TOP 40 COUNTRY SONGS OF 2023

The top country songs of 2023 are rooted in tradition, but they’re not necessarily growing there. You’ll hear a few pop influences across this playlist, but for the most part, it’s a list of hits that could have worked in any generation.

At least one did work in another generation. Luke Combs makes this list of the year’s best country songs with a cover of „Fast Car,“ Tracy Chapman’s hit from 1988. Fans demanded radio airplay for the song, and they’ve supported it in its rise to the top of the charts.

Several artists make the list twice, including Combs and Jelly Roll. Newcomer Megan Moroney has two songs, as do rising star Jordan Davis and staple Kane Brown. Fans of traditional country music will be happy to see Cody Johnson near the top, and Tim McGraw’s addition is sure to make longtime fans smile.

Love songs, heartbreakers and at least one perfect circle-of-life lyric help round out this yearly list of country music’s best songs. It will evolve as the year continues, with a final list published in December.

Below our list of 40, you’ll find a direct way to shape this list. Rate nearly 40 songs on a 1 to 5 scale to tell us where we got it right and wrong.

No. 40: Morgan Wallen, „Everything I Love“

Taste of Country called this the No. 1 song on Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time album. The upbeat song relies on a great melody and a timeless classic rock sample, and while it sounds great on the radio, it has not reacted like others from the project.

No. 39: Darius Rucker, „Fires Don’t Start Themselves“

Darius Rucker’s single from Carolyn’s Boy is a burning love song that features the singer sounding as engaged as he’s ever been since coming to country music more than 15 years ago. “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” includes a great music video that finds Rucker doing some acting.

No. 38: Bailey Zimmerman, „Religiously“

Bailey Zimmerman is country music’s heartbreak king, and this might be his darkest. “Religiously” reached No. 1 on several charts and became another fan-favorite for the newcomer.

No. 37: Scotty McCreery, „It Matters to Her“

Scotty McCreery held back vocally on “It Matters to Her,” his Top 5 hit from 2023. That was a smart move, as a great hook, slow burn and uptempo melody make this a great radio song, if not his most reactive on social media.

No. 36: Hardy (Feat. Lainey Wilson), „Wait in the Truck“

“Wait in the Truck” peaked in early 2023, but went on to become a major player at country music award shows. Hardy and Lainey Wilson’s vigilante song is guaranteed to be somebody’s No. 1 song for the year. The powerful lyric will never been forgotten.

No. 35: Warren Zeiders, „Pretty Little Poison“

Viral country hitmaker Warren Zeiders introduced himself to commercial audiences with “Pretty Little Poison,” his debut single. Look for this song to move up if he nears No. 1 by the end of 2023, but for now, it’s solidly in the Top 40.

No. 34: Dan + Shay, „Save Me the Trouble“

Dan + Shay’s tight songwriting got a little room to breathe in production, but this new single lost nothing vocally. „Save Me the Trouble“ is another Shay Mooney vocal masterpiece for their tour in 2024. It’s almost guaranteed to remain on this list of the Top 40 songs of 2023 through year’s end.

No. 33: Riley Green (Feat. Luke Combs), „Different ‚Round Here“

Riley Green is perhaps country music’s most under-the-radar star. He’s selling out small arenas, despite a limited number of radio hits. “Different ‘Round Here” — a collaboration with Luke Combs — will change that.

No. 32: Tim McGraw, „Standing Room Only“

Tim McGraw always finds a way to make this year-end Best Country Songs list. “Standing Room Only” is a great country lyric and a fine vocal performance. We’re rooting for McGraw to top the charts again.

No. 31: Oliver Anthony, „Rich Men North of Richmond“

Country music’s surprise song of 2023 belongs to a previously unheard-of factory worker from Virginia. “Rich Men North of Richmond” became a working man’s anthem in 2023 and will remain hot through the fall.

No. 30: Brothers Osborne, „Nobody’s Nobody“

Brothers Osborne say they finally dropped a self-titled album because this is the first time they truly felt like they could be 100 percent themselves. Critics love Brothers Osborne, a project led by their growing hit “Nobody’s Nobody.”

