When I was younger I hated country music, until fifth grade when my dance recital included the song Angels Among Us by Alabama. Soon after, I started to like a few country songs and then the whole Shania Twain // Dixie Chicks era began, and I was obsessed. Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Kenny, Garth all spoke to me in ways that other music never had. I have always liked all kinds of music, and I have a really eclectic mix of all-time favorite songs, from broadway classics to Celine Dion to oldies to pop ballads to One Direction to classical. While I love to sing along and dance to many genres, I feel country music. I’ve been working on a “Country Favorites” list on Spotify this year that is 42 songs deep. But I wanted to share my very, very favorite songs. Interestingly, nearly all of them are love songs sung by twangy men!
- Almost Home // Craig Morgan
- Crazy Girl // Eli Young Band
- Let’s Make Love // Tim + Faith
- Don’t You Wanna Stay // Jason Aldean + Kelly Clarkson
- Carried Away // George Straight
- Small Town USA // Justin Moore
- Red Light // David Nail
- Good Directions // Billy Currington
- Get Your Shine On // Florida Georgia Line
- Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye // Luke Bryan
- The Truth // Jason Aldean
I’m dying to know 1) What your all-time favorite country song is, and 2) If you hate country, why? (And please don’t say “because it’s all pick-up trucks and drunks!”)
Overnight oats for breakfast!! With pockets of banana, blackberries, and chia seeds. I used a Chobani coconut flavored yogurt as the base, and boy was that good!
Lunch salad from Whole Foods. The kale caesar is my favorite base. Topped with a mix of veggies and tofu.
I have been craving crunchy tacos for the first time in years! I almost always choose soft taco shells when I’m out, but crunchy tacos take me right back to high school when my mom would make taco bar for us once a week. The tacos below were stuffed with a little meat, sauteed veggies, and cheese. Guac on the side! (And yes, I charred the shells a bit in the toaster oven!)
Have a great hump day guys!!
Brittany says
Oh how I love country!! I have a ton of favorites that bring back some great memories but always get emotional with Love Like Crazy by Lee Brice. I feel like it’s our family’s song and just gives me all the feels.
Like you said, country speaks to me in a way that not many other songs or genres can! Love it.
Molly says
Hi Kath! Is your oat recipe the same as always? 1/3 of everything? I tried it the other night but maybe added too many chia seeds…? Texture was way off. Help! Thanks ????
Also…LOVE old(er) school country music…Dixie chicks, Tim McGraw, Kenny…whenever I hear their older songs I am transported back to high school!
KathEats says
I always add a little bit more liquid if I’m using a lot of chia. So 1/3 cup of things and then half a cup of milk.
Lisa @ Life as Lisa Knows It says
I love country music!!!!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
That whole foods lunch looks delicious!!
Stace says
Like you, I am pretty eclectic when it comes to music. But I love 90’s(ish) country music the most – Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, John Michael Montgomery, Martina McBride, Dixie Chicks. Can’t wait to listen to your playlist. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Alyssa says
One of my favorite country song is George Strait’s Carried Away — a twangy love song! It was actually the song my husband and I danced to at our wedding. I love how it talks about two people just simply being so swept up in one another that nothing really matters except their love for each other.
KathEats says
I love that one too!
[email protected] says
I just started listening to country a few years ago and I’m hooked!!
The Mess Hall Momma says
Here’s a link to my favorite version of my favorite country song:
Charlie Robison & Kelly Willis, “The Wedding Song”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gIGygRQRyI
Kelly’s voice is AMAZING!
Karen says
It’s funny, because I HATED: country music until about 5 years ago. I think I just had a negative connotation with the music, because when I actually started listening to it seriously I loved it!
Hard to say what my favorite song is, but a couple favorites are “Dirt Road Anthem” by Jason Aldean and “Drunk on you” by Luke Bryan, basically all the songs by those 2 guys!!!!
