Year in review: best country songs of 2017
The 51st annual Country Music Association Awards put an exclamation point on what's been a lively year for country music. Garth Brooks was named entertainer of the year for the second consecutive time and fifth overall, while Miranda Lambert was dubbed female vocalist of the year for the seventh time in eight years. Among those nominated and those left off the final ballots, there were plenty of memorable songs put out by artists both big and small.
To narrow down the songs that struck a chord with listeners in 2017, the folks at 麻豆原创 ranked the 50 most popular country songs of the year based on all-time Spotify plays. The list features country songs that rose in popularity in 2017, including a handful of titles that were released in the latter part of 2016 but gained prominence the following year.
Each song in the top 50 was played over 19 million times on Spotify, with the top nine songs receiving more than 59 million streams. Three different artists had three songs make the top 50: Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, and Maren Morris. Rhett and Morris each received credit for their shared song "Craving You," which makes an appearance in the top 10.
#50: Like I Loved You
Artist: Brett Young
Spotify Plays: 19,880,000
Release Date: 2017
The third single off Young鈥檚 self-titled debut album 鈥 following 鈥淪leep Without You鈥 and 鈥淚n Case You Didn鈥檛 Know鈥 鈥 鈥淟ike I Loved You鈥 is a song about the fruitless attempts exes make to remain friends after breaking up. It was co-written by Young and Jesse Lee and made its radio debut on July 17, 2017.
#49: My Old Man
Artist: Zac Brown Band
Spotify Plays: 20,232,000
Release Date: 2017
Zac Brown Band released 鈥淢y Old Man鈥 as the lead single for their fifth studio album 鈥淲elcome Home.鈥 In this emotional song, lead singer Zac Brown sings about his own now-deceased father, and details the lessons he learned from him as a young boy. Brown then sings about how he tries to emulate his father with his own young son.
#48: Today
Artist: Brad Paisley
Spotify Plays: 21,074,000
Release Date: 2017
鈥淭oday鈥 is the lead single from Paisley鈥檚 11th studio album 鈥淟ove and War.鈥 It debuted in October at No. 1 on Billboard鈥檚 Country Music Digital Chart. The song is about living in the now and cherishing life鈥檚 happy moments as they happen.
#47: They Don't Know
Artist: Jason Aldean
Spotify Plays: 21,315,000
Release Date: 2016
鈥淭hey Don鈥檛 Know鈥 is the fourth single off Alden鈥檚 album of the same name. In it, Aldean talks about the various misconceptions people have about small towns. Aldean grew up in Macon, Georgia, which is about 85 miles south of Atlanta.
#46: Tin Man
Artist: Miranda Lambert
Spotify Plays: 21,806,000
Release Date: 2016
Lambert released "Tin Man" as the third single from her sixth studio album "The Weight of These Wings," for which she won album of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards. "Tin Man" was nominated for single of the year and song of the year at the CMA Awards, losing to "Blue Ain't Your Color" and "Better Man," respectively.
#45: You Broke Up With Me
Artist: Walker Hayes
Spotify Plays: 23,149,000
Release Date: 2017
鈥淵ou Broke Up With Me鈥 is Hayes鈥 lead single off his album 鈥渂oom.鈥 According to Hayes, it鈥檚 about him losing out on a and the fair-weathered friends who left him when his career stalled, only to come back after he鈥檇 started to regain success.
#44: Love Triangle
Artist: RaeLynn
Spotify Plays: 23,987,000
Release Date: 2017
ReaLynn released 鈥淟ove Triangle鈥 as the lead single from her debut studio album 鈥淲ildHorse.鈥 The emotional song was inspired by RaeLynn鈥檚 experience as a , and how her parents鈥 arguments left her feeling isolated. The personal nature of the lyrics drew rave reviews from critics.
#43: Drinkin' Problem
Artist: Midland
Spotify Plays: 24,510,000
Release Date: 2017
鈥淒rinkin鈥 Problem鈥 is the lead single from Midland鈥檚 debut album 鈥淥n the Rocks.鈥 Lead singer Mark Wystrach sings about how he turns to alcohol to cope with his heartache, noting 鈥淧eople say I got a drinkin鈥 problem / But I got no problem drinkin鈥 at all.鈥
#42: Every Time I Hear That Song
Artist: Blake Shelton
Spotify Plays: 24,781,000
Release Date: 2016
The fifth and final single off of Shelton鈥檚 10th studio album 鈥淚f I鈥檓 Honest,鈥 鈥淓very Time I Hear That Song鈥 is about a recently broken-up man that thinks back on his past relationship when he hears 鈥渢hat song.鈥 The song peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on July 15, 2017.
