Hot Country Songs is a chart that ranks the top-performing country music songs in the United States, published by Billboard magazine. In 2004, 21 different songs topped the chart, then published under the title Hot Country Singles & Tracks, in 52 issues of the magazine, based on weekly airplay data from country music radio stations compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. [1]
Singer Kenny Chesney's song "There Goes My Life" was at number one at the start of the year, having been at the top since the issue of Billboard dated December 20, 2003. [2] It remained at number one for the first five weeks of 2004 before being replaced by "Remember When" by Alan Jackson. The highest total number of weeks spent at number one by a song in 2004 was seven, achieved by "Live Like You Were Dying" by Tim McGraw, which was ranked number one on Billboard's year-end chart of the most popular country songs. [3] As the song's seven weeks at the top were split into two separate spells, however, the longest unbroken run at the top was five weeks, achieved by three different songs, two of which were by Chesney: "There Goes My Life" and "When the Sun Goes Down", the latter a collaboration with Uncle Kracker. The third song with a five-week run at the top was "Redneck Woman" by Gretchen Wilson.
Tim McGraw achieved the most number one hits of the year, with three, and tied with Kenny Chesney for the most weeks in the top spot, with ten. Chesney and Toby Keith were the only artists other than McGraw to place more than one song at number one in 2004, with two each. When his collaboration with Chesney reached the top spot, Uncle Kracker gained a number one with his first single to appear on the country chart. [4] While Kracker had previously released other recordings and even appeared on other Billboard charts, [4] Gretchen Wilson achieved the feat of topping the chart with her first single when "Redneck Woman" reached the top spot in May. [5] It marked the first chart-topper by a solo female artist for more than two years, [6] but was followed to the top later in the year by songs by Reba McEntire, Terri Clark and Sara Evans. The only other act to achieve a first number one in 2004 was the duo Montgomery Gentry. [7] The final number one of the year was "Some Beach" by Blake Shelton.
Kenneth Arnold Chesney is an American country singer. He has recorded more than 20 albums that include more than 40 Top 10 singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, 32 of which have reached number one. Many of these also have charted within the Top 40 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, making him one of the most successful crossover country artists. He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide.
"Drift Away" is a song by Mentor Williams, written in 1970 and originally recorded by British singer Mike Berry on his 1972 album Drift Away. A version by John Henry Kurtz was released two months later in November 1972. Mentor Williams was a country songwriter, and John Henry Kurtz was an actor and swamp rock singer. It was later given to soul singer Dobie Gray for whom it became a surprise international hit. In 1973, the song became Gray's biggest hit, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and receiving a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song has been covered by numerous musicians.
American singer Jessica Simpson has released seven studio albums, four compilation albums, three video albums, nineteen singles, and fifteen music videos. Her debut album, Sweet Kisses (1999), was released through Columbia Records, reached number 25 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, and was certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album sold 1.9 million copies in the US and produced three singles. Simpson's debut single, "I Wanna Love You Forever", reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA. In 2001, Simpson released her second studio effort, titled Irresistible, which failed to match the success of Sweet Kisses. Irresistible peaked at number 6 in the United States and has sold 755,000 copies. Her third studio album, In This Skin, was released in August 2003. Guided by the publicity of her reality TV show, Newlyweds, that album became the best-selling effort of her career, achieving a peak position of number 2 and triple platinum certification in the US. By 2009, In This Skin had sold 2.9 million copies in the US and produced four singles. In 2004, Simpson released her fourth studio and her first Christmas album, Rejoyce: The Christmas Album. It reached number 14 in the US and was certified gold by the RIAA. As of February 2009, Rejoyce has sold 669,000 copies in the US.
When the Sun Goes Down is the eighth studio album by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released on February 3, 2004 by BNA Records. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling over 550,000 copies in its first week.
The American hip hop group Black Eyed Peas has released nine studio albums, two compilation albums, one extended play, forty singles, eight promotional singles, thirty-eight music videos, and two video albums. Interscope Records released the band's debut album, Behind the Front, in the United States in June 1998. Although the album received a four-star review from AllMusic, it charted low on the Billboard 200 in the United States and on the French Albums Chart, at numbers 129 and 149 respectively. The band's second album, Bridging the Gap, was released in 2000 and peaked at number 67 in the US and reached its highest position in New Zealand, at number 18.
Matthew Shafer, also known by his stage name Uncle Kracker, is an American singer and musician. He was previously a turntablist for Kid Rock's backing group Twisted Brown Trucker and since 1999 has recorded as a solo artist. His singles "Follow Me" and "Drift Away" were top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
"When the Sun Goes Down" is a song written by Brett James and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney as a duet with Uncle Kracker. It was released in February 2004 as the second single and title track from Chesney's 2004 album of the same name. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on April 3, holding the number one position for five weeks. It also reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Uncle Kracker's first appearance on the country music charts, his next one being "Smile".
"Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" is a country music song co-written by American songwriters Jim Collins and Marty Dodson. The song was initially to have been recorded by George Strait for his 2008 album Troubadour, but after Strait decided not to include the song on this album, it was recorded by Kenny Chesney instead. Released in August 2008, Chesney's rendition is his thirty-eighth Top 40 country hit and his fifteenth Number One hit. Chesney's version is the first single from his album Lucky Old Sun, which was released on his own Blue Chair label in association with BNA Records.
"She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" is a song written by Jim Collins and Paul Overstreet and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released on October 4, 1999, as the third single from Chesney's 1999 album Everywhere We Go. The song peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in early 2000, and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The song remains one of Chesney's most popular.
"Out Last Night" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Kenny Chesney. It was released on April 6, 2009 as the first single and only new track on his compilation album Greatest Hits II. The song reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming his thirty-eighth top 40 hit in the United States. Chesney wrote this song with Brett James.
"Smile" is a song by American musician Uncle Kracker from his fourth studio album, Happy Hour (2009). It was released as the album's first single on July 13, 2009, and again charted in August 2010. The track features pop rock singer Rae Rae, who sings backing vocals throughout the song and at the end of the title. Commercially, the song reached number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 44 in Canada, and number three in Australia. The song was featured in Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star.
"Setting the World on Fire" is a song written by Ross Copperman, Matt Jenkins, and Josh Osborne and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney as a duet with American singer Pink. It was released to country radio on July 28, 2016 and to digital retailers the following day as the second single from Chesney's 2016 album Cosmic Hallelujah. The song was also promoted to adult and pop radio on September 12, 2016. The song was nominated for the Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards.
This is the discography for American musician Uncle Kracker.