Chase Rice
Alexa King*Chase Rice earns his fourth top 10 on Billboard's airplay-, sales- and streaming-based Hot Country Songs chart, as "Drinkin' Beer. Talkin' God. Amen.," featuring Florida Georgia Line, leaps 13-8 on the July 10-dated list.
The track surged by 66% to 6.5 million U.S. streams in the week ending July 1, according to MRC Data, helped by more prominent placement on Amazon Music's Country Heat playlist beginning June 25. It also gained by 10% to 1,300 sold.
On Country Airplay, the song rises 8-7, up 11% to 21.6 million impressions in the week ending July 4.
"God," which Rice co-wrote, becomes his fourth Hot Country Songs top 10. He last reached the tier with "Eyes on You," which peaked at No. 3 in April 2019. "Eyes" became Rice's first Country Airplay No. 1, leading for two weeks the following month.
FGL, the duo of Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, banks its 20th Hot Country Songs top 10, a sum that includes six leaders. Notably, Rice co-penned FGL's debut hit "Cruise," which reigned for a then-record 25 weeks in 2012-13, aided by its remix with Nelly.
Meanwhile, FGL doubles up in the Hot Country Songs top 10 with its latest Nelly team-up, "Lil Bit," which holds at its No. 3 high. It drew 11.3 million streams in the tracking week (up 9%) and ascends 2-1 on Country Streaming Songs, marking FGL's fifth leader on the chart and Nelly's first.
GARY GETS BACK Gary Allan's first studio set since 2013, Ruthless, enters Top Country Albums at No. 8 with 11,000 equivalent album units earned (9,000 in album sales) in its first tracking week.
The release, which Allan produced with Tony Brown, Greg Droman, Jay Joyce and Mark Wright, awards Allan his ninth Top Country Albums top 10, with all having arrived in the tier. His last album, Set You Free, bowed atop the tally in February 2013, becoming his third No. 1.
PERFECT 10 Luke Combs' "Forever After All" dominates Hot Country Songs for a 10th week and Country Airplay for a sixth frame.
"Forever," which arrived at the Hot Country Songs summit last November and has now added nine more weeks in a row at No. 1, drew 32.8 million in airplay audience and 10.4 million streams and sold 3,600 in the tracking week.
Combs banks his second single to top Hot Country Songs for double-digit weeks, after "Beautiful Crazy" reigned for 11 in 2019. The only other acts with multiple such No. 1s since the chart began as a multi-metric genre ranking in 1958: Florida Georgia Line (three) and Sam Hunt (two). Only 28 of 1,565 total No. 1s, or less than 2%, have dominated for 10 or more weeks each.
On Country Airplay, "Forever" is the 22nd No. 1 to rule for six or more weeks, among 866 total toppers, or just over 2%, since the chart originated in 1990. It's Combs' second, after "Beautiful Crazy" ruled for seven frames in 2019. Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw have each charted three such No. 1s, while Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Lonestar and Keith Urban have also tallied two apiece.
NEWS
The multi-hyphenate entertainer has scored five new certifications, including a platinum plaque for “Issues/Hold On,” which has sold over one million equivalent units in the U.S. The Kanye West-produced track is lifted from her 2018 album, K.T.S.E., which has been crowned gold for selling over 500,000 equivalent units.
Taylor’s third LP, The Album, has also reached gold status, tallying her second project to become RIAA certified. The King Combs-assisted “How You Want It,” a single from The Album, has been certified platinum.
Last, but not least, Taylor’s “Do Not Disturb” featuring Chris Brown is now gold. The steamy jam appears on her 2014 debut album, VII.
Taylor took to social media to celebrate her new RIAA updates. “Father God I thank you and I praise you in the name of Jesus. Thank You for showing patience with me, your kindness, grace & mercy every day. Your mercies never cease,” she wrote in a caption for her photo of her with her new plaques.
She continued, “Father God, please continue to instruct and teach me as I continue my faith walk. Thank you for keeping my head high to keep my crown from falling. I love you. Thank you for reminding me the wait is not punishment, it was preparation. Thank you to everyone involved with helping me bring these albums and songs to life. I am filled with much gratitude! WE PLATINUM & GOLD YALL.”
In other news, Taylor just released her new single “Long Time.” It’s the first offering from her upcoming album Escape Room, which will be accompanied by a short film. Taylor directed and produced the visual under her production company, The Aunties. It co-stars LaKeith Stanfield and Aaron Pierre, who appear in the video for “Long Time” as well.
Further, Taylor joined Ciara on her “Ecstasy (Remix)” alongside Normani. “When Ci hit me about jumping on this remix, it was an automatic yes,” Taylor said. “To be a part of this moment with two queens I love so much! Not only do I get to call Ciara and Normani my friends I get to call them my sisters! That’s black girl magic. We bringing the sensual, the sisterhood, and the soul. Let’s go!”
Taylor stars in Tyler Perry’s new drama Straw, now streaming on Netflix, alongside Taraji P. Henson and Sherri Shepherd.
