By: Craig Shelburne
In a remarkable feat of longevity and reinvention, Reba McEntire has returned to the No. 1 spot on Billboard's country chart for the 22nd time with "Somebody." McEntire's first No. 1, "I Can't Even Get the Blues," topped the chart on Jan. 8, 1983.
To put this accomplishment in perspective, consider that other No. 1 songs in 1983 include the Kenny Rogers-Dolly Parton duet, "Islands in the Stream," Larry Gatlin's "Houston" and John Anderson's "Swingin'," and that McEntire was competing for airplay against John Conlee, Janie Fricke, Crystal Gayle, Mickey Gilley, Ronnie McDowell, Ronnie Milsap, Anne Murray, T.G. Sheppard and Shelly West.
The landscape has certainly changed, but the country singles chart always remains a battle.
This week, Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" and Kenny Chesney's "I Go Back" each fall a spot to second and third place, respectively, while Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss' "Whiskey Lullaby" and Billy Currington's "I Got a Feelin'" hold steady at fourth and fifth. Josh Gracin's "I Want to Live" and Terri Clark's "Girls Lie Too" stick to No. 6 and No. 7, respectively, while Keith Urban's "Days Go By," Jimmy Buffett's "Hey, Good Lookin'" and Andy Griggs' "She Thinks She Needs Me" round out the Top 10.
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