That’s a lot of #1 hits.
Now, it’s no secret that radio play doesn’t mean near as much as it used to just a decade or so ago. With the shift to streaming, fans have more ways than ever to find new music. Back in the ’90s the only way to become a superstar was to have your song played on the radio, but now we see plenty of artists have massively successful careers and sell out arenas (and even stadiums) without ever having a hit on the radio.
We’re also seeing songs take much longer to reach the top of the charts than they have in the past. There are obviously some exceptions, like Ella Langley’s mega-hit “Choosin’ Texas,” which absolutely rocketed up the charts and has stayed there for a month. But much more often we see songs that take their time – sometimes even a year or more – to become a #1 after being released as a single.
That’s why it’s all the more impressive that Jason Aldean has managed to rack up 31 chart-topping singles, especially in a career that’s spanned two decades that have seen such a shift in how music is consumed.
The “Try That In A Small Town” singer recently scored his latest #1 hit with “How Far Does A Goodbye Go” after first topping the charts with “Why” all the way back in 2006.
His 31 #1 hits puts him in elite company in country music, but where does it land him in the all-time rankings of the most #1 hits by country artists?
Let’s take a look at the rankings:
1. George Strait
It should come as no surprise that George Strait sits firmly atop the list with 60 #1 hits, a record that will probably never be broken.
2. Conway Twitty
Conway isn’t far behind the King, with 55 #1 hits from the late 1950s all the way into the 1980s.
3. Tim McGraw
The first artist on the list who could realistically move even higher, Tim McGraw currently has 49 #1 singles, with his latest being his 2024 single “One Bad Habit.”
4. Alabama
Now, this is a good time for a major disclaimer: When it comes to tallying #1 hits, there are several different charts that are used to determine whether a song went #1. Some lists include certain charts and exclude others, so you’ll often see differing numbers for the same artist. (Even George Strait’s 60 #1 hits is often disputed, though even if you include only #1s on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart he’s still at #1 all time with 44).
Alabama is another one of those artists, sometimes being credited with only 33 #1 hits on the Billboard charts. But when you include the Mediabase and Country Airplay charts, that brings the legendary band’s total to 43,
5. Ronnie Milsap
Another legend whose number varies based on which charts you use to count #1s, Ronnie Milsap has a total of 42 chart toppers across all charts thanks to strong crossover appeal.
6. Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard leads all of his fellow outlaw country legends with 38 #1 hits over his career.
7. Alan Jackson
Across all the charts, Alan Jackson has racked up 35 #1s in his legendary career, with his last coming in 2010 with “As She’s Walking Away,” a duet with the Zac Brown Band.
8. Kenny Chesney
Kenny holds the record for the most #1s on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, with 33 songs topping the charts.
8. Toby Keith
This one’s a little murky, because Toby is credited with as many as 42 #1 hits depending on which charts you include in the total. But Toby’s official website credits the Big Dog Daddy with 33 chart topping singles.
10. Jason Aldean
That leaves Aldean at #10 on the (very unofficial) all-time list of the country artists with the most #1 hits with 31.
10. Blake Shelton
Aldean is tied with fellow country artist and friend Blake Shelton for the 10th spot on the list.
Here’s the rest of the top 20 if you’re interested:
