Jimmie Allen and Brad Paisley’s “Freedom Was a Highway” enters the top 10 BillboardRanking of Hot Country songs based on broadcasts, sales, and streaming (as of January 15), dropping from # 13 to # 9.

On Country Airplay, the track holds its No.8 level, up 3% to 19.5 million impressions in the week ending Jan. 9, according to MRC Data.

To explore

See the latest videos, graphics and news

See the latest videos, graphics and news

After Allen performed the song on CBS ‘ New Years Eve: Nashville Big Bash, it also jumped 35% to 5.3 million feeds and 135% to 2,300 sold in the week ending Jan. 6.

The single, which Allen wrote with Ash Bowers and Matt Rogers, marks Allen’s third top 10 Hot Country Songs and the first since “Make Me Want To,” which reached number 7 in March 2020. It has also led Country Airplay that month, scoring his second No.1.

“Highway” grants Paisley its 33rd Top 10 Hot Country Songs and the first since March 2017, when “Today” reached No.7. Paisley initially rose to the level with “He Didn’t Have to Be,” which became his first of 18 leaders in December 1999.

‘TO THE TOP ten Parker McCollum scores his second Hot Country Songs top 10, while “To Be Loved By You” pushes 14-10. The single, which McCollum wrote with Rhett Akins, climbs 12-11 to a new high on Country Airplay (15.2 million, up 7%). It also attracted 2.1 million streams (up 4%) and sold 1,000 downloads in the follow-up week.

In its first appearance on Hot Country Songs, McCollum’s “Pretty Heart” reached number 4 in December 2020. The track became its first Country Airplay frontman that same month.

‘LIKE’ ALWAYS LOVED Walker Hayes’ “Fancy Like” puts its 23rd week at the top of Hot Country Songs. Only four tracks have led the list longer since it became a global genre painting in 1958, punctuated by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line’s “Meant to Be” (50 Weeks, 2017-18).

“Fancy” leads digital country song sales for a 24th week (7,300, up 10%) and country streaming songs for a 20th frame (11.4 million streams, up 11%) . The single, which topped Country Airplay in November, also drew 22.7 million impressions in all-format radio audiences during the follow-up week.

SIX-CESS Dustin Lynch’s “Thinking ‘Bout You”, starring MacKenzie Porter, reigns on Country Airplay for a sixth week (27.1 million impressions).

The song is tied for the longest chart hit of the 2020s to date, corresponding to Luke Combs’ “Forever After All,” which began his six-week reign in June 2021. “Thinking” sports the most command. long since “Beautiful Crazy” by Combs. registered seven more weeks from March 2019.

“Thinking” is the 23rd song to dominate Country Airplay for at least six weeks, out of 884 toppers in total dating from the chart’s creation in 1990 (or a feat achieved by just 3% of all No. 1s). Two songs led for a record eight weeks each: “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett (2003) and “Amazed” by Lonestar (1999).

NOT “HALF” BAD Kelsea Ballerini’s “Half of My Hometown”, starring Kenny Chesney, ranks in Country Airplay’s top 10 at 11-10 (16.6 million, up 8%).

Ballerini adds his eighth top 10 to the charts, a sum including four No.1s.

Chesney netted his 60th top 10 Country Airplay, pushing him inside one of George Strait’s 61 records (in a run baseball historians will appreciate).

BACK INTO THE CITY ‘ Maren Morris marks her highest Country Airplay debut, as “Circles Around This Town” enters at No. 25 based on its first three days on the air. Released on January 7 (when receiving plays every hour on participating iHeartMedia stations), it garnered 6.9 million audience impressions through January 9.

Morris previously lost 28th place on Country Airplay with two potential No.1s: “Girl” in January 2019, and as featured in Thomas Rhett’s “Craving You” in April 2017.

The new single follows “Chasing After You”, Morris’ collaboration with her husband, Ryan Hurd; the song reached number 2 in November.

“Town”, which Morris co-wrote, is the first single from his upcoming album, as well as his first new solo music since. Girl, which opened at # 1 on Top Country Albums in March 2019.