Hannah @CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I’m a big fan of Red Dirt Road by Brooks and Dunn!
Hillary B says
Yes!! This one is my favorite too!! I only like a handful of country songs but that one is great. I think usually I don’t consider myself a country fan because so many songs are too slow, too sappy or too twangy for me. My mom loooves county so some of these songs I learned to love from riding in the car with her!
Other country favorites:
1) Calling Baton Rouge – Garth Brooks
2) Free and Easy Down the Road I go – Dierks Bently
3) Back Where I Come From- Kenny Chesney
4) Highway Man – The Highway Men
5) All American Girl – Carrie Underwood
6) Broken Bottles – Sons of Bill (they are more alt country/americana but this song is really country and soulful)
7) Great Day to be Alive – Traivs Tritt
8) Let her cry – Hootie and the Blowfish (this is totally country and i will not hear otherwise 😉
9) There goes my life – Kenny Chesney
10) Copperhead Rd by Steve Earle (I learned a line dance to this at a wedding recently and it was awesome!)
hahahha maybe i’m more of a country fan than I thought…
Sarah says
I have too many favourites but I’d say, as of this morning: “you and tequila” by Kenny Chesney, “riser” by Dierks Bentley, and my current obsession “American Country Love Song” by Jake Owen which is just good old summer fun.
Bethany says
Oh country music, it’s my favorite as well. And i feel like i have a very wide variety of music love (dave matthews is also my favorite), but country music is #1 for me. I hated it as a child as well, and didn’t fall in love with it until high school. Tim McGraw’s Green Grass Grows and Something like that really sparked my love. Dixie chicks and Kenny were also right up there. Some of my all time favorites are: The Good Stuff (Kenny Chesney), I saw god today (George Strait), Looking back with you (craig morgan), She’s everything (Brad Paisley), Teaching me how to love you (Joey & Rory), Like a wrecking ball (Eric Church) and Helluva Life (Frankie Ballard. <3
Denise says
I’ve tried to be a country fan for year, but never succeeded all the way. I’m just too much of a classic rock and 80’s party girl, I guess! Most of the country songs I like are the party ones (can you sense a theme here?) like Red Solo Cup and Friends in Low Places. My husband is a huge Gary Allen fan, so I’ve seen him in concert quite a few times, and of course I love Shania and the Chicks – you saw them earlier this year too, right?
If you ever get a chance to go to Frontier Days in Cheyenne, it’s a must for country fans. My BFF lives there and is quite involved in it every year. I went three years ago and had pretty much an all-access pass, except for going backstage. Front and center at every show. It’s crazy fun!
Kate says
I love love love LOVE country music. I totally agree with you that it speaks to me in a way other music doesn’t. As a dancer and barre instructor, I also love show tunes and pop hits, but most of the time, my radio is on country. Most of my favorite country songs are from the 2000’s. I love Older Kenny chesney and Tim McGraw. In no particular order:
“”The good stuff” and “coastal” Kenny Chesney
“My best friend”, “red rag top” and “where the green grass grows” Tim McGraw
“You don’t know what love is” and “my front porch looking in” Lonestar
Along with others from Dixie chicks, Tim and Faith, etc. There are just too many good ones!
Kim says
Great list! I looove country music and much like you, started with the Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw era but I love honky tonk and classic country music just as much. Current faves: Cole Swindell You Should Be Here and Middle of a Memory.
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
I love country music! Though I feel like a lot of the newer stuff is too poppy.
Katie D. says
I LOVE Country Music!!! It really does speak to and from my heart 🙂
I saw Garth in concert last year and it was amazing. Best concert, ever!!!
My favorites include “Feed Jake” by Pirates of the Mississippi (an oldie but goodie), “She’s in Love with a Boy” by Trisha Yearwood, “Country Girl Shake it for Me” by Luke Bryan (a dance workout fav) and “Me and You” by Kenny Chesney (sung at my wedding).
