Jelly Roll & Lainey Wilson ‘Save’ the Best for First on Country Airplay Chart

Jelly Roll’s “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson ascends to No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated Dec. 9). The collaboration increased by 8% to 34.6 million audience impressions Nov. 24-30, according to Luminate.

The song, which Jelly Roll wrote with David Ray, becomes the former’s third total and successive Country Airplay leader, encompassing his output in the format, following “Son of a Sinner,” which led for one week in January, and “Need a Favor,” which dominated for four frames beginning in August.

Wilson banks her fourth Country Airplay leader. Her rookie entry, “Things a Man Oughta Know,” led for one frame in September 2021, followed by “Never Say Never” with Cole Swindell (two weeks starting in April 2022), and “Watermelon Moonshine” (three, this October).

Notably, with “Save Me” and “Watermelon Moonshine” both reaching the top of Country Airplay in 2023, Wilson is the first woman to net two leaders in a single year since Gwen Stefani in 2020. Both of the latter’s are team-ups with Blake Shelton: “Nobody With You” and “Happy Anywhere.”

Meanwhile, “Save Me” enters the Country Airplay penthouse a mere six weeks after “Watermelon Moonshine” wrapped its reign, giving Wilson the shortest break from No. 1 for a female artist in the chart’s nearly 34-year history. Previously, two women were tied with 11 frames between holding the top spot: Taylor Swift (“Love Story,” “Should’ve Said No”; 2008) and Wynonna Judd (“She Is His Only Need,” “I Saw the Light”; 1992).

Something’s ‘Different’ About the Top 10

Riley Green’s “Different ‘Round Here” featuring Luke Combs rises to No. 10 on Country Airplay (17 million, up 9%). Green adds his fourth top 10, after Thomas Rhett’s “Half of Me,” on which Green is featured, became his first No. 1 in November 2022 (and Rhett’s 18th of 19 leader).

Combs sends his 19th song to the Country Airplay top 10, with 17 having hit No. 1.