Hailey Benedict Climbs Into the Top 10 On Canada Country Airplay Chart
The emerging Alberta singer hits No. 6 this week with her tender ballad "Things My Mama Says," which is also at No. 16 on the All-Format Airplay chart. Tate McRae, Karan Aujla and Cameron Whitcomb are also having a good week on Canadian radio.
Hailey Benedict onstage at Billboard Canada Women in Music in Toronto on Sept. 7, 2024.
Emerging Alberta singer Hailey Benedict is climbing the Canadian Airplay charts.
On the charts dated March 22, Benedict moves up 11-6 on the Canada Country chart with "Things My Mama Says." That boost on country radio translates to a strong performance on the All-Format airplay chart too, where Benedict rises 20-16.
The young singer from St. Albert, Alberta signed with Local Hay, Dallas Smith's Big Loud imprint last fall — which she announced at the inaugural Billboard Canada Women in Music celebration — and has been gaining in prominence since.
"Things My Mama Says" is her first single on the label and it's struck a chord with listeners. The heartfelt reflections on lessons learned (sometimes belatedly) from her mother has prompted commenters on the YouTube visualizer to share their own memories of motherly advice.
Benedict first gained attention at the age of 14, when she shared a stage with Keith Urban, performing an original song. She won SiriusXM's 2023 Top of the Country competition and has built a strong online following, making her one to watch as her career hits new highs.
Benedict isn't the only Canadian having a good week on the Canada Country chart. Cameron Whitcomb's "Quitter" hits a peak at No. 10, rising from No. 12 last week. The B.C. singer has become a strong chart presence in Canada — he has three singles on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 this week too, with "Options" the most recent entry at No. 80, while "Quitter" sits at No. 41.
Josh Ross and Jade Eagleson are both moving up on Canada Country, with Ross' "Leave Me Too" rising 30-24 and Eagleson's "Worth The Double" up 45-36. Kelsi Mayne's "Breaking Bad," which debuted on the chart last week, rises 54-47, while Canadian singers Chevy Beaulieu and Kalsey Kulyk notch new entries. Beaulieu's "If We Want To" arrives at No. 50 and Kulyk's "You Fight Dirty" is at No. 55.
Over on the CHR/Top 40 chart, Karan Aujla's new OneRepublic-assisted"Tell Me" debuts at No. 33. That song hit the Canadian Hot 100 at No. 54 the previous week, propelled by strong streaming, and now radio support is coming in for the superstar collaboration.
It marks OneRepublic's first English-Punjabi effort, with frontman and super producer Ryan Tedder sharing his excitement. "He’s one of the main reasons that Punjabi music has exploded," Tedder told Billboard about Aujla. "Anyone who’s not paying attention to India or Southeast Asia right now, on a cultural tip, is asleep at the wheel."
Other Canadian songs rising on that chart this week are Tate McRae's "Sports Car," which moves up 13-11, and Loud Luxury's "Crash," up 19-17.
At the top of the airplay charts, Myles Smith is seeing some challengers, after ruling the All-Format chart with "Stargazing." This week, he moves down to No. 2 while Morgan Wallen's "Love Somebody" is at the top of the chart. Smith also falls to No. 2 on Hot AC, where Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars claim No. 1 with "Die With a Smile," but he's still leading the AC Airplay chart.
Gracie Abrams' "That's So True" holds atop the CHR/Top 40 chart while Chappell Roan's "Pink Pony Club" moves up to No. 2. Jordan Davis sits atop Canada Country with "I Ain't Sayin" for a second week and Three Days Grace and Hozier continue their lead on the rock charts. Three Days Grace's "Mayday" tops Mainstream Rock and Hozier's "Nobody's Soldier" rules Modern Rock.
Check out the full charts here.
