Toby Keith’s 2018 track “Don’t Let the Old Man In” flies from No. 11 to No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart (dated Oct. 14). In the Sept. 29-Oct. 5 tracking week, it sold 13,000 downloads in the United States, up 482%, according to Luminate.
Keith performed the ballad, which was initially released in 2018, on the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards (Sept. 28 on NBC) after receiving the country icon trophy. He boasts 20 No. 1s on the Hot Country Songs chart, among 42 top 10s, dating to his 1993 debut.
The song, which Keith solely authored, becomes his second No. 1, among six top 10s, on Country Digital Song Sales. “Red Solo Cup” dominated for 14 frames starting in November 2011.
On the all-genre Digital Song Sales survey, the track jumps 19-3, giving Keith his highest rank, among three top 10s. “Happy Birthday America” hit No. 5 in 2021 and “Red Solo Cup” reached No. 8 in 2011.
Keith, 62, has been fighting stomach cancer since 2021, a diagnosis that he revealed publicly in June 2022.
The singer-songwriter told Billboard in 2018 that “Don’t Let the Old Man In” was inspired by Clint Eastwood, director and star of The Mule, the movie in which the song premiered. Struck by Eastwood’s relentless energy when the film legend was then 88 years young, Keith asked how he kept going. “He said, ‘I just get up every morning and go out. And I don’t let the old man in,’ ” Keith recounted. “And I thought, I’m writing that.”
‘Save Me’ Rolls to Top 10
Jelly Roll’s “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson reaches the Hot Country Songs top 10, climbing 13-10.
The collaboration gives Jelly Roll his third top 10 and Wilson her sixth (in as many chart visits). It surged by 30% to 12.2 million audience impressions in the tracking week and pushes 18-16 for a new best on Country Airplay. It also drew 8.6 million official streams and sold 4,000.
Jelly Roll co-penned “Save Me” with David Ray. It follows his “Need a Favor,” which hit No. 3 on Hot Country Songs in July. The latter also led Country Airplay for four weeks beginning in August, becoming his second leader, following “Son of a Sinner,” his first entry which reigned for a week in January.
Wilson adds her sixth Hot Country Songs top 10. “Save Me” follows “Watermelon Moonshine,” which rises 10-7 for a new high. It leads Country Airplay for a second week, up 12% to 30.4 million impressions, having become her third leader a week earlier.
