Table of Contents
Country music is rather a niche in Germany. In the USA, on the other hand, country music is one of the most popular music genres. Country music is a wondrous, varied genre.
There is classic country music, modern country songs, outlaw country, cowpunk, alt-country, and much more.
Especially the old country songs are appreciated by fans of all ages. No list of the most successful country songs of all time would be complete without the classic hits of legendary artists like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and George Jones.
Since its inception in the 1920s, country music has explored themes of struggle, triumph, pride of home, and Heartbreak took up. This genre is often about the American way of life, personal destinies, and experiences, but also current events are not infrequently also humorously discussed.
Classics like “Ring of Fire,” “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line” have crossed the pond to delight people around the world.
A great country song tells a story. It takes a stand and has a melody that directly invites you to dance. Some songs are crazy, some are whiny, others convey a strong opinion.
So it is a difficult task to choose the best country songs of all time.
The history of country music is rich in diversity. From country legends like Hank Williams, George Jones to new stars like Taylor Swift, Faith Hill, Miranda Lambert, and Carrie Underwood, expect a great mix of the best country songs of all time.
The 100 most successful country songs of all time
| Song: | Performer: | Listen: |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Legend | Neil Young |  |
| Love Story | Taylor Swift | |
| I Walk the Line | Johnny Cash | |
| The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. | Donna Fargo | |
| Jolene | Dolly Parton | |
| Ring of Fire | Johnny Cash | |
| Somebody Like You | Keith Urban | |
| Something You Get Through | Willie Nelson | |
| Mean | Taylor Swift | |
| Friends in Low Places | Garth Brooks | |
| Either Way | Chris Stapleton | |
| American Honey | Lady Antebellum | |
| Brace for Impact (Live a Little) | Sturgill Simpson | |
| I Hope You Dance | Lee Ann Womack | |
| Stealing Kisses | Faith Hill | |
| Dear John | Taylor Swift | |
| Choices | George Jones | |
| Chicken Fried | Zac Brown Band | |
| Check Yes Or No | George Strait | |
| ‘The Lucky One | Alison Krauss & Union Station | |
| Daddy Sang Bass | Johnny Cash | |
| Just To See You Smile | Tim McGraw | |
| Coal Miner’s Daughter | Loretta Lynn | |
| Queen of Hearts | Juice Newton | |
| Come a Little Closer | Dierks Bentley | |
| Vice | Miranda Lambert | |
| Can the Circle Be Unbroken | The Carter Family | |
| Concrete Angel | Martina McBride | |
| Guitar Town | Steve Earle | |
| Not Ready to Make Nice | Dixie Chicks | |
| All My Ex’s Live in Texas | George Strait | |
| Take Me Home Country Roads | John Denver | |
| Breathe | Faith Hill | |
| Drive (For Daddy Gene) | Alan Jackson | |
| Hands of Time | Margo Price | |
| Where Were You | Alan Jackson | |
| White Lightning | The Cadillac Three | |
| I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry | Hank Williams | |
| How Do You Like Me Now?! | Toby Keith | |
| Liar Liar | Aubrie Sellers | |
| Walkin’ After Midnight | Patsy Cline | |
| Butterflies | Kacey Musgraves | |
| Good Bye Earl | The Dixie Chicks | |
| Long Time Gone | Dixie Chicks | |
| If I Die Young | The Band Perry | |
| Live Like You Were Dying | Tim McGraw | |
| Always On My Mind | Willie Nelson | |
| Lesson in Leavin | Jo Dee Messina | |
| 80s Mercedes | Maren Morris | |
| Hurt | Johnny Cash | |
| Here You Come Again | Dolly Parton | |
| Before He Cheats | Carrie Underwood | |
| Colder Weather | Zac Brown Band | |
| Tennessee Whiskey | Chris Stapleton | |
| All My Ex’s Live in Texas | George Strait | |
