Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae’s ‘What I Want’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

“What I Want,” on Mercury/Big Loud/Republic (with Wallen and McRae two of its six writers), becomes the 1,180th No. 1 in the Hot 100’s archives, and the 83rd to debut on top. It tallied 31.2 million official streams, 3.9 million radio airplay audience impressions and 2,000 sold in the United States in its first week of release (May 16-22).

The track also launches at No. 1 on Streaming Songs, where it’s Wallen’s fifth leader and McRae’s first. Being promoted to pop and adult radio, it enters Adult Pop Airplay at No. 32 and Pop Airplay at No. 38, as well as Country Airplay at No. 55.

“What I Want” concurrently debuts as Wallen’s 11th No. 1, and record-extending eighth to open at the summit, on the multimetric Hot Country Songs chart. McRae leads in her first visit to the genre ranking.

The single is the 30th to have topped both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs, dating to 1958, when the former originated and the latter became the country genre’s singular Billboard songs chart. It’s the first such hit of 2025, following four each in 2024 and 2023, the most in a year since 1975; it’s the 10th this decade, after only two led over the previous 36 years.

Wallen adds his record-extending fourth shared Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs No. 1. Glen Campbell, John Denver, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers and Taylor Swift follow with two each.

While Wallen is from Sneedville, Tenn., McRae is from Calgary, Alberta (a mere 2,136 miles away). Billboard’s Paul Grein recently chronicled every Hot 100 No. 1 by a Canadian artist, with McRae becoming the 29th such act to rule. She’s the seventh woman, joining Celine Dion (four No. 1s), Nelly Furtado (three), Carly Rae Jepsen, Avril Lavigne, Alannah Myles and Anne Murray (also one each).

Wallen boasts six songs in the Hot 100’s top 10. After “What I Want” at No. 1, he follows with “Just in Case,” up from No. 11 to a new No. 2 high, surpassing its prior No. 4 peak; “I’m the Problem” (6-3, after reaching No. 2); “I Got Better” (a debut at No. 7); “Superman” (which leaps 16-8 in a single bound for a new best); and “Love Somebody” (18-10, following a week at No. 1 upon its debut last November). With three new top 10s, he ups his count to 18 in his career – the most for any artist that has primarily recorded country music.

Wallen is the first core country artist to infuse the Hot 100’s top 10 with at least six songs simultaneously; Taylor Swift (a record 10 in both 2024 and 2022, following her mid-2010s segue from country to pop), Drake, Kendrick Lamar and 21 Savage have also achieved the feat.

Wallen also becomes the first country act to hold the Hot 100’s top three spots simultaneously. Only five other acts have tallied such triples: The Beatles, for five weeks in 1964; Swift (three, 2022-24); Drake (three, 2021-23); Lamar (two, 2024-25); and Ariana Grande (one, 2019).

Meanwhile, “What I Want” is Wallen’s first song released with a woman artist. Collaborations by men and women have topped the Hot 100 for all but three weeks this year, as “What I Want” follows Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” (13 weeks at No. 1) and Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” (five). The current streak of 14 weeks on top, as “What I Want” dethrones “Luther,” marks the longest by collaborating male and female acts since a record 25-week run in 2016 via Drake’s “One Dance,” featuring WizKid and Kyla (nine), Sia’s “Cheap Thrills,” featuring Sean Paul (four), and The Chainsmokers’ “Closer,” featuring Halsey (12).

Elsewhere in the Hot 100’s top 10, Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” dips to No. 4 from its No. 2 high.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” falls to No. 5 after 13 weeks atop the Hot 100. It adds a 22nd week at No. 1 on both the multimetric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts – tying Lamar’s “Not Like Us” (in 2024-25) for the longest command on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (dating to October 1958, when it became the genre’s singular songs ranking).

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” slips 3-6 following five nonconsecutive weeks atop the Hot 100 beginning in January.

Plus, Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” slides 4-9 on the Hot 100, following its record-tying 19 weeks at No. 1 beginning last July.

McRae, 21, is the 250th artist to top the Hot 100 this century, although only the sixth born since 2000 to reign. Here’s a recap of their No. 1s (with acts listed from most recently born on down):