#41: Smooth
Artist: Florida Georgia Line
Spotify Plays: 25,351,000
Release Date: 2016
"Smooth" is the fourth single from Florida Georgia Line's third studio album "Dig Your Roots." It features the duo's signature, light-hearted style, and spent seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
#40: Somethin' I'm Good At
Artist: Brett Eldredge
Spotify Plays: 26,033,000
Release Date: 2017
Eldredge鈥檚 鈥淪omethin鈥 I鈥檓 Good At鈥 is a light-hearted song that celebrates the idiosyncrasies that make the singer unique, including both his flaws and strengths. It was the lead single off Eldredge鈥檚 self-titled fourth studio album.
#39: Losing Sleep
Artist: Chris Young
Spotify Plays: 27,086,000
Release Date: 2017
鈥淟osing Sleep鈥 peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart on Nov. 11, 2017. Young the song as the 鈥渕ost pop-leaning song鈥 he鈥檚 ever done. The song and album of the same name were well-received by both fans and critics.
#38: If I Told You
Artist: Darius Rucker
Spotify Plays: 28,518,000
Release Date: 2017
Rucker鈥檚 lead single off his fifth country album 鈥淲hen Was the Last Time鈥 is about a man鈥檚 trepidations with revealing his past faults as he begins a new relationship. It reached No. 1 on Billboard鈥檚 Country Airplay chart, his first No. 1 song since 2013鈥檚 鈥淲agon Wheel.鈥
#37: Road Less Traveled
Artist: Lauren Alaina
Spotify Plays: 28,877,000
Release Date: 2017
It was a big year for Alaina, who was nominated at the CMA Awards for new artist of the year on the strength of her second studio album 鈥淩oad Less Traveled.鈥 The lead single of the same name charted well, with critics praising its country-rock sound.
#36: You Look Good
Artist: Lady Antebellum
Spotify Plays: 29,123,000
Release Date: 2017
Lady Antebellum's lead single from their album "Heart Break" peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard chart. The song was co-written by Ryan Hurd and his fiance, Maren Morris.
#35: When It Rains It Pours
Artist: Luke Combs
Spotify Plays: 30,307,000
Release Date: 2017
It seems everybody鈥檚 had that one day where everything went wrong. 鈥淲hen It Rains It Pours鈥 flips that idea on its head, with the narrator鈥檚 day starting off with a breakup but subsequently featuring a series of fortunate events. The song was the second single released from Combs鈥 debut album 鈥淭his One鈥檚 for You.鈥
#34: All On Me
Artist: Devin Dawson
Spotify Plays: 31,187,000
Release Date: 2017
Dawson first broke onto the country scene in 2014 when he released a of Taylor Swift songs as a student at Belmont University. 鈥淎ll On Me鈥 is his first single, and it turned into a hit, peaking at No. 20 on Billboard鈥檚 Hot Country Songs chart.
#33: Seein' Red
Artist: Dustin Lynch
Spotify Plays: 31,368,000
Release Date: 2017
鈥淪eein鈥 Red鈥 served as the lead single off Lynch鈥檚 third studio album 鈥淐urrent Mood.鈥 It peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in late February, his fourth single to achieve that feat.
#32: Yours If You Want It
Artist: Rascal Flatts
Spotify Plays: 32,418,000
Release Date: 2017
Rascal Flatts released their 10th studio album and first since 2014 entitled 鈥淏ack to Us,鈥 with 鈥淵ours If You Want It鈥 serving as the lead single. It was the band鈥檚 , and first since 鈥淚 Like the Sound of That.鈥
#31: Setting The World On Fire
Artist: Kenny Chesney Featuring P!nk
Spotify Plays: 32,516,000
Release Date: 2017
This cross-genre collaboration was the second single released from Chesney's 16th studio album "Cosmic Hallelujah." The song has P!nk singing the chorus about an on-top-of-the-world duo feeling the rush of living in the moment. P!nk's upbeat vocals pair nicely with Chesney's typical laid-back style, and the song peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Digital Songs chart.