| I Like It, I Love It | Tim McGraw | |
| When I Said I Do | Clint Black ft. Lisa Hartman Black | |
| Love’s Gonna Live Here | Buck Owens | |
| Follow Your Arrow | Kacey Musgraves | |
| I’Ll Get Over You | Crystal Gayle | |
| Take This Job and Shove It | Johnny Paycheck | |
| The Gambler | Kenny Rogers | |
| Gunpowder and Lead | Miranda Lambert | |
| Have Mercy | The Judds | |
| Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain | Willie Nelson | |
| Break Down Here | Julie Roberts | |
| The Way You Love Me | Faith Hill | |
| Whiskey Lullaby | Brad Paisley | |
| Folsom Prison Blues | Johnny Cash | |
| These Boots Are Made For Walking | Nancy Sinatra | |
| Follow Your Arrow | Kacey Musgraves | |
| Amazed | Lonestar | |
| I’ve Come To Expect It From You | George Strait | |
| Cowboy Take Me Away | Dixie Chicks | |
| Alcohol | Brad Paisley | |
| Something Like That | Tim McGraw | |
| Wagon Wheel | Darius Rucker | |
| Daddy Lessons | Beyoncé ft. Dixie Chicks | |
| Devil Went Down to Georgia | Charlie Daniels Band | |
| Redneck Woman | Gretchen Wilson | |
| Wanted | Hunter Hayes | |
| Once | Maren Morris | |
| I Love You | Martina McBride | |
| Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You | Brooks & Dunn | |
| Mud on the Tires | Brad Paisley | |
| Blowing Smoke | Kacey Musgraves | |
| Goodbye Earl | Dixie Chicks | |
| Hello Walls | Faron Young | |
The 50 best country songs of the 2000s
The country songs of the 2000s were dominated by classic songs. Pop influences from Shania Twain and Taylor Swift, however, increasingly drew attention. Listen to songs from top country artists like Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, Faith Hill, and Lonestar.
| Song: | Performer: | Listen: |
|---|---|---|
| Need You Now | Lady Antebellum | |
| What I Really Meant To Say | Cyndi Thomson | |
| Somebody Like You | Keith Urban | |
| You Belong With Me | Taylor Swift | |
| There Goes My Life | Kenny Chesney | |
| Kiss a Girl | Keith Urban | |
| I Believe | Diamond Rio | |
| The House That Built Me | Miranda Lambert | |
| Mississippi Girl | Faith Hill | |
| Kerosene | Miranda Lambert | |
| Never Wanted Nothing More | Kenny Chesney | |
| Up! | Shania Twain | |
| Picture | Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow | |
| Suds in the Bucket | Sara Evans | |
| Before He Cheats | Carrie Underwood | |
| Fast Cars and Freedom | Rascal Flatts | |
| Toes | Zac Brown Band | |
| Live Like You Were Dying | Tim McGraw | |
| Last Name | Carrie Underwood | |
| I Run to You | Lady Antebellum | |
| Angry All The Time | Tim McGraw | |
| Blessed | Martina McBride | |
| The Way You Love Me | Faith Hill | |
| Baby Girl | Sugarland | |
| Mud On the Tires | Brad Paisley | |
| Red Dirt Road | Brooks & Dunn | |
| Born to Fly | Sara Evans | |
| One More Day | Diamond Rio | |
| Who I Am | Jessica Andrews | |
| Where I Come From | Alan Jackson | |
| What About Now? | Lonestar | |
| Suds in the Bucket | Sara Evans | |
| The Lucky One | Faith Hill | |
| Bless the Broken Road | Rascal Flatts | |
| Better Life | Keith Urban | |
| Jesus Take the Wheel | Carrie Underwood | |
| Wasted | Carrie Underwood | |
| The Baby | Blake Shelton | |
| I Miss My Friend | Darryl Worley | |
| Cowboy Take Me Away | Dixie Chicks | |
| Chicken Fried | Zac Brown Band | |
| Something More | Sugarland | |
| I Just Wanna Be Mad | Terri Clark | |
| Roll with Me | Montgomery Gentry | |
| Stand | Rascal Flatts | |
| How Do You Like Me Now?! | Toby Keith | |
| Grown Men Don’t Cry | Tim McGraw | |
The 50 most successful country songs of the 90s
The ’90s was a great decade for country music. The genre began to move more and more into the mainstream and artists like Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Faith Hill, and LeAnn Rimes benefited tremendously from it.
