Allison Russell Debuts on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 with Hozier Collab, 'Wildflower and Barley'
The Montreal-born, Nashville-based Grammy winner has her first entry on the Canadian and American Hot 100 charts this week, a Hozier duet "Wildflower and Barley," off the Irish singer's new EP.
Allison Russell with her 2024 Grammy
Coming shortly after her win at the Grammys in February, Americana artist Allison Russell has hit a new milestone: her Hot 100 debut.
The Montreal-born, Nashville-based artist enters the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 for the first time this week at No. 72, with her Hozier collaboration "Wildflower and Barley." The song also landed on the U.S. Hot 100 at No. 88, making Russell a first-timer on both charts.
The lithe duet between Russell and Hozier comes off the Irish artist's new EP, Unheard. With electronic keys and soul bass riffs, it has an easy warmth to it, as Russell and Hozier consider loss and grief alongside the hopeful signs of spring. The other three songs on Hozier's Unheard also debuted on the Canadian Hot 100 this week, with energetic opener "Too Sweet" landing at No. 4.
While some U.S. legislators have resisted celebrating her accomplishments, Russell released her sophomore solo effort, The Returner, to critical acclaim last year. After notching her first Grammy win in February, for best American roots performance, Russell also picked up a Juno Award in March for music video of the year. She heads out on tour with Hozier this spring.
Russell and Hozier also performed together last year at Love Rising, a benefit concert Russell helped organize last year to raise money for LGBTQ+ organizations in Tennessee, after the state passed laws restricting LGBTQ+ freedoms and health care. This week, the Canadian artist and activist joined 400 others in signing an open letter from the Tegan and Sara Foundation in protest of anti-trans laws in Canada.
Russell isn't the only first-timer on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 this week. U.K. singer Artemas makes his chart debut with "I Like The Way You Kiss Me" at No. 37. The aloof single, which landed at No. 70 on the U.S. Hot 100, blends new wave and bedroom pop — a style markedly different from Mark Ambor, another rising singer who debuted on the Canadian chart this week. Ambor, whose "Belong Together" lands at No. 88, calls to mind popular 2010s folk groups like The Lumineers with his optimistic anthem.
Elsewhere on the charts this week, all 17 songs from the new Future and Metro Boomin record, We Don't Trust You, are charting, with Kendrick Lamar collab "Like That" bumping Benson Boone out of the top spot. We Don't Trust You debuted at No. 1 on the Canadian Albums chart. Charlotte Cardin's 99 Nights also re-entered at No. 66, following her Juno wins.
Check out the full charts here.
