#20
“Not Ready to Make Nice”
Dixie Chicks
2006
Peak: #36

It’s easy to label this as a transitory response of a song, whose quality is stamped by context and time, but to do so is to undermine its carefully crafted layers of universal emotion. Anger is only the outer coating of the song – beneath it lies a tender-to-the-touch complex of feelings:  pain and disgust, confusion and resolve, stubbornness and defeat. “Not Ready to Make Nice” may always recall a certain unfortunate episode in country music history, but its theme – that there’s a price to pay for standing up for what you believe – is timeless. – Tara Seetharam

#19
“Probably Wouldn’t Be this Way”
LeAnn Rimes
2005
Peak: #3

A striking portrait of grief that alternates between phases of desolation, disillusionment and gratitude. Rimes’ interpretation of the lyrics is chillingly precise. – TS

#18
“On Your Way Home”
Patty Loveless
2003
Peak: #29

While it has a very tasteful production, “On Your Way Home” is one of the most understatedly bitter songs this decade. “Where do you go on your way home?” Loveless sardonically asks. The song is rife with deliciously vindictive lines, including “If you keep on lyin’ to me, I might stay here just to spite you.” – Leeann Ward

#17
“Travelin’ Soldier”
Dixie Chicks
2003
Peak: #1

A simple, heartbreaking tale of young romance crushed under the weight of war. It’s the story between the lines that drives home the tragedy, as both main characters have a palpable sense of loneliness that they finally find relief from in one another just before they are ripped permanently apart. – Dan Milliken

#16
“Red Ragtop”
Tim McGraw
2002
Peak: #5

Not an abstract reflection on the freedom of choice so much as an exploration of the consequences that flow from having made a difficult one at a young age. – Kevin Coyne

#15
“September When It Comes”
Rosanne Cash with Johnny Cash
2003
Peak: Did not chart

This song is a beautiful reflection of Johnny and Rosanne Cash’s complex father-daughter relationship. It’s also eerily prophetic. Tinged with self-reflection and regret, it’s heartbreaking to hear Johnny sing: “I cannot move a mountain now/I can no longer run/I cannot be who I was then/In a way, I never was.” – LW

#14
“Three Wooden Crosses”
Randy Travis
2002
Peak: #1

“A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher.” So begins one of the greatest story songs of the last ten years, a fable Aesop would’ve sold his liver to write had Aesop been a Christian compatibilist. The song lets you know early on that only one of its four main characters is making it out alive, and the gradual exploration of why is compelling enough to turn even the most skeptical heart to putty, if only for three glorious minutes. – DM

#13
“Top of the World”
Dixie Chicks
2003
Peak: Did not chart

The live recording won them a Grammy, but it’s the studio version that is a masterpiece. Natalie Maines sings in the voice of a man who is beyond the grave and beyond the ability to fix his mistakes, but will never be beyond the guilt and regret that comes with having failed so terribly during his time on Earth. – KC

#12
“Long Black Train”
Josh Turner
2003
Peak: #13

Josh Turner burst onto the country music landscape in a huge way with this rousing gospel number that unabashedly adopts the fundamentals of praise-and-worship-style presentation. Akin to the singability of “I Saw the Light”, “Long Black Train”‘s mainstream appeal is found in its inspiring energy, which Turner presents with strength and sincerity rather than unsettling preachiness. – LW

#11
“Drive (For Daddy Gene)”
Alan Jackson
2002
Peak: #1

Jackson’s late father received the heartiest “well done, Dad” in country music history with this beautiful illustration of the parent-child relationship at its best. – DM

#10
“I Told You So”
Keith Urban
2007
Peak: #2

Urban sings the heck out of this cheeky lover’s plea, but the real mark of his artistry is the infectious, Celtic-flavored production that powers the song and turns it into an invigorating anthem quite unlike anything we’ve heard before in country music. – TS

#9
“Hurt”
Johnny Cash
2003
Peak: #56

An otherworldly catharsis of grief that hangs in the air long after the track has ended. – DM

#8
“Stay”
Sugarland
2007
Peak: #2

With a vocal as bare naked as her songwriting, Nettles has nowhere to hide from her desperation. Nor does the listener. – KC

