Rapper takes over Top 20, pushing Alabama country star out of No. 1 spot

The remarkable pop chart reign of Alabama’s own country sensation has hit a temporary roadblock, courtesy of a massive creative surge from a global rap and R&B powerhouse.

Drake Displaces the Alabama Star

After a stellar run that saw Ella Langley dominate the airwaves, the tides have shifted. Her hit single “Choosin’ Texas” enjoyed 10 nonconsecutive weeks as the No. 1 on Billboard.com’s Hot 100 chart, but the May 15 release of three new albums by Drake proved too strong to ignore.

A Historic Billboard Takeover

According to Billboard.com, the impact was immediate. Drake’s trio of new projects—“Iceman,” “Habibti,” and “Maid of Honour”—claimed the top three spots on the Billboard 200, marking the first time a single artist has achieved such a sweep.

On the Hot 100 singles chart, the competition reached new heights. With Drake’s “Janice STFU” debuting at No. 1 for the week of May 30, Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” shifted to No. 5, while her other hit, “Be Her,” moved to the No. 14 spot. Outside of Drake’s overwhelming presence, only Bruno Mars and Olivia Dean managed to secure positions in the Top 20.

Record-Breaking Dominance

Drake’s influence extended far beyond the top slots, as he placed 42 songs on the Hot 100—shattering the previous record of 37 held by Morgan Wallen. As detailed by Billboard, Drake now stands alone as the only artist with more than 400 total career entries on the chart, far outpacing Taylor Swift’s 276. However, Swift maintains the distinction of having swept the Top 10 on three separate occasions.

Resilience in the Rankings

Despite the dip in rankings, data suggests Langley’s momentum remains strong. “Choosin’ Texas” maintained steady streaming numbers of 27.7 million last week, with concurrent gains in radio airplay and sales, signaling that a comeback may be on the horizon.

This recent chart success follows Langley’s seven wins at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Reflecting on her breakout success, Langley told fans at the ceremony, “Thank you for loving this song, thank you for making it your own, thank you for making it do things that I never would have imagined to even dream for, and I’ve been dreaming about this job for a long time.”