Over the last 3 or 4 years I’ve gotten more and more into country music, and here’s my list of 12 country songs every fan should be listening to:
1. Beautiful Crazy
Luke Combs’s girl “can’t help but amaze” him, but it’s the songwriter who’s impressive. His first album debuted #1 on the Top Country Chart for almost a year and he just dropped his second album a few weeks ago. Beautiful Crazy is not only soothing, it’s one of those songs I never skip.
2. One Number Away
This Luke Combs track has been one of my most played songs this year and it’s one of the most relatable songs. Combs is one of my favorite artists and Hurricane, When it Rains it Pours, and She Got the Best of Me are three more songs you just have to hear.
3. Whiskey Glasses
Whiskey Glasses was the country jam of the summer for me— it was always on the radio and I never changed the station. If Morgan Wallen “sees the world through whiskey glasses” than I do too.
4. Unforgettable
Unforgettable is my favorite Thomas Rhett song, and Rhett is my favorite country artist by far. Marry Me, from his 3rd album Tangled Up, was the song that really got me into country music.
5. Like I Loved You
While Like I Love You is a heartbreak song, it’s also higher energy and shines as one of the best songs from Brett Young’s debut album. Young is one of my favorite artists and he was a great opener on Thomas Rhett’s Life Changes Tour last year.
6. Hotel Key
Old Dominion just snagged the CMA for Group of the Year and deservedly so; Hotel Key is a song anyone can vibe with.
7. T-Shirt
I wake up to T-Shirt every morning, and the drums in the beginning sometimes manage to wake my roommate up too (sorry girl!). Thomas Rhett sings this track too, and it’s a great song to dance to.
8. Mine
Who could forget the days where Taylor Swift broke out onto the scene as a country girl living in Nashville? Of course the earlier Taylor staples of You Belong With Me, Love Story, and Back to December are great, but Mine was constantly on repeat for me—I must’ve watched the music video at least fifty times when it first came out in middle school.
9. Take it From Me
This high energy Jordan Davis track is a jam to listen to in the car and another good Davis song is Singles You Up.
10. Parallel Line
Keith Urban pulls at my heart strings more than any other artist. If you’re looking for some emotional music Parallel Line and You’ll Think of Me will do the trick.
11. 19 You and Me
19 You and Me was one of Dan and Shay’s first big songs, but after the release of Tequila last year, Dan and Shay really blew up and were played on top hit radio stations in addition to country. Speechless and My Side of the Fence are two more of my favorite songs from the group.
12. The Bones
It might surprise a lot of people that the same girl who sings the hit bouncy pop track, The Middle, is a country star. I’ve recently started listening to Maren Morris a lot and The Bones is my favorite song of hers for sure.
Honorable Mentions: That Old Truck, Knee Deep, To a T, Play it Again, I Want Crazy, Yours, In Case You Didn’t Know, and Heartache on the Dance Floor
If you’re interested in hearing more, my Spotify (@meganholl57) has a playlist called Something to Ride to and More.