Music’s Hot 100 chart is seeing country music at the top of it again, with Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs delivering historical victories for their genre: for the first time in over four decades, country stars simultaneously hold the top two spots on the music list.
The two songs that put them in the lead are Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” which remains in the number one spot on the chart, and Luke Combs’ “Fast Car,” which is a close second. This is Wallen’s twelfth week in a row and fifteenth week total atop the chart thanks to “Last Night,” with Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” moving up a spot this week to put him in the second spot.
According to the New York Post, “Last Night” had 72.2 million radio impressions and 29.8 million streams this week alone, with “Fast Car” bringing in 51.3 million radio impressions and 21.2 million streams over the same period.
Making Wallen’s continued dominance of the charts all the more impressive is that it comes despite his having to cancel six weeks of shows because of a vocal chord injury. Additionally, Wallen defied the odds and beat a cancellation attempt after he was heard using a racial slur in a video. He said, at the time, “I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better.”
Republic Records. which distributed his music, stood by his recording studio’s canceling its contract with him, saying that “such behavior will not be tolerated.”
Furious about the attempt on his career, particularly given how good of a singer he is, many on the right rallied to his defense and listened to his music to support him. So Wallen remained afloat long enough for the goldfish-brained culture warriors to forget that they were mad at him and go back to listening to his stellar music.
The last time two country stars commanded the top spot was 42 years ago in 1981, when Eddie Rabbitt’s “I Love a Rainy Night” and Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” held the top two spots on the Top 100 chart.
Wallen, commenting in a recent interview on early career disappointments and how he made up his mind to be the best,
said,
“The disappointments just made me dig deeper and figure out why I didn’t win. Some things in life are out of your control. Being the best you can be isn’t. I didn’t feel like I was the best I could have been. So, I practiced harder and really tried to make my voice second nature.”
Shortly after his son was born, Wallen also
said, “
Little Wilder, I’m a changed man. Since you came into the world Friday, I see mine differently now. It’s not just me anymore, and I’m glad it’s not. This year has been the hardest of my life in so many ways, but that’s not what i will remember it by. You are. You are a gift and this tough year just made sense. I’ll be the Dad you deserve as well as the co-parent your mother deserves. Since you were born, I know that every decision I make will be with you in mind. I promise I’ll always protect you, and do my best to be an example of a good, godly man just like my daddy was for me. I knew this day was coming when I got to share this news with y’all. And I’m glad that day is here. I didn’t know what being a dad would feel like, honestly have been a little scared. But it’s the coolest damn feeling, and I’m ready for whatever God has planned for me and my little guy. He’s healthy and happy and while I’m typing this I’m getting in the truck to go hold him right now. Thank you for all the love and prayers. Thank you to my friends and family who have called and texted me letting me know how happy they are for me and that I have their support. I can’t wait to see him hook into his first big one.“