Ella Langley and Morgan Wallen Score Country Airplay No. 1 With “I Can’t Love You Anymore”

Ella Langley and Morgan Wallen claim their fifth and 22nd Country Airplay No. 1s, respectively, as “I Can’t Love You Anymore” (SAWGOD/Columbia/Big Loud/Triple Tigers) moves from No. 2 to No. 1 on the Aug. 15-dated chart in its 15th week. The collaboration generated 33.4 million audience impressions from July 31-Aug. 6.

Langley co-wrote the track with Austin Goodloe and Joybeth Taylor. It follows Wallen’s “Don’t We,” which spent two weeks at No. 1. The achievement represents only the third occurrence in the chart’s 36-year history in which an artist has occupied the top position in back-to-back weeks with different songs, and it is Wallen’s second time accomplishing the feat.

Tim McGraw became the first artist to achieve the milestone in 2002, when his “The Cowboy in Me” followed Jo Dee Messina’s “Bring on the Rain,” which was officially credited as featuring McGraw, who provided background vocals. Wallen accomplished the feat again in 2024, when “Cowgirls,” featuring ERNEST, took over from Post Malone’s four-week No. 1 “I Had Some Help,” featuring Wallen.

Because both “Don’t We” and “I Can’t Love You Anymore” credit Wallen as a lead artist, with him listed as co-lead on “Can’t,” he becomes the first act to reach No. 1 in consecutive weeks with different songs as a lead performer.

“I Can’t Love You Anymore” reached the top relatively quickly by contemporary standards. During the 1990s, 90% of Country Airplay No. 1 songs completed their climbs within 15 weeks, while only 10% have done so during the 2020s. The chart’s overall historical average stands at 21 weeks, meaning the new No. 1 reached the summit six weeks faster than the long-term norm.

Langley’s progression has become faster with almost every release. Her first two No. 1s, “You Look Like You Love Me” and “Don’t Mind If I Do,” both collaborations with Riley Green, required 20 and 22 weeks, respectively. “Choosin’ Texas” took 16 weeks, while “Be Her” and “I Can’t Love You Anymore” each reached No. 1 in 15 weeks.

Wallen’s earliest chart leaders took considerably longer to reach the summit. “Up Down,” featuring Florida Georgia Line, needed 32 weeks, while “Whiskey Glasses” took 40 and “Chasin’ You” required 42. “More Than My Hometown” reached No. 1 after 26 weeks, while “Sand in My Boots” took 34 weeks.

Three of Langley’s five No. 1 hits have now reached the top within 16 weeks or less, highlighting the rapid response she has received from country radio despite the substantial increase in the typical climb time compared with three decades ago.