Best Country Songs of the Year

Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Chris Stapleton has maintained his reputation as one of country music’s most popular musicians with the song “Millionaire” off his album “From A Room: Volume 2.” The single has earned Stapleton a Grammy nomination for Best Country Solo Performance. Surprisingly, the song is one of two on the album not written by the singer. It was instead penned by songwriter Kevin Welch.

The five-time Grammy Award winners from Nashville have had 14 top 10 hits on the Hot Country Songs list, with their latest, “What If I Never Get Over You,” peaking at No. 5 in November.

Hailing from Asheville, North Carolina, singer Luke Combs has been a favorite on country radio since releasing his debut album in 2017. His 2019 follow-up, “What You See Is What You Get,” has been similarly successful. The second single from the album, “Even Though I’m Leaving,” peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and No. 11 on the Hot 100 — which includes songs of all genres — making it the artist’s best performing song on that chart.

The North Carolina native has had 16 top 10 hits in the Hot Country Songs chart. The nine-time Grammy nominated singer-songwriter recently reached the country top 10 with “Some Of It,” an introspective song about learning life’s lessons. The song topped out at No. 7 in July.

Old Dominion released their self-titled third studio album in 2019. The lead single, “Make It Sweet,” became the group’s seventh top 10 hit on the Hot Rock Songs chart, peaking at No. 8 in May. The catchy tune exists as a welcome reminder to make the most of life, even when it gets you down.

Dierks Bentley has yet to win a Grammy despite 14 nominations, but he’s built a large following, with 11 No. 1 hits on the Hot Country Songs chart and 24 top 10 singles. “Living” is about taking the time to enjoy the simple things of life. It reached No. 6 on the Hot Country Songs list in September.

Missouri-born singer-songwriter Chris Janson scored his third top 10 hit on the Hot Country Songs chart this past fall with “Good Vibes.” The song, about making an effort to have a positive attitude, was Janson’s most successful track in 2019.

Georgia-born Jason Aldean has enjoyed considerable success on the country charts with nine chart-toppers on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list and 31 top 10 hits overall. Aldean tapped into his R&B influences on “Girl Like You,” which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Jon Pardi had a busy 2019, collaborating with Brooks & Dunn on their album “Reboot” and releasing his own record, “Heartache Medication.” On top of all that, the singer was still enjoying the success of his 2016 album “California Sunrise.” “Night Shift,” the album’s fifth single, peaked on the Hot Country Songs chart in May 2019.

Russell Dickerson is a singer-songwriter from Union City, Tennessee, who’s placed three singles in the Billboard Hot Country Songs top 10 since 2018. “Every Little Thing” is a celebration of how the love of your life completes you. The single peaked at No. 5 on the country song chart in November.

Arkansas native Justin Moore scored his eighth top 10 hit on the Hot Country Songs chart with “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home.” The single — a tribute to those in the American military — was inspired by Moore’s grandfathers’ service.

Cole Swindell, who’s penned hits for country artists such as Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, and Florida Georgia Line, has carved out a successful singing career on his own, with two No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and eight top 10s. “Love You Too Late,” an uptempo song about heartbreak, peaked at No. 7 in November for the Georgia native.

“American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery released his single “This Is It” in early 2018, though it peaked on the Hot Country Songs Chart in March 2019. By reaching the No. 3 position, it became McCreery’s best-performing song on that chart to date. The song recounts the singer’s proposal to his now-wife, and its music video features footage from the wedding.

Former bull rider Cody Johnson was nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year in 2019. “On My Way To You,” a song about redemption, is the highest-charting song to date for the Texan, rising to No. 13 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in June.

Following the success of the single “Make It Sweet,” Old Dominion released “One Man Band” from the same album. The latter song is the band’s best performing track to date on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, reaching No. 2 in November 2019. It spent a total of 36 weeks on the chart.

Grammy Award-winning Texas native Maren Morris has had six top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Her current single is a soulful song about not rushing love titled “The Bones,” which has climbed to No. 4 on the country chart.

California pop country singer-songwriter Brett Young scored a No. 2 hit on the Hot Country Songs chart with “Here Tonight,” which was co-written with Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum among others. The song was in heavy rotation on radio and reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart.

“Rearview Town” is the title song and fourth single from Jason Aldean’s album, which topped the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums charts. The rock-sounding ballad peaked at No. 4 in August.

“She Got the Best of Me” — the fourth single off Grammy-nominated singer Luke Combs’ debut album “This One’s for You” — reached No. 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart in October 2018, but remained on the chart into 2019. The song’s lyrics describe a girl taking everything from the singer, leaving only his music. Combs penned the single while still in college.

“One Thing Right,” a song about regret over some of life’s choices and gratitude for finding a special person, is the lone chart-topping collaboration from Marshmello, an electronic music producer born Chris Comstock, and country singer Kane Brown. The song peaked in October.

Singer Chase Rice — who competed on the TV show “Survivor: Nicaragua” prior to embarking on his music career — scored his biggest country hit to date with “Eyes on You.” The song peaked at No. 3 on the Hot Country chart in April 2019, spending a total of 41 weeks on the chart. Rice reportedly knew the song, with lyrics that describe travelling with a significant other, would be a big hit prior to its release.

