These are the best country songs of the last 10 years, and anyone who disagrees can …
Well, if you disagree you probably have a great point to make, because there is no objectively awesome way to make this kind of list without upsetting people.
Like we always do, the Taste of Country staff poured through hundreds of songs to shake free ones that were brilliant, but didn’t get their flowers.
Then we compared that list with country songs that did get awards, radio airplay and critical acclaim and started to shape a list of 10 we’ll stand behind.
Related: The 25 Best Country Songs of the Last 25 Years
Here are some of the artists you’ll find on this list of country music’s best songs from the last decade: Thomas Rhett, Tim McGraw, Sam Hunt, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson …
And here is a list of artists you won’t find: Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen, Jason Aldean …
Wins at multiple awards shows all but guarantee a spot on this list. Songs that reached No. 1, but failed to make a social impact, likely did not.
Our promise is you’ll agree with at least one song below — likely the No. 1 song, because that seems most obvious.
The fun part in researching the 10 best country songs of the last 10 years is realizing which “new” songs aren’t eligible because time has wings, apparently.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
The best country songs of the last 25 years were felt and heard. Commercial impact was a factor, but emotional impact is what separates these songs from others released in the 2000s.
Technically the century began in 2001, but we reached back to 2000 to summarize this list of top songs. Alan Jackson is the only artist with two songs, but you’ll find 11 Entertainer of the Year winners scattered across a playlist the required several stunning exclusions.
Curious as to why your favorite song missed the cut? Well, there are only 25 spots for the best of 25,000 country song releases. Hard decisions needed to be made!
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes