“Meant to Be” by Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line | The Country Hit That Ruled Billboard for 50 Weeks

“Meant to Be”: The Country Hit That Ruled Billboard for 50 Weeks

When it comes to record-breaking country music hits, few songs can match the extraordinary success of “Meant to Be” by Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line. The song made Billboard chart history with an incredible 50 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, setting a record that remains unmatched.

AI-generated illustration created for this article. Artwork represents the chart success of “Meant to Be”.

Released in December 2017, “Meant to Be” brought together Bebe Rexha’s pop vocals and the contemporary country sound of Florida Georgia Line, the duo consisting of Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley. Its catchy melody, romantic lyrics, and crossover appeal helped it connect with audiences far beyond traditional country music.

A Record-Breaking Country Hit

“Meant to Be” dominated Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart throughout much of 2018. Its 50-week reign became the longest run at No. 1 since the chart was established in 1958 as Billboard’s main ranking of popular country songs.

The song’s success extended well beyond country music. It reached the top five on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and became a major hit across pop and adult radio formats.

In May 2025, Billboard named “Meant to Be” the No. 1 song on its Top Hot Country Songs of the 21st Century chart, which ranked country hits based on their performance on the weekly Hot Country Songs chart from 2000 through 2024.

Other Country Hits That Made History

Although “Meant to Be” holds the overall record for consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs, several other songs have achieved remarkable chart success.

• “Body Like a Back Road” – Sam Hunt: This crossover hit spent 34 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in 2017, setting a new record at the time.

• “Cruise” – Florida Georgia Line: With 24 weeks at No. 1 in 2012 and 2013, it became one of the defining hits of the modern bro-country era.

• “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey: This genre-blending hit reached 35 weeks at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs in 2025, surpassing Sam Hunt’s record for a song credited to a single act, while remaining behind “Meant to Be” overall.

These achievements illustrate how contemporary country music increasingly blends traditional influences with pop, hip-hop, and other musical styles.

Why Billboard’s Chart Methodology Matters

One important detail helps explain these extraordinary chart runs. Since 2012, Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart has combined radio airplay, digital sales, and streaming data. Before that change, the chart relied primarily on country radio airplay.

The modern methodology measures a song’s popularity across several platforms, making it possible for crossover hits to remain at the top for extended periods.

This is also why Hot Country Songs should not be confused with Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, which specifically measures radio airplay on country stations.

The Verdict

“Meant to Be” stands as one of the defining country crossover hits of the modern era. Its record-breaking 50 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs, combined with its success on pop radio and Billboard’s retrospective ranking, secures its place among the most influential country hits of the 21st century.

Whether listeners prefer traditional country, modern country-pop, or genre-blending hits, one thing is clear: Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line created a song that made Billboard history.

Sources: Billboard Country Update, May 30, 2025; Billboard’s Top Hot Country Songs of the 21st Century; Billboard chart reporting.

Sources

• Billboard, Country Update, May 30, 2025 — “Meant to Be” and its record-setting 50-week reign on Hot Country Songs.

• Big Loud, July 30, 2018 — “Meant to Be” breaks the record for the longest No. 1 run in Hot Country Songs chart history.

Author: Borna Cuk

https://www.youtube.com/@AMERICANFolkCountryAI

October 15, 2026