A New ‘Favorite Country Song’: HARDY Scores His Fifth Top 10 on Country Airplay Chart
HARDY continues to make waves in the country music scene, as his latest single “Favorite Country Song” climbs to No. 7 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, marking his fifth appearance in the top 10. This surge from No. 12 to No. 7 reflects a significant increase in audience reach, gaining 17% and drawing in 20.5 million listeners between November 14-20, according to data from Luminate. The track, co-written by HARDY and six others, arrives nearly two years after his previous hit “Truck Bed” reached the top in February 2024, further solidifying his status as a formidable force in the industry.
In addition to “Favorite Country Song,” HARDY’s presence is felt across the chart with multiple credits. He is featured alongside Morgan Wallen on two singles: “I Got Better,” which recently topped the chart in October and currently sits at No. 6, and “I Ain’t Coming Back” (featuring Post Malone), which has achieved a new peak at No. 24. This impressive feat underscores HARDY’s prolific songwriting abilities, as he has amassed an impressive tally of 14 Country Airplay No. 1 hits as a co-writer, three of which he recorded himself. His journey in the industry began with Wallen’s “Up Down” in 2018, and since then, he has contributed to 41 songs by 31 different artists, showcasing his versatility and influence as both an artist and a songwriter.
Meanwhile, Nate Smith is also making headlines on the Country Airplay chart with his new collaboration “After Midnight,” featuring Tyler Hubbard, which debuts at No. 34. This marks Smith’s second-highest debut, following his successful track “Drinkin’ Buddies.” For Hubbard, this is his fourth top 40 premiere as a solo artist, demonstrating his continued success outside of his work with Florida Georgia Line. As the country music landscape evolves, both HARDY and Smith are proving that they are key players, shaping the future of the genre with their impactful songs and collaborations.
HARDY
cracks the top 10 of
Billboard
’s Country Airplay chart for a fifth time as “Favorite Country Song” surges 12-7 on the list dated Nov. 29, up 17% to 20.5 million in audience Nov. 14-20, according to Luminate.
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The track, which HARDY cowrote alongside six others, including Nate Smith, reaches the region almost two years after “Truck Bed” last put him there in February 2024. That song went all the way, becoming his third No. 1 that March, further cementing his momentum as both an artist and a writer.
“Favorite Country Song” is just one piece of HARDY’s current chart impact. He’s on the list three times over as his own rising hit joins two Morgan Wallen singles with a HARDY writing credit. HARDY cowrote Wallen’s “I Got Better,” which topped the chart in October and ranks at No. 6, as well as “I Ain’t Coming Back” (featuring Post Malone), at a new No. 24 high (8.2 million, up 10%).
HARDY has stacked 14 Country Airplay No. 1s as a cowriter, including three that he recorded, a run that began with Wallen’s “Up Down” (featuring Florida Georgia Line) in 2018. To date, 41 songs by 31 artists have reached the chart with HARDY’s name in the liner notes as a writer.
Dawn of ‘Midnight’
Nate Smith shows up elsewhere on Country Airplay as he and Tyler Hubbard bow at No. 34 with “After Midnight” with 4.6 million in audience. The track gives Smith his second-highest debut, following “Drinkin’ Buddies,” his 2024 collaboration with Lee Brice and Hailey Whitters, which opened and peaked at No. 26 that May. It’s Hubbard’s fourth top 40 premiere as a solo act (apart from his output in Florida Georgia Line); he started at a No. 19 best with “Undivided,” with Tim McGraw (an eventual No. 16 hit), in 2021.
