Thomas Rhett & Riley Green’s ‘Half Of Me’ Hits Top Spot on Country Airplay Chart

Thomas Rhett‘s “Half of Me,” featuring Riley Green, ascends from No. 3 to No. 1 on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart dated Nov. 26. In the tracking week ending Nov. 20, the song increased by 8% to 31 million audience impressions, according to Luminate.

“Half” is Thomas Rhett’s 18th Country Airplay leader and Green’s first. He becomes one of 14 acts with as many as 18 No. 1s; Kenny Chesney leads with 32.

“It’s always a big deal for me to have as song go No. 1, but this one is extra special because it’s with my buddy Riley,” Rhett tells Billboard. “Really glad we get to celebrate this song together with our friends at radio and fans.”

Rhett wrote his latest Country Airplay leader with his father, Rhett Akins, and Will Bundy and Josh Thompson. It’s the second single from Rhett’s sixth full-length, Where We Started, which arrived at its No. 2 Top Country Albums high in April, marking his sixth top 10. The title track features pop star Katy Perry, who (donning a black cowboy hat) joined Rhett for a performance of the song at the 56th Annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards Nov. 9.

On the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Country Songs list, “Half” rebounds to its best rank (10-9), as it drew 5.1 million official streams and sold 1,000 downloads in the United States in the Nov. 11-17 tracking week.

“Half” follows Rhett’s “Slow Down Summer,” which rose to No. 2 on Country Airplay in May. Before that, “Country Again” led for a week in September 2021. The singer-songwriter, from Valdosta, Ga., banked his first Country Airplay leader in October 2013 when “It Goes Like This,” his third entry, began a three-week reign.

Green, from Jacksonville, Fla., reigns with his fifth Country Airplay hit. He notched one prior top 10, his debut entry “There Was This Girl,” which climbed to No. 3 in March 2019. He has also hit the top 20 with “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” (No. 12, February 2020).

‘Truck’ Is Flying

HARDY’s “Wait in the Truck,” featuring Lainey Wilson, rolls 14-7 on Hot Country Songs, up by 38% to 10.1 million streams in the Nov. 11-17 tracking week, following their performance of the song at the CMA Awards Nov. 9. Wilson picked up two trophies that night, as well, for female vocalist and new artist of the year.

Meanwhile, “Truck” sold 8,000 downloads (up 3%) and tops Country Digital Song Sales for a fifth week. On Country Airplay, the song rises 25-21 (8.5 million, up 19%).

Hardy’s third Hot Country Songs top 10 follows his collaboration with Dierks Bentley and BRELAND, “Beers on Me,” which hit No. 5 in March. He scored his first top 10 with his second entry, “One Beer,” featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson (No. 4, November 2020).

Wilson also adds her third Hot Country Songs top 10. She first reached the tier with her debut chart hit “Things a Man Oughta Know,” which advanced to No. 3 in September 2021, while “Never Say Never,” with Cole Swindell, reached No. 2 this April.

More Spins for ‘Spins’

Jordan Davis scores his sixth straight career-opening Country Airplay top 10 as “What My World Spins Around” lifts 12-10 (17.5 million, up 8%). The song follows “Buy Dirt” (featuring Luke Bryan), which led for two frames starting in January. Davis’ first entry, “Singles You Up,” became his first of three No. 1s, leading for a week in April 2018.