Top country songs of 2019
The predecessor to rock 'n' roll, country music is definitively American. The banjo鈥攖hat centerpiece of the genre鈥攊s an iteration of the West African lute brought to the United States by slaves, who figured the instruments centrally into the songs they wrote while in bondage. , which gave rise to hillbilly music, which borrowed heavily from religious hymns and slave spirituals. As time progressed, that hillbilly music grew into what came to be called, simply, country music.
More than any other musical genre, country music speaks to what it means to live in the United States and is often marked by deep and personal feelings of patriotism, Christian religiosity, love, commitment, and honor. As a genre so fastened to American culture and complicated history, country music has also greatly evolved since its beginnings hundreds of years ago.
While the "Grand Ol' Opry Sound" familiar throughout the 20th century is still central to the genre, today there is increased blending with other genres that include trap, pop, hip-hop, and rap at the margins. Since Nelly's collaboration with Tim McGraw for "Over and Over," there has been a marked increase in willingness among country artists for experimentation. This has created a wider spectrum of styles than what one may have expected from the country charts and more room for new fans to find something they like.
The genre has also waned a bit in popularity. Once the most popular genre of music in the nation, by hip-hop, pop, rock, R&B, and Latin music.
麻豆原创 looked at top country charts to determine the 25 top country songs in the United States for 2019. For the forthcoming gallery, 麻豆原创 compiled Billboard data on the (data released Dec. 5, 2019). Billboard uses a made up of Nielsen Music sales data, radio data, and streaming data to rank the tracks. While we cited the Billboard Hot 100 in our commentary, our listing relies on . Tracks published in previous years but released on singles that made the charts this year were considered for this gallery.
Keep reading to learn if your favorite country song from 2019 made the cut.
#25. 'The Bones' by Maren Morris
Released on the album 鈥淕IRL,鈥 Maren Morris鈥 鈥淭he Bones鈥 was the album鈥檚 second single on hot adult contemporary radio. , the song opines 鈥淭he house don't fall when the bones are good." on the Billboard charts, peaking at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100.
#24. 'Here Tonight' by Brett Young
The first single from Brett Young鈥檚 sophomore album 鈥淭icket to L.A.,鈥 鈥淗ere Tonight鈥 has been described as a steamy song about a man in love. This is reflected in , which ends with a couple necking in a car. on the Hot 100, peaking at 42 in April.
#23. 'Rearview Town' by Jason Aldean
鈥淩earview Town鈥 is the fourth single from Jason Aldean鈥檚 album 鈥淩earview Town.鈥 Like the three singles before it, in the Billboard Country Airplay chart. 鈥淩earview Town鈥 spent 18 weeks on the Billboard 100, peaking in August at #40.
#22. 'She Got The Best Of Me' by Luke Combs
When most people that are not country music fans think of country music, they imagine a lost soul pounding out a tough break story on a worn-out guitar. Luke Combs鈥 鈥淪he Got the Best of Me,鈥 off 鈥淭his One鈥檚 for You,鈥 appears to follow this pattern at first glance. However, the song鈥檚 music video actually chronicles Combs鈥 career trajectory from penning lyrics in a notebook to becoming a country star. Combs co-wrote while he was still in college. on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #31 in January 2019.
#21. 'One Thing Right' by Marshmello & Kane Brown
Marshmello and Kane Brown are an unlikely pairing. EDM star Marshmello, whose trademark helmet has become a viral hit on the internet, seems to be worlds away from the country superstar. However, "One Thing Right" meets the two in the middle with a light, catchy song about a lost soul finding redemption in his choice of loves. on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #36 in November.
#20. 'Eyes On You' by Chase Rice
Centered around a real-life story about a romantic night Chase Rice spent in Hawaii with a woman, 鈥溾 is a single from Rice鈥檚 2017 album 鈥淟ambs & Lions.鈥 on the Billboard Hot 100, and鈥攄espite its album dropping two years ago鈥攑eaked at #38 in May 2019.
#19. 'Prayed For You' by Matt Stell
Matt Stell鈥檚 debut single 鈥溾 is drawn from the experiences of Rice and co-writers Ash Bower and Allison Veltz, based on an organic conversation between the three about someone charmed by luck in most parts of their life. to reach the top spot since Jimmy Allen鈥檚 鈥溾 in 2018.
#18. 'What Happens in a Small Town' by Brantley Gilbert + Lindsay Ell
Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell鈥檚 鈥溾 is featured on Gilbert鈥檚 鈥淔ire & Brimstone.鈥 The song centers around how local landmarks from his hometown remind him of a past love (in Gilbert鈥檚 case, a past breakup with his now-wife, Amber). on the Hot 100 chart, peaking at #53 in November 2019.
#17.'Miss Me More' by Kelsea Ballerini
The unapologetic snapback single 鈥淢iss Me More鈥 details Kelsea Ballerini鈥檚 real-life breakup and subsequent rediscovery of herself. 鈥 on the Hot 100, peaking at #47 in June 2019.
#16. 'GIRL' by Maren Morris
Maren Morris won CMA's Best Album of the Year in 2019 for "GIRL." For the album's title track, , asserting that there is no need for her to compete with herself and that she should accept who she is. "GIRL" spent 21 weeks on the Hot 100, peaking at #44 in August 2019.
