Beyoncé continues to dominate the music scene with her single “Texas Hold ‘Em,” maintaining the top spot on the Hot 100 chart for a second consecutive week. This achievement places her in an exclusive group of artists who have reached the summit with a song featuring a state name in its title.
According to Billboard, “Texas Hold ‘Em” marks only the seventh track in U.S. history to claim the number one position on the Hot 100 while incorporating a state name. Notably, this song is the first to reference Texas, the home state of Beyoncé.
Prior to Beyoncé's recent success, only two states had been highlighted in songs that reached the top of the Hot 100 chart. California and Georgia have each been mentioned in three number one hits over the years, showcasing the diverse range of artists who have paid tribute to these states.
California, in particular, has been a popular subject for musicians across various genres and demographics. Katy Perry's collaboration with Snoop Dogg, “California Gurls,” was the most recent state-named track to lead the Hot 100 in 2010. In 1996, 2Pac's “California Love” featuring the talkbox instrument also claimed the top spot, following the Eagles' iconic “Hotel California” in 1977.
Before California-themed hits emerged, Georgia was the focus of chart-topping songs. Ray Charles' “Georgia on My Mind” set the trend in 1960, while 1973 witnessed a unique occurrence with two number one singles referencing Georgia. Vicki Lawrence's “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” and Gladys Knight & the Pips’ “Midnight Train to Georgia” both enjoyed time at the pinnacle of the Hot 100 that year.
