By: Melinda Newman, Jessica Nicholson, Kyle Denis, Jason Lipshutz, Andrew Unterberger
This week's Five Burning Questions looks at the country star's breakout hit reaching new chart heights in the first post-holidays Hot 100 of 2026.


Jason Lipshutz is the Executive Director of Music at Billboard. With over a decade of experience, he covers a wide range of topics in the music industry, focusing on pop and rock music, as well as celebrities, concerts, and entertainment news. Jason's insights and expertise have been featured in various outlets, including Yahoo News, Miami Herald, and Billboard, and he is also the author of the upcoming book "It Starts With One: The Legend and Legacy of Linkin Park."
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Jason Lipshutz's coverage is heavily focused on music and pop culture, particularly new releases, artist features, and music charts. He shows interest in staff picks for best songs or albums, as well as year-end reviews of the Billboard Hot 100. Pitch ideas related to emerging artists, industry trends, or deep dives into specific hit songs or albums.
Given his focus on event coverage and how-to guides relating to music topics like gift guides and summarizing an artist's year (e.g., Taylor Swift’s 2023), Jason may be interested in pitches that provide unique angles on these themes. Additionally, he doesn't have a specified geographic focus but covers international entertainment news extensively.
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