Cody Johnson Canvasses Radio With ‘The Painter,’ His Second Country Airplay No. 1

Cody Johnson earns his second leader on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “The Painter” ascends 3-1 on the March 9-dated ranking. During the Feb. 23-29 tracking week, the single increased by 12% to 31.2 million impressions, according to Luminate.

Johnson, from Sebastopol, Texas, previously hit No. 8 on Country Airplay with “Human” in June 2023, and his first No. 1, “‘Til You Can’t,” which ruled for two frames starting in March 2022. Prior to his three top 10s, his first entry, “With You I Am,” reached No. 40 in May 2017. He broke through further with “On My Way to You” (No. 11, June 2019).

Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins and Ryan Larkins co-wrote “The Painter,” which Trent Willmon produced. It’s the lead single from Johnson’s LP Leather, which arrived on Top Country Albums at its No. 5 best last November, becoming his fifth top 10.

Johnson’s additional song, and next proper single, on Country Airplay, “Dirt Cheap,” places at No. 58 (736,000).

‘23’ Is Top 10

Chayce Beckham’s “23” climbs 11-10 on Country Airplay (18.4 million, up 5%), becoming his first top 10. The Apple Valley, Calif., native was crowned the winner of ABC’s American Idol in 2021 and performed “23” live on-air during that season. He had written the song a year before, and became the first champ to win the competition performing an original song.

Beckham is the fourth winner in the Idol franchise to hit the Country Airplay top 10. He joins Carrie Underwood (30 top 10s, including 16 No. 1s, after winning in 2005), Scotty McCreery (eight top 10s, five No. 1s; 2011) and Kelly Clarkson (two top 10s, one No. 1; 2002, Idol’s inaugural season).

Meanwhile, “23” (not the same composition as Sam Hunt’s song of the same name that topped Country Airplay for a week in April 2022) is the chart’s first top 10 written by a single person since Luke Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” which led for five weeks beginning last July.