"I think we always knew something about this song was special," Brown tells Billboard. Plus, new top 10s for Luke Combs & Kenny Chesney.
Kane Brown notches his second No. 1 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart, as "Heaven" rises 2-1 (on the list dated May 19), increasing 4 percent to 45.3 million audience impressions in the week ending May 13, according to Nielsen Music.
On Hot Country Songs (which blends airplay, streaming and sales data), "Heaven" holds at its No. 2 high, tucked behind Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line's "Meant to Be" for an eighth week.
As previously reported, "Meant" ties FGL's own "Cruise," which ruled for 24 weeks in 2012-13, for the longest rule for a song by a duo or group in the Hot Country Songs chart's 59-year history, and the second-longest overall. Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" holds the record with 34 weeks at No. 1 in 2017.
"I think we always knew something about this song ["Heaven"] was special, especially hearing the fan reaction when we play it live, but to have it go to No. 1 means so much," Brown tells Billboard. "This means the world to me."
Brown first led Country Airplay with "What Ifs," featuring Lauren Alaina, on Oct. 28, 2017. It topped Hot Country Songs for five weeks.
"Heaven" is the fourth single from Brown's self-titled debut full-length, which debuted atop the Top Country Albums chart dated Dec. 24, 2016. The record's first two singles, "Used to Love You Sober" and "Thunder in the Rain," reached Nos. 35 and 43, respectively, on Country Airplay.
'BEAUTIFUL' TOP 10: Luke Combs earns his highest debut on Hot Country Songs, as "Beautiful Crazy" flies in at No. 6. Combs collects his fourth top 10 in as many appearances. He's scored one No. 1: "When It Rains It Pours" (two weeks, beginning Nov. 25, 2017).
"Beautiful" is one of five new tracks on a deluxe version of Combs' debut LP, This One's for You, aptly titled This One's for You Too, due June 1. The original set bowed atop the June 24, 2017-dated Top Country Albums chart. The track starts with 44,000 downloads sold and debuts as Combs' first No. 1 on Country Digital Song Sales.
"Beautiful" also arrives with 5.6 million U.S. streams and enters Country Streaming Songs at No. 12, marking Combs' highest start.
CHESNEY GETS ANOTHER: Kenny Chesney earns his 51st top 10 on Hot Country Songs and his 55th on Country Airplay, as his first single for Warner Music Nashville, "Get Along," rises 11-9 on the former and 11-10 on the latter (25.5 million, up 11 percent).
Since Chesney's first week in the Hot Country Songs top 10, with "Fall in Love" (June 24, 1995), he boasts the most top 10s, one-upping Tim McGraw, with 50 in that span (and 55 overall).
On Country Airplay, Chesney's 55 top 10s rank him third among all artists (since the chart's 1990 launch), behind only George Strait (61) and McGraw (57).
Kane Brown has scored his second consecutive No. 1 single with "Heaven," which has reached the top of Billboard's Country Airplay chart and the Mediabase chart.
The song comes in a line of steady success for the young star, whose self-titled debut album claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in 2017. The 24-year-old set a record by becoming the first artist to sit in the top spot on five charts at the same time when Kane Brown was standing strong on the Top Country Albums chart and "What Ifs" with Lauren Alaina commanded the Country Digital Song Sales, Country Airplay, Hot Country Songs and Country Streaming Songs charts in 2017.
Kane Brown Shares Wedding Details and It's Not What You Expect
Brown's instincts were clearly spot on when he first heard "Heaven," which has been platinum certified by the RIAA. He knew fans would connect with it, and they have. The singer was actually writing "What's Mine Is Yours" at the time when he heard "Heaven" being played through the floor, and he felt drawn to the song that he would eventually turn into a hit.
"It really made me think about my fiancee. So I was like, 'There's got to be other people that can relate to this song,'" he tells Taste of Country. "It's easy, 'cause it's just from your heart. You're not lying about anything."
Hot on the heels of his latest career hit, Brown will soon marry fiancee Katelyn Jae.
Kane Brown scored the second No. 1 single of his career as “Heaven” ascended to the top spot on both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Mediabase chart.
The celestial tune follows Kane’s 2017 No. 1, “What Ifs,” featuring vocals from Lauren Alaina. “Heaven,” which was included on the deluxe edition of Kane’s self-titled debut album, was recently certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of 1 million units.
“Can officially say I have my 2nd number 1 at Radio,” said Kane via Twitter. “Thank you to everyone who made it possible!!!”
Can officially say I have my 2nd number 1 at Radio!!! 🎉 🙏🏽 thank you to everyone who made it possible!!! — Kane Brown (@kanebrown) May 12, 2018
Kane is currently on the road as part of Chris Young’s Losing Sleep World Tour.