No. 29: Hailey Whitters, „Everything She Ain’t“

Hailey Whitters’ first radio hit is a charming love song called “Everything She Ain’t,” and frankly, we’re hoping she has more like it. The songwriter’s understated vocal performance was one of the many delightful reasons to turn on the radio in 2023.

No. 28: Carly Pearce (Feat. Chris Stapleton), „We Don’t Fight Anymore“

Carly Pearce’s new song „We Don’t Fight Anymore“ will be lauded for its vocal power, but the songwriting is what gives her Chris Stapleton collaboration life.

No. 27: Conner Smith, „Creek Will Rise“

Does anyone else think of Dierks Bentley’s debut single “What Was I Thinkin’” when Conner Smith’s breakout hit “Creek Will Rise” begins? The newcomer finds an infectious groove during this standout hit. We expect him to rise on this list of the Top 40 Songs of 2023 as he rises on radio charts.

No. 26: Bailey Zimmerman, „Rock and a Hard Place“

Newcomer Bailey Zimmerman chronicles a relationship that’s barely staying afloat in his song „Rock and a Hard Place.“

The song details a relationship that started out strong — „We’ve been talkin ‚bout forever / Since we’ve been together / Somethin‘ ‚bout a ring,“ he sings — but has hit a major snag. „It ain’t broke yet / But damn, it needs fixin‘,“ he admits in the first verse.

Breaking up is never simple, especially when it’s a relationship both people thought would last forever. Zimmerman takes listeners through every painful, exhausting detail and deliberation as his lyrics reflect on whether to stay and try to repair a badly-damaged relationship, or to cut his losses and hope for a fresh start.

No. 25: Thomas Rhett (Feat. Morgan Wallen), „Mamaw’s House“

This song finds two country boys paying tribute to their grandmothers, and that never goes out of style. The nostalgic duet from Thomas Rhett and Morgan Wallen recalls McGraw’s “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s,” although it remains to be seen if it’ll have that kind of staying power.

No. 24: Jordan Davis, „Tucson Too Late“

Jordan Davis had plans to release “Tucson Too Late” before choosing to go with “Next Thing You Know,” his other song on this list of the Top 40 country songs of 2023. This Keith Whitley hat-tip isn’t as emotional, but it’s every bit as well-written.

No. 23: Luke Combs, „Love You Anyway“

Luke Combs had a very good month in September 2023, as he notched songs at No. 1 and No. 2 on the same Billboard Country Airplay chart. Nobody had ever done that before! “Love You Anyway” is a big ballad that only falls this far on the yearly Top 40 list on account of the depth of his catalog. It’s similar to several more of his 17 No. 1 hits.

No. 22: Thomas Rhett, „Angels Don’t Always Have Wings“

Thomas Rhett’s “Angels Don’t Always Have Wings” is Rhett’s mature ballad from 2023, and even though it didn’t hit some of the same commercial marks of others in his catalog, it was powerful enough to land on this Top 40 Country Songs of 2023 list.

No. 21: Tanner Adell, „Buckle Bunny“

There’s not a song on this list of country music’s best songs of 2023 that raised eyebrows like “Buckle Bunny.” Tanner Adell’s hip-hop and country swagger power this infectious beat. It’s an earworm that becomes a song you reach for on Friday and Saturday nights.

No. 20: Zach Bryan (Feat. Kacey Musgraves), „I Remember Everything“

Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves share two different dark sides of a devastating heartbreak in the „I Remember Everything“ lyrics.

A hopeless shadow is cast over the song when Bryan begins with, „Rotgut whiskey’s gonna ease my mind.“ While the inspiration behind „I Remember Everything“ has not been revealed, he’s clearly tortured by an endless thread of memories after he messed up a pure love.

No. 19: Tyler Hubbard, „Dancin‘ in the Country“

With a driving beat and quick banjo-picking accompanying him, „Dancin‘ in the Country“ finds Tyler Hubbard throwing a dance party in the country with a love interest. The song features clever lyrics with references to the country life, and the contagious beat is enough to make listeners throw their own dance parties.

