Carrie Underwood scores her milestone 30th top 10 on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart, as “Ghost Story” floats to No. 10 on the Sept. 10-dated list – with an assist from legendary 19th century poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
As for Underwood, she becomes the 15th artist to achieve at least 30 Country Airplay top 10s, and the second woman, after Reba McEntire, since the survey began in January 1990.
George Strait leads all acts with 61 Country Airplay top 10s dating to the chart’s inception.
Here’s a look at the acts with the most Country Airplay top 10s:
- 61, George Strait
- 60, Kenny Chesney
- 59, Tim McGraw
- 51, Alan Jackson
- 44, Keith Urban
- 42, Toby Keith
- 41, Brooks & Dunn
- 37, Reba McEntire
- 36, Garth Brooks
- 36, Blake Shelton
- 35, Jason Aldean
- 35, Brad Paisley
- 33, Luke Bryan
- 32, Rascal Flatts
- 30, Carrie Underwood
“Story,” the lead single from Underwood’s LP Denim & Rhinestones, which arrived at its No. 2 Top Country Albums high in June, follows her and Jason Aldean’s “If I Didn’t Love You,” which last October became her 16th Country Airplay No. 1 – the most among women. “Story” is Underwood’s first top 10 on her own since “Southbound” (No. 3, October 2019).
Underwood scored her first Country Airplay top 10, and leader, with the 2005 American Idol champion’s first single promoted to the format, “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” which reigned for six weeks beginning in January 2006.
Meanwhile, “Story” was written by David Garcia, Josh Kear and Hillary Lindsey – with a writing credit also belonging to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In the intro to “Ghost,” Underwood faintly whispers lines from Longfellow’s 1858 poem “Haunted Houses.” (The 164-year rewind marks perhaps the most unexpected among a host of current hit reimaginations in multiple genres.)
On Hot Country Songs, “Story” holds at No. 19 (after reaching No. 12), also buoyed by 2.8 million streams in the tracking week.
Underwood is set to start her 43-city Denim & Rhinestones Tour Oct. 15 in Greenville, S.C., with special guest Jimmie Allen
