What a year it’s been.
With 2023 coming to an end, there’s no better time to sit and reflect on the outstanding success that the country music genre has experienced. From Morgan Wallen dominating nearly every single major chart to Oliver Anthony becoming an overnight success and snagging a #1 hit, there have been some incredible highs throughout the year.
If dominating pop culture wasn’t enough, country also dominated the charts. In a Billboard article published back in September, Xander Zellener documented many of the records that the country genre broke throughout 2023.
Here are some of the highlights.
First Time in History the Top Three Spots on the Hot 100 Were Occupied By Country Songs
On Aug. 5, Jason Aldean’s Try That in a Small Town (#1), Morgan Wallen’s Last Night (#2) and Luke Combs’ Fast Car (#3), all occupied the top three spots on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, making it the first time in the chart’s history to have top three spots held by country artists. This would be tied again on Aug. 26 with Rich Men North of Richmond, Last Night and Fast Car at the top and Sept. 2 with I Remember Everything, Last Night and Fast Car.
First Time Four Country Songs Topped the Hot 100 in a Row
From Aug. 5 to Sept. 9, the #1 spot on the Hot 100 was all country songs. Jason Aldean’s Try That in a Small Town (Aug. 5), Morgan Wallen’s Last Night (Aug. 12 and 19), Oliver Anthony’s Richmond North of Richmond (Aug. 26) and Zach Bryan’s I Remember Everything (Sept. 9) all went #1 during that span. This was the first time four country songs ever went #1 in a row, and the first time since 1981 that more than two country songs (Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 and Eddie Rabbitt’s I Love a Rainy Night) accomplished this.
Most Weeks Spent at #1 for a Song with No Features
On Aug. 19, Morgan Wallen’s Last Night went #1 for its 16th consecutive week, breaking Harry Styles’ As It Was for most weeks spent on the Hot 100 (15) with no featured/accompanying artists. It would finish as the second longest #1 song behind Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ Old Town Road (19 weeks).
First Act to Debut at #1 on the Hot 100 With No Prior Chart History
On Aug. 26, viral sensation, Oliver Anthony, came out of seemingly nowhere and snagged the #1 song on the Hot 100 with Rich Men North of Richmond. This was the first time in the chart’s history that an artist’s first song debuted on the chart at #1. Anthony would also break multiple other records including being the first male country artist to debut at #1 on the Hot 100 and being the first song by a solo male to debut at #1 on the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs chart simultaneously.
First Song to Debut at #1 on the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart
On Sept. 9, Zach Bryan’s I Remember Everything, featuring Kacey Musgraves, debuted at #1 simultaneously on three different charts: the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative chart. This was the first time a song led all three at the same time in the history of all the aforementioned charts.
First Time a Country Song and Album by a Male Artist Debuted at #1 on the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 Simultaneously
On Sept. 9, Zach Bryan’s self-titled album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. I Remember Everything also went #1 on the Hot 100 that week, marking the first time a male country artist accomplished both feats simultaneously. The only other country artist to do this was Taylor Swift with Red (Taylor’s Version) and All Too Well charting simultaneously in Nov. 2021.
Most Charting Songs in a Calendar Year by a Country Artist
In 2023, Morgan Wallen charted 39 different songs on the Hot 100 due to the success of his 36-track album, One Thing at a Time. There have only been 5 artists to chart more in a calendar year in the Hot 100’s history.
First Time a Country Song Has Been The #1 Streamed Song on Spotify and Apple Music (U.S.)
Morgan Wallen’s Last Night continued its dominance throughout the year, snagging the most streamed song on Spotify in the U.S. and the most song streamed globally on Apple Music. This was the first time a country song had claimed the top spot on either streaming service.
First Time a Country Artist Won the Most Awards at the Billboard Music Awards
On Nov. 19, Morgan Wallen brought home a leading 11 Billboard Music Awards. His wins included Top Male Artist, Top 100 Artist, Top 200 Billboard Album (One Thing at a Time) and Top 100 Song (Last Night). He beat out other dominant artists such as Drake and Taylor Swift, making it the first time a country artist took home the most awards at the ceremony.
First Time a Black Artist Won Song of the Year at the CMAs
Luke Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s 1988 classic, Fast Car, was easily one of the most surprising hits of the year. The song went to #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for four weeks and peaked at #2 on the Hot 100. The sustained success propelled the track to win the Song of the Year at the 2023 CMA Awards, marking the first time a black songwriter won the accolade.