Male solo artists dominate the charts, but three female solo artists and two groups have made significant achievements as well.
Top Country Albums
Designed by Lyanne Natividad
Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time has impressively logged its 78th week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart as of March 22. This remarkable achievement brings his total weeks at No. 1 to an astounding 177 weeks, solidifying his position as the artist with the most weeks at No. 1 in the chart’s rich 61-year history. This milestone not only highlights Wallen’s popularity but also underscores his impact on the country music landscape.
Wallen’s accomplishment is particularly noteworthy given that he has accumulated such an impressive total of weeks at the top in a relatively short span of time. He first ascended to the peak of the chart on August 15, 2020, marking the beginning of an extraordinary journey that has captivated fans and redefined success in the country genre.
The Top Country Albums chart made its debut as Hot Country Albums in the January 11, 1964 issue of Billboard. The inaugural chart was topped by Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire (The Best of Johnny Cash), a compilation that was perfectly timed; “Ring of Fire” had previously dominated the Hot Country Songs chart for seven weeks and even crossed over to the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, showcasing the crossover appeal of country music.
From 1968 to 1984, the chart underwent a name change to Hot Country LP’s during the era when vinyl LPs reigned supreme. This change reflected the evolving music industry and consumer preferences, and it played a significant role in shaping how country albums were marketed and consumed during that time.
A total of twenty-one artists have achieved the remarkable feat of spending 50 or more weeks at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. While male solo artists are the predominant force, it’s noteworthy that three female solo artists and two groups, including an all-female group, have also reached this milestone. Interestingly, only one Black artist has claimed this distinction, but as country music continues to evolve, there is a growing potential for greater inclusivity and representation in the genre.
Here’s a closer look at all artists who have topped the Top Country Albums chart for 50 or more weeks, showcasing their incredible contributions to country music history.
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Kenny Chesney (50 weeks)
Image Credit: J.Sciulli/WireImage for CMT: Country Music Television/Getty Images
First week at No. 1: Oct. 14, 2000
Most recent week at No. 1: May 16, 2020
Longest-running No. 1: When the Sun Goes Down (14 weeks in 2004)
Notes: Chesney’s collection of No. 1 albums includes two live albums, LIVE: Live Those Songs Again (2006) and Live in No Shoes Nation (2017).
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LeAnn Rimes (50 weeks)
First week at No. 1: July 27, 1996
Most recent week at No. 1: Feb. 17, 2001
Longest-running No. 1: Blue (28 weeks in 1996-97)
Notes: Rimes’ total includes a 1997 compilation of early recordings, Unchained Melody: The Early Years. At just 14 years old, Rimes won a Grammy for best new artist in February 1997, making her the youngest winner ever in that category.
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Eddy Arnold (51 weeks)
First week at No. 1: Aug. 14, 1965
Most recent week at No. 1: May 4, 1968
Longest-running No. 1: My World (17 weeks in 1965-66)
Notes: My World became the first country album nominated for a Grammy for album of the year, featuring the crossover hit “Make the World Go Away,” which epitomized the “countrypolitan” sound.
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Glen Campbell (51 weeks)
First week at No. 1: Feb. 10, 1968
Most recent week at No. 1: May 7, 1977
Longest-running No. 1: Wichita Lineman (20 weeks in 1968-69)
Notes: Wichita Lineman is tied with Johnny Cash at San Quentin for the longest run at No. 1 of any album in the 1960s. Campbell’s No. 1 albums also include Bobbie Gentry & Glen Campbell, a collaboration with the iconic singer of “Ode to Billie Joe.” This 1968 album marked the first collaborative album to reach No. 1 on the chart.
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Merle Haggard (51 weeks)
First week at No. 1: Dec. 10, 1966
Most recent week at No. 1: June 20, 2015
Longest-running No. 1: Pancho & Lefty (with Willie Nelson) (eight weeks in 1983)
Notes: Haggard’s list of No. 1s includes eight albums credited to his backing group, The Strangers. His collection also features three live albums: Okie From Muskogee (1970), The Fightin’ Side of Me (1970), and I Love Dixie Blues … So I Recorded ‘Live’ in New Orleans (1973). Additionally, it includes two collaborations with Willie Nelson: Pancho & Lefty and Django and Jimmie (2015).
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Johnny Cash (57 weeks)
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
First week at No. 1: Jan. 11, 1964
Most recent week at No. 1: April 12, 2014
Longest-running No. 1: Johnny Cash at San Quentin (20 weeks in 1969)
Notes: Cash’s No. 1 albums spanned over five decades. Johnny Cash at San Quentin received a Grammy nod for album of the year and holds the record for the longest run at No. 1 of any live album. It is tied with Glen Campbell’s Wichita Lineman as the longest-running No. 1 album of the 1960s. Cash also achieved No. 1 status with two other live albums – Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison (1968) and The Johnny Cash Show (1970), which was recorded at the Grand Ole Opry. Additionally, he topped the chart with a 1985 collaboration LP with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson, along with two posthumous albums – American V: A Hundred Highways (2006) and Out Among the Stars (2014).
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Buck Owens (60 weeks)
First week at No. 1: Jan. 25, 1964
Most recent week at No. 1: April 20, 1968
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