The first Billboard Hot 100 of July delivers one of the most competitive charts of the summer. Country music continues to grow, pop remains packed with superstar releases, and hip-hop still has a strong grip on streaming. Instead of one artist dominating every headline, this week’s chart tells several different stories at once.
The biggest headline belongs to Ella Langley, who climbs back to No. 1 with “Choosin’ Texas.” After spending last week at No. 2, the song returns to the summit in its 36th week on the chart. That kind of staying power is becoming rare in today’s fast-moving music world. Rather than fading after its first few months, the song continues to attract listeners across streaming, radio, and digital sales. It proves that a great country crossover hit can remain popular long after its release.
Taylor Swift slips one place to No. 2 with “I Knew It, I Knew You.” The song debuted at No. 1 just three weeks ago and remains one of the hottest tracks in America. Even though it gives up the top spot this week, there is no sign that its momentum is slowing. With strong fan support and continued streaming success, another return to No. 1 would not be surprising.
One of the biggest winners this week is also Ella Langley herself. Besides leading the chart, she places another song inside the Top 10 as “Be Her” rises to No. 3. She also scores additional chart gains with “I Can’t Love You Anymore” featuring Morgan Wallen and “Loving Life Again.” Few artists have enjoyed a stronger first half of 2026 than Langley, whose mix of traditional country storytelling and modern production continues to attract listeners from multiple genres.
Olivia Rodrigo remains impossible to ignore. Although “Drop Dead” falls to No. 5 after previously reaching No. 1, her new album continues to flood the Hot 100. “Stupid Song” stays in the Top 5 at No. 4, while “The Cure,” “Honeybee,” “Maggots For Brains,” “Expectations,” “My Way,” “Begged,” “Less,” “What’s Wrong With Me,” “Purple,” and several more songs remain throughout the chart. Album bombs usually disappear quickly after opening week, but Rodrigo’s strongest songs are already proving they have staying power. The challenge over the coming weeks will be seeing which tracks survive once casual listeners begin focusing on only a handful of favorites.
Drake also continues to fill the Hot 100, although many of his songs are gradually moving downward after their explosive debuts. “Janice STFU” climbs one place to No. 6, while “Shabang” reaches No. 20. Several other songs remain scattered throughout the chart, showing that Drake still commands enormous streaming numbers even when competition is fierce. Whether any of these songs can make another run toward the Top 10 remains one of the interesting stories to watch during July.
Another encouraging trend is the continued strength of country music. Luke Combs moves upward with “Be By You” and “Sleepless In A Hotel Room.” Morgan Wallen reaches a new peak with “Don’t We,” while Riley Green, Jason Aldean, Josh Ross, Kane Brown, Bailey Zimmerman, and Kenny Chesney all appear on this week’s chart. Country is no longer limited to a separate audience. Many of these songs are finding listeners well beyond traditional country radio, helped by streaming playlists and social media.
Bruno Mars continues one of the year’s most consistent runs. “I Just Might” remains inside the Top 20 after spending months near the top of the chart, while “Risk It All” climbs again. Instead of relying on a huge opening week, Mars has built his success through steady audience growth. Songs with this kind of consistency often become some of the year’s biggest hits by the time the annual charts are published.
Elsewhere, Olivia Dean continues her impressive breakthrough year. “Man I Need” climbs back into the Top 10, while “So Easy (To Fall In Love)” remains close behind. These songs have quietly become some of the longest-running hits near the top of the chart, showing that patient growth can be just as valuable as a massive debut.
Several songs also reach new career milestones this week. “Homewrecker” by sombr enters the Top 20 for the first time, while Zara Larsson’s “Midnight Sun” reaches a new peak at No. 19. Stella Lefty’s “Boston” continues its impressive rise, confirming that she is becoming one of 2026’s breakout artists. These steady climbers often become surprise hits later in the summer.
Near the bottom of the chart, fresh names continue to appear. Bailey Zimmerman’s “Chevy Silverado” arrives as the week’s highest debut at No. 89, while Kenny Chesney returns with “Carry On” at No. 100. Justin Bieber’s “Speed Demon” and Julia Wolf’s “In My Room” also return to the Hot 100, proving that fan interest can quickly bring older songs back into the spotlight.
Looking at the bigger picture, this week’s Hot 100 reflects one of the healthiest charts in recent memory. Country, pop, hip-hop, alternative, and K-pop all have meaningful representation. Instead of one style dominating the entire chart, listeners are spreading their attention across multiple genres. That diversity keeps the competition exciting and makes every week less predictable.
As July begins, Ella Langley holds the biggest prize with the nation’s No. 1 song, but the race is far from over. Taylor Swift remains close behind, Olivia Rodrigo continues to dominate through sheer volume, and Drake still has enough streaming power to change the chart at any time. With major summer releases still expected, the Billboard Hot 100 is likely to remain one of the year’s most competitive charts over the coming weeks.