Funny story – my two year old is OBSESSED with “H.O.L.Y.” by Florida Georgia Line. She asks to listen to it 100 times a day and sings along with the chorus. Her screen time is pretty much watching country music videos on YouTube 🙂
Elyse @ Justmurrayed says
I love country music! I hated it until I moved to the big city from a small country town. I love older country music like Dolly Parton but I also love the typical pop country like Carrie Underwood and Dixie Chicks.
Amanda says
I’m a big fan of country music! When it comes down to my all-time favorite song, there’s no way I can pick just one! I can pick an artist–Jason Aldean!
Bridget Black says
I love seeing Country music getting positive attention 🙂
She’s Gonna Make It by Garth Brooks is soooo good!
Melanie says
I’ve loved country music for as long as I could talk/sing! – was raised on old-school stuff….grandparents loved bluegrass masters Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs and my earliest memories include Alabama concerts, watching the artists on Hee-Haw and the Barbara Mandrell show, and my mom’s Willie Nelson and Glen Campbell records. So, I have to say I’m kind of a purist – I miss real instrumentation, single songwriters, songs with real meaning, FEMALE ARTISTS. For me, today’s (and some of yesterday’s) real country standout artists are the ones that don’t make the cut much on the Music Row marketing machine and country radio: Ashley Monroe, Margo Price, Kacey Musgraves, Lee Ann Womack (a MASTER!), Vince Gill, Cody Jinks, Chris Stapleton, Andrew Combs, Sturgill, and so many more.
The country music landscape is, in my opinion, way too crowded with dumbed down bros of moderate talent singing about beers, bikinis and tailgates, topped off with synthesized instrumentation and uh, rapping?! Why. The music is no doubt reflective of modern Southern experience, particularly suburban experience. But it often feels like it’s lost its true country roots altogether.
Luckily I think that’s changing. Thank heavens there are so many ways to consume/see music these days and I don’t have to just rely on country radio and CMT!
Hey, to each her own, right?!
PS And I”m still mad at Brad Paisley. He’s a far better instrumentalist and songwriter than most of his music would indicate! 🙂
KathEats says
Haha rapping! I agree with you wholeheartedly on that one. Points well made!
Ella says
OH MAN the anthropology major and long-time country fan in me just loooooves your analysis of the current state of country music! I have been commenting on the rapping thing for years now – how odd it is, and how interesting that genres always borrow from one another.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Alan Jackson yet. I love his baritone voice, melodies, musicality… it’s easy listening.
Kate says
*whispering under breath* keep it civil, keep it civil, keep it civil, respect differences in opinions…. 🙂 jk
I am from the camp that would classify all those songs as “pop country” which is fine, I actually do like some pop country myself and will not get all high and mighty about it like some people I know.
You actually recently saw one of my favorite new (non-pop) country artists recently: Sturgill Simpson. “Life of Sin” is one of my all time favorite songs ever. Jason Isbell is also a fantastic new artist that moves away from the pop/rap/country sound that is the only thing on the radio anymore. His songs “Yvette” “Live Oak” and “The Life you Chose” are all fantastic.
Waylon’s “Ain’t living long like this” will forever be my favorite country song of all time though.
KathEats says
I have a huge respect for the country of yesteryear but if I’m honest I just don’t love it as much. Just saw Sturgill in concert last week and loved him though! He’s a great example of traditional style with a modern vibe.
polly says
LOVE LOVE LOVE country music! I love sweet home Alabama (and the movie too with Reese Witherspoon) and I love Lee Brice’s song Woman like you. ugh. so so so good.
Also drunk on a plane by Dierks cracks me up.
Stay (Jennifer Nettles) and Girl Crush (love that song!) and Keith’s Wasted Time, and Chicken Fried by Zac just makes me happy. 🙂
Courtney says
I LOVE country. My all time favorite song is ‘I Only get This way with You’ by Rick Trevino. Anything by Garth, Travis Tritt, and Brad Paisley are at the tops of my list! Also, Canadian band Emerson Drive is probably my all time favorite country band. They’re great!
