Brooks & Dunn, Reba, & George Strait Top Country Albums Chart
No, it’s not 1989, it’s 2019. But looking at the top of the Billboard Country Albums chart this week, you would have thought you’d been transported back 30 years in time. But it’s quite okay if you’re a traditional country music fan. No need to figure out how to generate the 1.21 gigawatts it takes to fire the flux capacitor and get you back to the present. You’re just fine with actual country music artists being at the top of the charts.
Granted this anomaly has some to do with three legendary country performers releasing their new records in a pretty short succession. But numbers don’t lie, and the truth is the untapped buying potential of country music’s traditional country fans has long gone undervalued. Sure all the kids love to stream Kane Brown on their iPhones, but have you seen the royalties a spin on Spotify generates? True country fans buy a CD or vinyl just to have it on their shelf. Hell they buy two of them, and stream the damn album when they’re flying down the interstate anyway.
This week Country Music Hall of Famers Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, and George Strait come in at #1, #3, and #4 respectively on the Billboard Country Albums chart, and they’re #1, #2, #3 when you consider pure album sales. Brooks & Dunn get to #1 with their Reboot project where they teamed up with some of today’s country artists (some cool, some not) to reprise many of their biggest hits ahead of what many hope is a new original album in the works. Reba McEntire, who just released her well-received return to her country roots in Stronger Than The Truth comes in at #3, and George Strait, who last week was at #1, remains in the Top 5 with strong second week sales for Honky Tonk Time Machine which comes in at #4. Luke Combs disrupts the oldies party with his blockbuster This One’s For You released way back in June of 2017. It comes in at #2, and is #5 in pure album sales.
Brooks & Dunn sold 31,000 albums and equivalents to get their first #1 album in nearly a decade, and the 7th overall of their career. The numbers also give them enough to come in at #8 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Reba McEntire’s Stronger Than The Truth racked up 21,416 in sales for #3, and George Strait sold an additional 22,268 albums for a two week total of now of over 50,000 records of Honky Tonk Time Machine moved. Luke Combs—who also appears on Brooks & Dunn’s Reboot on a remake of “Brand New Man”—received credit for some 28,000 records sold as he continues to be on a Chris Stapleton-like tear.
This classic country party at the top of the albums chart probably won’t last long, but it’s just the latest sign that classic country and the artists that make it are starting to find significantly more traction compared to previous years when Bro Country reigned supreme. George Strait’s current radio single “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar” also remains strong on the charts, remaining at #18 this week.
April 16, 2019 @ 8:34 am
You are so spot on about traditional country fans. I ordered Rebas Stronger Than The Truth on vinyl from her website, then went to Target to get the Cd with bonus tracks all while streaming the hell out if it in my car to and from work! I wouldn’t do that for any of these country wannabes tbat are everywhere!
May 1, 2019 @ 9:55 am
Same! I bought the MP3 version on Amazon, because my local Target didn’t have it and I’m impatient, then a week later made it to another Target and bought it again! Before this, it’s been almost 18 months since I bought another album (Angaleena Presley).
April 16, 2019 @ 8:38 am
Well, hello there
My it’s been a long, long time…
April 16, 2019 @ 8:56 am
I love the fact that we getting Reba and Brooks and Dunn back on the charts. Reba’s stronger than the truth is old school Reba with the title track and Cactus is a coffee can being my favorites. Its crazy though, you have to search to find cd’s these days. Best buy seems to not sell them anymore, target has such a small selection, and Walmart is the only place around who carries them. It seems like every store is forcing you to download or stream.
April 16, 2019 @ 8:59 am
Absolutely! Purchased/downloaded Reboot! Making my teenagers listen in the car and learn all the words to every song! Also a proud owner of Golden Hour and Girl Going Nowhere on vinyl. Still enjoy buying my music!
April 16, 2019 @ 9:16 am
I would be delighted if Brooks and Dunn did a new album. The closest we’ve had was ‘Damn Drunk’ which I thought was terrific.
April 16, 2019 @ 9:33 am
There are still enough fans of good country music out there but Nashville & “country” radio are too busy releasing/playing monogenre-music with a banjo buried deep in the mix.
The number of the week: 53
Rodney Atkins is still terrorizing the charts with “Caught Up In The Country”. 53 weeks & with a bullet (#22).
April 16, 2019 @ 9:36 am
Trigger is Stapleton’s reign coming to an end? I hope it’s not but it looks like Luke Combs may be stealing his thunder.
