- Lainey Wilson
- /
- Music
- /
- News
Lainey Wilson Follows Gabby Barrett and Maren Morris as the Only Female Artists This Decade with Multiple Weeks at No.1 Billboard Country Airplay Chart
Wilson’s “Watermelon Moonshine” secured a second week on the top of the chart.
Lainey Wilson, Gabby Barrett, Maren Morris; Photos Provided
Lainey Wilson’s “Watermelon Moonshine” clinched another week atop Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, securing the superstar her second week at No.1 with the nostalgia-filled tune.
Joins Elite Group Of Female Artists
With this news, the Baskin, Louisiana native joins the likes of Gabby Barrett and Maren Morris as the only female artists this decade to achieve the feat of having a solo song remain atop Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for multiple weeks, according to U.S. Radio Updater.
Barrett previously topped the charts for three weeks with “The Good Ones,” while Morris secured the No.1 spot for two weeks with “The Bones.”
Country radio insider Chris Owen reports that Wilson is also expected to claim the No.1 spot on the Mediabase Country Airplay chart when it’s released on Sunday.
Fifth No.1 Single
This marks Lainey Wilson’s fifth No.1 at country radio. Lainey Wilson previously topped the charts with “Heart Like A Truck,” “wait in the truck” with HARDY, “Never Say Never” with Cole Swindell, and “Things A Man Oughta Know.”
“Watermelon Moonshine” saw the fastest climb to No.1 for a solo female song at country radio since Carrie Underwood’s “Church Bells” in 2016.
Co-written by Wilson alongside Jordan Schmidt and Josh Kear, “Watermelon Moonshine” serves as a nostalgia-filled ballad that finds the reigning ACM Female Artist Of The Year and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year reflecting on the innocence of young love.
“Drinkin’ watermelon moonshine / Cut the burn with a little lime / Parkin’ back in them kudzu vines / I was his and every bit of that boy was mine / Too young to know what love was / But we werе learnin’ on a sweet buzz / There’s never nothin’ like the first time / And mine’s always gonna taste like / Watermelon moonshine,” Wilson sings on the track’s chorus.
This summer, the superstar brought the song to life through a cinematic music video that beautifully portrays the raw emotions and innocent vulnerability of the song.
Music Video
The clip follows actress Rachel Lynn Matthews as she reminisces about her past and the boy who stole her heart, played by Sam Sherrod. Throughout the video, Lainey Wilson’s soulful voice narrates the story, her lyrics echoing the emotions felt by the characters on screen.
“This song is about the young, wild, crazy love that we all hope to experience,” Wilson shared in a statement. “From locking eyes for the first time, to playing spin the bottle with an Ole Smoky mason jar, to being too crazy about each other to tame it, I am so happy with how Rachel Lynn Matthews and Sam Sherrod brought the vision to life through their portrayal of their innocently passionate characters.”
“Save Me” Currently Climbing The Charts
Additionally, Wilson is climbing the country radio charts with “Save Me,” her current collaboration with Jelly Roll. The buzzed-about song is already sitting inside the Top 20.
This chart-topping news comes just after Wilson took home three wins at the first-ever People’s Choice Country Awards on September 28.
The Bell Bottom Country queen was one of the evening’s top winners securing the title of The Female Artist of 2023 as well as wins in The Collaboration of 2023 (for “Save Me” with Jelly Roll) and The Music Video of 2023 (“Wait in the Truck” with HARDY).
Historic CMA Awards Nominations
Next up, the Louisiana native will take on the CMA Awards, where she is nominated for a whopping nine nominations, including the coveted Entertainer Of The Year, Single Of The Year (“Wait In The Truck” with HARDY & “Heart Like A Truck”), Album Of The Year (‘Bell Bottom Country’), Song Of The Year (“Heart Like A Truck”), Female Vocalist Of The Year, Musical Event Of The Year (“Save Me” with Jelly Roll and “Wait In The Truck” with HARDY) and Music Video Of The Year (“Wait In The Truck” with HARDY).
The reigning CMA Female Vocalist and New Artist Of The Year made CMA Awards history again this year as the only artist to top the nominations list in her first two appearances on the Final Ballot.
Last year, the “Heart Like A Truck” singer topped the list of nominees with six nominations as a first-time nominee.
Upon hearing the news, Wilson shared, “Holy moly y’all. Someone pinch me. I can’t believe my eyes. 🥹 I’m so proud of everything we’ve done this year for my own music and these collabs with my brothers @hardy and @jellyroll615.”
She continued, ”Thank y’all for having me on these songs ❤️ Being nominated in each of these categories amongst my friends means the world to me. And the coveted Entertainer Of The Year category?! It’s absolutely surreal. We bust our butts out there on the road every dang night to give y’all the best show possible and I have the time of my life doing it. All I gotta say is thank y’all. I love country music 🤘🏻”
Fans can tune into the 2023 CMA Awards in November to see if Wilson will take home the trophies. Co-hosted by country superstar Luke Bryan and National Football League Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, the 57th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville on Wednesday, November 8 at 8/7c on ABC.
Until then, fans can catch Wilson on tour with HARDY on his headlining mockingbird & THE CROW Fall Tour.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
