Top 10 Country Songs Of All Time

Billboard magazine rates the top-performing country music songs in the US through Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts.

In 2012, a new technique was introduced, Hot Country Songs, that ranks country songs depending on digital streaming, downloading, and airplay from all kinds of platforms, not just country channels. Country Airplay, which started posting in 2012, is purely based on country radio airplay, a strategy that was actually used for Hot Country Songs from 1990 to 2012.

Every week Billboard releases a list of the best and most-listened country songs in the United States. It is impossible to select any one track for the first rank. I don’t know what kind of native songs genre you are looking for, but here I am sharing the collection of the top 10 country songs of all time:

• I Walk The Line
• Crazy
• I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
• Jolene
• Jackson
• I Hope You Dance
• Take Me Home, Country Roads
• Always On My Mind
• The Gambler
• I Will Always Love You

10. I Will Always Love You

The country version of the song has been released on Porter Wagner’s farewell, a boss and former music partner of Dolly Parton. The track was seen twice at number one in the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1974 and 1982. Whitney Houston also sang her version of I Will Always Love You for The bodyguard movie in 1992. And this version also holds the records on Billboard’s Hot Chart list and is ranked as the best-selling solo track of all time.

9. The Gambler

In 1976, this country song was written by Don Schlitz but took two years to record. Many singers have recorded this country track- The Gambler, but it gained fame from Kenny Rogers. Even the song was added to the Billboard charts, as well as Kenny received a Grammy Award for this song as Best Male Vocal Performance in 1980.

8. Always On My Mind

Willie Nelson’s single track has been one of the most popular of thousands of versions of ‘Always on My Mind,’ which also won two Grammy Awards in 1982. It stayed in the fifth position for twenty-three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. On October 7, 1991, RIAA also certified platinum to this solo song. Along with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson performed this track in 1998. It was also played in the HBO series ‘The Newsroom’ season 2 episodes. Its original composition is written by Johnny Christopher, Wayne Carson, and Mark James.

7. Take Me Home, Country Roads

John Denver’s single track was recorded in 1972 and held the second rank on the Billboard US Hot singles chart in the August month of the same year. It got great success at initial days, RIAA certified both Gold and Platinum in 1971 and 2017, respectively. In the US, 1.6 million digital copies of this track are sold. It became the official anthem of West Virginia state.

6. I Hope You Dance

Lee Ann Womack’s signature song ranked first on the Billboard country songs and took 14th position on billboard hot 100 charts. Lee Ann Womack recorded a chorus alongside Sons Of The Desert (Drew and Tim). This song won many awards, such as the 2001 Country Music Association Award, Academy of Country Music, Nashville Songwriters Association International, and Broadcast Music Incorporated awards. It also achieved the best country song Grammy Award.

5. Jackson

Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber wrote this song in 1963, but it got fame from 1967 two versions, one is sung by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood, which took 14th rank in Billboard Hot 100. Other is recorded by Johnny Cash and June Carter, which are more adored by the listeners and ranked two on Billboard Country singles chart. It was also featured in the movie The Help in 2011.

4. Jolene

Dolly Parton composed and sang this song at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1973. It is her most covered song by several artists. This song’s inspiration is the newly married woman who flirts with her husband Carl Dean at his local bank branch. This song’s name is based on her young fan, Jolene, who came on stage for an autograph. She wrote this song on the same day when she penned another famous country song, I Will Always Love You.

3. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry

Hank Williams composes and records the original classic version of this song. It also holds the third position on the top list of the 100 greatest country songs of all time. It appeared many times on the chart of Billboard Hot 100 and country singles since 1966. It is one of the saddest and heartbreaking country songs ever. Several artists also sang its cover song with differing popularity.

2. Crazy

Willie Nelson composed this country song in 1961, also love Cline’s version. And many musicians sang its cover song in several genres. But the most popular is Patsy Cline track, which has the genre of country and traditional pop. In 1962, this cover was number two on the list of country hits. It is one of her signature tracks. Audiences put this song on their jukebox to get the feel of a country-pop song.

1. I Walk The Line

In 1956, Johnny Cash composed and recorded the song ‘I Walk The Line. This track was the first song that took number one spot on Billboard charts. Its genre is rockabilly and country. Its two million copies are sold and held on the chart for 43 weeks. The playback of the guitar play inspired him to compose the song. The song’s lyrics refer to marital commitment, personal responsibility, avoiding temptation, and immoral behaviour.

There’s a lot more on this list than just the Top 10 Country Songs of All Time. Also, take a look at the best country songs of 2023.

Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” is currently at the top of the charts as of the chart from February 11, 2023. Despite the fact that “Take a Little Ride” by Jason Aldean was the first song to reach number one under the Country Airplay label, Billboard considers Clint Black’s “Nobody’s Home” to be the first single to reach number one on the Hot Country Songs chart, which has existed since 1990. As of the chart dated February 11, 2023, “Whiskey on You” by Nate Smith is the top song.

What are your memories of Country Songs? Whose track is popular among listeners? I hope you like the ten top tracks of Country songs. If you haven’t heard these songs yet, click on the link above and listen to them and give your opinion about which country song you like the most?