The best 25 debut Country Singles of all time

A truly great debut single establishes a country artist’s musical personality. Though they can — and should — evolve throughout their career, the best debut singles hone in on the artist’s personality and introduces fans to who they are as a recording artist.

Not every country star comes out of the gate with an unbeatable first single — acts like Chris Stapleton, Sam Hunt, Tim McGraw and even Carrie Underwood started out with submissions to country radio that are underwhelming compared to the massive hits and fan-favorites that followed.

But others knocked it out of the park on their first try, with unforgettable story songs, record-breaking country earworms and even a couple of singles that are the artists‘ one and only No. 1 hits to date.

Some, like Luke Bryan’s „All My Friends Say,“ delivered a personality-packed punch right off the bat, introducing fans to a musical identity that would stay consistent throughout a long and successful career. Others, like Maddie & Tae’s „Girl in a Country Song,“ were a little bit more of a one-off, but represent songs that provided a breath of fresh air in the existing country radio mainstream.

Scroll through the gallery below to count down the best 25 debut country singles of all time, and learn more about how these songs impacted listeners — and the artists who released them.

Not every country star scores a big hit with their debut single. Here are 25 artists that knocked it out of the park on their first try.

No. 25: Chris Janson, „Buy Me a Boat“

Okay, „Buy Me a Boat“ isn’t technically a debut single — Janson released a couple of songs amid label restructurings or other technical complications in the early 2010s — but his first fair shot at radio was „Buy Me a Boat“ in 2015, and he ran with that song all the way to the No. 3 spot on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. When he first released the song, Janson was unsigned, and he earned a deal with Warner Bros. on the strength of the single.

No. 24: Maddie & Tae, „Girl in a Country Song“

Maddie & Tae stormed into the country mainstream in 2014 with „Girl in a Country Song,“ a hilarious clapback at the „bro country“ movement that rolled its eyes at the lyrical cliches of the time and critiqued the misogyny of story lines in which women are relegated to the status of love interests in too-tight jeans and uncomfortable bikini tops. Maddie & Tae would go on to repeat the experiment in songs like „Shut Up and Fish,“ but for the most part, they left the schtick as a one-off and moved into more expressive, vulnerable songwriting territory.

Still, „Girl in a Country Song“ remains as a much-needed antidote to the country music stereotypes of the day, and the song reached the top spot on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

No. 23: Sugarland, „Baby Girl“

Then-trio Sugarland (who’ve since become a duo) first released „Baby Girl“ as a single in 2003, and then re-released the song the following year as part of their Twice the Speed of Life album. The band’s second try paid off: „Baby Girl“ rocketed up to No. 2 on the country chart by spring 2005, spending a total of 46 weeks on the country charts. The big-hearted story of a young girl who leaves home to pursue stardom — and dreams of the day when she can send money back home to her parents — „Baby Girl“ continues to be one of the group’s signature songs.

No. 22: Diamond Rio, „Meet in the Middle“

Diamond Rio’s feel-good singalong from 1991 tells the story of a narrator who learns to put aside his differences with his loved ones and compromise, through every stage of life. That positive message took the band all the way up to the top of the charts for their debut outing, and it hit a major milestone in the process, marking the first time a country band’s debut single reached No. 1.

No. 21: Dierks Bentley, „What Was I Thinkin'“

Bentley’s heart-thumping romp about „a beauty from south Alabama“ — and all the ill-advised antics the narrator gets into in order to win her heart — earned him success right out of the gate, climbing all the way up to No. 1 on the country chart. Though Bentley’s musical subject matter has mellowed and matured over the years, quite a bit of his musical identity (including his penchant for traditional and bluegrass instruments) is already apparent in this early hit.

No. 20: Rascal Flatts, „Prayin‘ for Daylight“

Rascal Flatts introduced a country audience to a brand new sound when they put out their debut single, „Prayin‘ for Daylight.“ Poppy and full of rafter-raising vocal harmony, the song immediately dug into a groove that would remain the trio’s sweet spot for the successful career that lay ahead. „Prayin‘ for Daylight“ was a No. 3 hit on the country charts, and it’s featured on the band’s self-titled studio debut.

No. 19: Carly Pearce, „Every Little Thing“

In some ways, putting out „Every Little Thing“ as a debut single was a risk for Pearce: A slow, dobro-filled tear-jerker, it wasn’t a sure bet at country radio. But Pearce’s first spin on heartbreak paid off, and „Every Little Thing“ crested to the top of the charts. The song’s authenticity and success was a precursor to Pearce’s later ventures into traditional country and heartbreak, which reached their apex on her third album, 29: Written in Stone.