#7
“Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)”
Alan Jackson
2001
Peak: #1

Eight years after 9/11, it’s become easy to take this response song for granted, to lose sight of the striking truth of its observations, the healing it provided for a grieving nation at the time of its release. Bound as it is to the event it addresses, “Where Were You” cannot travel forward into the future the way other songs on this countdown can; its full impact will remain locked in the memories of those of us who lived through September 11th, 2001, and will never be experienced quite so deeply ever again. But as long as we’re the ones writing history, let us not forget just how deep that was. – DM

#6
“I May Hate Myself in the Morning”
Lee Ann Womack
2004
Peak: #10

If this anthem of preemptive regret had ended after the last time she sings, “I’m gonna love you tonight”, it would still be a classic. But the minute-plus instrumental outro lifts it into the heavens, with a fiddle and steel guitar fade-out that is nothing short of country music nirvana. – KC

#5
“If You’re Reading This”
Tim McGraw
2007
Peak: #3

This recording of McGraw’s performance at the 2007 ACM Awards is one of the most graceful, acutely touching tributes to our fallen soldiers ever released, in country music or otherwise. In letter form, a soldier delicately traces his journey from physical home to spiritual home, while comfortingly reaching out to those who are mourning his death. The song and celebrated performance represent a shining moment of humanity in country music. – TS

#4
“Before He Cheats”
Carrie Underwood
2006
Peak: #1

“Before He Cheats” is country-pop done very right. Underwood momentarily abandons her typically squeaky-clean style to deliver this vengeful revenge anthem with flare and appropriate gusto, making for one of the decade’s most memorable moments. – LW

#3
“I’m Movin’ On”
Rascal Flatts
2001
Peak: #4

This early single is the most staggeringly introspective song in its performing group’s catalog, outlining an inner battle of someone for whom it’s taken losing everything to see the value in anything.  The lyrics alone are gripping, but they’re paired with an emotive, melancholy melody that is one of the best-composed of the decade. – TS

#2
“Whiskey Lullaby”
Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss
2004
Peak: #3

As Paisley himself has rightly acknowledged, one of the smartest career moves that he’s ever made is to invite the angelic Alison Krauss to sing on this depressing song of drinking, heartbreak and death. As the 2000s goes, this is the most daring mainstream release by a popular artist. Paisley is known for his silly jocularity, but when he gets serious, he does it to great effect, which results here in one of the most respected songs of the past ten years. – LW

#1
“Long Time Gone”
Dixie Chicks
2002
Peak: #2

All right, so Country Universe loves its Chicks. But make no mistake: “Long Time Gone” earned every bit of this spot on its own merits. The lead release from Home, it came zooming in at the peak of the Chicks’ mainstream popularity and made as bold a statement to the country music world as the group would ever make.

There was the sound, for starters: feisty, swinging bluegrass-folk, with nary a drum beat to be found and stellar harmonies around every corner. There was the song: a deceptively plucky Darrell Scott story of dried up past days and even drier dreams. And of course, there was that final verse, in which the washed-up narrator decries the lack of soul in much of the super-polished music currently dominating country radio. It all flew boldly in the face of everything that institution was (and still is) about, but got played anyway, such was the Chicks’ star and the single’s undeniable charms.

As we look forward to the next decade of country music, ”Long Time Gone” is the kind of song we’ll continue to keep our eyes out for, the kind people will still want to sing along to decades down the line, that makes all the less admirable efforts worth wading through and reminds us why we fell in love with country music in the first place. We hope you’ve enjoyed this look back at the decade’s greatest singles, and urge you to go out and enjoy that last good bit of 2009 while you still can – ’cause after all, it ain’t comin’ back again. – DM

- – -

• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 1: #201-#181
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 2: #180-#161
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 3: #160-#141
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 4: #140-#121
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 5: #121-#101
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 6: #100-#81
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 7: #80-#61
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 8: #60-#41
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 9: #40-#21

