When an artist covers a song that’s already popular, they always run the risk of facing criticism. But in these 10 cases, country artists were able to take successful songs from other genres and make them their own.
Whether it’s the massive success Luke Combs achieved covering Tracy Chapman‘s 1980s hit “Fast Car” or the emotional story behind Johnny Cash making an unlikely track from industrial rock superstars Nine Inch Nails his swan song, all of these artists gave some already massive hits a whole new look in country music.
Cover songs can sometimes breathe new life into a song that has long been resting on the shelf or give a new spin on a current hit. So, check out 10 Famous Country Covers of Already Popular Songs From Other Genres.
Luke Combs, “Fast Car”
Originally by Tracy Chapman
Combs of course saw massive success covering Tracy Chapman’s 1988 smash hit “Fast Car.” When Combs put it on his 2023 album Gettin Old it was a crossover hit, not only going No. 1 in Country, but also becoming a hit on contemporary radio. The top spot on the country chart made Chapman the first Black Woman to write a No. 1 Country song solo. She was the first Black woman to win a CMA Award when “Fast Car” won Song of the Year in 2023.
The Chicks, “Landslide”
Originally by Fleetwood Mac
“Landslide” was written by Stevie Nicks and appeared on the first ever Fleetwood Mac album. Nicks wrote the song as she made the decision to continue her dream of music and dating Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham over going back to school. The song, along with the album, was a hit.
The Chicks were not the first to cover the song as The Smashing Pumpkins gave the song their own spin as a B-side of a single in 1994, a version that Nicks herself approved.
In 2002, The Chicks put it on their album Home and it went No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary charts. A week following the No. 1 claim, Natalie Maines made her public comments about George Bush, and two weeks later it was nowhere to be found on any chart.
Johnny Cash, “Hurt”
Originally by Nine Inch Nails
First done by Nine Inch Nails, “Hurt” was on the 1994 album The Downward Spiral. The song was a smash hit and nominated for a Grammy in 1995 for Best Rock Song.
So, to try and redo that hit would be quite the undertaking. It would have to be done by a master, and that man was named Johnny Cash.
When Cash wanted to cover the song Reznor was flattered but worried due to the personal nature of the song, he told Alternative Press in 2004.
But, after Reznor saw the music video, he claimed that “Hurt” was no longer his song, that Cash had done it so well that it was now a Johnny Cash song. The video itself is often mentioned as one of the greatest music videos of all time.
Dwight Yoakam, “Purple Rain”
Originally by Prince
“Purple Rain” is synonymous with Prince. It was the title track from the Purple Rain album in 1984, which in turn became the soundtrack for the movie with the same name.
So it is kind of hard to think of Country when you think of “Purple Rain.” Yet, Yoakam did it.
Many have tried to tackle the song — including Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Stevie Wonder and even Chris Stapleton. But the Yoakam version made it onto his 2016 album Swimming Pools, Movie Stars….
Travis Tritt, “Take it Easy”
Originally by Eagles
Back in 1972, Eagles lead singer Glen Fry, along with Jackson Browne, wrote “Take it Easy.” The song only got to No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1973, but it’s routinely named as one of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest hits.
Browne himself recorded the song and released it in 1973 but it did not chart.
In 1993 Tritt recorded the hit, along with all five members of the Eagles, who at that time were performing together for the first time in 13 years. A few months later the Eagles got back together and started touring again.
Dierks Bentley, “Pride (In The Name Of Love)”
U2 first released “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” on their 1984 album The Unforgettable Fire with the song being their first single. The song, which was written about Martin Luther King Jr., has been covered before by a wide range of acts, including C&C Music Factory.
But Dierks Bentley tackled the song on his 2010 album Up on the Ridge, giving the song a bluegrass feel.
Cadillac Three, “Circles”
Originally by Post Malone
Post Malone has been working with country artists such as Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen, but this time the work went the other way.
Cadillac Three covered Post Malone’s massive hit “Circles” in 2020 as the world was sidelined due to Covid. The hit was Malone’s first ever solo No. 1 hit and the trio from Nashville did awesome with the cover.
Midland, “Wicked Game”
Originally by Chris Isaak
Chris Isaak’s 1989 hit was launched by a Nicolas Cage’s 1990 movie Wild at Heart. Midland tried their hand at the hit in 2020 as they too got bored during Covid and put down their version.
Toby Keith, “I’m So Happy, I Can’t Stop Crying”
Originally by Sting
Originally recorded and released by Sting in 1996, this song wasn’t a massive success for him until he teamed up with Toby Keith.
The two recorded the song for Keith’s 1997 album Dream Walkin’, which rose to No. 2 on the Hot Country chart, giving Sting his only country hit in his long career. It was also nominated for Best Country Collaboration at the 1997 Grammys.
Garth Brooks, “Shameless”
Originally by Billy Joel
In 1989 Billy Joel released his album Storm Front, which included “Shameless.” It did okay on its own, peaking at No. 40 on the U.S. charts but got new life two years later thanks to Garth Brooks and his wife Trisha Yearwood.
When the country powerhouse duo recorded and released the track in 1991, it went No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart. Brooks and Joel have teamed up and performed the song together live, most notably in 2011 when Brooks was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame by Billy Joel himself.