Scott Mill to present The UK’s Official Country Countdown on Radio 2

Scott Mills will count down the Top 30 most streamed Country songs of all time on BBC Radio 2, in a chart compiled by the Official Charts Company.

The chart has been compiled to celebrate Radio 2’s official broadcast partnership with C2C: Country to Country music festival which is from 8-10 March.

Radio 2 will be broadcasting from the event’s three venues – The 02 in London with Bob Harris and Alana Springsteen, Glasgow OVO Hydro with Edith Bowman and SSE Arena Belfast with Connor Phillips (from 3-6pm on Saturday 9 March and 8-10pm on Sunday 10 March).

Scott Mills says: “I can’t wait to bring you this countdown of the greatest Country music hits as we celebrate the Country to Country festival on Radio 2.”

Bob Harris says: “This chart features some of my favourite tracks of all-time – the classics we love so much plus the brilliant collaborations with pop’s biggest stars.

“This April marks 25 years that I’ll have been presenting The Country Show on Radio 2 and I’m so excited to see the music I love on the crest of a new wave right now with so many major mainstream artists creating songs that celebrate the genre, alongside the Country icons and wonderful new artists whose music continues to inspire and enrich our lives.”

Jeff Smith, Radio 2’s Head of Music, says, “It’s so fantastic to see the most-streamed songs in this chart flying the flag for Country music, representing the biggest names from across the decades and including collaborations with major popstars such as Justin Bieber and P!nk.

“Country music is really at a tipping point right now with so many mainstream artists such as Beyoncé and Lana Del Rey embracing the genre with their new releases. Looking at this chart it’s easy to see how artists continue to be inspired by the genre – one which is so close to our hearts here at Radio 2 as we head into our coverage of C2C: Country to Country festival this weekend, as the event’s official broadcast partner.”

Martin Talbot of The Official Charts Company says: “Our latest Official Chart of the most streamed country songs of all time is a joyous reminder that country music is alive and well, reflecting as it does hits from contemporary stars such as Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Luke Combs and Bebe Rexha, alongside all-time icons of the genre including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and John Denver.

“Of course, the chart is also unveiled just as Beyoncé is ruling over the current Official Singles Chart. We have no doubt that her single Texas Hold ‘Em, which has reaffirmed that *any* artist can record country, will feature on future updates on this all-time chart.”

Top 10 songs from The UK’s Official Country Countdown (with year of initial UK release)

1. Meant to Be – Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line (2018)
2. 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton (1981)
3. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver (1971)
4. Love Story – Taylor Swift (2009)
5. Islands in the Stream – Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers (1983)
6. The Gambler – Kenny Rogers (1978)
7. Need You Now – Lady A (2010)
8. Say Something – Justin Timberlake ft. Chris Stapleton (2018)
9. Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood (2006)
10. Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton (2015)

The UK’s Official Country Countdown is available now on BBC Sounds and will air on BBC Radio 2 on Sunday 10 March, Midnight-2am.