Country music has never had more reach than it does right now — its songs are crossing genre boundaries, topping general pop charts and reaching listeners who would not traditionally have identified with the genre. This guide covers the key tracks worth knowing: recent streaming and chart hits, songs that have broken into the mainstream and a handful of older tracks that remain essential cultural references.
Country Music Chart Hits: 2020–2024
Morgan Wallen's "Last Night" (2023) spent nineteen weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, a record for any country track. His earlier "Wasted on You" (2021) was one of the most-streamed country songs of that year. Zach Bryan's "I Remember Everything" (featuring Kacey Musgraves, 2023) reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, a significant achievement for an artist who had built his audience almost entirely through grassroots streaming rather than radio. Luke Combs' cover of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" (2023) returned the song to the charts more than thirty years after the original recording, with Combs' version becoming one of the year's biggest country music hits.
Country Music Songs That Crossed Into the Mainstream
Country music has consistently produced crossover tracks that reach listeners far beyond the genre's core audience. "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X (2019) — which began as a country track before being controversially removed from the country charts — broke streaming records globally. Kacey Musgraves' "Rainbow" (2019) won Grammy Awards for both Best Country Song and Best Country Album (as part of Golden Hour) and is widely cited by listeners who had not previously engaged with the genre. Chris Stapleton's "Tennessee Whiskey" (2015) achieved radio crossover through a CMA performance with Justin Timberlake that introduced the song to tens of millions of new listeners.
Classic Country Music Songs You Should Know
"Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks (1990) remains one of the most requested songs at country concerts globally and a cultural shorthand for the genre's communal, unpretentious spirit. "Jolene" by Dolly Parton (1973) has been covered by more artists than almost any other country song and is frequently cited as one of the great popular songs of the twentieth century regardless of genre. "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash (1963) and "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton (1974 original; the Whitney Houston cover from 1992 is the better-known version) are both songs that transcend the genre's audience entirely.
New Country Music Worth Hearing Right Now
Lainey Wilson's "Heart Like a Truck" (2022) and "Whittlin' on a Stick" show the full range of her approach — from anthemic mainstream country to folk-influenced storytelling. Zach Bryan's "Oklahoma Smokeshow" and "Something in the Orange" became streaming phenomena before he achieved mainstream chart success. Tyler Childers, based in Kentucky and working in an Appalachian folk and country tradition, has built a devoted audience with recordings such as "Whitehouse Road" and "All Your'n". For a fuller view of the artists behind these tracks, see the artists guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did 'Last Night' by Morgan Wallen stay at number one?
Morgan Wallen's 'Last Night' spent nineteen non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, a record for any song in the format's history at the time of its run in 2023. It also set streaming records on multiple platforms. Wallen had previously had one of the most successful streaming runs of any artist since the early years of the format, with his double album Dangerous (2021) generating significant chart and streaming performance over a sustained period.
Why was 'Old Town Road' removed from the country charts?
Billboard removed 'Old Town Road' by Lil Nas X from the Hot Country Songs chart in March 2019, stating that it did not 'currently merit inclusion' in the chart based on the genre's country elements. The decision was immediately controversial, with critics arguing it reflected racial bias — previous songs with similarly hybrid sounds had not been removed. A subsequent remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus was not resubmitted to the country chart. The song went on to spend nineteen weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, then a record.
What is 'Tennessee Whiskey' by Chris Stapleton about?
'Tennessee Whiskey' is a song originally written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove and first recorded by David Allan Coe in 1981. George Jones recorded a version in 1983 that reached the top of the country charts. Stapleton's 2015 version, produced by Dave Cobb, became a massive commercial success after Stapleton performed it with Justin Timberlake at the CMA Awards in November 2015. The performance went viral and the song subsequently achieved broad radio crossover. Stapleton's version is now the definitive recording for most listeners.
Is 'Jolene' the best-known song in the genre?
'Jolene' by Dolly Parton (1973) has a claim to being the most universally recognised title in the genre, though 'I Will Always Love You' (also Parton, 1974) is equally famous internationally due to Whitney Houston's 1992 cover. Both songs were written by Parton in the same week in 1973. 'Jolene' has been covered by hundreds of artists across genres including Olivia Newton-John, Mindy Smith, Jack White and Miley Cyrus. Its opening guitar riff and the specific jealousy of its narrative have made it one of the most discussed popular songs of the twentieth century.
Who is Tyler Childers?
Tyler Childers is a singer-songwriter from Lawrence County, Kentucky, working in a tradition of Appalachian folk and country that draws on the region's musical heritage. He released his breakthrough album Purgatory in 2017, produced by Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson, which brought him significant critical attention. His 2019 album Country Squire and his 2022 album Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven furthered his reputation as one of the most serious songwriters working in the genre. His audience is devoted and passionate, though he has deliberately limited mainstream media engagement.
What makes Zach Bryan different from mainstream country?
Zach Bryan built his audience almost entirely through self-released recordings shared on social media platforms, bypassing the Nashville label system entirely during his early career. His recordings — often made quickly and with minimal production — have a directness and emotional rawness that distinguishes them from the polished mainstream. His debut for a major label, Zach Bryan (2023), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and broke streaming records. Critics and fans have consistently cited his authenticity, prolific output and willingness to explore difficult subjects as the basis of his appeal.
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