#40
“This Is Me You’re Talking To”
Trisha Yearwood
2008
Peak: #25

Flawless. Proof positive that the nineties formula at its best is better than anything on naughties radio. Perhaps they can’t play it too much for that reason. It’s not good for business to park a new Lexus in a used car lot of Ford Pintos. – Kevin Coyne

#39
“Famous in a Small Town”
Miranda Lambert
2007
Peak: #14

This is one of those slice-of-life songs that anyone from a small town can easily relate to. What sets it above the pack of songs of that ilk is the witty nugget of truth that “everybody dies famous in a small town.” The Springsteen-esque vibe of the production is pretty cool, too. – Leeann Ward

#38
“Simple Love”
Alison Krauss
2007
Peak: Did not chart

A sweet homage to the purest form of love – the kind that always gives and never asks back – sung by one of the purest voices in country music. The combination is magic. – Tara Seetharam

#37
“Songs About Rain”
Gary Allan
2003
Peak: #12

A somewhat corny song about a man seeking musical escape is raised to the classic country rafters by Allan’s miserable snarl of a vocal. – Dan Milliken

#36
“Jesus, Take the Wheel”
Carrie Underwood
2005
Peak: #1

On the surface, it’s a story of a woman who finds herself at a personal crossroad and looks to Jesus to take control. But at its core, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” is a sweeping plea for salvation that’s accessible to anyone who subscribes to this belief, in any situation. And that’s the beauty of the song: it trades self-righteousness for compassion, largely due to Underwood’s fervent yet humble performance. – TS

#35
“What You Give Away”
Vince Gill with Sheryl Crow
2007
Peak: #43

In this anthem of giving, Vince Gill sings, “The measure of a man is one who lends a hand.” He clearly believes the platitude to be true, as thoroughly demonstrated by his own various charitable endeavors. With a swelling gospel choir and soulful harmony contribution by Sheryl Crow, Gill inspires us to think of others, because it’s all in “what we give away.” – LW

#34
“Remember When”
Alan Jackson
2003
Peak: #1

This is a beautifully simplistic song that serves as a lyrical photo album of memories for the Jacksons. It richly chronicles the various stages of their relationship and lets us all in on the memories in the process. – LW

#33
“Travelin’ Thru”
Dolly Parton
2006
Peak: Did not chart

The 2005 film Transamerica digs into the heart of a transsexual woman’s identity struggle as she nears her final operation. Parton’s Oscar-nominated contribution to the film digs into the heart of the identity struggles within us all, recognizing that we are all fundamentally trying to “figure out where all [our] pieces fit” in some way or another. A country-folk classic. – DM

#32
“Monday Morning Church”
Alan Jackson
2004
Peak: #5

The woman who holds the keys to his salvation is buried in the cold, hard ground. One suspects that his heart would feel just as empty in a Sunday morning church, so deep is his grief. – KC

#31
“Born to Fly”
Sara Evans
2000
Peak: #1

This isn’t so much a tale of a restless soul as it is an encapsulation of every emotion a restless soul feels. Evans is buoyantly impatient from start to finish, and it’s just one of those rare performances where the spirit of the character transcends the song. – TS

#30
“Rattlin’ Bones”
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
2008
Peak: #55 (Australia)

The husband-wife duo showcases their easy harmony in this swampy song of hopelessness. While its mood is decidedly dark, it’s still a sonic treat. – LW

#29
“Gunpowder & Lead”
Miranda Lambert
2008
Peak: #7

Lambert follows in the footsteps of “Goodbye Earl” and “Independence Day” with this vengeful anthem of female liberation, but it’s far from derivative. With palpable ferocity, the song focuses on a single moment of raw determination, building from an eerily collected verse to an explosive chorus that surges with sheer, rocking energy. – TS

#28
“Bless the Broken Road”
Rascal Flatts
2005
Peak: #1

A gorgeous expression of a grand, yet powerfully simplistic view on love – that God designs the journey of two soul mates. I can’t find many words that speak to the innate personal connection I’ve formed with this song, but perhaps my favorite line sums up its lyrical poignancy:  “now I’m just rolling home into my lover’s arms” is as best a description of the ease of true love as I’ve ever heard. – TS

