Nate Smith’s ‘Fire’ Continues to Burn With Ninth Week at No. 1 on Country Airplay Chart

Nate Smith’s “World on Fire” continues its command on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, ranking at No. 1 for a ninth week. It drew 31.4 million in airplay audience Feb. 2-8, according to Luminate.

The song is now solely the second-longest-leading hit in the Country Airplay chart’s 34-year history, one week from tying Morgan Wallen’s “You Proof,” which dominated for 10 frames starting in October 2022.

“Fire” – released on Arista Nashville/RCA Nashville, and which Smith co-wrote with Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips and Lindsay Rimes, the lattermost of whom solely produced it – passes three eight-week No. 1s: Wallen’s “Last Night” (beginning in May 2023), Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett’s “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” (August 2003) and Lonestar’s “Amazed” (July 1999).

“Fire” is Smith’s second straight career-opening Country Airplay No. 1, after “Whiskey on You” led for two weeks last February.

At Home in the Top 10

Thomas Rhett’s “Mamaw’s House,” featuring Morgan Wallen, hits the top 10 on Country Airplay, pushing 11-9, up 20% to 19.8 million audience impressions.

“House” is on the digital version of Rhett’s 20 Number Ones, which arrived on Top Country Albums at its No. 7 high in October 2023, becoming his seventh top 10.

Rhett — who is currently working on a new LP — and Wallen co-wrote “House” with Matt Dragstrem and Chase McGill.

Rhett adds his 23rd Country Airplay top 10. “House” follows “Angels Don’t Always Have Wings,” which led for a week in September, becoming his 19th leader. Rhett’s third of 30 chart entries, “It Goes Like This,” became his first top 10 and his maiden leader when it dominated for three frames starting in October 2013.

Wallen banks his 13th Country Airplay top 10. “House” follows “Everything I Love,” which peaked at No. 3 in December, and “Thinkin’ Bout Me,” which started a five-week command in November, becoming his 10th chart-topper. He logs an additional song on the Feb. 17-dated list: “Man Made a Bar,” featuring Eric Church, rises 15-13 (14.7 million, up 20%).

Hot Hand

Parker McCollum’s “Burn It Down” (MCA Nashville) climbs 13-10 (16 million, up 13%). The single, which McCollum co-penned, becomes his fourth consecutive career opening top 10.

It follows “Handle on You,” which peaked at No. 2 last May. Before “Handle on You,” McCollum’s scored two straight leaders; his first entry “Pretty Heart” led in December 2020 followed by “To Be Loved By You,” which reigned in March 2022.

Jim Asker

Billboard