No. 18: George Strait, „Unwound“

Penned by Dean Dillon and Frank Dycus, „Unwound“ was originally intended for Johnny Paycheck, but the star was in jail for statutory rape at the time. Instead, the song went to a young George Strait, who made it his major-label debut single in 1981. The song is vintage Strait, with a jangly, thumping rhythm and plaintive fiddle. It peaked at No. 6 on the country charts — a comparatively modest outing, compared to the career Strait would go on to have — but the song introduced the singer to a broader audience, many of whom continue to request „Unwound“ at his shows.

No. 17: Faith Hill, „Wild One“

„Wild One“ wasn’t originally Faith Hill’s song — it was first recorded in 1992 by country group Zaca Creek — but the singer made it her own when she sent it to radio as her debut in 1993. The song hit No. 1 in 1994 and spent four weeks there, and it’s included on the track list of her first album, Take Me as I Am.

No. 16: Johnny Cash, „Cry! Cry! Cry!“

„Cry! Cry! Cry!“ was one of two songs Cash wrote before his first recording sessions at Sun Studios in the 1950s, along with „Hey Porter.“ Both tracks have gone on to have staying power in the singer’s monumental music catalog, and in particular, Cash’s radio debut offers an early look into his gospel-infused rockabilly beginnings. „Cry! Cry! Cry!“ made it up to No. 14 on the charts.

No. 15: Miranda Lambert, „Me and Charlie Talking“

Lambert’s twangy debut from 2005 just barely cracked the Top 30 at country radio when it was released, but what it lacked in chart performance it more than made up for in heart, imagination and the stubborn individuality that would go on to be a hallmark of the career that followed. One plot point that makes „Me and Charlie Talking“ extra special is that Lambert co-wrote the song with her dad, Rick Lambert, along with Texas singer-songwriter Heather Little. „Me and Charlie Talking“ appears on Lambert’s debut album, Kerosene.

No. 14: Gretchen Wilson, „Redneck Woman“

Wilson’s chin-up, guns-blazing ode to being yourself was inspired by Faith Hill — really! — after Wilson was having a conversation with fellow country act John Rich about Hill’s glamor and beauty, and how Wilson would never live up to that standard. Instead, she decided to celebrate the kind of woman she already is — a „redneck woman“ — and the results paid off. The song went to No. 1 on the country charts, becoming Wilson’s first, and, to date, only, chart-topper.

No. 13: Luke Bryan, „All My Friends Say“

The best debut singles are the ones that establish a performer’s musical identity, and few songs do that better than Bryan’s playful, personality-packed heartbreak banger, „All My Friends Say.“ In this story song, Bryan is a good-time guy who gets a little too rowdy at a bar after he sees his ex walk in, and the next morning, he pays the price: To the tune of walking up in his front yard in a rocking chair, unaware of what’s transpired the night before or where all his money (and his truck!) have gone. Bryan released „All My Friends Say“ in 2007, and it was the lead single off his debut studio effort, I’ll Stay Me. He has.

No. 12: Garth Brooks, „Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)“

Over the course of his storied career, Brooks has had some of the most memorable hits in country music, ever, including „If Tomorrow Never Comes,“ „The Dance“ and „Friends in Low Places.“ But none of that takes away from the powerful impact of the star’s first-ever country single, „Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old).“ Here, Brooks established his classic country bona fides with a Chris LeDoux namecheck and introduced himself as a powerful storyteller with a song about the hardscrabble life of a rodeo cowboy. „Much Too Young“ was a top ten hit for Brooks, and appears on self-titled studio debut.

No. 11: Maren Morris, „My Church“

Morris moved to Nashville to pursue country music in early 2013, and during her early years in town, she found success as a songwriter, writing tracks that were recorded by artists like Tim McGraw and Kelly Clarkson. But her dreams of performing never died, and in January 2016, she realized those dreams with „My Church,“ an intimate, personal meditation on her love for driving and listening to country radio. The song didn’t quite make it to the top of the country charts, but it won Morris a massive fanbase and critical acclaim, earning her a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance in 2017.

Since then, songs that take place in a car have been a theme for Morris with singles like „’80s Mercedes“ and „Circles Around This Town,“ the latter of which even references how „My Church“ changed her life.

No. 10: Brad Paisley, „Who Needs Pictures“

Gripping story songs are at the heart of Brad Paisley’s stacked discography, and it all started with his 1999 debut, „Who Needs Pictures,“ which is the title track of his album of the same title. Though the song didn’t crack the Top 10 on the country charts (it peaked at No. 12), „Who Needs Pictures“ has become a staple of Paisley’s discography, and an enduring fan favorite track.

