Russell Dickerson Reclaims No. 1 Spot on Country Airplay Chart with "Happen to Me"
Russell Dickerson has achieved his fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as his single, "Happen to Me," climbed to the top position on the chart dated September 20. According to Luminate, the song saw an 18% increase in audience impressions, reaching 31.6 million during the Sept. 5-11 tracking week.
The Making of a Chart-Topper
"Happen to Me" was a collaborative effort, co-written by Jessie Jo Dillon, Chris LaCorte, and Chase McGill. Dickerson co-produced the track with Josh Kerr and LaCorte. The song is featured on Dickerson's latest LP, Famous Back Home, which debuted at No. 34 on Top Country Albums on Sept. 6 with 9,000 equivalent album units. Dickerson hails from Union City, Tenn.
Dickerson's String of Success
The 38-year-old, Nashville-based artist previously achieved four consecutive Country Airplay No. 1s with his initial releases. These include "Yours" (January 2018), "Blue Tacoma" (October 2018), "Every Little Thing" (November 2019), and "Love You Like I Used To" (November 2020).
"Happen to Me" in the Charts
Before "Happen to Me," Dickerson's recent releases included "Bones," which peaked at No. 36 on Country Airplay in July, "God Gave Me a Girl" (No. 2, November 2023), "She Likes It," with Jake Scott (No. 16, October 2022), and "Home Sweet" (No. 11, March 2022).
A Notable Gap Between Chart-Toppers
The time between Dickerson's Country Airplay leaders spanned four years, nine months, and three weeks, marking the longest gap since Brad Paisley's seven years, nine months, and three weeks between "Perfect Storm" in 2015 and "Freedom Was a Highway," featuring Jimmie Allen, in 2022.
Crossover Appeal
"Happen to Me" is also experiencing success beyond the country charts, climbing to 21 on the Adult Pop Airplay chart and re-entering Pop Airplay at No. 40.
On Tour
Currently on tour, Dickerson's next stop is scheduled for September 18 in Wallingford, Conn.
Chase Matthew's "Darlin'" Climbs the Charts
Chase Matthew celebrates his second career-opening Country Airplay top 10 with "Darlin’," a song he co-authored, moving from 12-10 with 17.5 million audience impressions (up 10%). The 27-year-old native of Sevierville, Tenn., previously reached No. 9 with his debut single, "Love You Again," last September. "Darlin' " is featured on Matthew's album We All Grow Up, released in February 2024.
Will Tennessee Football Snap Eight-Game Losing Streak vs. Georgia?
The No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers (2-0) are set to face the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (2-0) at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 13 at 3:30 p.m. ET, airing on ABC. Tennessee is hoping to break an eight-game losing streak against Georgia in this Top 25 SEC rivalry matchup.
Joey Aguilar's Performance Against Power-Conference Teams
Joey Aguilar, the Tennessee quarterback, has played in three games against power-conference opponents, two with Appalachian State and one with Tennessee. He has completed 50% of his passes for 736 yards and six touchdowns, with one interception. His recent debut against Syracuse in Atlanta saw him complete 16 of 28 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns.
Georgia's Defense Shuts Down Opponents
Georgia's defense, known for producing NFL Draft picks, has been dominant in early nonconference games. The Bulldogs rank among the top nationally in yards allowed per game (201.5), points allowed per game (6.5), and third-down conversion rate (21.4%).
When Was the Last Tennessee Victory Against Georgia?
Tennessee's last win against Georgia was on Oct. 1, 2016, a 34-31 victory marked by a Hail Mary pass from Josh Dobbs to Jauan Jennings. Prior to that, Tennessee won 38-31 on Oct. 10, 2015, at Neyland Stadium. These back-to-back wins are the only Volunteers victories in the past 15 matchups.
Tennessee vs Georgia Prediction
Tennessee 30, Georgia 24: The prediction is that Tennessee will end its losing streak against Georgia, with Joey Aguilar making his mark in the SEC.