With “Crazy Girl,” the Eli Young Band recently scored its first No. 1 hit more than 10 years into the band’s career. For country radio programmers, it was a case of the right song at the right time. And the band’s supporters at radio—new and old—say it’s not likely to be their only chart topper now that the band has gained momentum and increased its national profile well beyond the Texas home base where it has long been popular. (For more on the record’s long climb to No. 1, see our latest “Anatomy of a Hit” feature here.)

So what was it about “Crazy Girl” that made it the single that finally allowed the band to have a major hit after all these years?

For Tyler Media/Oklahoma City PD Kevin Christopher, it was “an infectious hook that gets in your head and doesn’t go away.”

KYGO Denver PD John Thomas says, “I think there were a two major factors that allowed this one to get through. [First,] the guys are great at [meeting] radio. People remember it when it’s sincere. Unfortunately, it’s not something that can be taught. I spent some time earlier in the year as they came through on a radio tour where I had a chance to talk to them and hear their vision, dreams, and clearly knew that they were in this for the long haul. I’ll never forget the passion that they exuded.”

“Secondly, Lee Brice wrote another smash, and EYB delivered the passion that smacked the female side of the audience,” Thomas adds. “That combination equals hit.”

Mark Adams, VP music programming for CBS Houston, says, “It’s a great song, period. Most of our music adds for KILT-FM begin with passion for the song. I rarely, if ever, take historical precedent into account when considering music for airplay and instead focus upon the merits of that specific record. Our programming team heard it [and] got it immediately, and ‘Crazy Girl’ went into regular new rotation back in February.

“As our label partners can attest, when we put a song onto KILT it gets played,” says Adams. “It was very cool to watch it go all the way.”

After striking a chord with radio programmers, the song did the same with listeners.

Says Christopher, “This single has been a monster record in research. I didn’t know if I would be able to start and finish the record, but it never really wore on our audience.”

“I remember two signs that told me early that this would be a record that would make it,” says Thomas. “The first was KYGO’s guitar pull with Lee Brice, David Nail, Gloriana and Ashton Shepherd. Lee set the record up, and within 10 seconds everyone was singing every word. It was amazing.

Secondly, EYB came through six weeks later to play a show for street week, and when they closed the show it was like a 1,000 person choir on a sunny Sunday AM singing ‘Crazy Girl.’”

Adds Adams, “That is where the Texas angle is inarguably helpful in regards to an EYB project. We probably had an advantage over many stations outside of Texas or Oklahoma in at that the band has a real, devoted, and interactive fan base in this region. I don’t add songs to our station solely because of their local or regional connection, but it certainly doesn’t hurt a song’s development if we do choose to support a single.

“That stated, ‘Crazy Girl’ simply felt like a much bigger deal from the outset,” Adams continues. “Phone, text, and social media activity were both early and consistent. And the sales story, which is something I pay a great deal of attention to, also took off remarkably early.

“It’s not a great Texas record, it’s just a great record.”

Programmers who have been won over by the band say it has the potential to continue to be a long-term hit maker for the format.

Says Adams, “I think EYB are a talented bunch of guys and deserve a higher national profile. We have several of their songs in library on KILT that all test well, and have already begun spinning [follow-up single] ‘Even If It Breaks Your Heart.’ Early reaction has been good, if not as immediate or strident as the previous single.

“If it’s truly about putting out great songs, by that measure Eli Young Band has all the talent necessary to continue to succeed on a national basis.”

“For this area of the country, EYB has been a solid act for a number of years,” says Christopher. “[It’s] not uncommon for them to sell 3,000 tickets when they come to town. At the fair this year on the free stage they did 6,000-7,000 on $2 admission night.

“For us, EYB is hip, young and cool, and they make really great music, so they are a no brainer.”

“Great guys plus great music equals staying power,” says KYGO’s Thomas. “This is and always has been a winning equation, and I’ve seen it at five different formats now. Radio roots for artists like EYB. I’d put my money on them.”