People’s Choice Country Awards Names The Song of 2023
The People’s Choice County Awards for 2023 took place at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House Thursday night (Sept. 28). The inaugural event gave fans the power to choose the winners through an online voting window in August. After votes were tallied, the winner of The Song of 2023 was crowned.
The following songs were vying for the coveted trophy.
1. “Fast Car” by Luke Combs and Tracy Chapman
The blending of Tracy Chapman’s lyrics with Luke’s voice and his ability to tell a deep story resonated with a lot of people. This song didn’t just touch hearts, on the Billboard Hot 100 chart back on August 5, 2023, it was at number three, behind Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” and Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night.” The collaboration between Luke Combs and Tracy Chapman in “Fast Car” earned Chapman about $500,000 in publishing royalties in the first few months of the release.
2. “Last Night” by Morgan Wallen
In February 2023, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and ascended from number five to one on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the first time he had done that and he also occupied 36 more song spots on the Hot 100, the most of any artist, with five of them in the top 10.
3. “Love You Anyway” by Luke Combs
Luke Combs’ “Love You Anyway” reached number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in September 2023. “Fast Car” occupied the number two position on the chart making it the first time in that chart’s history to have the top two positions simultaneously occupied by a solo act with no accompanying acts.
4. “Need A Favor” by Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll’s “Need A Favor” was released on December 9, 2022, as the lead single from his 2023 album Whitsitt Chapel. It peaked at number one on Billboards US Country Airplay and US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and peaked at number three on the US Hot Country Songs.
5. “Tennessee Orange” by Megan Monroney
Megan Monroney’s “Tennessee Orange” debuted at number 94 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number four on the US Billboard Country Airplay. The song was also nominated at the 57th Annual CMA Awards for the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year.
6. “Thank God” by Kane and Katelyn Brown
The duet “Thank God” was written and released on September 12, 2022, by Kane and Katelyn Brown and entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 22 and was the most-added song to country radio playlists. It certified platinum ranking number 1 on the Billboard US Country Airplay and number 2 on the US Hot Country Songs and became the second duet by a married couple to top the chart since 1997 with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s “It’s Your Love.”
7. “Thinkin’ Bout Me” by Morgan Wallen
Morgan Wallen made a second appearance on the list with “Thinkin’ Bout Me” and this song went platinum and peaked at number four on Billboard’s US Hot Country Songs. His relatable stories and Wallen’s emotional delivery touch the hearts of country music fans, securing its place as a strong contender.
8. “Wait In The Truck” by HARDY and Lainey Wilson
“Wait In The Truck” by HARDY and Lainey Wilson is a murder ballad about a male protagonist who kills an abuser and ends up in prison. It ranked at number two on Billboard’s Country Airplay and number five on the Hot Country Songs. The song was inspired by Blake Shelton’s “Ol’ Red” created off the thought of what they would do if their fiancées were attacked.
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After much anticipation, the winner of The Song of 2023 is none other than “Need A Favor” by Jelly Roll!
The song touched the hearts of fans across America, proving that they had what it took to win the award.
As we celebrate this well-deserved victory, let us also acknowledge the remarkable talent and contributions of all the nominees. The People’s Choice County Awards recognizes the best in country music artists, and The Song of 2023 nominees prove it.
Congratulations to Jelly Roll and all the nominees for making 2023 a memorable year in country music and People’s Choice County Awards.