My list would probably look like this:

1. “Wide Open Spaces”
2. “Top Of The World”
3. “Cowboy Take Me Away”
4. “Heartbreak Town”
5. “Let Him Fly”
6. “Without You”
7. “There’s Your Trouble
8. Travelin’ Solider”
9. I Can Love You Better”
10. “Once You Love Somebody”
11. “You Were Mine”
12. “The Long Way Around”
13. “Not Ready To Make Nice”
14. “If I Fall You’re Going Down With Me”
15. “Long Time Gone”
16. “Don’t Waste Your Heart”
17. “I Hope”
18.Lullabye”
19. “Goodbye Earl.”

One that you should check out that I’ve only ever heard on Austin City Limits when the Chicks performed in 2001 is called “Walk Down that Lonesome Road”. No instruments, but wow does it pack a punch (imho).

Natalie’s “Bushwhacking” aside, in the end I think the Chicks will be remembered for being a group that broke a lot of the standard country music rules and stereotypes, not only in being an all-female group that played their own instruments, but being willing and able to write and sing what they wanted, even if the conservative and constricted playlists of country radio wouldn’t allow it. That takes a lot of nerve to do; and I don’t think any mainstream country act has been either willing or able to do it in their wake.

The only inclusion I really disagree with is “Favorite Year”. I’d definitely take that off and “Cowboy Take Me Away” would be in my top 5. I’d also have “You Were Mine” in my top 10. Maybe take out….alright, I don’t know WHAT to take out, maybe “Stand by Your Man”? Let’s just make it 26, lol ;)

Interestingly enough, almost all of the artists you describe as real country artists – Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker, Willie Nelson, – received backlash by traditionalists for not being country enough at one point or another.