Arkansas singer-songwriter Matt Stell had a breakthrough hit with “Prayed For You.” The song is about holding on to the good things in life. It rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart in October.

“What Happens in a Small Town” is a duet by singers Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell that appears on Gilbert’s 2019 album “Fire & Brimstone.” The singer told country music website The Boot that the song was a late addition to the album after his label requested a stronger lead single. Gilbert and his songwriting team wanted to write “an uptempo, feel-good radio song” — a goal they undoubtedly accomplished.

The 26-year-old Tennessee native has had six top 10 hits, including chart-topper “Peter Pan” three years ago. “Miss Me More” is Kelsea Ballerini’s latest hit, a song about moving on from a broken relationship. The song, which draws on pop and rap influences, peaked at No. 7 in June and spent 33 weeks on the chart.

Crossover pop country singer Maren Morris’s “GIRL” implores those of the female sex to embrace their true selves. Peaking at No. 8 on the Hot Country Songs chart in August 2019, the song is one of six top 10 hits for 29-year-old performer.

“All To Myself,” the latest hit offering from the Grammy Award-winning duo of Pennsylvania native Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney from Arkansas, has a tropical flavor, and their fans apparently approve. The song went to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in August. It was their eighth top 10 hit.

Contemporary country artist Chris Lane, who mixes aspects of R&B in with his country, had his biggest Hot Country Songs hit to date with “I Don’t Know About You.” The single, in which Lane seeks out information from a new love interest, spent a total of 52 weeks on the chart, peaking at No. 2.

The 26-year-old native of Tennessee’s album “Experiment” went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spawned several singles, including “Good As You.” That single, celebrating the women in Brown’s life, peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Brown also appears on the list in a collaboration with Marshmello, “One Thing Right,” in the 21st spot.

Bro-country duo Florida Georgia Line released their fourth album, “Can’t Say I Ain’t Country” in February 2019. Among the album’s numerous singles is the R&B-tinged “Talk You Out of It,” which peaked at No. 11 on the country songs chart. The song’s popularity was buoyed by a music video starring band members Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard along with their wives.

This year, Thomas Rhett received his third Grammy nomination for Best Country Album for “Center Point Road,” which spawned the single “Look What God Gave Her,” a song that celebrates women. The single is the 14th top 10 for the Georgia native, reaching No. 3 in June.

While “Meant to Be” leans heavily towards the pop side of pop country, its popularity can’t be denied. The collaborative effort of singer Bebe Rexha and country duo Florida Georgia Line spent 50 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart — the most of any song in the chart’s history. It first peaked in December 2017 and remained on the chart well into April 2019.

Luke Bryan, Georgia native and son of a peanut farmer, has been a prolific hitmaker, with 11 chart-toppers and 28 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Four of his albums have gone to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The video for “Knockin’ Boots” shows canoodling couples and steamy dancing. The song peaked at No. 2 in September.

Hailing from Sumter, South Carolina, singer-songwriter Lee Brice fell just short of the top of the country songs chart this year with “Rumor,” which peaked at No. 2. The ballad about a small town love rumor spreading has has more than 100 million streams on Spotify.

“Tequila” is the biggest country hit for the Grammy Award-winning duo Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, spending four weeks atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and 66 weeks on the chart. The single was the pair’s third country No. 1. The song’s video features a love story between a female skier and a hiker who is deaf and was hailed for its message of inclusion.

Purveyor of “Trailer Trap,” country rapper Blanco Brown scored a chart-topping hit with “The Git Up.” The dance number’s popularity was encouraged by its usage on digital platforms TikTok and YouTube, where fans take the #GitUpChallenge.

With a title like “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” there is no doubt that this is a country song. The latest offering from North Carolina-born Luke Combs rose to No. 2 in August on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and it was his sixth top 10 hit.

Luke Combs scored his second No. 1 single on the Hot Country chart this year with “Beautiful Crazy,” which spent a total of 11 weeks in the top position. The single also helped Combs become the first artist to have their first five singles top the Country Airplay chart since the chart’s 1990 inception.

Hit machine Blake Shelton has churned out 14 chart-toppers on the Billboard Hot Country Songs, and “God’s Country” is the latest song to summit the country list, spending seven weeks atop the chart. The song contains the line “The devil went down to Georgia but he didn’t stick around,” which is a nod to the Charlie Daniels’ song “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”

Country duo Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney topped the country chart with “Speechless,” which was intended to capture the musicians’ feelings on their wedding days when they first laid eyes on their respective brides. The song stayed on the chart for an exceptional 56 weeks, nine of which were spent at No. 1.

“Whiskey Glasses” is the first Billboard Hot Country Songs chart-topper for the 26-year-old Tennessee native and former contestant on “The Voice.” Morgan Wallen said the lyrics to the song were inspired by a former girlfriend. The single spent two weeks at No. 1 and was on the country chart for 52 weeks.