Jordan Davis’ ‘Tucson Too Late’ Travels to No. 1 on Country Airplay Chart

Jordan Davis rolls up his fifth leader on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “Tucson Too Late” ascends to No. 1 on the survey dated May 18. It increased by 14% to 30.5 million in audience May 3-9, according to Luminate.

The song was co-authored by two pairs of brothers: Jordan and Jacob Davis and Josh and Matt Jenkins. It’s from Jordan Davis’ Bluebird Days, which arrived at its No. 3 peak on Top Country Albums in March 2023, becoming his second and top-charting top 10. His rookie LP, Home State, entered at its No. 6 peak in April 2018.

The 36-year-old from Shreveport, La., previously led Country Airplay with “What My World Spins Around,” for two frames in January 2023; “Buy Dirt” (featuring Luke Bryan; two weeks beginning in January 2022); “Slow Dance in a Parking Lot” (one week, April 2020); and his debut hit “Singles You Up” (one, April 2018).

New ‘Country’ Top 10

Jason Aldean banks his 38th Country Airplay top 10 as “Let Your Boys Be Country” bumps 12-10 (16 million, up 6%). It follows “Try That in a Small Town,” which reached No. 2 in October 2023 and became his 10th No. 1 on the multimetric Hot Country Songs chart and his first on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100.

Aldean claims the eighth-most top 10s since Country Airplay launched in January 1990. Kenny Chesney and George Strait lead with 61 each, followed by Tim McGraw (60), Alan Jackson (51), Keith Urban (44), Toby Keith (42) and Brooks & Dunn (41). Aldean breaks out of a tie with Reba McEntire, who leads all women with 37 top 10s.

Post Malone, Wallen Lead Debuts

Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help” makes the highest debut on Country Airplay, at No. 18 with 10.4 million audience impressions from its first day of availability. The song was released to country radio May 9 and received hourly plays on participating iHeartMedia stations. It’s Post Malone’s first Country Airplay entry as a lead act, and second overall, after late hitmaker Joe Diffie’s “Pickup Man,” on which he’s featured, hit No. 44 in January. (Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone, has topped the Hot 100 for two weeks running, having become his fifth No. 1.)

Marshmello hits Country Airplay for the first time, via his new collaboration with Kane Brown, “Miles on It,” which opens at No. 30 (4.7 million). They previously combined for “One Right Thing,” which led the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Country Songs chart for a week in 2019.

Miranda Lambert’s new single “Wranglers” opens at No. 37 on Country Airplay (3.6 million). Lambert, who has achieved seven No. 1s among 15 top 10s, spent her entire career with Sony Music Nashville before signing with Republic Records in April in a partnership with Big Loud, which will promote her music to country radio.

Also on Country Airplay, legend Randy Travis makes his first appearance in 15 years. Travis, who boasts 16 No. 1s among 30 top 10s on Hot Country Songs, arrives at No. 45 with “Where That Came From” (2.1 million). He last hit Country Airplay as featured on Carrie Underwood’s “I Told You So,” which rose to No. 2 in 2009; his original solo version topped Hot Country Songs in 1987.

Travis’ new single was crafted with through the use of AI. Said the 64-year-old, who suffered a stroke in 2013, in a statement, “By God’s grace and the support of family, friends, fellow artists and fans, I’m able to create the music I so dearly love. Many thanks to my wonderful team and the best fans in the world for putting me back in the saddle again! I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.”

Jim Asker

Billboard