#30: Greatest Love Story
Artist: LANco
Spotify Plays: 33,354,000
Release Date: 2016
鈥淕reatest Love Story,鈥 tells a tale of young love, and the trials and tribulations faced by a couple living in a small town. It was released as a single off LANco鈥檚 album 鈥淓xtended Play.鈥
#29: There's A Girl
Artist: Trent Harmon
Spotify Plays: 33,928,000
Release Date: 2016
鈥淭here鈥檚 A Girl鈥 was released shortly after Trent Harmon won season 15 of 鈥淎merican Idol." The song is about all the foolish things the singer has done throughout his life in an attempt to impress a girl. 鈥淭here鈥檚 A Girl鈥 peaked at No. 48 on Billboard鈥檚 Country Digital Sales chart.
#28: I Could Use A Love Song
Artist: Maren Morris
Spotify Plays: 35,398,000
Release Date: 2016
Thanks in part to the success of 鈥淚 Could Use a Love Song,鈥 Morris was nominated for female vocalist of the year at the CMA Awards. The song was the third single off Moren鈥檚 major label debut studio album 鈥淗ero鈥 and peaked at No. 13 on Billboard鈥檚 Hot Country Songs chart.
#27: More Girls Like You
Artist: Kip Moore
Spotify Plays: 36,102,000
Release Date: 2017
In this song, Moore gives praise to 鈥済irls like you鈥 that help him balance his life. 鈥淢ore Girls Like You鈥 is the lead single off Moore鈥檚 third studio album 鈥淪lowheart,鈥 followed by 鈥淟ast Shot.鈥
#26: 80s Mercedes
Artist: Maren Morris
Spotify Plays: 36,955,000
Release Date: 2016
The second single off Morris' "Hero," "80s Mercedes" draws some influence from 80s songs, Don Henley's "Boys of Summer." It peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
#25: For Her
Artist: Chris Lane
Spotify Plays: 38,595,000
Release Date: 2016
Lane features a pop influence and an upbeat tempo in 鈥淔or Her,鈥 the second single in his extended play 鈥淔ix.鈥 The song was produced by Joey Moi, who also produced Florida Georgia Line鈥檚 third studio album 鈥淒ig Your Roots.鈥
#24: Heartache On The Dance Floor
Artist: Jon Pardi
Spotify Plays: 38,923,000
Release Date: 2016
鈥淗eartache on the Dance Floor鈥 is the third single off Pardi鈥檚 second studio album 鈥淐alifornia Sunrise.鈥 The was fittingly shot on Venice Beach, California. Pardi was named new artist of the year at the CMA Awards, beating out a group that included Old Dominion and Lauren Alaina.
#23: A Guy With A Girl
Artist: Blake Shelton
Spotify Plays: 39,013,000
Release Date: 2016
鈥淎 Guy with a Girl鈥 is the fourth single off Shelton鈥檚 鈥淚f I鈥檓 Honest.鈥 The song reflects on Shelton鈥檚 , and how her fame and notoriety overshadowed his own.
#22: Flatliner
Artist: Cole Swindell
Spotify Plays: 39,803,000
Release Date: 2016
鈥淔latliner鈥 is an upbeat track that served as the third single from Swindell鈥檚 second studio album 鈥淵ou Should Be Here.鈥 The song peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Aug. 19, 2017.
#21: No Such Thing As A Broken Heart
Artist: Old Dominion
Spotify Plays: 40,270,000
Release Date: 2017
鈥淣o Such Thing as a Broken Heart鈥 is the lead single from Old Dominion鈥檚 second studio album 鈥淗appy Endings.鈥 The group performed the song at the 51st CMA Awards on November 8th. Old Dominion was nominated at the event for vocal group of the year and new artist of the year, losing out to Little Big Town and Jon Pardi, respectively.
