Nickelback back at No. 1 on rock radio with 'Rattle the Cage'
Nickelback have a new No. 1 on rock radio.
"Rattle the Cage," featuring John 5, tops Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart dated 26 September 2026. The chart ranks songs by plays on mainstream rock radio stations. A No. 1 means it earned more plays than any other song on that list during the tracking week. Billboard reported the result on 23 September. Billboard
It is the band's ninth No. 1 on that chart. Eight songs came before it at the top. The most recent was "Edge of a Revolution" in October 2014. That makes the new single the band's first chart-topper on the list in almost 12 years.
The record was released on 14 July. The release credit is Nickelback II/Virgin Music. It reached the Airplay chart in August. It was the band's 32nd song to appear on that chart. A chart entry means a song has earned enough weekly plays to place on the ranking.
The rise took several weeks. In early September the song was at No. 4. Forbes It then moved to No. 1 on the chart dated 26 September. That step-by-step climb is normal on airplay charts, where positions shift as stations add or increase plays.
The song also gained ground in Canada. Billboard Canada tracked it climbing from No. 7 to No. 4 on mainstream rock airplay in its August update. Billboard Canada That update came about a month before the US No. 1.
"Rattle the Cage" leads into a bigger release. It is the lead single from Nickelback's 11th studio album. A lead single is the song put out first to introduce an album campaign. The album is titled "Everything Under the Sun." It is due on 30 October.
What makes this stand out is the shared credit. Features are common, with a main act joined by a named guest. For John 5, the feature brings a first Billboard No. 1 in a billed role. A billed role means his name appears formally on the single credit, not only as an uncredited player.
For listeners, the sequence is clear. A July single. An August chart debut. A September No. 1. An album to follow in October.
