Lainey Wilson’s ‘Watermelon Moonshine’ Ties Gabby Barrett’s ‘The Good Ones’ For Longest-Running Solo Female No.1 This Decade

Lainey Wilson’s “Watermelon Moonshine” claimed the No.1 spot on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for the third consecutive week this week. With this feat, Wilson’s “Watermelon Moonshine” now ties Gabby Barrett’s “The Good Ones” for the longest-running solo female chart-topper this decade so far. 

Ties Record Held By “The Good Ones”

U.S. Radio Updater on X reported the news on Friday as Wilson’s song continued its reign on the chart for the third straight week. 

.@laineywilson’s “Watermelon Moonshine” now ties @GabbyBarrett_’s “The Good Ones” for the longest running solo female #1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart this decade (so far).

Both songs have spent 3 weeks atop the chart. pic.twitter.com/uixPQXv4YA

— U.S. Radio Updater (@USRadioUpdater) October 13, 2023

Additionally, Wilson’s nostalgic hit now surpasses Maren Morris’ “The Bones,” which spent two weeks at No.1 on the chart. Wilson, Barrett, and Morris remain 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.

Reaction To The News

Wilson has yet to react to her latest chart feat, however, she previously shared a statement to fans after it clinched the No.1 spot on country radio earlier this month. 

“Hearing y’all sing this song makes me realize I wasn’t the only one sipping on some watermelon moonshine growing up,” she wrote. “Sometimes music is about dreaming and sometimes it’s about being nostalgic. This song is for the memories. Thank y’all for spinning the hell out of this and making it the #1 song on country radio this week!” 

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A post shared by Lainey Wilson (@laineywilson)

Her heartfelt caption was shared alongside live footage of Wilson performing the song across the country. Fans can be heard singing along in unison to the reminiscent ballad. 

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.

Music Video

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. 

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” Is Racing Up The Charts

In addition to her recent chart-topping success with “Watermelon Moonshine,” Wilson’s powerful vocals can also be heard on Jelly Roll’s current chart-climbing single, “Save Me.” Their collaborative version of the song is racing up the charts. It’s currently sitting at No.12 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and within the Top 10 on the Mediabase chart. 

CMA Awards

Capping off another whirlwind year, Wilson is heading into the CMA Awards as the most-nominated artist with a whopping nine nominations. Her nods include the following: 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.

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.