#27
“Stealing Kisses”
Faith Hill
2006
Peak: #36

Desperate housewife indeed. The walls are closing in on this one, as she’s isolated from the rest of society in her suburban prison. No wonder she winds up in front of her high school twenty years after graduation, whispering to all of the girls with their future still ahead of them: “Run. Run. Run.” – KC

#26
“Somebody Like You”
Keith Urban
2002
Peak: #1

Over the last decade, Urban has been arguably the best source of complication in any broad-strokes argument decrying the artistic quality of country-pop. This star-making signature hit introduced a sound so infectious – with singing so passionate, riffs so face-melting – that even the most rigid traditionalists could be heard muttering concessions that Nashville had a superlative talent on its hands. – DM

#25
“Wagon Wheel”
Old Crow Medicine Show
2004
Peak: Did not chart

Old Crow Medicine Show’s first album is full of melodically memorable hooks, but none more so than their signature song, “Wagon Wheel”, which was originally started by Bob Dylan and later filled in by OCMS’s lead singer, Ketch Secor. – LW

#24
“Moments”
Emerson Drive
2006
Peak: #1

A chance encounter with a homeless man turns into a stirring, pivotal reflection on the events that truly define our lives. Few third-person narratives this decade have drawn characters of such tangible spirit. – DM

#23
“I Don’t Paint Myself into Corners”
Trisha Yearwood
2002
Peak: #47

“In the light of truth, it wasn’t you. It was me.” So goes this reclaiming of one’s own identity, which shifts the responsibility of happiness from the other who always disappoints to the self who finds freedom in letting the other go. Yearwood’s masterful performance parallels this journey of personal growth, with the first declaration barely a whisper and the final a full-throated wail. – KC

#22
“You’ll Think of Me”
Keith Urban
2004
Peak: #1

Urban nurses a broken heart by reveling in the idea that his ex will eventually regret letting him go. He nails the sharp mix of emotions that accompanies this mindset, with a performance that’s both peaceful and biting, dejected and vindictive. – TS

#21
“Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)”
Dixie Chicks
2003
Peak: #48

The story behind the song is heart-wrenching. Radney Foster penned it for his young son who moved to Paris with his ex-wife, and recorded it on a tape that his son played every night before he went to bed. Yet it works just as well as a maternal tuck-in from far away, which Natalie Maines is able to credibly emote despite the fact that she and her fellow Chicks took their kids on the road with them. – KC

- – -

• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 1: #201-#181
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 2: #180-#161
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 3: #160-#141
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 4: #140-#121
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 5: #121-#101
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 6: #100-#81
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 7: #80-#61
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 8: #60-#41
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 9: #40-#21
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Conclusion: #20-#1

#60
“Long Trip Alone”
Dierks Bentley
2006
Peak: #10

In a perfect world, this would be this decade’s wedding standard. – Kevin Coyne

#59
“Your Man”
Josh Turner
2005
Peak: #1

Lush baritone against an effortlessly charismatic, enticing invitation to let Turner be “your man.” How can you resist? – Tara Seetharam

#58
“The Lucky One”
Alison Krauss & Union Station
2001
Peak: #46

I feel a real kinship toward the man being sung about in this song, which suggests that happiness is choosing to embrace what is there today instead of mourning what’s been left behind or bathing in regret over what never was or what may never be. Perhaps the narrator’s sadness isn’t because she can’t be with “The Lucky One,” but rather can’t be like him. – KC

#57
“Nothin’ Better to Do”
LeAnn Rimes
2007
Peak: #14

The little girl who made her name imitating Patsy Cline and chirping Dianne Warren tunes grew up to write and release this muddy, soulful tale of mischief and theft, the most all-around badass thing Bobbie Gentry or Miranda Lambert never thought up. – DM

#56
“Like Red on a Rose”
Alan Jackson
2006
Peak: #15

With producer Alison Krauss at the helm, Jackson unexpectedly croons his way through this slow-churning love song that, for all its rich professions of love, manages to retain his signature earnest simplicity. – TS