„I’ll take you dancin‘ in the country / Levis in them low beams / Spin you in some red dirt / Sweet you off of both feet / Out here where the sun sets / Silverado backbeat / You’ll never wanna go home and never wanna not be dancin‘ in the country,“ he sings.

The song was co-written by Hubbard, Keith Urban, Jon Nite and Ross Copperman, and Hubbard says Urban’s contribution offered a unique style to the track.

No. 18: Megan Moroney, „I’m Not Pretty“

Songs like “I’m Not Pretty” are why Megan Moroney is such an exciting newcomer. It’s not only smart and original, it’s a new kind of smart and original — yet the “Tennessee Orange” singer sets it all up with an infectious hook and a melody you’d gladly take on repeat.

No. 17: Ashley McBryde, „Light on in the Kitchen“

Ashley McBryde is taking listeners on a trip back home with her heartwarming new single, “Light on in the Kitchen.”

The stirring song, which McBryde co-wrote with Lee Brice’s „I Drive Your Truck“ co-writers Connie Harrington and Jessi Alexander, highlights the simple joys of returning home to one’s family.

Picture this: You’ve spent far too long away from home, chasing a dream, getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, and perhaps, thrust into an emotional time where you’ve pined for home. After years spent away on your own, you make the long-awaited trip back, step foot into the house that you grew up in, see your family’s delighted faces … and for a moment, all is right in the world. That’s what “Light on in the Kitchen“ evokes.

No. 16: Tyler Childers, „In Your Love“

Tyler Childers’ “In Your Love” is gathering praise for a stirring music video, but separate applause should be reserved for his sensitive lyrics. He’s a great vocalist and storyteller, and during this song, he makes it seem easy.

No. 15: Hardy, „Truck Bed“

Hardy’s The Mockingbird & the Crow album rides and then crosses a line between country and rock, but the best songs from the project do both. “Truck Bed” is a familiar country story — man is drinking off a breakup, or something like it — but heavy rock guitars during the final verse make this one of the most original songs of 2023.

No. 14: Miranda Lambert (Feat. Leon Bridges), „If You Were Mine“

Miranda Lambert’s first release on her own record label stayed true to the sound she’s offered for the last half-decade, but in adding Leon Bridges, she’s created one of the best duets of 2023. This undying love song is perhaps the best of its category this year.

No. 13: Old Dominion, „Memory Lane“

Old Dominion’s „Memory Lane“ is bittersweet defined. A warm, traveling guitar beat drives you to a second verse that lets you down easy. Like the lover that singer Matt Ramsey is describing, the beat just keeps on driving after that.

It’s the most heartbreaking kind of heartbreaker. There’s no hope of a reunion between two lovers. There’s nothing to hint that after the sorrow subsides, he’ll love again. Instead, „Memory Lane“ finds a man content in never moving on. A vague melancholy defines him, which is one heck of an unsettling prospect for the romantic.

Like the best country songs, the story unfolds across three minutes — kind of risky in a swipe-up society. Ramsey does a great job holding back powerful emotions that would squash the slow, lingering burn of this first taste of a new OD project. In a word, „Memory Lane“ is restrained, which is perfect for the scene they’re creating.

No. 12: Kane Brown, „I Can Feel It“

Kane Brown’s new song „I Can Feel It“ is a captivating amalgam of everything he’s done thus far. The uptempo smash builds off his last single, „Bury Me in Georgia,“ but also speaks to how we met him.

Longtime fans recall Brown as a kid from north Georgia who’d post covers to Facebook. His career grew out of that, and since 2015 he’s vacillated between traditional country and pop and hip-hop leaning singles and deep cuts. Songs like „One Mississippi“ have attempted to bridge the genres, but „I Can Feel It“ nails the formula.

No. 11: Morgan Wallen, „Last Night“

Morgan Wallen’s „Last Night“ is a one-song example of everything his One Thing at a Time album stands for. It’s rooted in country — traditional country, even — but the singer is capable of and willing to turn to hip-hop on a dime.