#20: The Weekend
Artist: Brantley Gilbert
Spotify Plays: 43,135,000
Release Date: 2017
鈥淭he Weekend鈥 has a country-rock sound that鈥檚 become a staple of Gilbert鈥檚 style. The song颅 is the lead single off Gilbert鈥檚 fourth studio album 鈥淭he Devil Don鈥檛 Sleep.鈥 Gilbert co-wrote the song with Andrew DeRoberts entirely , before the two had ever met in person.
#19: How Not To
Artist: Dan + Shay
Spotify Plays: 44,508,000
Release Date: 2016
Dan + Shay released 鈥淗ow Not To鈥 as the second single from their second studio album 鈥淥bsessed.鈥 The song has a more bittersweet storyline than their previous hits, but that only bolstered its success 鈥 鈥淗ow Not To鈥 peaked at No. 1 on Billboard鈥檚 Country Airplay chart, their No. 1 hit.
#18: Any Ol' Barstool
Artist: Jason Aldean
Spotify Plays: 44,625,000
Release Date: 2016
鈥淎ny Ol鈥 Barstool鈥 is the third single from Aldean鈥檚 seventh studio album 鈥淭hey Don鈥檛 Know.鈥 It peaked at No. 11 on Billboard鈥檚 Country Streaming Songs and is about the singer dealing with a recent breakup.
#17: Better Man
Artist: Little Big Town
Spotify Plays: 45,048,000
Release Date: 2017
Little Big Town released 鈥淏etter Man鈥 as the lead single off their eighth studio album 鈥淭he Breaker.鈥 The song was written by Taylor Swift and won song of the year at the CMA Awards. It was also nominated for single of the year and music video of the year.
#16: Unforgettable
Artist: Thomas Rhett
Spotify Plays: 47,006,000
Release Date: 2017
鈥淯nforgettable鈥 is told from the vantage point of the narrator watching the early stages of his current relationship and highlighting fond memories. The song was the second single off Rhett鈥檚 third studio album 鈥淟ife Changes鈥 and peaked at No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100.
#15: Hometown Girl
Artist: Josh Turner
Spotify Plays: 49,044,000
Release Date: 2017
鈥淗ometown Girl鈥 was released as the second single from Turner鈥檚 sixth studio album 鈥淒eep South.鈥 It鈥檚 Turner鈥檚 first album release since 2012鈥檚 鈥淧unching Bag,鈥 marking the longest break in between albums since he put out his debut effort, 鈥淟ong Black Train,鈥 in 2003.
#14: Black
Artist: Dierks Bentley
Spotify Plays: 49,955,000
Release Date: 2016
Bentley released 鈥淏lack鈥 as the third single off his album of the same name. The album sold 88,000 copies in its first week, marking the best-selling week of the singer鈥檚 career. His previous high was 82,000 with 2006鈥檚 鈥淟ong Trip Alone.鈥
#13: God, Your Mama, And Me
Artist: Florida Georgia Line Featuring Backstreet Boys
Spotify Plays: 54,453,000
Release Date: 2016
鈥淕od, Your Mama, and Me鈥 is the second single from Florida Georgia Line鈥檚 album 鈥淒ig Your Roots鈥 to make the list. True to form, the duo features some cross-genre collaboration, with pop group Backstreet Boys featured on the track. The song debuted at No. 92 on the Billboard Hot 100, which was the Backstreet Boys鈥 first Hot 100 hit since 2007鈥檚 鈥淚nconsolable.鈥
#12: The Fighter
Artist: Keith Urban Featuring Carrie Underwood
Spotify Plays: 54,586,000
Release Date: 2016
The fifth and final single from Urban鈥檚 album 鈥淩ipcord,鈥 鈥淭he Fighter鈥 features an up-tempo pop beat, with Underwood singing the hook. Urban reportedly wrote part of the song while , and the lyrics were inspired by his relationship with Nicole Kidman.
#11: Small Town Boy
Artist: Dustin Lynch
Spotify Plays: 54,601,000
Release Date: 2017
Just missing out on the top 10 is Lynch鈥檚 鈥淪mall Town Boy,鈥 the second single off his album 鈥淐urrent Mood.鈥 The song achieved certified Gold status, making it the fastest-rising song of Lynch鈥檚 career.
#10: My Girl
Artist: Dylan Scott
Spotify Plays: 54,675,000
Release Date: 2016
鈥淢y Girl鈥 is the third single off Scott鈥檚 self-titled debut album. It peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100, his first song to reach the chart. The song features the singer about his girlfriend at the time, who is now his wife.
#9: Star Of The Show
Artist: Thomas Rhett
Spotify Plays: 59,714,000
Release Date: 2016
Rhett enjoyed a stream of success with his album 鈥淭angled,鈥 which included the singles 鈥淐rash and Burn,鈥 鈥淒ie a Happy Man,鈥 鈥淭-Shirt鈥 and 鈥淰acation.鈥 The fifth and final single off the album was 鈥淪tar of the Show,鈥 which features Rhett鈥檚 standard upbeat tempo and guitar chords. Rhett had performed the song live years before he recorded it, only hitting the studio after fans about the track on social media.
#8: Dirt On My Boots
Artist: Jon Pardi
Spotify Plays: 60,340,000
Release Date: 2016
Pardi put out 鈥淒irt on My Boots鈥 as the second single from his second studio album 鈥淐alifornia Sunrise.鈥 It was the first song Pardi released after his No. 1 hit 鈥淗ead Over Boots鈥 and peaked at No. 27 on Billboard鈥檚 Digital Song Sales chart.
#7: Craving You
Artist: Thomas Rhett Featuring Maren Morris
Spotify Plays: 61,089,000
Release Date: 2017
鈥淐raving You鈥 is the lead single off Rhett鈥檚 third studio album 鈥淟ife Changes.鈥 The song has a more upbeat, bass-heavy tempo than usual, and features Morris singing backup vocals.
#6: In Case You Didn't Know
Artist: Brett Young
Spotify Plays: 70,282,000
Release Date: 2017
The second single off Young鈥檚 self-titled debut album, 鈥淚n Case You Didn鈥檛 Know鈥 came about, in part, as the result of a bribe. Young wanted to meet with top Nashville songwriters Trent Tomlinson, Tyler Reeve, and Kyle Schlienger, but couldn鈥檛 get a meeting. He countered by offering the group a free, , and the song was written on the last day of the trip.
#5: Blue Ain't Your Color
Artist: Keith Urban
Spotify Plays: 76,231,000
Release Date: 2016
鈥淏lue Ain鈥檛 Your Color鈥 was the fourth single off Urban鈥檚 album 鈥淩ipcord,鈥 and became a commercial and critical hit. The song peaked at No. 1 on three different Billboard charts , while also winning single of the year at the ACM Awards. 鈥淏lue Ain鈥檛 Your Color鈥 was also nominated for best country solo performance and best country song at the 59th Grammy Awards, losing out to 鈥淢y Church鈥 by Maren Morris and 鈥淗umble and Kind鈥 by Tim McGraw, respectively.
#4: May We All
Artist: Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw
Spotify Plays: 77,456,000
Release Date: 2016
The third song off 鈥淒ig Your Roots鈥 to appear on this list, Florida Georgia Line鈥檚 鈥淢ay We All鈥 celebrates the experiences the duo shared growing up in a small town. It features a guest verse from Tim McGraw, and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Streaming Songs chart.
#3: What Ifs
Artist: Kane Brown Featuring Lauren Alaina
Spotify Plays: 77,710,000
Release Date: 2016
鈥淲hat Ifs鈥 is the third single off Brown鈥檚 self-titled debut studio album. It peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and it became just the of 2017 to reach Billboard鈥檚 Streaming Songs chart.
#2: Hurricane
Artist: Luke Combs
Spotify Plays: 99,165,000
Release Date: 2017
In 鈥淗urricane,鈥 the lead single off Combs鈥 debut album 鈥淭his One鈥檚 for You,鈥 the singer compares his ex-girlfriend to a natural disaster. The song peaked at No. 3 on Billboard鈥檚 Hot Country Songs chart and was well received by critics.
#1: Body Like A Back Road
Artist: Sam Hunt
Spotify Plays: 226,254,000
Release Date: 2017
The runaway winner for most popular country song of the year, Hunt鈥檚 鈥淏ody Like a Back Road鈥 was written shortly after the singer got to his longtime girlfriend, Hannah Lee Fowler. Hunt has released a series of singles this year, though , marking a shift in strategy from the traditional model. Given his success, it鈥檚 hard to argue against the gameplan.