It seems that when Billboard chart rules had some changes since 2012, the country music duo Florida Georgia Line was the first to take advantage of it. In 2013, their single “Cruise” set an era-defining performance after spending 24 weeks at No. on the country chart. It then held the record of having the longest weeks atop the chart since Webb Pierce’s “In the Jailhouse Now” in 1955. And now, the duo’s collaborative record, “Meant to Be,” with Bebe Rexha is about to make another history. Spending 33 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the song is just a week away from tying the record for consecutive weeks on the chart. And beating the record is highly possible.
“Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line
“Meant to Be” by Bebe Rexha (feat. Florida Georgia Line)
Shattering “The King’s” Bulletproof Record
The exceptional chart performances of those two songs, not to mention the artificially-enhanced chart rules of Billboard allowing spins in the pop and contemporary world to count on country charts, helped the duo smash George Strait’s bulletproof record. For more than 25 years, Strait had the cumulative longest weeks having No.1 songs on the country chart. That involved an enormous 45 No. 1 hits in total. With such achievement, he deserved being dubbed as the “King of Country Music.” But now, his total of 84-week reign atop the chart with all his No. 1 singles combined has been nabbed by Florida Georgia Line.
To note, the duo only placed 13 No. 1 songs on the chart and now accumulated 89 cumulative weeks at No. 1. Thanks to “Cruise” and “Meant to Be” and the blemished method of measuring modern country songs’ success. Perhaps, without the changes in the chart rules taking place, things would have been different. Florida Georgia Line may have stolen the record, but the crown still belongs to Strait. And he will always be the “King of Country Music,” no matter what. In honor of this, here is George Strait’s first of his 45 No. 1 songs on the country chart.
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Tags
Cruise, Florida Georgia Line, George Strait, Meant to Be