Russell Dickerson earns his fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “Happen to Me” ascends a place to the top of the tally dated Sept. 20. During the Sept. 5-11 tracking week, the single increased by 18% to 31.6 million audience impressions, according to Luminate.
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The song was co-written by Jessie Jo Dillon, Chris LaCorte and Chase McGill. Dickerson co-produced it with Josh Kerr and LaCorte. It’s from Dickerson’s new LP, Famous Back Home (he’s from Union City, Tenn.), which arrived at No. 34 on Top Country Albums (Sept. 6) with 9,000 equivalent album units.
The 38-year-old Dickerson, who is based in Nashville, linked four straight career-starting Country Airplay No. 1s: “Yours” (for two weeks beginning in January 2018); “Blue Tacoma” (one week, October 2018); “Every Little Thing” (one, November 2019); and “Love You Like I Used To” (two, November 2020).
“Happen to Me” follows Dickerson’s “Bones,” which hit No. 36 on Country Airplay last July; “God Gave Me You” (No. 2, November 2023); “She Likes It,” with Jake Scott (No. 16, October 2022); and “Home Sweet” (No. 11, March 2022).
Dickerson’s four-year, nine-month and three-week break between Country Airplay leaders marks the longest since Brad Paisley waited seven years, nine months and three weeks between “Perfect Storm” in 2015 and “Freedom Was a Highway,” with Jimmie Allen, in 2022.
Meanwhile, “Happen to Me” continues crossing over, rising 23-21 on the Adult Pop Airplay chart and reentering Pop Airplay at No. 40 (after reaching No. 39).
Currently on tour, Dickerson makes his next stop on Wallingford, Conn., on Sept. 18.
‘Darlin’ ’ of a Tune
Chase Matthew scores his second career-opening Country Airplay top 10 as “Darlin’,” which he co-authored, pushes 12-10 (17.5 million, up 10%). The Sevierville, Tenn., native, 27, sent his rookie entry, “Love You Again,” to No. 9 last September.
“Darlin’ ” is from Matthew’s album We All Grow Up, released in February 2024.
