Chart Rewind: In 2000, Faith Hill Found ‘The Way’ to No. 1 on Hot Country Songs

On May 20, 2000, Faith Hill’s “The Way You Love Me” hopped two places to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for its first of four frames in the penthouse. It became the eighth of her nine leaders on the list.

The hit was authored by Michael Dulaney and Keith Follesé and produced by Byron Gallimore. It was released from Hill’s LP Breathe, which arrived at No. 1 on Top Country Albums and spent six weeks at the summit. It became her first of four No. 1s on the chart, as well as the first of her three leaders on the all-genre Billboard 200.

“The Way You Love Me” was also a crossover success, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her fourth of five top 10s. It also made the top 10 on Adult Contemporary and Adult Pop Airplay and the top 20 on Pop Airplay. Breathe’s title cut preceded it as a single, crowning Hot Country Songs for six weeks and reaching No. 2 on the Hot 100 — and wrapping 2000 as the year’s top Hot 100 song.

Hill boasts 24 Hot Country Songs top 10s, from her debut hit “Wild One,” which led for four weeks in 1994, to “Speak to a Girl,” with husband Tim McGraw (No. 6, 2017). The pair has shared six top 10s, led by “It’s Your Love,” which ruled for six weeks in 1997.

Born in Ridgeland, Miss., Hill married McGraw in 1996, after she opened on his Spontaneous Combustion tour. She has kept a low profile of late, and in 2024, deactivated her website and social media accounts.