| Song: | Performer: | Listen: |
|---|---|---|
| Amazed | Lonestar | |
| Your Love Amazes Me | John Berry | |
| Meet in the Middle | Diamond Rio | |
| Seminole Wind | John Anderson | |
| It Matters To Me | Faith Hill | |
| Better Things to Do | Terri Clark | |
| Achy Breaky Heart | Billy Ray Cyrus | |
| Should’ve Been a Cowboy | Toby Keith | |
| In a Different Light | Doug Stone | |
| Any Man of Mine | Shania Twain | |
| We Tell Ourselves | Clint Black | |
| The Dance | Garth Brooks | |
| God Blessed Texas | Little Texas | |
| Dust on the Bottle | David Lee Murphy | |
| Don’t Take the Girl | Tim McGraw | |
| Two Sparrows in a Hurricane | Tanya Tucker | |
| Wide Open Spaces | Dixie Chicks | |
| She’s in Love with the Boy | Trisha Yearwood | |
| Boot Scootin’ Boogie | Brooks & Dunn | |
| It’s A Little Too Late | Mark Chesnutt | |
| I Swear | John Michael Montgomery | |
| I Still Believe in You | Vince Gill | |
| Something in Red | Lorrie Morgan | |
| Independence Day | Martina McBride | |
| Fancy | Reba McEntire | |
| I Cross My Heart | George Strait | |
| The Thunder Rolls | Garth Brooks | |
| Blue | LeAnn Rimes | |
| Carrying Your Love With Me | George Strait | |
| Where Do I Fit in the Picture | Clay Walker | |
| I Like It, I Love It | Tim McGraw | |
| I See It Now | Tracy Lawrence | |
| Write This Down | George Strait | |
| Anymore | Travis Tritt | |
| I’m Not Supposed To Love You Anymore | Bryan White | |
| Strawberry Wine | Deana Carter | |
| Thank God For You | Sawyer Brown | |
| Don’t Rock the Jukebox | Alan Jackson | |
| Maybe It Was Memphis | Pam Tillis | |
| The Dance | Garth Brooks | |
| No One Else On Earth | Wynonna | |
| I’m In a Hurry (And Don’t Know Why) | Alabama | |
| Fast As You | Dwight Yoakam | |
| Watermelon Crawl | Tracy Byrd | |
| Boot Scootin Boogie | Brooks & Dunn | |
| How Forever Feels | Kenny Chesney | |
| Billy the Kid | Billy Dean | |
| Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox | Joe Diffie | |
| That’s My Baby | Lari White | |
| Heads Carolina, Tails California | Jo Dee Messina | |
The 50 best country songs of the 80s Years
Country music in the eighties celebrated true love, friendships, and American pride. In addition to Dolly Parton and The Judds, this playlist includes songs from top country artists like Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, and Willie Nelson.
| Song: | Performer: | Listen: |
|---|---|---|
| All My Ex’s Live in Texas | George Strait | |
| On the Road Again | Willie Nelson | |
| That’s My Job | Conway Twitty | |
| He Stopped Loving Her Today | George Jones | |
| Islands In the Stream | Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers | |
| Dixieland Delight | Alabama | |
| The Chair | George Strait | |
| Lookin’ for Love | Johnny Lee | |
| Always on My Mind | Willie Nelson | |
| Tennessee River | Alabama | |
| Smoky Mountain Rain | Ronnie Milsap | |
| Diggin’ Up Bones | Randy Travis | |
| I’ll Still Be Loving You | Restless Heart | |
| Good Ol’ Boys | Waylon Jennings | |
| If Tomorrow Never Comes | Garth Brooks | |
| Ocean Front Property | George Strait | |
| Forever and Ever, Amen | Randy Travis | |
| Elvira | Oak Ridge Boys | |
| Amarillo by Morning | George Strait | |
| Mama, He’s Crazy | The Judds | |
| I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool | Barbara Mandrell | |
| 9 to 5 | Dolly Parton | |
| Any Day Now | Ronnie Milsap | |
| I Will Always Love You | Dolly Parton | |
| Lord I Hope This Day Is Good | Don Williams | |
| I Love a Rainy Night | Eddie Rabbitt | |
| Islands in the Stream | Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton | |
| I’ve Been Wrong Before | Deborah Allen | |
| Don’t Close Your Eyes | Keith Whitley | |