#55
“Redneck Woman”
Gretchen Wilson
2004
Peak: #1

More than just a single, Gretchen Wilson’s debut was a watershed in modern country music, an unexpected smash whose rowdy declaration of self-acceptance ushered in a movement of redneck pride amid the genre’s writers and artists, the output of which has been mostly quite crude. Of course, that movement resulted from a shallow reading of what made “Redneck Woman” appealing. At its heart, the song isn’t about a particular lifestyle being better or worse than any other one; it’s just about being able to love yourself, Walmart lingerie and all. – DM

#54
“When It Rains”
Eli Young Band
2007
Peak: #34

“When It Rains” is fun, unshakably catchy ear candy. The narrator prefers when it rains, because it guarantees that he’s not the only one who’s unhappy. How clever (and dark) is that? – LW

#53
“Bring on the Rain”
Jo Dee Messina with Tim McGraw
2001
Peak: #1

Usually we don’t appreciate our times of struggle until we look back on them and give them credit for our personal growth. Messina suggests here that we can appreciate them in the moment. – KC

#52
“What the World Needs”
Wynonna Judd
2003
Peak: #14

Sometimes a message is so meaningful on its own that it doesn’t need to be swathed in lyrical complexity. Judd’s case for what the world needs is heartfelt, honest and too accurate to feel clichéd, with dead-on lines like, “Rich, poor, don’t matter/We’re all the same/Everybody’s hungry in a different way.” – TS

#51
“Boondocks”
Little Big Town
2005
Peak: #9

One of the decade’s few examples of the hackneyed “country living” theme done gloriously right, with a lush, rustic sound, unstoppable hook and potent sensory details. And oh, the harmonies! – DM

#50
“The Long Way Around”
Dixie Chicks
2006
Peak: Did not chart

If “Not Ready to Make Nice” is the Chicks’ attempts to address “the incident” to the world, “The Long Way Around” is like their attempt to address it to themselves. Reflecting on the history of their lives and careers, they observe that they’ve always done things their own way, concluding that “the incident” is just one more manifestation of that spirit, and to change course to suit others’ expectations would be to lie to themselves. “Guess I could have made it easier on myself,” Natalie Maines concedes, “but I could never follow.” – DM

#49
“Flies on the Butter (You Can’t Go Home Again)”
Wynonna Judd with Naomi Judd
2004
Peak: #33

With the wistful “Flies on the Butter” The Judds reunite for a song that nostalgically hearkens to their beloved mother-daughter harmony. – LW

#48
“Goodbye Earl”
Dixie Chicks
2000
Peak: #13

Call it malicious wrongdoing or call it justice served – whatever it is, “Goodbye Earl” is an inventive, spunky black comedy of sorts about two best friends who take the domestic abuse justice system into their own hands. It’s no doubt controversial, but in the end, to take the song at face value is to overlook its hilarity (death by black-eyed peas? Really?). – TS

#47
“What I Cannot Change”
LeAnn Rimes
2008
Peak: Did not chart

An adaptation of the Serenity Prayer, “What I Cannot Change” is a gorgeous declaration of changing oneself rather than demanding change that cannot be controlled. Rimes wisely sings, “I will learn to let go what I cannot change/I will learn to forgive what I cannot change/I will learn to love what I cannot change/But I will change, I will change/Whatever I, whenever I can.” – LW

#46
“Suds in the Bucket”
Sara Evans
2004
Peak: #1

A vivid, delightful story of a girl who, via her pick-up-truck-clad Prince Charming, smashes out the walls of her small town, leaving a community in disarray, the suds in the bucket and the clothes hangin’ out on the line. Evans delivers the story with genuine, toe-tapping gusto. – TS

#45
“Letters From Home”
John Michael Montgomery
2004
Peak: #2

One of country music’s all-time great war songs, a beautifully human portrait of the men and women in the armed forces and the relationships they put on hold back home in order to do their jobs. – DM

#44
“Like We Never Loved At All”
Faith Hill with Tim McGraw
2005
Peak: #5

A song that so perfectly speaks to the disbelief you feel upon realization that someone who once made you whole is now becoming whole on his own. It’s a well-known sentiment, but Hill and McGraw are so effective at infusing the song with real feelings of hurt, despair and remnants of love that the pain seems to come alive. – TS