April 16, 2019 @ 9:47 am
Yes, people are burned out on Stapleton. He’s still doing very well. “Traveller” is still in the Top 10 on the album chart, even though it seems ages old. But I think regurgitating tracks for his “From ‘A’ Room” series failed to continue his momentum, as has his seemingly lack of desire to write. Stapleton could go the way of Jamey Johnson in more ways than one. I think the next year is critical for him. Will he rest on his laurels, or find the drive to continue being the creative force country music needs him to be.
April 16, 2019 @ 10:22 am
Really hope Stapleton will find the drive he needs. On the other hand i can’t get into Luke Combs at all…
April 16, 2019 @ 1:03 pm
I agree with on Luke Combs, when I would here beautiful crazy, I honestly thought it was Chris Young all this time. His voice doesn’t stand out, pretty much the same as most new male artists on radio today, they pretty much all sound the same.
April 16, 2019 @ 4:17 pm
and , in my opinion , its not a very good song lyrically .
if you look at the lyric on paper its riddled with cliche.
but hell ……women love it ….its a huge hit …so get ready for a ton of guys singing this on karaoke night ….?
April 16, 2019 @ 11:08 am
I was thinking the same thing. “Traveller” was brilliant but the two “From a Room” albums, though really good, were not on the same level. He can’t get too comfortable, and I’d hate if he continued his long term writer’s block like Jamey, who is one of my all time favorites.
April 17, 2019 @ 10:49 am
maybe its time for chris to change producers .
maybe he needs to work with someone who recognizes the song possibilities AND the sonic possibilities .
I know that may ruffle feathers around here but sometimes more ‘outside’ input ( Golden Hour ) can recharge things . not suggesting chris is a kacey musgraves , of course , just saying that maybe he needs a shot of something even he doesn’t recognize he may need unitl he hears it .
and of course ,maybe he figures ‘ if it ain’t broke ………..”
i love the guy but I’m not sure i’d wanna sit through a 2 hour show with that stripped -down band in an arena setting . how ’bout steel /fiddle ……something to keep things a bit more musically interesting over an entire concert ?
April 16, 2019 @ 11:22 am
Their career paths have been eerily similar. From wrong both good and bad songs for the mainstream, to having platinum selling breakthrough albums, to being the bridge between the underground and mainstream, and being loved by both, to being rejected by some of the underground because of their songwriting credits and quite frankly their success, all the way until the writers block. Hope Chris turns it around.
April 16, 2019 @ 10:16 am
so great to see this ‘resurgence’ …particularly if its sustainable ………and don’t forget about all the product these acts move at live shows ( if they have product with them )
just ask the bluegrass bands about that . most times they will have a lot of their recent recording catalogue available along with other merch AND with the smaller shows you stand an excellent chance of getting a signed copy …a phot with the artist etc…. I can only imagine how much product acts like the three in question could move at these stadium shows . actual online or store sales may pale in comparison
April 16, 2019 @ 10:51 am
I was glued to the radio in the 80s and 90’s With Strait and Black,and Reba and Alabama and Garth and Toby and Travis Tritt and the 4 great Highwaymen and so many others but as time went on I found less and less to listen to until I only listen to that period and earlier. I don’t even know most of the new names or find anything interesting in what they do.
April 16, 2019 @ 12:48 pm
welcome to the club jeff
April 16, 2019 @ 1:55 pm
To your ’90s group, I’d add Clint, Vince, Mark C., Aaron, Patty, Pam, MCC, Wy and Lee Roy.
April 17, 2019 @ 9:35 am
And many more.
April 16, 2019 @ 2:18 pm
I’m the same way, mid 80’s to the mid 90’s is my era. Randy Travis, Alabama, Keith Whitley, Patty Loveless, Sweethearts Of The Rodeo, Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunn, Pam Tillis, Earl Thomas Conely, Dolly Parton, Clinton Gregory, George Strait, Reba, Suzy Bogguss, Vince Gill, Dan Seals, Ricky Van Shelton, Tanya Tucker, Shenandoah, Confederate Railroad, Steve Wariner, Doug Stone, Lionel Cartwright, The Judds, Sawyer Brown, Lorrie Morgan, Kathy Mattea, Joe Diffie, Tracy Lawrence, Dwight Yoakum, Restless Heart, Highway 101, Lee Roy Parnell, Vern Gosdin, David Lynn Jones, Steve Earle, Hank Williams Jr, George Jones, Travis Tritt, Marty Stuart, John Conlee, Rodney Crowell, Garth Brooks, Conway Twitty, The Highwaymen, Paul Overstreet, Ricky Skaggs, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Mike Reid, Holly Dunn.
