Thomas Rhett’s ‘Angels’ Flies to No. 1 on Country Airplay Chart: ‘This One Is Really Special’

Thomas Rhett scores his 19th No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “Angels (Don’t Always Have Wings)” soars from No. 6 to the top of the survey dated Sept. 23.

In the Sept. 8-14 tracking week, the single gained by 14% to 27.5 million audience impressions, according to Luminate.

The 33-year-old Georgia native co-authored the song with Julian Bunetta, Teddy Swims and Josh Thompson. It’s the third single from Rhett’s LP Where We Started, which opened at No. 2 on Top Country Albums in April 2022. Lead single “Slow Down Summer” hit No. 2 on Country Airplay in May 2022 and “Half of Me,” featuring Riley Green, ruled for a week last November.

Before “Summer,” Rhett’s “Country Again” led for a week in September 2021. He banked his first leader almost 10 years ago, when “It Goes Like This,” his third entry (and first of 22 top 10s), began a three-week domination in October 2013.

“This one is really special,” Rhett tells Billboard. “Crazy to think my first No. 1 in Billboard was 10 years ago, and now to be celebrating ‘Angels’ going No. 1 is just really exciting and humbling. Getting a No. 1 in Billboard is not an easy one to get, so we never take it for granted. I’m so grateful for the last 10 years, and can’t wait for the next 10 …”

Meanwhile, as it flies 6-1, “Angels” makes the biggest swoop to the top Country Airplay chart’s to perch since Scotty McCreery’s “In Between” blasted 8-1 in June 2020.

Now with 19 Country Airplay No. 1s, Rhett ties Garth Brooks for the 12th-most since the chart began in January 1990. Among all artists, Kenny Chesney ranks first with 32 No. 1s, followed by Tim McGraw (29) and Blake Shelton (28).