#43
“Good Directions”
Billy Currington
2006
Peak: #1

“Good Directions” shows that it’s country without loudly declaring it. This song with turnip greens and pork rinds is ridiculously charming, which is largely bolstered by Currington’s boyish delivery. – LW

#42
“Wake Up Older”
Julie Roberts
2005
Peak: #46

The three minutes and eight seconds in which the Julie Roberts hype matched reality. – KC

#41
“Wrapped”
George Strait
2007
Peak: #2

Strait tries in vain to untangle himself from an irresistible love interest in this song, and it’s just the kind of authentic, charming dance hall number that he knocks out of the park. – TS

- – -

• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 1: #201-#181
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 2: #180-#161
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 3: #160-#141
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 4: #140-#121
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 5: #121-#101
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 6: #100-#81
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 7: #80-#61
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 8: #60-#41
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 9: #40-#21
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Conclusion: #20-#1

#80
“When Somebody Loves You”
Alan Jackson
2001
Peak: #5

A treasure of a love song. Contrasted stunningly with modest accompaniment and vocals, the song’s message is that of love’s sublime ability to transform one’s life and bring light to dark. – Tara Seetharam

#79
“Separate Ways”
Rick Trevino
2007
Peak: #59

“Separate Ways” is an instructive narrative of a couple who did everything together, but “the last thing they did together was go their separate ways.” Fortunately, the song’s narrator learns from his parents’ divorce and wisely applies its valuable lesson to his own relationship. – Leeann Ward

#78
“Satisfied”
Ashley Monroe
2006
Peak: #43

Unable to keep her love interest interested, Monroe looks out at the world around her and wonders why nobody seems to just appreciate what they have instead of coveting what they can’t. Her ethereal performance is even better than the classic question she poses: “Does it have to be wrong to make it feel right?” – Dan Milliken

#77
“Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love”
Trisha Yearwood
2007
Peak: #19

A bluesy, sizzling, revitalizing powerhouse of a song that, upon its release, aptly slapped us in the face with a reminder that Yearwood is one of the best female vocalists in the genre. – TS

#76
“The Man Comes Around”
Johnny Cash
2002
Peak: Did not chart

It has often been said that when we hear God’s voice, it will sound like Johnny Cash’s voice. While the deep timbre of Cash’s voice is absent from this single, the resonance is still there. As a result, “The Man Comes Around” is charismatically fiery in all the right ways. – LW

#75
“More Like Her”
Miranda Lambert
2008
Peak: #17

Radio has rarely heard such a tangible, heartbreaking breadth of emotions in one song – regret, stubbornness, resignation, inadequacy. Lambert sells every note of it, with a beautiful, largely under-appreciated vocal performance. She may be known for being a hell of a fireball, but this song packs more of a punch than many of her raucous numbers. – TS

#74
“Dig Two Graves”
Randy Travis
2008
Peak: Did not chart

As time passes, our superficial bonds tend to fall away while our meaningful ones become ever more deeply woven into our lives. In “Dig Two Graves”, Travis’ connection with his wife has become his life blood, a love so central to his existence that he’s sure he won’t live very long once its source is gone – and what’s more, he doesn’t want to. – DM

#73
“Welcome Home”
Dolly Parton
2004
Peak: Did not chart

A piece of songwriting that can stand toe to toe with “Down From Dover”, “Coat of Many Colors”, and “Light of a Clear Blue Morning”, and not look any paler in comparison. – Kevin Coyne

#72
“The Reason Why”
Vince Gill with Alison Krauss
2006
Peak: #28

The truly memorable songs in Gill’s catalog are the ones that take his angelic voice and wrap it around all the twists and turns of a throbbing sentiment. “The Reason Why” finds Gill desperately, longingly and self-deprecatingly looking for answers that he may never find, and it’s made all the more effective by his smoothly intense delivery. – TS

