Kenny Chesney scores his record-extending 34th No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “Carry On” rises a spot on the list dated Oct. 10, up 3% to 30.4 million audience impressions Sept. 25-Oct. 1, according to Luminate.
Upon its debut in May, “Carry On” became the star’s 100th career entry on Country Airplay. In July, it became his record-breaking 62nd top 10, surpassing the sums of Tim McGraw and George Strait, dating to the chart’s January 1990 inception.
Chesney’s first single on Warner/Hey Now Records is also the first No. 1 on the survey for the latter label, which launched with Chesney as its flagship artist in March. It’s the lead single from his 21st studio album, Silver Sands Marina, released Sept. 25.
“As a creative spirit, sending songs into the universe that hit people in the heart means everything to me,” Chesney tells Billboard. “That ‘Carry On,’ as my 100th [charted] single, has had so many big moments — the most top 10s, now continuing all the No. 1s — is humbling. But what really matters is that it’s connecting with people who hear their lives in my music. It’s an honor and privilege. Even more, it’s so much fun to see people’s faces when they’re singing that chorus: ‘If it feels good do it.’”
Adds Hey Now president and co-founder Kris Lamb, “When you get to launch a label with Kenny Chesney, whose music defines how people see the world, you know you want to deliver. Everything about this, and now having the No. 1 while Silver Sands Marina is finally in the hands of fans, represents everything we want Hey Now to be. It’s the power of positive energy, hard work from a hardworking and incredible team, great partnerships and, most importantly, songs that lift people up.”
Chesney widens his lead for the most Country Airplay leaders over Blake Shelton, the runner-up with 30. McGraw boasts 29 ahead of Jason Aldean (27), Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson and Strait (26 each).
Meanwhile, “Carry On” — written by Jessi Alexander, Matt Jenkins and Chase McGill and produced by Chesney and longtime collaborator Buddy Cannon — reaches the top of Country Airplay in its 21st week. That’s nearly 11 weeks faster than the chart’s average No. 1 in the 2020s. Only 52 of the decade’s 181 No. 1s (29%) have reached the summit in 21 or fewer weeks.
Chesney earns his fourth Country Airplay No. 1 this decade, completing his second-fastest run in that span. “Here and Now” took 19 weeks to lead in 2020, followed by “Carry On,” “Take Her Home” (31 weeks, 2024) and his Kelsea Ballerini collaboration “Half of My Hometown” (46 weeks, 2022).
Moreover, Chesney surpassed Strait on the Oct. 3 Country Airplay chart for the sole most entries in the ranking’s history, as “Remember Me That Way” became Chesney’s 101st. (Strait’s chart career began in 1981, and he remains the leader with 44 No. 1s on Hot Country Songs.)
Cowritten by Zach Abend, HARDY and Shane McAnally and produced by Chesney and Cannon, “Remember Me That Way” is the second radio single from Silver Sands Marina. The track went to country radio Sept. 24 and drew 2.4 million in reach in its first full tracking week.
All charts dated Oct. 10 will update Tuesday, Oct. 6, on Billboard.com.
