Scoring a hit on any radio format in America is tough, because the nation is so big and tastes vary so widely. Country radio is known to be particularly competitive, and that fact makes the feat that Luke Combs pulls off this week that much more impressive.
“Sleepless in a Hotel Room” and “Days Like These” Sit at Nos. 1 and 2
Combs currently appears in the highest two spaces on the Country Airplay chart. His single “Sleepless in a Hotel Room” is steady at No. 1 for a third frame, while “Days Like These” jumps from No. 4 to No. 2, establishing a new high.
Luke Combs Makes History With Two Solo Smashes
Billboard reports that Combs is the only artist in the history of the Country Airplay chart to sit at No. 1 and No. 2 simultaneously with tracks that do not feature any other artist. Amazingly, this week does not mark the first time that he has managed to do so. The music magazine notes that in September 2023, Combs dominated the roster with “Love You Anyway,” while his cover of Tracy Chapman’s ’90s classic “Fast Car” held at No. 2.
Luke Combs Nears Another No. 1 With “Days Like These”
Less than a month ago, “Sleepless in a Hotel Room” became Combs’ milestone twentieth No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart. He has thus far sent 26 tracks into the top 10, and his record of turning big wins into champions is incredibly strong. Combs is looking to score a twenty-first leader, but for the moment, he’ll have to wait and try again.
Luke Combs Sees Both Singles Rise on the Radio Songs List
Coincidentally, “Sleepless in a Hotel Room” and “Days Like These” also land one right after another on Billboard’s Radio Songs chart, which is even busier than the Country Airplay tally, as it is not centered around just one style. “Sleepless in a Hotel Room,” in yet another coincidence, holds at its all-time high of No. 11 in its eleventh frame on the roster. “Days Like These” improves from No. 15 to No. 12, establishing a new peak. While “Days Like These” lands just behind “Sleepless in a Hotel Room,” it has spent more than a month longer on the Radio Songs rundown.
Luke Bryan and Morgan Wallen Previously Managed the Same Feat
While Combs is the only artist to settle in at No. 1 and No. 2 simultaneously on the Country Airplay chart with completely solo compositions, he is not the only act to appear in those spots in the same chart week when collaborations are included. Luke Bryan became the first country superstar to manage the showing in 2014. His single “Play It Again” topped the ranking, while “This Is How We Roll,” a collaboration with Florida Georgia Line, followed. Morgan Wallen, one of the most successful country acts of all time, also joined Bryan in the feat only two years ago. He did so with a pair of team-ups, as “Cowgirls,” which also credits Ernest, and “I Had Some Help,” fronted by Post Malone for his first foray into country music, sat at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
Luke Combs’ “Days Like These” Joins His Near-Misses
“Days Like These” is one of four songs by Combs that have failed to rule the Country Airplay chart by just one space. The track joins “The Kind of Love We Make,” “Backup Plan” with Bailey Zimmerman, and “Different ’Round Here,” a collaboration with Riley Green, which all stalled in second place. In the coming weeks, “Days Like These” could break out of that match.
Luke Combs’ “Be By You” Also Hits a New Peak
Combs fills three spots on this week’s Country Airplay chart. “Be by You” lifts slightly from No. 40 to No. 39. Just like “Days Like These,” it too reaches a new peak shortly before it celebrates its first month on the roster.