#71
“Where Are You Now”
Trisha Yearwood
2000
Peak: #45

Yearwood at her raw and throaty best, elevating an already stellar Mary Chapin Carpenter and Kim Richey song with her powerful vocal in a way that neither songwriter ever could. – KC

#70
“If I Didn’t Know Any Better”
Alison Krauss & Union Station
2006
Peak: Did not chart

With killer dobro and Krauss’ sweet voice, this song is a heavenly sonic experience. – LW

#69
“A Hard Secret to Keep”
Mark Chesnutt
2005
Peak: #59

This is, hands down, the best straight-up country cheating song of the decade, which awesomely explores a “cheater’s paranoia.” – LW

#68
“Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)”
Big & Rich
2004
Peak: #11

One of the biggest explosions of personality Nashville has ever seen. It’s country, rock and hip-hop all smushed together with a glorious goofball glaze, one of those rare novelty singles that has overcome its novelty status and simply become a classic. That it smashed down the door for “She’s Country” and “That Thang” to creep in is something for which you’re just going to have to forgive it. – DM

#67
“Little Sparrow”
Dolly Parton
2001
Peak: Did not chart

Parton’s performance is deceptively gentle, but the lyrics are blunt and harsh: “All ye maidens hede my warning/Never trust the hearts of men/They will crush you like a sparrow/Leaving you to never mend.” – LW

#66
“Dixie Lullaby”
Pat Green
2007
Peak: #24

There are no grand proclamations made by Green in this tribute to a late father – just simple, touching descriptions of a “mountain of a man” who worked hard and loved his family. Country music is flooded with stories of the small-town southern man, but few have been delivered with as much rough personal conviction as this one. – TS

#65
“Somebody’s Hero”
Jamie O’Neal
2005
Peak: #5

If God allows enough time to go by, the parent becomes the child. This is a beautiful celebration of reciprocity for a job well done. – KC

#64
“Sin Wagon”
Dixie Chicks
2004
Peak: #52

A rebel cry so spirited, fun and unapologetic that it’s bound to make any good Christian feel a little uneasy just for enjoying it. – DM

#63
“Sissy’s Song”
Alan Jackson
2009
Peak: #9

Alan Jackson has cornered the market for simple, yet meaningful songs. “Sissy’s Song” is a simple ode to a lost friend that could sound pedestrian from a less capable artist, but  works as an appropriately reverent piece of beauty in Jackson’s naturally sincere hands. – LW

#62
“Kerosene”
Miranda Lambert
2005
Peak: #15

After two forgettable lead singles, Lambert shot out from the pack with this murderous, arsonist rewrite of Steve Earle’s “I Feel Alright” that featured her little-bitty girl voice snarling, “I’m givin’ up on love, ’cause love’s given up on me.” She has built her career after the imagination and intelligence first displayed in this song, and country music today is better for it. – DM

#61
“I Need You”
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
2007
Peak: #8

A burning collaboration whose heavy declarations might be tacky (“I need you like a needle needs a vein”) if they weren’t sung by two lovers whose chemistry is absolutely, unequivocally convincing. – TS

- – -

• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 1: #201-#181
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 2: #180-#161
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 3: #160-#141
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 4: #140-#121
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 5: #121-#101
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 6: #100-#81
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 7: #80-#61
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 8: #60-#41
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 9: #40-#21
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Conclusion: #20-#1

#100
“Restless”
Alison Krauss & Union Station
2004
Peak: #36

A shimmering moment of infatuation chased with unease. Krauss is entangled in thoughts of her beloved but at a distance, and temptation lurks for both of them. – Dan Milliken

#99
I’m Holdin’ On to Love (To Save My Life)
Shania Twain
2000
Peak: #4

A terribly catchy slice of country-pop that, true to Twain, doesn’t sacrifice authenticity for appeal – Twain simply embodies the snappy energy that pulses through the song. – Tara Seetharam

#98
“The Back of Your Hand”
Dwight Yoakam
2003
Peak: #52

All allegory and metaphor, with the stark choice between together and alone wrapped up in a pretty verbal package: “Pick a number from one to two.” – Kevin Coyne

