Rodney Atkins photo courtesy of Curb Records
July 2, 2008 — The first half of 2008 is complete, and that period has been a winner for Rodney Atkins.
According to Country Aircheck, his single "Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)" was the most-played song on country radio from January through June. It was an appropriate week for Rodney to receive that information, since Friday’s holiday, the Fourth of July, honors the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and that historical moment — along with Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address — is referenced rather unusually in the song’s opening lines.
"Everybody had the same look on their face when they heard the first verse," Rodney notes. "They’re like, ‘Where’s this goin’?’ And then you laugh. That’s the gotcha moment. And people got it. If I can get it, everybody else will."
Rodney will spend Independence Day performing in Hawaii on a show that also includes Little Big Town. Following are the 10 most-played songs from the first half of 2008, according to Country Aircheck:
1. Rodney Atkins, "Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)"
2. Alan Jackson, "Small Town Southern Man"
3. Brad Paisley, "Letter To Me"
4. Trace Adkins, "You’re Gonna Miss This"
5. James Otto, "Just Got Started Lovin’ You"
6. Chris Cagle, "What Kinda Gone"
7. Gary Allan, "Watching Airplanes"
8. Taylor Swift, "Our Song"
9. Phil Vassar, "Love Is A Beautiful Thing"
10. Rascal Flatts, "Winner At A Losing Game"