Willie Nelson News

Willie Nelson shines on country singles chart

Reuters, Oct 24, 2008 4:00 am PDT
Willie Nelson is such an iconic figure that it might seem he is always hanging out on Billboard's Hot Country Songs tally.

But this week's No. 56 debut of "That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)" -- credited to Kenny Chesney with Willie Nelson -- is the first chart appearance by the country legend in almost five years. Nelson was last on the survey in January 2004 with another Chesney collaboration, the holiday song "Pretty Paper."

The debut of "That Lucky Old Sun" expands Nelson's country singles chart span to more than 46 years, dating back to the March 1962 debut of "Willingly." "That Lucky Old Sun" is Nelson's 121st chart entry, and while that sounds like a huge amount, it's good enough to rank him only fourth among artists with the most entries in the 64-year history of this survey. The top three: George Jones (165), Eddy Arnold (143) and Johnny Cash (135).

Nelson first recorded "That Lucky Old Sun" in 1976. The song was written in 1949 by Beasley Smith and Haven Gillespie and was No. 1 on the Billboard pop singles chart that year by Frankie Laine. There have been many recordings since, including covers by Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Ray Charles. Nat Stuckey took the song to No. 66 on the country chart in 1978, the only version of the tune to appear on this list before the Chesney/Nelson duet. Most recently, "That Lucky Old Sun" has served as the title track of a Brian Wilson album.

Chesney's latest album is titled "Lucky Old Sun," and it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 on Wednesday, becoming his fifth chart-topper. On Top Country Albums, "Lucky Old Sun" is Chesney's eighth No. 1 set.

Reuters/Billboard

More Artist News

Farm Aid to help farmers hurt by Ike, Gustav

Sep 18, 2008 2:00 pm PDT

Farm Aid founder Willie Nelson says the organization will give $30,000 to groups that help family farmers in areas of Texas and Louisiana hit hardest by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. Nelson, a native Texan, announced the grants Thursday. The...

Nelson, Marsalis an odd couple on album chart

Jul 18, 2008 9:00 pm PDT

The left-of-center pairing of Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis finds the country and jazz icons cooking up some sweet music -- as well as notching career milestones on their respective belts. Debuting at No. 20 on the latest Billboar...

Willie, Lenny, Dolly releasing albums in '08

Dec 30, 2007 8:22 pm PST

What's the biz to do when the top-selling album of 2007 was a Christmas project released in November, Josh Groban's "Noel," and the second-best was a soundtrack to Disney's "High School Musical" movie sequel? Superstars under...

Holiday albums can become classics fast

Dec 22, 2007 11:00 am PST

Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks and Toby Keith have a couple apiece. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton did one together. The ever-prolific Willie Nelson has at least four of them. Most country stars, and many of their pop counterparts, have a Chris...

Grammy nominations in top categories

Dec 6, 2007 9:43 am PST

Nominees announced Thursday in top categories for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards: Record of the Year: "Irreplaceable," Beyonce; "The Pretender," Foo Fighters; "Umbrella," Rihanna featuring Jay-Z; "What Goes Around ... Comes Around," Justi...

Photos

Loading...
View All Photos »

Videos

1-6 of 26 videos
Prev | Next
View All Videos »

Artist on Last.fm