Robin says
My parents listened to country music when I was little. Even though it wouldn’t have been my music of choice at the time, I have wonderful memories of it. We went to concerts like Mel Tillis, Ricky Skaggs, and Merle Haggard. I think my turning point was Alabama. Today I feel so empowered by many of the female musicians out there like Reba, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. I have to say my favorite song of all time is Martina McBride’s This One’s For the Girl!
Renee says
Anything by Jamey Johnson. He is my absolute favorite singer/songwriter! He could sing the phone book and it would be amazing. In Color and High Cost of Living are awesome. He’s a little on the dark side, but I love his twang and way of telling a story through song.
Amanda F says
Country music isn’t my thing. I grew up in a small Tennessee town, completely immersed in it, but to be honest, I don’t “feel” it. I like the sound of a steel guitar and I can appreciate some bluegrass, but country today is far too commercialized. The lyrics are meaningless (with the exception of very few songs) and the music itself is the same chords and technically requires very little talent. I’ve been to quite a few country concerts, and they are not an all eclipsing experience for me. I want to experience an emotional connection to the music and with country I just don’t. I feel like most country music tries to oversimplify life and doesn’t give justice to the complexities of the heart.
But to each his own. I just may ask to change the radio station 😉
KathEats says
What IS your favorite then? Band? Song? : )
Amanda F says
I usually am listening to some sort of rock/metal or reggae. My husband and I joke that reggae is our happy music 🙂
KathEats says
Reggae is good too!
Tonya says
ohhhh i just don’t like country at all. LOL for so many reasons. I can name maybe 3 country songs that I don’t mind. I would have kept my opinion to myself, but for the fact that you specifically ASKED whether any of us DON’T like it. LOL
Tonya says
I DO love “Country Kath” in the cowboy hat and daisy dukes pic! LOL
KathEats says
haha!
Laura says
My favorite country sound is “You’re my better half” by Keith Urban!
Jessica Dumont says
I LOVE Crazy Girl, too! Also Lee Brice, I don’t Dance is a fave. Travis Tritt, Great Day to be Alive is another old fave. I love some of the newer stuff out right now 🙂
Steph says
Like you, I did not grow up a country music fan; in fact, for years and years I’d say, “I’d rather chew barbwire!” (than listen to country.) But then in high school, two sisters on my soccer team insisted on having Garth Brooks’s song, “Standing Outside the Fire” on our warm-up song playlist…and I thought, “THIS is country music??” Ever since then, country music has become one my favorite music genres! I’ve fallen in love with many country songs, including “Baby Girl” by Sugarland and “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” by Toby Keith. There are so many good ones out there!!
Sandra says
I was like you, hated country even though I lived on a dairy farm in West Marin (Nor Cal) up until I was 22. Some how 10 years later & living in L.A., I now love country music! Carried Away // George Straight, LOVE THIS SONG.
ErikaMC says
I use to hate country music. I remember my dad turning it on in the car and I would complain and cover my ears. Then sometime in middle school I stayed with my grandparents who were obsessed with country music and had it on 24 hours a day. The country awards show was on so of course they had to watch it and I heard Tayna Tuckers “If Your Heart Ain’t Busy Tonight” and I’ve been hooked ever since. My grandma has since passed but I now have country music on in the kitchen 24/7 and it reminds me of her.
Katie says
Well, I am from Texas even though I now live in California, and Texas country is a whole different genre. I love Texas country, and I am pretty meh about what I think of as Nashville country. If you want to check out Texas country, and I think you should (!), I highly recommend Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen, Pat Green, Roger Creager, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Cory Morrow, and Jack Ingram.
My favorite country artist, by far, is Willie Nelson. I also LOVE Dolly Parton. My favorite slow country song is “Feelin’ good again” by Robert Earl Keen. My favorite upbeat country song is “The road goes on forever (and the party never ends)” also by Robert Earl Keen. I also have a soft spot for Pat Green classics like “Carry on”.
