The country music world is one that typically favors those artists who have put in their time and stuck with the genre for some time, as opposed to those who try out the style without a history of having done so. While that’s usually the case, one pop singer has earned herself an impressive charting feat with her first-ever country tune.
Bebe Rexha’s most recent single “Meant to Be” currently sits at No. 1 on the genre-specific Hot Country Songs chart, which ranks the most popular country songs in the U.S. every week. This turn at the top marks the eleventh in a row on that tally for “Meant to Be,” which now stand as the longest stay at the peak for a song fronted by a solo female, according to Billboard.
As of last week, Rexha was tied with former country star, current pop superstar Taylor Swift (whose career has taken the opposite path as Rexha’s seems to be), who owned the chart with her acoustic-pop smash “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” for 10 weeks. It’s tough to classify either Swift or Rexha’s singles as pure country, but they are country enough (whatever that means in today’s musical world) to land at the peak of the Hot Country Songs chart and live there for months.
The Hot Country Songs chart uses streaming, sales and even radio airplay data to rank singles every week, so while those who don’t often listen to country are affecting were “Meant to Be” lands, it is also being played on country radio, so clearly, that part of the music industry has accepted her and her country-pop offering.
It’s always impressive whenever chart history is made with a lengthy stay at the peak of some listing, but Rexha’s feat is especially noteworthy given the fact that “Meant to Be” is her first appearance on the list. The same cannot be said for Swift and her single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” which was released well into her tenure as one of the most successful artists on the planet.
In addition to holding at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, “Meant to Be” has broken into the top 10 on the all-genre, all-encompassing Hot 100 for the first time this week. The track currently stands at No. 9, which makes it Rexha’s third to break into the region and her first as a lead act. The song may be the female vocalist’s first experience at the peak of the country tally, but for featured artists Florida Georgia Line, it’s their sixth, and their appearance has surely helped Rexha's easy intro to the country world.
