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Top Country Songs of All Time

Here the list of best country songs of all time, so throw on your jeans, shine up your boots, and grab yourself a cold one! And before we go any further let’s remind all sources of becoming country music, as it is today.

Country or western based on the folk music of the British settlers in the United States, which continued the traditions of the epic Celtic ballad and folk dance forms. This music began to be popular in the 1920s initially under the name of hillbilly music, a term used on the inhabitants of mountain villages. In the 1940s, the popularization of the direction was associated with Genck Williams's work. In the 1950s country music became one of the foundations of such trends as blues and rockabilly. In those years Elvis Presley, who just started his career became the brightest representatives of the country.

In the late 1950s, Nashville Sound studio began recording all country music, the sound becomes more polished, and the piano begins to play a bigger role. Among the country's most successful musicians are also George Jones (1931-2013), Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves and the whole slew of another genius. In the 1960s, musicians Kris Kristofferson, Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt gave life to a new musical direction - the country-rock, which absorbed both the features of the country and the features of rock music.

In a nutshell, the world of country music is quite varicolored so it’s worth your attention. Enjoy our playlist of the best country songs of all time—and don’t forget to turn it up loud.

Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire

Johnny Cash embodies the true aesthetic of country-rock sounding. Without him, this genre would be less interesting and probably all his songs deserve to be here. However, special attention should be paid to the song “Ring of Fire” and its complicated story. The official story is that its authors are Johnny's mistress June Carter and American songwriter Merle Kilgore. Originally, Anita Carter, the June’s sister, recorded «Ring of Fire». Johnny Cash, after listening to the song, said that he will wait for six months, and if the track will not be a great hit, he will sing it in his own way. And that's exactly what happened. The audience did not appreciate the efforts of Anita, and Johnny sang the song in the style of Mexican street musicians (the so-called mariachi). Allegedly, the idea came to him in a dream. As history has witnessed, Johnny's version appealed to listeners much more. In the spring of 1963, "Ring of Fire" was released as a single that topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and rose to seventeenth place on the Billboard charts.

On the Road Again - Willie Nelson

He wrote it for the 1980' movie Honeysuckle Rose, where he plays an aging American musician. the song tells about the life of a musician in a concert tour. In November 1980, the song "On the Road Again" became for Nelson his total ninth country hit number 1 in the US. It was the biggest Willie Nelson's hit in his career. The following year, this song brought him the Grammy Award for Best Country Song.

Blowin' In The Wind - Bob Dylan

"Blowin 'in the Wind" is one of the most recognized creations of Bob Dylan. It is considered a hymn by pacifists and civil rights fighters. The song was recorded as cover versions a lot, so many people love this song, not even knowing who wrote it and performed it first. It is awarded plenty awards and is included in authoritative lists of the best compositions. In a word, this is a milestone in the process of the formation of modern music.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama

Is it possible to bypass such a legendary band as Lynyrd Skynyrd and their incredible hit 'Sweet Home Alabama' i the list of best country songs of all time?  Definitely, not. In 2004 Rolling Stone magazine placed the song "Sweet Home Alabama" performed by the band Lynyrd Skynyrd on the 396th place of its list of "500 greatest songs of all time". In 2009, the song was accepted into the Grammy Award Hall of Fame. Moreover, it is beloved by millions of people and remains one of the main country songs of all time. 

Kenny Rogers - The Gambler

Don Schlitz wrote this song in August 1976 when he was 23 years old. It was one of five consecutive songs by Rogers to hit #1 on the Billboard country music charts.

Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying

A smashing crossover success, the song received several awards, including Grammy Awards and the CMA Awards, including "Song of the Year". "Live Like You Were Dying" debuted on June 5, 2004 at No. 36 in the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks.

Dolly Parton – Jolene

A woman in a country music is, of course, a rare phenomenon, but in its own way interesting. An integral part of this genre was Dolly Parton, which became one of the brightest representatives of female country singers. And especially her song Jolene, which topped the country music charts in the US and rose to seventh place UK Singles Chart, becoming Dolly Parton's first track in the top ten of the UK charts. The song tells of a housewife who was jealous of her husband to a girl named Jolene and asks her not to take her man away. Dolly Parton admitted that the cashier of the bank inspired her to create this song, which, she thought, flirted with her husband Carl Thomas Dean.

Lee Ann Womack - I Hope You Dance

"I Hope You Dance" is the song of country singer Lee Ann Womack (with Sons of the Desert), released in March 2000 from her third studio album. The song received numerous nominations and awards, including Grammy Awards, CMA Awards. This emotional ode became the soundtrack to father-daughter dances at weddings across the country.

Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss - Whiskey Lullaby

Tragic opus "Whiskey Lullaby" was released as the third single from Paisley's third studio album Mud on the Tires (2003). The song was written by John Randall in the form of a sad acoustic ballad about a heartbroken man’s last resort after a divorce from his wife and the loss of a contract with the studio, which led to his drinking and losing the meaning of life.

Hank Williams Sr. - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" written in 1949 and recorded on August 30 of the same year in a studio in Ohio under the direction of Fred Rose. Williams wrote the song with the expectation that her text would be more likely to be spoken than to be sung, as well as on some of his recordings for Luke the Drifter. The writing of this song about loneliness was influenced by his problematic relationship with his wife Audrey Sheppard. Williams considered it one of his best songs, but was not sure about commercial potential, which resulted releasing the song on the B-side of "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It".  In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine awarded "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" with 111 place in the list of "500 greatest songs of all time", in which it is the oldest song from all there contributed.


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