#15. 'All To Myself' by Dan + Shay
The third single from pop-country duo Dan + Shay鈥檚 self-titled album, 鈥淎ll to Myself鈥 offers a traditional love song with a Caribbean flair. on the Hot 100, peaking at #31 in August 2019.
#14. 'I Don't Know About You' by Chris Lane
Essentially a pick-up line set to music, Chris Lane鈥檚 鈥淚 Don鈥檛 Know About You鈥 is a slow jam where the narrator is trying to seduce a woman in a bar. The track is the second single off Lane's sophomore album, 鈥淟aps Around the Sun.鈥 鈥淚 Don鈥檛 Know About You鈥 spent 20 weeks on the Hot 100, peaking at #39 in October 2019.
#13. 'Good As You' by Kane Brown
鈥淕ood as You鈥 is the second single on Kane Brown鈥檚 second album 鈥淓xperiment.鈥 The ballad鈥檚 lyrics are about wanting to be a better man. on the Hot 100 chart, peaking at #36 in June 2019.
#12. 'Talk You Out Of It' by Florida Georgia Line
The R&B-influenced balled 鈥淭alk You Out of It鈥 by Florida Georgia Line is hat co-writer Hunter Phelps called that album鈥檚 The track spent 26 weeks on the Hot 100, peaking at #57 in August 2019.
#11. 'Look What God Gave Her' by Thomas Rhett
"Look What God Gave Her," off Thomas Rhett's fourth studio album "Center Point Road," is a , Instagram influencer Lauren Akins. The song is a list of Akins' best qualities, as well as a moment of introspection when Rhett wonders about the God that created her. In a first for Rhett's career, the musician co-wrote all of the tracks on "Center Point Road." on the Hot 100, peaking at #32 in June 2019.
#10. 'Meant To Be' by Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
鈥淢eant to Be鈥 is a track off of two Bebe Rexha albums, 鈥淎ll Your Fault: Pt. 2鈥 (2017) and 鈥淓xpectations鈥 (2018). Featuring Florida Georgia Line, there are two versions of the song: one where Rexha sings the first half of the verse alone before being joined by Florida Georgia Line, and one where Florida Georgia Line sings the first verse and the first version of the chorus before Rexha takes over. The best-performing country song of the year, on the Hot 100, reaching the second position in March 2018.
#9. 'Knockin' Boots' by Luke Bryan
鈥淜nockin鈥 Boots鈥 was released in April 2019 as the lead-up single to Luke Bryan鈥檚 forthcoming seventh album. The track , peaking at 31 in September 2019.
#8.'Rumor' by Lee Brice
The second single into Lee Brice鈥檚 self-titled album, 鈥淩umor鈥 is about a small-town man and woman who is in a long-term, but wholly platonic relationship. Due to their closeness, rumors are circulating around them at the same time the man is ready to take the relationship to the next level. on the Hot 100, peaking at #25 in June 2019.
#7. 'Tequila' by Dan + Shay
With a name like 鈥淭equila,鈥 one could expect a drinking song from Dan + Shay. The Grammy Award-winning song is a heartbreak song that deals with breakup, regret, and remorse. on the Hot 100, peaking at #21 on June 2018.
#6. 'The Git Up' by Blanco Brown
Thought to be a possible sequel to Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road," Blanco Brown's "The Git Up" seeks to take up the mantle of hit country rap. "The Git Up" is the first single from Brown's first studio album, "Honeysuckle & Lightning Bugs." In July, on the Billboard Hot Country Song chart.
#5. 'Beer Never Broke My Heart' by Luke Combs
The pragmatic song 鈥淏eer Never Broke My Heart,鈥 off Luke Combs鈥 second studio album 鈥淲hat You See is What You Get,鈥 is the first of two Combs tunes in our top five. Drawing a line of skepticism, Combs argues that beer never did him wrong, like many of the loves in his life. The on the chart, hitting #21 in April 2019.
#4. 'Beautiful Crazy' by Luke Combs
鈥淏eautiful Crazy鈥 was the Country Music Awards鈥 Song of the Year., it is a love song about a woman with a free spirit. The song was released, however, before the two started to date. The song spent 31 weeks on the Hot 100, with the song peaking at 21 in April 2019.
#3. 'God's Country' by Blake Shelton
The first single from Blake Shelton鈥檚 compilation album 鈥淔ully Loaded: God鈥檚 Country,鈥 鈥淕od鈥檚 Country鈥 was an accidental hit. while working on his farm and was enthralled by it. 鈥淕od鈥檚 Country鈥 spent 23 weeks on the Hot 100, peaking at #17 in July 2019.
#2. 'Speechless' by Dan + Shay
A track from the duo鈥檚 self-titled third album, 鈥淪peechless鈥 was seeing their wives walk down the aisle on their respective wedding days. Not only was the duo married within a few months of each other, but they were also each other鈥檚 groomsmen. on the Hot 100, with the song peaking at #24 in January 2019.
#1. 'Whiskey Glasses' by Morgan Wallen
The best country song of 2019, per Billboar data, is "Whiskey Glasses" by Morgan Wallen. The tune is about a man drinking to numb the pain of being left by a woman he's in love with. "Whiskey Glasses" is the third single from the studio album "If I Know Me." on the Hot 100, peaking at 17 on June 2019.