The smash ruled Hot Country Songs for 13 weeks.
On May 9, 2015, Little Big Town‘s “Girl Crush” hit No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart for the start of a 13-week command. The reign stands as the longest for a group (of three members or more) in the chart’s six-decade history.
The song, written by Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose, became Little Big Town’s second of three leaders, between “Pontoon,” which led for two weeks in September 2012, and the Taylor Swift-authored “Better Man,” a two-week No. 1 in February 2017.
The lyrical content of “Girl Crush” caused a notable reaction, with many getting it wrong, thinking that “Crush” is about a woman romantically interested in another woman. The song is actually from the viewpoint of a woman jealous of another’s desirability and directed toward a man.
One of the incorrect themes reported in the media was that country radio was avoiding “Girl Crush” because it didn’t mesh with the format’s family-friendly image. However, stations supported the song, which reached No. 3 on Country Airplay.
This February, Little Big Town earned its fourth No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart with Nightfall.
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