Morgan Wallen Returns To A Chart Few Could Have Predicted He’d Ever Reach

Morgan Wallen has spent much of his career as one of the hottest names in the country genre. He’s earned dozens of hits throughout the past several years, and it didn’t take long for him to rise and become a force to be reckoned with in the space.

Recently, Wallen has become so popular that his reach has extended beyond country. He’s collected a number of hits at pop radio, and he’s even managed to land on several of Billboard’s rap and hip-hop-focused rankings.

This week, Wallen earns his second career win on a Billboard tally that few would have predicted he’d ever reach just a few years ago. The placement demonstrates the country star’s immense popularity, as well as the music industry’s willingness to see musicians known for one style cross over and find success in other areas of the business as well.

Wallen and Moneybagg Yo debut their collaboration “Whiskey Whiskey” on the Rhythmic Airplay chart this week. The single now ranks among the top 40 most successful tunes at the hip-hop, R&B, and rap-focused radio format, which is aimed at a mass audience.

“Whiskey Whiskey” opens at No. 38 on this week’s Rhythmic Airplay chart. It’s just the second appearance on the tally by Wallen, who only landed on the list for the first time last year. In 2023, he and Lil Durk made their duet “Stand By Me” a top 40 win, as it rose as high as No. 35.

Wallen and Yo claim one of four debuts on the Rhythmic Airplay tally this time around. “Whiskey Whiskey” is the lowest-ranking of the bunch, though it’s just getting started. New arrivals from Tommy Richman, Megan Thee Stallion, and Ice Spice and Central Cee all start higher—though not by much.

While Wallen is fairly new to the Rhythmic Airplay ranking, his counterpart is not. Yo has placed 11 tracks on the radio chart so far. That sum includes several top 10 hits, as well as some that have lived on the roster for months at a time.

“Whiskey Whiskey” was released in June, though not as a proper single. The tune is featured on Yo’s latest album Speak Now, and it is clearly a favorite among fans of at least Wallen, if not also Yo. “Whiskey Whiskey” debuted on a number of other Billboard charts after its first full tracking frame of availability had passed, though radio rosters usually move at a slower pace than those focused on sales and streams.