No. 9: Zac Brown Band, „Chicken Fried“

Zac Brown Band have been through lots of eras, and they’re known for taking risks in their music, but no song from their catalog has had greater staying power than the group’s hit debut single, „Chicken Fried.“ A twangy, down-home celebration of simple pleasures, „Chicken Fried“ came out in 2008, and hit No. 1 on the Billboard country charts.

No. 8: Trisha Yearwood, „She’s in Love With the Boy“

Yearwood’s windows-down 1991 anthem to young love kicked off a hot streak for the singer, becoming the first of five singles that she landed at No. 1 on the country chart. To this day, it’s a fan-favorite hit and popular karaoke choice. All these years later, Yearwood’s story about Katie and Tommy, two hometown sweethearts who throw caution to the wind and fall in love, despite Katie’s father’s concerns, continues to ring true as one of country music’s greatest love stories.

No. 7: Toby Keith, „Should’ve Been a Cowboy“

Keith’s songwriting skills are legendary — he even won the BMI Icon Award in 2022 for his long career as a lyrical craftsman — and it all dates back to the release of his very first single. „Should’ve Been a Cowboy“ came out in 1993, introducing fans to Keith’s rough-and-ready vocal prowess and skills as a storyteller. The song rose to No. 1 on the country charts, and three decades later, it remains one of the singer’s signature songs.

No. 6: LeAnn Rimes, „Blue“

LeAnn Rimes shocked the world with her commanding, full-throated vocal performance of „Blue,“ a debut single that came out when she was just 13 years old. While the song only climbed to No. 10 on the Billboard country charts, it was a hit with a pop audience, too, reaching the No. 26 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. „Blue“ also won Rimes a Grammy for Best Country Song in 1996.

No. 5: Billy Ray Cyrus, „Achy Breaky Heart“

A crossover hit that topped the country charts and broke records in countries around the world, „Achy Breaky Heart“ remains Cyrus‘ signature song to this day. Though some found the song’s ubiquity grating — it appeared on Blender’s list of ‚The 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs Ever,‘ for example — the staying power of „Achy Breaky Heart“ remains undeniable.

No. 4: Brooks & Dunn, „Brand New Man“

The lead single and title track of Brooks & Dunn’s first-ever studio album, „Brand New Man“ came out with guns blazing: Powerhouse guitars, soaring vocals and slick, neo-traditional ’90s production all immediately drew listeners in when „Brand New Man“ went to radio in 1991. The song notched Brooks & Dunn a No. 1 hit on the country charts — making them only the second country band to make it to the top, following Diamond Rio’s „Meet in the Middle“ — and kicked off a string of No. 1s for the country duo. „Boot Scootin‘ Boogie,“ „My Next Broken Heart“ and „Neon Moon“ — all off of the duo’s first album — followed in the footsteps of „Brand New Man,“ peaking at No. 1 on the charts.

No. 3: Florida Georgia Line, „Cruise“

After Florida Georgia Line released their windows-down summer anthem in 2012, „Cruise“ became a relentlessly ubiquitous, record-setting juggernaut, dominating the country charts and helping to usher in the „bro county“ era. The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and stayed there for 24 weeks — a record for longest-running top single at the time. In 20143 „Cruise“ became the highest-selling digital country song of all time. The song continues to be one of FGL’s biggest hits and most memorable cross-genre releases, thanks to a remix that features rapper Nelly.

No. 2: Taylor Swift, „Tim McGraw“

Swift was only 16 years old when she released „Tim McGraw,“ the leading single off her self-titled debut album, but this song made it clear that she had something special. In it, Swift established her signature blend of vivid lyrical detail and heartstring-tugging authenticity, propelling „Tim McGraw“ all the way to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and cracking into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. The music video for the song also won Breakthrough Video of the Year at the 2007 CMT Music Awards.

No. 1: Blake Shelton, „Austin“

In April 2001, Shelton kicked off his career with this monster hit, a ballad that showcased his rich, powerful voice and talent for classic country storytelling. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and spent five weeks there, becoming the first debut single to remain in the top spot for that lot since Billy Ray Cyrus‘ „Achy Breaky Heart“ — another song that appears on this list — did so almost a decade earlier.

„Austin“ established Shelton as one of country music’s most prominent modern singers who also had a flair for traditional lyrics, and it continues to be a standout hit in his discography to this day.