On the heels of presenting the CMA Award for Single of the Year to Chris Stapleton, newcomer Jimmie Allen has become the first black artist to top the Country airplay charts with his debut single. Allen’s “Best Shot,” has also been the most Shazamed Country song for eight weeks running. Among African-American country artists, only Darius Rucker has hit #1 with his debut single in the genre. And none other than Kane Brown is a fan.

“If someone asked me two years ago if I thought that this would be my life today—that I’d be on the red carpet at the CMAs or my song would be the #1 song on Country radio, I would have honestly said no,” says Allen. “Did I think it would happen eventually? Absolutely! Just not this soon. I’m humbled and grateful. It’s such an honor to get my first #1 and to know that my song is connecting with people and resonating in a way that hopefully makes us all better people in the end, because that’s really what ‘Best Shot’ is all about.”

Written by Allen, Josh London and JP Williams, “Best Shot” is the first single from Allen’s debut album, Mercury Lane (Stoney Creek).

Allen will make his fourth appearance since October on NBC’s Today on 11/28. Along with opening for Scotty McCreery, he’ll play select dates on Brown’s Live Forever Tour.