Brief
CMA’s 50th‑anniversary ‘Forever Country’ tops charts with 30‑artist mash‑up
The collaborative single ‘Forever Country’ debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in October 2016.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Country Music Association marked its 50th anniversary in 2016 with a four‑minute mash‑up called “Forever Country,” featuring 30 past CMA winners. The track debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart dated Oct. 8, 2016.
What happened
Produced by Shane McAnally in Nashville, the song blends John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again,” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” Artists recorded separately; Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert were first, followed by George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood and others. Randy Travis appears only in the video.
What the reports add
Billboard notes the single also topped Country Streaming Songs and Country Digital Song Sales, reached No. 32 on Country Airplay, and peaked at No. 21 on the all‑genre Hot 100. The video premiered on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars four days after its Sept. 16 release and earned ACM’s Video of the Year award the following spring.
Key facts
- “Forever Country” featured 30 former CMA award‑winners. (billboard.com)
- The single debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart dated Oct. 8, 2016. (billboard.com)
- It peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. (billboard.com)
- The song topped Country Streaming Songs, Country Digital Song Sales and reached No. 32 on Country Airplay. (billboard.com)
- The video premiered on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars on Sept. 20, 2016. (billboard.com)
Sources
- [1] billboard.com — originally reported as “Chart Rewind: In 2016, the Country Music Association Engineered the Ultimate Group Effort”