| Always on My Mind | Willie Nelson | |
| Even Cowgirls Get The Blues | Lynn Anderson | |
| Seven Year Ache | Rosanne Cash | |
| When You Say Nothing at All | Keith Whitley | |
| Killin’ Time | Clint Black | |
| Last of The Silver Screen Cowboys | Rex Allen Jr. | |
| On the Other Hand | Randy Travis | |
| Fishin’ in the Dark | Nitty Gritty Dirt Band | |
| He Stopped Loving Her Today | George Jones | |
| Mountain Music | Alabama | |
| Two Dozen Roses | Shenandoah | |
| I’m No Stranger to the Rain | Keith Whitley | |
| Queen Of Hearts | Juice Newton | |
| God Bless the USA | Lee Greenwood | |
| Song Of The South | Alabama | |
| There’s No Getting Over Me | Ronnie Milsap | |
| Lady | Kenny Rogers | |
| He Stopped Loving Her Today | George Jones | |
| Nobody | Sylvia | |
| If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band) | Alabama | |
| The Cowboy Rides Away | George Strait | |
The 50 most beautiful country songs of the 70s Years
In the 1970s, the country charts were dominated by artists who had become famous in the previous decade. Among them were Glen Campbell, Charley Pride, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, and promising newcomers like Emmylou Harris and Tanya Tucker.
| Song: | Performer: | Listen: |
|---|---|---|
| Take Me Home Country Roads | John Denver | |
| Here You Come Again | Dolly Parton | |
| You’ve Never Been This Far Before | Conway Twitty | |
| It Must Be Love | Don Williams | |
| That’s Why I Love You Like I Do | Sonny James | |
| Amazing Love | Charley Pride | |
| Blanket on the Ground | Billie Jo Spears | |
| My Woman, My Woman, My Wife | Marty Robbins | |
| You’re the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me | Ray Price | |
| Annie’s Song | John Denver | |
| The Gambler | Kenny Rogers | |
| Woman (Sensuous Woman) | Don Gibson | |
| The Grand Tour | George Jones | |
| The Devil Went Down to Georgia | The Charlie Daniels Band | |
| Southern Nights | Glen Campbell | |
| My Woman, My Woman, My Wife | Marty Robbins | |
| Let Me Be There | Olivia Newton-John | |
| Kiss an Angel Good Morning | Charley Pride | |
| You Decorated My Life | Kenny Rogers | |
| Delta Dawn | Tanya Tucker | |
| Hello Darlin | Conway Twitty | |
| Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue | Crystal Gayle | |
| Coal Miner’s Daughter | Loretta Lynn | |
| Pure Love | Ronnie Milsap | |
| It Must Be Love | Don Williams | |
| Always Wanting You | Merle Haggard | |
| Funny Face | Donna Fargo | |
| All I Ever Need is You | Kenny Rogers & Dottie West | |
| Making Believe | Emmylou Harris | |
| You Don’t Bring Me Flowers | Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond | |
| You Decorated My Life | Kenny Rogers | |
| The Streak | Ray Stevens | |
| What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life | Ronnie Milsap | |
| Somebody Loves You | Crystal Gayle | |
| Rose Colored Glasses | John Conlee | |
| Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man | Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn | |
| Funny Face | Donna Fargo | |
| Behind Closed Doors | Charlie Rich | |
| Rose Garden | Lynn Anderson | |
| Rhinestone Cowboy | Glen Campbell | |
| Pure Love | Ronnie Milsap | |
| You Never Even Called Me by My Name | David Allan Coe | |
| The Most Beautiful Girl | Charlie Rich | |
| Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me | Mac Davis | |
| That’s Why I Love You Like I Do | Sonny James | |
| Love is the Foundation | Loretta Lynn | |
| Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone) | Tanya Tucker | |
| You Light Up My Life | Debby Boone | |
| Torn Between Two Lovers | Mary MacGregor | |
| Everything Is Beautiful | Ray Stevens | |