KathEats says
Thanks for the recs!I know Pat Green and love a few of his! “Carry On” is so good!
KathEats says
OK I’ve been listening to Pat Green for the past 15 minutes and know all of his songs! I think I was obsessed with this album in high school.
Ashleigh M. says
Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)! I have to stop what I am doing and sing it every.single.time.
KathEats says
I know all the words!
John says
Used to HATE country, now its my fav. Pontoon by little big town
KathEats says
And I used to hate that song and now I love it!!
Katie @ Pea says
omg I LOVE country. I don’t even know how I’d pick just one song! I have a maaaassive favorites playlist!
Linda @ The Fitty says
Opinions on Taylor Swift? Do you think she’s no long country?
Pam says
Remember when by Alan Jackson is definitely up there as one if my all time faves. Another is Fly Over States by Jason Aldean. I love anything by Reba and Miranda Lambert as well 🙂
KathEats says
Love Fly Over States!
Chelsea says
I ADORE old country music…Hank Snow, Patsy Cline, George Jones, Jim Reeves, Tammy Wynestte…and I do love the Dixie Chicks..but I can’t stand the sound of new country. I don’t know if it’s the the twang or what, but it just does not sound good to me. But everyone is entitled to like what they like, and I am more than cool with it.
Houston Electrician says
Crazy Girl by the Eli Young Band will always be one of my favorites!
Andrea says
I’m in the don’t like country music camp! I don’t mind a few artists (Carrie Underwood, shania twain … If they’re even “true” country artists?), but most other songs drive me NUTS! I find heavy southern drawls aggravating to my ears (don’t ask me why, just always have …) and also am a city girl so hearing about tractors and beers and cows doesn’t interest me. I LOVE dance, house, electro music which other people can find super annoying so .. Yeah! To each their own, obviously!
Morgan says
People definitely have strong feelings about country music! I agree with a lot of what is said here, and I love the women country music voices I hear…Kacey Musgraves and Brandy Clark are favorites. BUT I really just came here to say that my favorite song is Sweet VA by a local Southwest VA band called Folk Soul Revival, and I’m just sharing because I thought you might like it too. It was our wedding song because it kinda fits our relationship, but it’s just a great song too. I hope you find it on Spotify and try it out!
KathEats says
Oh cool! Looking it up now
Katie D. says
I might be late getting on this, but have you seen the Forever Country mash-up??? I LOVE it and felt so emotional listening to it! http://www.forevercountry50.com/home
KathEats says
Oh. My. GOSH!!!!! I hadn’t seen that and I had chills the entire performance!!! SOOO GOOD!!! So many epic acts in that video – especially the star at the end : )
Lindsey says
Josh Turner – would You go with me? <3 My one and only country fave, but its an important one to me!
Lindsey says
I have a big love for Bollywood movies (and by extension, songs) though. Even though I can’t understand what they’re saying (usually I can get the jist through a quick google) I like that they’re just ~different~ from what we get on the radio or in friends’ cars.
Natalie Clark says
Country music has always been my favorite! I did go through a pretty emo music stage due to the boy I dated in high school, but I’ve always come back to country. I can’t narrow it down to my favorite song(s), but I would definitely recommend you start listening to (if you’re not already) Shane Smith and the Saints (country + folky), Cody Johnson, Turnpike Troubadours and, of course, I can’t get enough of Wade Bowen.
heather says
Shes everything by brad paisley *swoon*
Amanda says
I have too many faves to list, but two that always make me turn up the volume are “Forever and Ever Amen” by Randy Travis and “San Antonio Stroll” by Tanya Tucker. 🙂
Edye says
I grew up listening to country music. I love the songs “People Are Crazy” by Billy Currington and “The Dance” by Garth Brooks. 🙂