Virginia native Christopher Anthony Lunsford, known as Oliver Anthony, recently gained instant fame with his original song “Rich Men North of Richmond.”
Now his viral sensation “Rich Men North of Richmond” has achieved a remarkable feat by debuting at the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.
This achievement is particularly significant as Oliver Anthony is the first artist in history to achieve a number one debut on the chart without any prior chart history in any form.
The song’s scathing critique of the DC political class resonated with listeners, and the video quickly went viral on social media platforms, amassing over 30 million views on YouTube alone.
Oliver’s success led to a packed performance at a North Carolina farmer’s market, where he was joined by country music legend Jamey Johnson for a rendition of “In Color.”
Despite some controversy surrounding certain lines in the song, Oliver Anthony’s rapid rise continued.
He revealed turning down offers of $8 million from record labels following the song’s popularity surge.
Notably, “Rich Men North of Richmond” debuted at the top of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, surpassing established names like Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen, and Luke Combs.
This achievement makes Oliver Anthony the first artist to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their very first appearance, and he also secured the top spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Remarkably, he achieved these milestones without being signed to a record label, marking an unprecedented rise in the music industry.
YouTube lit-up with reactions from 100’s of influencers, hearing the hit song for the first time.
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