In 2006, 23 different songs topped the chart in 52 issues of the magazine, based on weekly airplay data from country music radio stations compiled by Nielsen SoundScan.
[1] The number one song at the start of the year was "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right" by Billy Currington, which had reached number one in the issue of Billboard dated December 31, 2005, and remained at the top until the issue dated January 14 when it was replaced by "She Let Herself Go" by George Strait.
The first was Carrie Underwood, winner of the fourth season of American Idol, who had previously achieved a number-one hit on the Hot 100,[4] but reached the top of the country chart for the first time in January with "Jesus, Take the Wheel", which spent six weeks in the top spot,[5] the longest run of the year at number one.
Other artists to achieve the feat of a debut number one in 2006 included Josh Turner,[6] Jack Ingram,[7] Jason Aldean,[8] Rodney Atkins,[9] The Wreckers,[10] and Heartland.
[11] Veteran rock band Bon Jovi scored its first ever country hit and went all the way to number one after releasing a country version of its song "Who Says You Can't Go Home" featuring vocalist Jennifer Nettles.