Their is 50 successful names from the mid 80 to mid 90’s, all had a distinctive voice that you didn’t need a dj to tell you who that was. And I’m sure you can easily name another 50 from that time on top of what I listed. The Nashville Network was a big part of it as well.
April 16, 2019 @ 9:16 pm
Mark Chesnutt!!
April 17, 2019 @ 5:49 pm
Here is another 50 from the mid 80’s to mid 90’s to add to what I previously listed.
Mark Chesnutt, Aaron Tippin, Colin Raye, Sammy Kershaw, BlackHawk, Billy Dean, Mark Collie, Hal Ketchum, Mcbride & The Ride, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Radney Foster, Diamond Rio, Chris Ledoux, John Anderson, Trisha Yearwood, Little Texas, Neal McCoy, Toby Keith, John Micheal Montgomery, Tim McGraw, Clay Walker, Carlene Carter, Martina Mcbride, Ken Mellons, Tracy Byrd, Lari White, Rick Trevino, David Ball, Eddy Raven, Roseanne Cash, The Forester Sisters, K.T Oslin, Lee Greenwood, The Bellamy Bros, Oak Ridge Boys, Don Williams, John Schneider, Moe Bandy, Mel McDaniel, Kentucky Headhunters (Brother Phelps), Pirates Of The Mississippi, Baillie And The Boys, The Desert Rose Band, David Lee Murphy, Daryle Singletary, Jeff Carson, Doug Supernaw, Perfect Stranger, The Mavricks, T.G Sheppard.
There you have it, 100 artists that had success fro 1985 to 1995. Some names I left off on purpose, such as Billy Ray Cyrus and Rhett Akins, I disqualified them because of their awful children they created, especially Rhett Akins who was nothing more than a one hit wonder. Lonestar, disqualified them because of what they became, a soccer mom group with such awful songs such as MR Mom. I swear I can stand a whole ten minutes of Florida Georgia Line with Luke Bryan more than I can tolerate MR Mom from Lonestar and the video just made me hate it even more. The second half of the 90’s would’ve been just fine if we could’ve erased Shania Twain, The Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Lonestar, Chris Gains (Garth Brooks on medication) and I’m sure a couple others from our memory, if only Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones could have done that for us.
April 16, 2019 @ 11:41 am
Big Ronnie Dunn fan. No fan of Brooks. However, their song with Ashley McBride is amazing. A highlight of the album. Great job to all of them on this song. Any praise well deserved.
April 16, 2019 @ 1:57 pm
Ronnie tried to go it alone, but that train left the station and he missed it.
I think he realizes that the public want B&D.
April 16, 2019 @ 6:07 pm
No doubt. But dang that song on the new album with Ashley is golden.
April 21, 2019 @ 11:32 am
Same here. Whenever I listen to B&D songs I have to skip over the ones with Brooks on lead. I don’t really understand the point of them being a Duo.
April 16, 2019 @ 12:00 pm
It’s about time we heard some traditional ole country. I’ll support that anyday over what they call country now.
April 16, 2019 @ 1:14 pm
modern country is for the people supporting Bernie Sanders for president. there is no way that a Christian can be a democrat, nor can a true conservative support the modern country music. God, family, good work ethic, Reba, George, Brooks and Dunn. May God bless America, and old country music.
April 16, 2019 @ 2:37 pm
“modern country is for the people supporting Bernie Sanders for president. there is no way that a Christian can be a democrat, nor can a true conservative support the modern country music.”
I don’t think any of this is true at all.
April 16, 2019 @ 5:32 pm
A wise but inexplicably maligned former SCM commenter described modern radio Country music as the loud self affirming white conservative sound that appeals to people who are conservative out of a distaste for liberalism instead of a love of conservatism, and described Americana and Alt Country as being authentic sounding but primarily made by liberals for liberals, and leaves actual older conservative Country fans caught in the middle and out in the cold.
April 17, 2019 @ 6:27 am
I’m still waiting to hear what you think of, “Old Songs” released by the Young Fables!!! I’m tired of hearing about there being no good modern traditional music!! The Young Fables are fantastic!!!
April 16, 2019 @ 5:12 pm
What a truly idiotic statement. From a devote Christian Democratic whose favs are King George and Alan Jackson.
