On the heels of earning his fourth No. 1 single, hitmaker Michael Ray reaches another milestone with his first multi-week chart topper “Whiskey And Rain,” the lead single from his seven-song collection Higher Education. Last week, the track peaked at No. 1 on the Country Aircheck chart, remaining at the top this week while arriving at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplaychart.
“This is incredible,” shares Ray. “I knew this song was something special, but I never dreamed it would be this impactful. I’m so thankful to my team who kept pushing to get this song to No. 1, now for two weeks in a row, and I’m grateful for the fans who found ‘Whiskey And Rain’ just as special as I do. Your support means everything, and I can’t wait to keep bringing you compelling Country music.”
Upon the news of the track reaching No. 1 last week, Ray shared, “Back when we were recording this song, I would think about all the things I always loved about Gary Allan and the way his music spoke to me and my life growing up in Eustis. I hope this song has been there for you on lonely nights when you’ve needed it, just like Gary always has been for me.
“One of my favorites of his goes, ‘Life ain’t always beautiful, but it’s a beautiful ride,’” he continued. “Thank y’all for this beautiful ride! Thank y’all for loving this song!”
A shining example of camaraderie in the format, Allan took to social media to congratulate the Florida-native, sharing “Shout out to my friend Michael Ray! You just got another No. 1. They don’t come easy, friend. I’m so stoked for you, and I hope you get 100 more.”
Written by Josh Thompson and Jesse Frasure, “Whiskey And Rain” quickly garnered attention from critics, with Rolling Stone dubbing the trackas “equal parts Ronnie Milsap and Gary Allan” while Billboard called it “a throwback to brooding songs from the ‘80s and ‘90s” with “solid production by Ross Copperman highlighting Ray’s vulnerable delivery.”
The track also caught the ear of critic Grady Smith, who shared “Whiskey And Rain” as his No. 2 pick in “The 10 Best Hit Country Songs of 2021,” noting that the “fresh, radio-friendly, modern but still a little bit traditional country production” made him “take a second look at Ray and think maybe there’s more to what this guy wants to say musically.”
On Higher Education, “Ray found a refuge in the mere act of making music that tells his imperfect story, a story that so many people in this world can certainly relate to during these crazy days,” PEOPLE observes, while American Songwriter emphasizes “Higher Education is shaped by the muse of the man Ray hopes to be, and the lessons he’s learned along the way… inviting his listeners into his world, pulling back the curtain on who he is off the stage.”
Ray celebrates the song’s success with the release of “Whiskey And Rain (Acoustic).” Listen to the song HERE.
The Florida-native has garnered over 1 billion global streams, over 650,000 album equivalents and over 100 million YouTube views. Along with his four No. 1 singles, Ray has a total of five RIAA certifications: Platinum-certified “Think A Little Less,” and Gold-certified songs “Her World or Mine,” “One That Got Away,” “Get To You” and “Kiss You in the Morning.”