Singer-songwriter Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and a Hard Place” rents the penthouse of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for a sixth total and consecutive week. The song leads the May 6-dated survey with 29.4 million audience impressions in the tracking week ending April 27, according to Luminate.
“Rock” – written by Jacob Hackworth, Jet Harvey and Heath Warre (and on Elektra / Warner Music Nashville / WEA) – is the first Country Airplay No. 1 for at least six weeks since Morgan Wallen’s “You Proof” ruled for a record 10 starting last October.
For the 23-year-old Zimmerman, from Louisville, Ill., “Rock” became his second consecutive career-opening Country Airplay No. 1. “Fall in Love” paced the Dec. 10 chart, becoming the first debut hit to lead in 2022.
Notably, Zimmerman is the first male artist to spend six weeks atop Country Airplay just two or fewer promoted chart entries, in a lead role, into a career. Only one other act has achieved the feat: Carrie Underwood’s first promoted country single, “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” dominated for six weeks in January-February 2006.
On May 12, Zimmerman will release his 16-cut LP Religiously, which will include his two Country Airplay No. 1s. The set’s title track is his latest single, up 50-46 on the chart (1.6 million, up 23%).
McCreery & ‘Her’ Hit Top 10
Meanwhile, Scotty McCreery’s “It Matters to Her” reaches the Country Airplay top 10, lifting 12-10 (17.4 million, up 9%).
The song, which McCreery co-authored, gives him his eighth top 10 and follows five consecutive leaders – the longest active streak among all acts. He most recently reigned with “Damn Strait,” for three weeks beginning last July.
The 2011 winner of American Idol has topped Country Airplay with each single that he has released since he signed with Triple Tigers Records in 2017.