All the Country Airplay Chart No. 1s Solely Written by the Artists That Performed Them

Jackson leads with 11 solely self-written Country Airplay No. 1s. In chronological order: “I’d Love You All Over Again” (1991), “Livin’ on Love” (1994), “I’ll Try” (1996), “There Goes” (1997), “Where I Come From,” “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” (both 2001), “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” (2002), “Remember When” (2004), “Small Town Southern Man,” “Good Time” (both 2008) and “Country Boy” (2009).

Of the Sept. 11-inspired “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” Jackson told Billboard in 2001, “It was Sunday, Oct. 28. I played a show down in Georgia Saturday night, and I flew home late. I got up [at] 3 or 4 in the morning, and that’s when the song [came], just out of nowhere. I got up and put it on a digital recorder. I just sang it, didn’t even play guitar. I just sang the melody and lyrics right into it and went back to bed. I got up the next morning, and the girls [his wife, Denise, and their three daughters] went to Sunday school [while] I finished writing the verses.

“It just came out. I think it was a gift, and I’m just a messenger for it. It’s a very special song.”

The late star is tied for the second-most Country Airplay No. 1s solely written by the act that recorded them. He logged the first of his five with his debut hit “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” in 1993 and followed with “Who’s That Man” (1994), “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This” (2001), “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” and “Who’s Your Daddy?” (both 2002).

Swift has also penned five Country Airplay No. 1s with no collaborators, including her first leader, in 2007, “Our Song.” She repeated the feat with “Should’ve Said No” (2008), “Love Story” (2008), “Sparks Fly” (2011)” and “Ours” (2012).

(Click here for a rundown of the more than 50 songs in Swift’s catalog that she has written on her own.)

Brooks & Dunn is the only non-solo act with multiple Country Airplay No. 1s written solely by a duo or group member. Ronnie Dunn wrote five of the pair’s leaders by himself: “Neon Moon,” “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” (both 1992), “She Used To Be Mine” (1993), “She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind” (1994) and “Little Miss Honky Tonk” (1995).

Black bookended the ‘90s with fully self-authored Country Airplay No. 1s, with one in between. His three: “Nobody’s Home” (1990), “Loving Blind” (1991) and “When I Said I Do” (1999).

Green makes the list thanks to 2025 Country Airplay leaders “Don’t Mind If I Do,” featuring Ella Langley, and “Worst Way.” With solo-written songs more common in earlier eras, he told Billboard, “The majority of my [youth], all four of my grandparents I saw every day. My great-grandmother was alive until 2020. I think that’s where I get a lot of the more traditional values.”

Tritt has tallied two Country Airplay No. 1s with no other writing partners: “Foolish Pride” (1994) and “Best of Intentions” (2000).

Meanwhile, 12 solo artists have paced Country Airplay with one song each that they wrote by themselves. Plus, three groups have hit No. 1 with a song written by one of their members. Here’s a look at all such leaders.

Soloists:

Groups: