Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” nets big gains on multiple Billboard charts dated March 7 after the song became the unofficial anthem for the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“Free Bird” returns to Hot Rock & Alternative Songs at No. 15 on the strength of 3.2 million official U.S. streams (up 35%), 343,000 in radio airplay audience (up 17%) and 3,000 downloads sold (up 217%) in the week ending Feb. 26, according to Luminate. Older songs are allowed to re-enter rankings such as Hot Rock & Alternative Songs if in the top half of chart points and with a meaningful reason for their return.
The track also spends its first week at No. 1 on Rock Digital Song Sales and bows at No. 6 on the all-genre Digital Song Sales list.
The song blared after the U.S. men’s and women’s teams scored during the Olympics. The women’s squad won the gold medal Feb. 19, following up its 2018 win, while the men’s team triumphed among all nations for the first time since 1980 on Feb. 22. Each team added its third total gold medal, with the men’s team also having won in 1960 and the women’s, in 1998.
Here’s a rundown of the song’s weekly streams over the past month-plus; the Olympics began Feb. 6:
- Feb. 20-26: 3.2 million
- Feb. 13-19: 2.4 million
- Feb. 6-12: 2.2 million
- Jan. 29-Feb. 5: 2 million
- Jan. 22-28: 1.8 million
“Free Bird” reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 during its original chart run in 1975, following its release on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1973 debut studio album, (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd). The set peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard 200, becoming the first of the band’s 12 top 40 entries, through Last of a Dying Breed (No. 14, 2012).
