Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead: Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Backroad” Finally Vacates #1 Spot

sam-hunt-drinkin-too-much

It’s over.

Sam Hunt’s historic, and likely insurmountable reign at the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with his terrible, non-country song “Body Like A Backroad” has finally ended, but only after forever besmirching country music’s history books, and relinquishing the spot to another decidedly non-country “country” performer and song.

“Body Like A Backroad” spent a incredible 34 weeks at the top of the 60-year-old Hot Country Songs chart, aided and abetted by spins on pop and AC radio stations that still count in the country tabulations. The song was initially released on February 2nd as the first single from a still undisclosed sophomore record from Sam, and almost immediately assumed the top position on multiple country song charts.

Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart combines sales, streams, and radio play, including from non-country stations to determine the most popular song at a given moment in time. “Body Like a Backroad” first made history in late June by logging 20 weeks at #1, and breaking a 55-year-old record on the chart previously held by Leroy Van Dyke’s “Walk On By” as the longest-running #1 song by a solo artist in country music history.

Then Hunt made even more history in late July when “Body Like a Backroad” officially logged 25 straight weeks at #1, shattering the record of Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise,” which held the #1 spot from 2012 to 2013 for 24 weeks. By adding another 1o weeks to what was previously thought to be an untouchable record, Sam Hunt basically lapped the field.

“Body Like a Backroad” also spent three weeks at the top of the Country Airplay charts, peaked at #6 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 chart, shattered records on the Country Streaming Songs and Digital Songs Sales charts, and has been officially certified triple platinum by the RIAA, with pure sales over 1.6 million.

The song was replaced on the Hot Country Songs chart this week by Kane Brown’s equally un-country and completely awful “What Ifs” featuring Lauren Alaina, giving fat cat radio programmers a convenient out for criticisms that they don’t play women. Though there is no guarantee “Body Like a Backroad” couldn’t regain the top spot at some point, especially if there is a remix, “What Ifs” is surging at the moment both on radio and in sales and will likely keep the top spot at least for another week.

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