Zach Bryan earns his first leader on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart, as the 26-year-old singer-songwriter from Oologah, Okla., launches American Heartbreak at No. 1 on the June 4-dated list. The hefty 34-track effort, released May 20, opens with 71,000 equivalent album units in the week ending May 26, according to Luminate – the biggest week for a country album in 2022.
Of the set’s starting sum, streaming equivalent album (SEA) units comprise 64,500, equaling 84.1 million on-demand official streams – likewise the best streaming frame for a country album this year.
The LP bows at No. 5 on the all-genre Billboard 200, where it’s Bryan’s first entry. It currently premieres atop Americana/Folk Albums, becoming his first No. 1 among three top 10s, and Top Rock Albums, where it’s his first leader and second charted title, after 2019’s DeAnn spent a week at No. 31 this February.
On Top Country Albums, American Heartbreak – Bryan’s first major-label LP, on Belting Bronco/Warner Records, and his third overall – is his second entry. 2020’s Elisabeth entered at No. 50 in February and reached No. 41 in March.
Bryan, who spent seven years in the U.S. Navy, simultaneously achieves his first top 10 on the multi-metric Hot Country Songs chart, as the new set’s “Something in the Orange” (which he wrote solo) soars 12-3. It pushes 4-2 for a new high on Country Streaming Songs, up 47% to 12.9 million official U.S. streams, and re-enters Country Digital Song Sales at No. 16, after arriving at its No. 11 best (May 7), up 66% to 1,900 sold.
Winning ‘Wasted’
Bryan’s American Heartbreak dethrones Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album on Top Country Albums, as the latter dips to No. 2 (51,000 units, down 7%). Dangerous has ruled the list for a record-breaking 59 weeks and last ceded the summit on the Jan. 8 chart to Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version), which logged its seventh week on top, after starting at No. 1 last November.
Meanwhile, Wallen’s current single being promoted to country radio, “Wasted on You,” rebounds 2-1 on Hot Country Songs for its third week atop the chart, with 11.3 million streams and 3,900 sold. On Country Airplay, the song stays at its No. 4 high, up 6% to 22 million audience impressions.
‘Fall’ Forward
Bailey Zimmerman lands his first Hot Country Songs top 10 as his rookie entry “Fall in Love” bounds 16-10. The track, which he co-wrote, drew 9.7 million streams (up 33%) and sold 2,500 in the tracking week.
The 22-year-old from Louisville, Ill., gained traction by posting videos on TikTok, where he boasts nearly 1 million followers. He signed to Warner Music Nashville in April.
Double ‘Trouble’
Jason Aldean’s “Trouble With a Heartbreak” tops Country Airplay for a second week (26.4 million, up 8%). It became his 25th leader on the May 28 ranking and now marks his 12th multi-week No. 1.
The song is the 16th to ascend to No. 1 on Country Airplay this year and marks the fifth to dominate for multiple weeks.
Noah’s Arc
Noah Thompson, who won the latest season of ABC’s American Idol, claims his first leader on the Country Digital Song Sales chart with “One Day Tonight.” The track by the 20-year-old from Louisville, Ky., sold 11,000 downloads in the week ending May 26, with the competition’s season finale having aired May 22. Plus, Tennessee native HunterGirl, the season’s runner-up, jumps to No. 2 with “Red Bird” (9,900).
Meanwhile, 2011 Idol champ Scotty McCreery nets his seventh Country Airplay top 10 as “Damn Strait” climbs 11-9 (15.6 million audience impressions, up 10%). The song follows “You Time,” which became his fourth No. 1 on the chart last October.
Two other former Idol contestants climb Country Airplay: 2005 winner Carrie Underwood ascends 23-22 with “Ghost Story” (5.9 million, up 2%) and 2018 third-place finalist Gabby Barrett pushes 31-29 with “Pick Me Up” (3.3 million, up 10%).
