McGraw and George Strait share the second-highest number of top 10 hits with 61 each, but they have yet to break Chesney's record. The ascent of 'Carry On' continues a trend that has seen Chesney outpace his peers in terms of chart performance.
Chesney’s success on the Country Airplay chart is not limited to just top 10 entries; he also holds the lead with 33 Country Airplay No. 1s and has spent a combined total of 1,742 weeks on the chart. Only Tim McGraw has spent more time on the ranking, clocking in at 1,945 weeks.
Other notable entries on the July 25th chart include Jason Aldean's 'Don’t Tell on Me' continuing its reign as No. 1 with a 34.4 million audience reach and Tucker Wetmore’s debut hit 'Who Told You That' at No. 37, marking his first top 40 entry.
The chart updates will be available for public viewing on Billboard.com on July 21st, providing further insights into the current state of country music airplay.
