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

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.” 

.@laineywilson officially joins @GabbyBarrett_ & @MarenMorris as the only female artists this decade to have a solo song spend multiple weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart:

•The Good Ones (3 weeks)
•The Bones (2 weeks)
•Watermelon Moonshine (2 weeks) pic.twitter.com/TeAeYmREWh

— U.S. Radio Updater (@USRadioUpdater) October 6, 2023

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.

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A post shared by Lainey Wilson (@laineywilson)

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.