My final entry from the year-end Billboard Hot 100 is yet another country bro in a week of nothing but. This one is Luke Combs’ song from the movie Twisters, ‘Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma.’
My preferred song from the Twisters soundtrack is Miranda Lambert’s ‘I Ain’t in Kansas Anymore,’ but as we’ve seen over the past couple of weeks, country hits are currently solely the purview of the men (and Beyoncé).
Taylor Swift’s second Tortured Poets Department single, ‘I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,’ sits at #35 on the year-end Hot 100.
And then we’re back to country, and specifically the country/hip-hop blend I referenced yesterday. The 36th slot belongs to Jessie Murph and Jelly Roll with ‘Wild Ones.’ This year was the first time I heard of Jelly Roll, but apparently he’s released 10 studio albums since 2012. Murph has been recording since 2021 but released her debut album last year.
The country bro-fest on the year-end Billboard Hot 100 is briefly interrupted by the world’s two biggest female entertainers: Beyoncé with ‘Texas Hold ‘Em‘ at #32, and Taylor Swift with the vault track ‘Is It Over Now?‘ at #33.
Then we’re right back to the bros at #34 with the Marshmello/Kane Brown collaboration ‘Miles On It.’ Brown is the country bro here, while Marshmello is a producer and DJ better known for electronic and trap music.
It’s a country-fest on the year-end Billboard Hot 100. Following yesterday’s line dance hit ‘Austin,’ the next four tracks are by country bros. Three of those are the same bro — Morgan Wallen, who sits at #28 (‘Last Night‘), #29 (‘Cowgirls‘), and #31 (‘Thinkin’ Bout Me‘).
In between all that Morgan Wallen is Zach Bryan at #30 with ‘Pink Skies,’ a touching song about grief. I’ve heard only a few of Bryan’s songs, but I’ve been impressed by every one. He reminds me a bit of Jason Isbell in those tracks — high praise — and that has me wanting to hear more.
Getting back to the top singles of 2024, we’re up to #26 on the Billboard year-end Hot 100. That slot goes to Ariana Grande’s ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),’ a great single from the singer’s Eternal Sunshine album. A nice showing for Grande, who is having an even bigger year as an actress in Wicked.
Singer-songwriter Dasha owns the #27 spot with ‘Austin,’ a boot-stomping country pop song that became a viral hit thanks to the performer’s line dancing videos on TikTok.
Meet Me In Montauk 