My Top 20 Country Countdown: Great Tunes by the Best Country Musicians

Currently, there’s a whole shebang of great country songs created by lovely country artists both young and old. I listen to my favorite country cds and country radio stations when getting ready for my day, unwinding at night, or writing hubs like this one here. I find that this kind of music helps me focus, relax, or help me think – kind of whatever I need at the moment. I hope you’ll find these songs on your top countdowns too.

After I did this list and wrote the short blurb about each song, I realized something. Each one of these songs I like equally as much - so keep that in mind as going through my list. Each one of these hits are amazing and special in their unique little way but one isn’t better than another.

#20: Sunny Sweeney - From a Table Away

Here’s a song we can all relate to. You’ll be somewhere and see someone you used to be a part of, with someone else. Sunny sings this so well and so put together. This soft-spoken budding country star has much more successes in store for her.

#19: The JaneDear Girls - Wildflower

This song is fun because it’s young, fresh and reminds me of summer. Its lyrics “I’m just a girl who needs a little sun, a little rain, an open field to play” are ones that can get under everyone’s skin and you’ll be singing the lyrics without even knowing it soon!

#18: Sara Evans - A Little Bit Stronger

This song sings of inspiration. In the music video you see Sara in the car going to work trying to block out the song on the radio that reminds her of you and trying to live life normally but everything reminds her of you. Each day she pushes through and gets stronger because of her great willpower and resistance.

#17: Martina McBride: My Baby Loves Me

I saw Martina in concert and she is amazing, energetic and puts on a great show. This song is impressive and optimistic as this confident woman sings about being her and how she doesn’t have to impress …. But she certaintly has impressed her audience!

#16: The Band Perry – If I Die Young

Although the lyrics are a bit depressing and the first time I heard it I felt a bit melancholy afterwards – I like it. The lyrics strike certain chords and the melody flows beautifully.

#15: Lee Brice - Love Like Crazy

The first time I heard this song I was hooked. The lyrics of a man married to his sweetheart for over 50 years and how everyone thought they were crazy starting out. I think this song gives many crazy love birds hope and inspiration and that if the finances aren’t high but love is strong, that somehow everything can work itself out overtime.

#14: Gwyneth Paltrow- Country Strong

A recent article written about Gwyneth in Good Housekeeping magazine shows her as a regular down-to-Earth mom who worries about usual things such as deadlines and exercise and keeping her family happy. She is real and pretty damn awesome and she can sing too.

#13: Rodney Atkins - Cleaning This Gun

Listen to the lyrics in this tune and you’ll be hooked, as it talks about all the stuff from formal school that goes in one ear and out the other, but the “one speech from high school I’ll never forget.” Can you guess which speech this is?

#12: GeorgeStrait – Check Yes or No

An absolutely adorable song about two young school age kids who chase each other around on the playground and grow up to be each others loving companions. Can’t get much cuter than that.

#11: Reba – Consider Me Gone

Reba’s television show named after her wasn’t the only success for this redhead. She’s had an abundance of singles released in the past year, now that the show has ended (reruns still being shown on television for your viewing please – and are funnier than ever, I might add.)

Although Reba is getting up in her years, she has always looked fabulous. Her great sense of humor, style and wit, matched up with her extremely talented vocals and instrumentals make her a woman who will be going down in history.

#10: Jo Dee Messina - Lesson In Leavin’

This woman’s voice is killa and her lyrics tell it how it is. It’s a truly great song as it is sung as if her man just left her and she’s painfully singing the lyrics to this song, emotion and all.

#9: Jaron And The Long Road to Love – Pray For You

Now this is a song everyone can certainly relate to through the lyrics. First time I heard it on the radio I thought, wow, it’s like I wrote this song because the lyrics were so original and real as they talk about that person everyone has or has had at one time who is under your skin so much you are thinking non-pleasant thoughts of them, but when it comes down to it, well, at least you are thinking of them, right?

#8: Miranda Lambert – The House That Built Me

Miranda’s other half is down at number 3 – which is no coincidence – the two of them are extremely talented and committed country stars, who have worked hard to get where they are today. This hit song by Miranda really hits a chord with many as its soft melody flows sweetly with its lyrics that reflect sincerity and truthfulness to the home that she grew up in – and how much it would mean to go back and see the “little back bedroom” where her homework had been done, so many years before.

#7: Jerrod Niemann- What Do You Want

Another easily relatable song which is basically saying what do you want from me – I’m moving on and yet you keep calling me and bugging me and getting me to think of you again. Niemann has been active in the world of country music but most of us just started really listening to him in late since his song Lover, Lover topped the charts in August 2010.

#6: Jason Aldean – The Truth

The lyrics in this song include “just don't tell em’ I've gone crazy, that I'm still strung out over you, tell em’ anything you want to, just don't tell em’ all the truth” – so heartfelt and truthful – as are all of Jason’s songs.

#5: Kenny Chesney – Somewhere With You

I originally thought of this song as a traditional “I miss you because we are no longer together” song but my feelings kinda changed one night when I was listening to the radio and a caller called in and requested this song. He said he was a truck driver and was on the road for long periods of time and he just missed his wife a lot during his drives and wanted to be with her and this song made him think of his wife. So there you have it, this song can be played for multiple different occasions but either way it is fabulous.

#4: James Wesley – Real

This song speaks of life and what is real and what people think is real such as reality television. James gets down deep and shows his heart in this down-to-Earth realistic song.

#3: Blake Shelton – She Wouldn’t Be Gone

You know the type of song that gives you chills? Well this is one of those for me. The first line - Red roadside wild flower if I'd only picked you – I love the way this line rings and flows so perfectly out of Blake’s mouth. And now that I’m re-listening to this song while writing this I can confirm that every single lyric in this is so truthful, real and meaningful.

#2: Jason Aldean – Don’t You Wanna Stay

Okay, another Jason Aldean hit! This guy is precious as he sings such emotional songs that really tell a great story. In this short love song he sings about that moment when you don’t want to leave your partners side and just want the moment to last.

#1: Thompson Square – Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not

The husband and wife team beautifully sing this duet together as they sing about the flirting stage and end with the marriage. No lie, right now as I was drawing a blank to what to write about for this section – this song came on the radio and bam, it refreshes my memory on how amazing these guys are. The song lyrics include “so I took a chance, bought a wedding band and I got down on one knee, and you smiled and said to me "Are you gonna kiss me or not?” Love this song.

Well that’s it for my top 20 countdown, although I know there are songs I probably missed- such as my girl tSwizzle (I figured I would spare you this time – I’ve come to realize there are in fact some who don’t like her music). If you’ve noticed words like realistic, emotional, beautiful, inspiration, used to describe these songs, well the reason is simple – country music is AWESOME and country stars have the amazing talent to sing what they feel which many singers can’t do. They aren’t afraid to shed a layer and show their fans what they’ve got underneath, so to speak.

This is hub #4 in the 30 Hubs in 30 Days Challenge.