RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Ella Langley and Morgan Wallen earn their fifth and 22nd Country Airplay No. 1s, respectively, as “I Can’t Love You Anymore” (SAWGOD/Columbia/Big Loud/Triple Tigers) rises 2-1 in its 15th week on the Aug. 15-dated chart. The collaboration drew 33.4 million audience impressions July 31-Aug. 6, according to Luminate.
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Written by Langley with Austin Goodloe and Joybeth Taylor, the song follows a two-week reign by Wallen’s “Don’t We.” It marks just the third time in the chart’s 36-year history that an artist has led in consecutive weeks with different songs and the second time Wallen has done so.
Tim McGraw first achieved the feat in 2002, when his “The Cowboy in Me” succeeded Jo Dee Messina ’s “Bring on the Rain,” officially billed as featuring McGraw, who supplied background vocals. Wallen repeated it in 2024 when “Cowgirls,” featuring ERNEST , replaced Post Malone ’s four-week No. 1 “I Had Some Help,” featuring Wallen.
With “Don’t We” and “I Can’t Love You Anymore” both crediting Wallen as a lead artist (co-lead on “Can’t”), he’s the first act to be No. 1 in consecutive weeks with different songs as a lead act. “I Can’t Love You Anymore” reached the summit quickly by modern standards. In the 1990s, 90% of Country Airplay No. 1s completed their climbs within 15 weeks; in the 2020s, only 10% have done so. The chart’s historical average is 21 weeks, making the new leader six weeks faster than the overall norm.
Langley’s climbs have accelerated with nearly every release. Her first two No. 1s, “You Look Like You Love Me” and “Don’t Mind If I Do,” both with Riley Green, took 20 and 22 weeks, respectively. “Choosin’ Texas” needed 16, while “Be Her” and “I Can’t Love You Anymore” each arrived in 15.
Wallen’s earliest chart-toppers moved more slowly. “Up Down” with Florida Georgia Line took 32 weeks, “Whiskey Glasses” 40 and “Chasin’ You” 42. “More Than My Hometown” reached No. 1 in 26 weeks and “Sand in My Boots” in 34.
Three of Langley’s five leaders have now reached the top in 16 weeks or fewer, underscoring how quickly country radio has responded to her even as the typical climb has lengthened substantially from three decades ago.
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