Chris Young Achieves Milestone with 14th No. 1 Single
Multi-platinum, global entertainer Chris Young is celebrating a major career achievement with his latest single, “Young Love & Saturday Nights,” reaching the top spot on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase country radio chart. The title track from his ambitious 2024 album of the same name, this marks Young’s 14th No. 1 single and solidifies his place among country music’s top artists.
David Bowie’s First Country No. 1 Songwriting Credit
The song’s success carries an unexpected twist: a posthumous songwriting credit for the legendary rock icon David Bowie. “Young Love & Saturday Nights” features an interpolation of Bowie’s 1974 hit, “Rebel Rebel,” making this the first time Bowie has achieved a No. 1 songwriting credit in the country genre. Co-produced by Chris Young alongside Corey Crowder and Chris DeStefano, and penned by Ashley Gorley, Jesse Frasure, Josh Thompson, and Bowie, the song bridges rock and country, reaching new audiences nearly 50 years after the original hit.
“Every number one is special, but this one – my 14th – really hits differently,” Young shared. “To be part of Bowie finding success in country music eight years after his passing is truly an honor, and it’s been wild to watch audiences at my live shows reacting to this song that has its roots in a rock staple from 50 years ago. Just wow.”
A Tribute to Nostalgia and Modern Country
Critics have praised the track’s blend of nostalgic rock elements with contemporary country flair. The Associated Press described it as “a vivid love letter to summertime weekends, old trucks, dive bar bands, and crushes,” while Billboard noted how Young “faithfully re-creates the original’s garage-band drum sound and distorted guitar riff, matching up well with the new version’s working-class lyrics.”
A Three-Year Journey Culminates in Young’s Most Ambitious Album
“Young Love & Saturday Nights,” Young’s ninth studio album, took three years to complete and represents his most extensive and wide-ranging work to date. The album features 18 tracks, with Young writing or co-writing 15 of them. He served as the sole producer on three songs and collaborated with Crowder and DeStefano on the rest, showcasing his deep creative involvement in the project.
About Chris Young
Chris Young is a multi-platinum global entertainer with a career that includes membership in the Grand Ole Opry, over 5 billion on-demand streams, 14 No. 1 singles, and numerous accolades, including ACM, AMA, CMA, and Grammy nominations. Named “one of his era’s finest traditionalists” by the Associated Press, Young continues to be a prominent figure in country music, known for his distinctive voice and traditional country sound.
Currently, Young is headlining his “Young Love & Saturday Nights” tour, performing to sold-out crowds across the globe. With his latest No. 1 hit, Chris Young proves once again why he remains a standout in the world of country music.
Photo credit: John Shearer
