Bailey Zimmerman’s sophomore single “Rock and a Hard Place” ascends to No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated April 1).
In the week ending March 23, the song drew 32.9 million audience impressions, essentially even week-over-week, according to Luminate.
“Rock,” released on Elektra / Warner Music Nashville / WEA, was co-written by Jacob Hackworth, Jet Harvey and Heath Warren.
For the 23-year-old Zimmerman from Louisville, Ill., “Rock” marks his second straight career-opening No. 1. It follows his rookie single, “Fall in Love,” which led the Dec. 10 ranking, becoming the first debut hit to lead in 2022.
“In my wildest dreams, I never thought I’d see my name or any of my songs on the Billboard charts, so the fact that I’ve now had two reach the No. 1 spot is mind-blowing,” Zimmerman says. “Thanks to everyone who has supported me and my music. I owe everything to y’all.”
Both “Fall” and “Rock” are from Zimmerman’s nine-song set Leave the Light On, which arrived on Top Country Albums at its No. 2 high in October and has spent its first 22 frames on the chart in the top 10.
Notably, nine months and one week passed between the Country Airplay debut of “Fall” (June 25, 2022) and the reign of “Rock” (April 1, 2023). Among acts that have led the list with their first two entries, that ties for the least amount of time that any act has needed between the debut of a first No. 1 and the coronation of a second since Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” debuted on Aug. 11, 2012, and “Get Your Shine On” hit No. 1 on May 18, 2013.
On May 10, Zimmerman will release his new 16-cut LP Religiously. The Album., which will also include his two Country Airplay No. 1s.
Songs ‘Didn’t’ Ever Do This Before
Brett Young’s “You Didn’t” lifts 11-10 on Country Airplay (16.7 million, up 1%) – completing a record 70-week trip to the top 10. The song, which entered the chart on Dec. 4, 2021, at No. 60 is also the first title to chart for as many as 70 weeks since the survey began in January 1990.
Travis Denning’s “After a Few” previously charted on Country Airplay the longest: 67 weeks, having hit No. 1 in June 2020. Meanwhile, LOCASH’s “One Big Country Song” formerly made the longest trek to the top 10: 59 weeks, on its way to No. 2 in August 2020.
“Didn’t” gives Young his eighth top 10, a sum that includes six No. 1s, through “Lady” in April 2021.
Additional research by Gary Trust