Chappell Roan's New Single Finally Earns Some Love From The Country Genre

Forbes

16-05-2025

Chappell Roan surprised many of her newer fans earlier this year when she returned with more music. The singer, who was recently named Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammy Awards, dropped the single "The Giver," which didn't sound like anything she'd ever shared before. The track leaned more into country than her previous efforts, while her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, is pure pop. The cut was a quick success on several of Billboard's country rankings, but there was one list that eluded the title — until now.
Roan's latest offering debuts at No. 60 — in last place — on the Country Airplay chart. That tally ranks the tunes that reach the largest number of listeners via country radio in the U.S. Perhaps more than any other genre, radio still matters in the country world, and it's usually how longlasting hits are made. The fact that "The Giver" has finally landed on this roster suggests that gatekeepers in that space are beginning to take notice.
"The Giver" was released in mid-March, so it took two months to appear on the Country Airplay tally. Such a delay would be unusual for superstars already established in the genre. It's particularly noteworthy that the cut took so long, given Roan's high-profile Grammy win right around the time the track dropped. For her first single after that triumph to only just sneak onto the Country Airplay ranking — and in last place — indicates a substantial and sustained promotional push behind the scenes.
There may have been some hesitation from programmers and DJs in the country genre when it came to embracing the newcomer. That's often true in the country space, and may especially be so when concerning one who might not align with the more conservative values held by many country radio listeners.
While "The Giver" is only just starting on the Country Airplay chart, it has already proven to be a major hit on several of Billboard's other country rankings. The tune previously peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs, Country Streaming Songs, and Country Digital Song Sales tallies earlier this spring.
That means it reached the top spot on every one of Billboard's country song rankings, except for radio, where it's only just managed to appear, and in the lowest position, at that. It seems Roan's fans — and perhaps country music listeners more broadly — were far quicker to embrace the cut than those in charge of spinning it on the air.
Before reaching country radio, "The Giver" was adopted by several pop formats. The single rose to No. 28 on the Pop Airplay chart and No. 32 on the Adult Pop Airplay tally, and it's still present on the former this time around.