The sexy love song is going to be the biggest commercial country hit of 2023, spending several weeks top airplay, streaming and sales charts.

No. 10: Chris Stapleton, „White Horse“

“White Horse” is a true Chris Stapleton original. This hit from our list of the Top 40 country songs of 2023 finds him in rare form, snarling through his version of a love song. He’s struggling with giving his heart to the eye of his affection, and doing his best to explain why. The message is authentic and universal.

No. 9: Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown, „Thank God“

Kane Brown and his wife Katelyn Brown introduced themselves as musical partners with “Thank God,” a pop-friendly hit that fans kind of freaked out about. It reached No. 1 in early 2023 and remains one of the best — and best-selling — songs of the year.

No. 8: Megan Moroney, „Tennessee Orange“

Viral TikTok star Megan Moroney’s new song „Tennessee Orange“ asks for something found in short supply on social media: Patience.

The country waltz is a love song at its core, but she has painted it orange to make it a specific tribute to the University of Georgia vs. University of Tennessee football rivalry. Her man is a UT fan, and that’s not going to sit will with her „Go Dawgs“ kin. „Tennessee Orange“ is a song for anyone who has ever had one of those split household mailboxes.

No. 7: Chayce Beckham, „23“

“23” is not the kind of song you’ve grown to expect from an American Idol winner. Chayce Beckham’s debut single is thought-provoking and personal. Frankly, it’s the kind of songwriting country music needs more of, and we tend not to get that from reality television. While not yet a radio hit, the song struck a chord with fans and critics.

No. 6: Luke Combs, „Fast Car“

Luke Combs‘ „Fast Car“ wasn’t supposed to be a radio single, at least not yet. But fan demand necessitated airplay for this song, and when that happens, everybody wins.

For some reason, covers have become taboo over the last two decades, but if you go back 20 to 30 years before that, they were everywhere. It was almost expected, and commercially, it was a very viable way to get a hit. This Tracy Chapman cover is sincere and important to a format — and artist — looking to spread wings in 2023.

No. 5: Jelly Roll (Feat. Lainey Wilson), „Save Me“

Jelly Roll wrote and recorded „Save Me“ several years ago, and it’s arguably the song most responsible for his rise in country music. The duet with Lainey Wilson keeps the grit while adding a second perspective to his redemption story.

So many people discovered Jelly Roll because of this inspiring song. His story is one of drugs and crime, but the lyrics are open-ended, allowing for a casual fan to insert a fresh narrative. That’s what a great country song does.

No. 4: Cody Johnson, „The Painter“

Anytime an artist finds a new way to tell someone they love them, that song will end up on a list of the best songs of the year. Cody Johnson’s “The Painter” includes this brilliant lyric: “My life was black and white, but she’s the painter,” and he sings it like he means every word. The country traditionalist is becoming a mainstay on ToC’s year-end Best Country Songs lists, and we’re not complaining about it.

No. 3: Jordan Davis, „Next Thing You Know“

It’s not just the lyrics to Jordan Davis‘ „Next Thing You Know“ that will leave you blubbering.

It’s the way he summarizes life, love, family and death in a little over three minutes. That’s how raising a family feels, so anyone with children — especially young children — can be excused for feeling a bit breathless by the time he finishes what we’re going to predict will be the 2023 CMA Awards winner for Song of the Year.

No. 2: Jelly Roll, „Need a Favor“

“Need a Favor” has been among the top songs on streaming, sales and radio airplay charts since Jelly Roll chose it to follow “Son of a Sinner.” It’s one of our favorites, too.

No. 1: Lainey Wilson, „Watermelon Moonshine“

One way to tell a song is truly an exception is that the older it gets and the more you hear it, the more you fall in love or relate to the message. Lainey Wilson’s “Watermelon Moonshine” recalls ’90s country and (perhaps) your own young-love story. Her lilting vocals show her versatility, but it’s the melody and lyrics of this No. 1 smash that land it on top of our list of the Top 40 country songs of 2023.