For the second year in a row, it’s a Morgan Wallen summer.
In February 2023, the East Tennessee native notched his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Last Night.” Wallen held onto the top spot for a whopping 20 weeks. Eventually, Billboard crowned “Last Night” as the song of summer 2023. Now, the ACM Award winner has become the first artist since 1978 to earn that distinction two years in a row.
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Morgan Wallen and Post Malone Have Made the Song of the Summer
On Tuesday (Sept. 3), Billboard released the final rankings for its Songs of the Summer chart. Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen, landed at the top spot after leading the chart all 14 weeks.
Wallen becomes the second-ever artist to lead the seasonal chart for two years in a row, and the first since Andy Gibb in 1978. Gibb commanded the 1977 charts with “I Just Want To Be Your Everything,” followed by “Shadow Dancing” the next year.
Additionally, before Wallen’s “Last Night” won the 2023 crown, a country song hadn’t come out on top since John Denver’s “Annie’s Song” in 1974.
How Does Billboard Determine the Song of the Summer?
Billboard’s summer songs chart factors in weekly streaming, airplay and sales data between Memorial Day and Labor Day, which totals 14 weeks. “I Had Some Help” stayed at No. 1 on the chart for all 14 weeks.
On a sour note, does this mean summer is officially over? Only if you stop blasting “I Had Some Help.”
Morgan Wallen Joins Katy Perry, Drake and More
Morgan Wallen is the only country artist to ever top the seasonal chart twice. Additionally, the “Cowgirls” singer joins just a handful of artists across all genres who have dropped the Song of the Summer. Others are:
- Drake, with 2016’s “One Dance” (featuring WizKid and Kyla) and “In My Feelings” in 2018
- Katy Perry, with “I Kissed a Girl” in 2008 and “California Gurls,” featuring Snoop Dogg, in 2010
- Jay-Z, as featured on Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love” in 2003 and Rihanna’s “Umbrella” in 2007
- Mariah Carey, with “Vision of Love” in 1990 and “We Belong Together” in 2005
- Usher, with “U Remind Me” in 2001 and “Confessions Part II” in 2004
Featured image by Dave Hogan/Hogan Media/Shutterstock
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