Alejandro Fernández has earned a special first…

Following a fruitful musical career as a singer-songwriter of traditional Mexican ranchera and mariachi music since his origins in the early ’90s, the 48-year-old Mexican singer earns his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart dated January 11, as “Caballero” ascends 3-1 in its 14th week.

Fernández crossed over into the Latin pop mainstream in 1997 with the 15-week Latin Pop Albums chart ruler Me Estoy Enamorando. 

Since then, “El Potrillo,” as he’s nicknamed, has alternated between ranchera and pop efforts, after placing 37 hits – and four No. 1s – on Billboard’s Latin Pop Airplay chart and 15 titles on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart, including his most recent hit “Caballero.”

The single, which is from his upcoming all-mariachi album and first via Universal Music Latino/UMLE, earned 8.46 million in audience impressions in the week ending January 5, according to Nielsen Music(down 1%).

The No. 1 is also Fernandez’s first hit on the list since “Estuve” hit No. 3 in 2009. Fernandez netted his first appearance on the tally with 1994’s “A Pesar de Todo,” the same year the chart launched. In turn, Fernandez claims the longest wait for a No. 1, counting from his first entry to his first No. 1.

Over on the overall Latin Airplay chart, “Caballero” continues at the lead for a second consecutive week.