Zara Larsson vaulted back into the spotlight when her single “Stateside” leapt to number four on the 2026 Pop Airplay chart after Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu featured the track in her exhibition on February 21 at the Milano‑Cortina Winter Games. the Swedish pop star’s resurgence mirrors the breakout she enjoyed in 2016,marking her third top‑ten entry this year and giving her four concurrent titles on the chart.

Olympic Exposure: Alysa Liu’s February 21 Performance Fuels Chart Jump

According to the source, Liu, who had just won the women’s gold medal two days earlier, incorporated choreography that echoed Larsson’s original music video, delivering “Stateside” to a global television audience. The exposure translated into a rapid climb for the song,pushing it to the No. 4 spot and securing Larsson’s third top‑ten hit of 2026.

Four Simultaneous Pop Airplay Entries – A Record in the Current Reporting Period

The report notes that Larsson now holds four titles on the Pop Airplay list, a feat unmatched by any other artist this cycle. In addition to “Stateside,” her earlier hit “Lush Life” sits at No. 28, while a collaboration with Tyla, “She Did It Again,” occupies No. 29, underscoring her pervasive radio presence.

Radio Spin Leaders: KIIS‑FM and KYLD Drive “Stateside” Success

iHeartMedia’s Pop Airplay panel shows Los Angeles’ KIIS‑FM and San Francisco’s KYLD logged the highest number of spins for “Stateside,” according to the source.. Mark Adams, iHeartMedia’s vice president of pop programming, praised the track’s “joyous dance‑floor energy and synth‑pop sheen,” highlighting its role in the format’s diverse lineup.

Legacy Comparison: From 2016’s “Never Forget You” to 2026’s “Midnight Sun”

Larsson’s 2026 climb echoes her 2016 breakthrough when she reached No. 5 with the MNEK duet “Never Forget You.” The source also mentions the current rise of “Midnight Sun” to No. 5, illustrating a pattern of sustained upper‑echelon performance across a decade.

Who’s Next to Ride an Olympic Wave? Unverified Claims About Future Boosts

The source does not confirm whether other artists are planning to leverage Olympic performances for chart gains, leaving it unclear if Liu’s routine was a one‑off boost or part of a broader strategy among pop acts.