Swindell Reigns, Messina Approves

Cole Swindell (above) earns his first four-week stint at No. 1, among eight leaders, on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with “She Had Me at Heads Carolina.” In the week ending Oct. 2, the song drew 31 million impressions, according to Luminate — the top weekly total this year.

Swindell co-wrote the single — which tips its cap to Jo Dee Messina’s

No. 2-peaking 1996 debut hit, “Heads Carolina, Tails California” — with Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley and Thomas Rhett. Tim Nichols and Mark D. Sanders, who co-penned Messina’s song, receive additional credits.

“Out of any song they could have chosen from that time ... this was an honor,” says Messina. “At [my] shows today, even before the release of [Swindell’s single], ‘Heads Carolina’ has had a huge response that hasn’t died down over the years. When I look at the success that it has, it brings me joy because I always believed that the song was timeless.”