Dustin Lynch’s “Chevrolet,” featuring Jelly Roll, rides two spots to No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated Sept. 21).
The single – Lynch’s ninth Country Airplay leader and Jelly Roll’s fifth – increased 10% to 30.1 million audience impressions Sept. 6-12, according to Luminate.
“Chevrolet” was written by Chase McGill, Jessi Alexander and Hunter Phelps, with Mentor Williams also receiving writer billing, as it interpolates his classic “Drift Away.” Recorded by Dobie Gray, the original hit No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1973. Plus, Uncle Kracker’s update, featuring Gray, reached No. 9 in 2003.
“The response to this song has been absolutely wild to see in our live shows from way early on,” Lynch tells Billboard. “This iconic melody from ‘Drift Away’ is deep within all of us, and connects us instantly for such an epic sing-along. There’s a nostalgia to it that just feels good, and it becoming my ninth No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart means so much, especially since I get to celebrate this with my buddy Jelly. To the fans that have been on this crazy journey with me, this one is for you! Let’s keep riding y’all – I’m just getting started!”
Notably, “Chevrolet” is the latest Country Airplay No. 1 to either interpolate or remake a past hit. It’s the second in a row, as it supplants Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which updates J-Kwon’s 2004 hip-hop hit “Tipsy.”
Before that, Kane Brown’s “I Can Feel It,” which reworks Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” led Country Airplay for a week in March; Luke Combs’ faithful cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” reigned for five weeks beginning last July; and Cole Swindell’s “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” which reimagines Jo Dee Messina’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” banked four weeks at No. 1 beginning in September 2022.
Plus, Jelly Roll joined MGK for “Lonely Road.” The reinterpretation of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” has spent the last weeks in the top 40 of the multimetric Hot Country Songs chart.
“Chevrolet,” which Zach Crowell and Ben Phillips produced, is from Lynch’s album Killed the Cowboy. He last topped Country Airplay with “Thinking ‘Bout You,” featuring MacKenzie Porter, for six weeks beginning in December 2021. His other No. 1s: “Ridin’ Roads,” for one week in January 2020; “Good Girl” (one, January 2019); “Small Town Boy” (four weeks, starting in September 2017); “Seein’ Red” (one, February 2017); “Mind Reader” (one, June 2016); “Hell of a Night” (one, September 2015); and “Where It’s At (Yep, Yep)” (two, September-October 2014).
Jelly Roll boasts the longest active streak of Country Airplay No. 1s from the start of a career at the format. (Kane Brown boasts the longest run overall: six, dating to July 2021.) Jelly Roll previously led with “Halfway to Hell,” for one week in June; “Save Me,” featuring Lainey Wilson (two weeks, December 2023); “Need a Favor” (four, beginning in August 2023); and “Son of a Sinner” (one, January 2023).
Jelly Roll concurrently climbs 14-11 (17 million, up 15%) on Country Airplay with his own “I Am Not Okay” (Bailee & Buddy/BMG/Republic/Stoney Creek).
Traveling ‘Miles’
Marshmello and the aforementioned Kane Brown’s “Miles on It” hits the Country Airplay top 10 (11-7; 20.8 million, up 19%). Marshmello reaches the tier in the DJ’s first visit to the chart. Brown banks his 13th top 10 and first since “I Can Feel It,” which became his 11th No. 1 in March.
All charts dated Sept. 21 will update Tuesday, Sept. 17 on Billboard.com.
Additional reporting by Gary Trust.
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