April 16, 2019 @ 6:14 pm
Basil’s comment has some truth. Although the country music audience is more diverse than it used to be, there is still a large contingent of fairly conservative people in it. This is, in part, what hurts the Musgraves and Carlisles. As soon as they get some awards they start pushing the LGT (and whatever other letters one wants to add, they are growing). They make sure it is in their comments.
Sorry, but that does not go over with many in the traditional audience. Sure there are exceptions, and those exceptions will grow as the diversity grows. But enough are still in the general audience that there awards success does not translate into accompanying airplay or sales. I know it isn’t the only reason. But you have you head in the sand if it isn’t at least part of the reason.
So people are not as vocal against it as those are for it. But they translate their unacceptability of it in their refusal to follow such artists.
Again, not the only reason, but it sure is one of them. Maybe they all should just learn to SHUT UP AND SING!
April 16, 2019 @ 7:49 pm
“… there is no way that a Christian can be a democrat…”
Yes. People tend to forget that Jesus’ most important teachings concerned not what was in one’s heart or how they treat their fellow man, but what political party they identify with.
April 17, 2019 @ 8:45 am
I’m just going to take a guess and say Basil has a confederate flag sticker on his Dodge Ram.
April 20, 2019 @ 7:12 am
Your generalizations are showing. They are not accurate!
April 16, 2019 @ 2:31 pm
As stated where are the women artists? I am attempting to get our local stations in New England to “step it up”. Broaden our format.
April 16, 2019 @ 3:06 pm
I am a big fan of country western love songs and great true to life stories.. I know, I’m a real romantic.. There’s a lot to be said for life experiences put to music. Just ask the young AND older.
April 16, 2019 @ 5:07 pm
if you want to play hardball, who has all the disposable cash, memory of good live music, and finely tuned BS detector
yeah Nashville, you’re right it’s the young with their lucrative McJobs, nil skill musicians, and 37k of student loans
maybe not
April 16, 2019 @ 6:27 pm
This makes me so happy. I love Reba’s “Stronger Than the Truth” and have really been enjoying all of the songs.
April 16, 2019 @ 6:29 pm
I don’t think you have to be old to enjoy traditional country music. Otherwise how would Stapleton, Jon Pardi, and midland have so much success? Country is starting to make a comeback. Go suck a fat one Lil Nas and I’ll be crankin Cody Johnson.
April 16, 2019 @ 6:47 pm
Because we, true country music fans, love our country authentic with fiddle and steel, and great song lyrics. So thankful these veterans of by gone days are still putting out as great a music as they did, even better sounding.
April 16, 2019 @ 7:16 pm
“Sure all the kids love to stream Kane Brown on their iPhones, but have you seen the royalties a spin on Spotify generates? True country fans buy a CD or vinyl just to have it on their shelf. Hell they buy two of them, and stream the damn album when they’re flying down the interstate anyway.”
I mean so true
April 16, 2019 @ 7:27 pm
Reba’s album best I have herd in 10yrs
April 16, 2019 @ 8:00 pm
It’s about time! Love traditional country. That’s why Prime Country on Sirius is so popular. Good old country music. Reba’s album is that old country.
April 16, 2019 @ 9:25 pm
The Brooks & Dunn Reboot album is fantastic . I think Ashley Mcbryde is amazing . Seen her twice now . ????????????????
April 17, 2019 @ 4:26 am
While George and Reba had already flourishing careers in 1989 Brooks and Dunn didn’t join for forces till a few years later.
April 17, 2019 @ 5:28 am
A little off subject, but maybe not. Fascinating that 31,000 albums sold gets an artist to #1. 50,000+ in two weeks is considered great. Back in the day, that would get one dropped from their label. The times they are a-changing…
April 17, 2019 @ 9:03 am
absolutely , scott ……31,000 albums sold by a ‘name ‘ act in an AMERICAN market of 350 million people ( ?) …wow ….what does that say about the industry ..?
April 17, 2019 @ 5:42 am
First let me say I love the new Brooks & Dunn CD “Reboot.” I really do! However, I wish it featured more of Dunn singing. Just saying….
April 20, 2019 @ 12:11 pm
So true. The Kacey version of Neon Moon, while interesting (and digital x 10), is almost all her. Ronnie just kind of pops in for an occasional backing vocal.
April 20, 2019 @ 12:13 pm
I listen to (and bought) all three, but the Reba album is on constant repeat. It’s the first Reba album I’ve ever purchased and it is fantastic.
July 7, 2019 @ 2:40 pm
Hal Ketchum too. KT Oslin, Neal McCoy.