#97
“I Would Cry”
Amy Dalley
2005
Peak: #29

Dalley can’t be bothered with the emotional histrionics. Her response to being cheated on is resigned and matter-of-fact: “You made a choice and now there’s no way to ever make it right.” – KC

#96
“When I Get Where I’m Going”
Brad Paisley with Dolly Parton
2005
Peak: #1

Paisley delivers a stirring look at the splendor in life after death, but it’s Parton who takes the song to new heights with her exquisite soprano and gorgeous harmonies. – TS

#95
“I’m Tryin’”
Trace Adkins
2001
Peak: #6

It’s been a long time since country music has truly been the voice of the working man. Just like the working class has become invisible on the national stage, so too have they disappeared from country radio in anything but caricature form. But this Adkins single is a glowing exception, akin to what Merle Haggard might sing if he was starting out in today’s world of child support payments and dead-end jobs. Adkins is good, but “I’m Tryin’” hints at his potential greatness too often untapped. – KC

#94
“Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde”
Travis Tritt
2002
Peak: #8

Here is another fun story song, though the prominent Dobro throughout is even more captivating than the outlaw story itself. – Leeann Ward

#93
“Busted”
Patty Loveless
2009
Peak: Did not chart

Patty Loveless restores the original lyrics to Harlan Howard’s “Busted”, which reflects the hardships of a downtrodden coalminer. Behind a lively performance is a serious topic for these times. – LW

#92
“As Good As I Once Was”
Toby Keith
2005
Peak: #1

An aging tough guy that still has a good fight and a good night’s loving to offer. This is Keith at his self-deprecating best. – KC

#91
“Arlington”
Trace Adkins
2005
Peak: #16

This is a gorgeous, heartfelt tribute to the fallen veterans. Adkins gives the song the reverence to which it is entitled. – LW

#90
“I’ll Stand By You”
Carrie Underwood
2007
Peak: #41

It’s certainly innovative to scrub The Pretenders’ 90s anthem of all its rock coating and reveal it as a bare-bones, folky country ballad. But innovation alone does not a masterful cover make: it’s Underwood’s raw, understated yet urgent vocal performance that makes this rendition as compelling as – if not more so than – the original. – TS

#89
“Beautiful Mess”
Diamond Rio
2002
Peak: #1

“Beautiful Mess” perfectly encapsulates the euphoric “mess” of a new relationship. – LW

#88
“Just A Dream”
Carrie Underwood
2008
Peak: #1

Grief’s great cruelty is that it allows you a moment to forget your loss. Then the pain comes flooding back in. Underwood alternates between denying reality and bargaining with it, but is still left alone and forsaken. No wonder she sings the fire out of it. – KC

#87
“The Hard Way”
Pam Tillis
2007
Peak: Did not chart

The fact that this sublime, understated song didn’t even have a chance on radio in the latter half of the 2000s doesn’t make “The Hard Way” any less worthy of  positive attention. – LW

#86
“You’ll Be There”
George Stait
2005
Peak: #4

The best line of 2005 that was heard on country radio: “You don’t take nothing with you here and you can’t take nothing back. I ain’t never seen a hearse with a luggage rack.” – KC

#85
“Every Mile a Memory”
Dierks Bentley
2006
Peak: #1

You can’t outrun an unresolved past, even when you’ve got a fast tour bus and a band of brothers to get trashed with and stuff. – DM

#84
“Nothing On But the Radio”
Gary Allan
2004
Peak: #1

Allan is charmingly seductive on this number, suggesting a romantic evening that involves just what the song’s title spells out. – TS

#83
“When You Come Back Down”
Nickel Creek
2001
Peak: #48

“When You Come Back Down” is a gorgeous pledge  of unconditional love: “When you’re soarin’ through the air/I’ll be your solid ground/Take every chance you dare/I’ll still be there/When you come back down.” – LW

#82
“Earthbound”
Rodney Crowell
2003
Peak: #60

The phenomenal thing about Rodney Crowell’s work in the last decade is his ability to  say something meaningful with the support of strong melodies that actually help us remember what he has to say. “Earthbound” is bouncy and positive, but still slips in a few thoughtful tidbits to make the song more substantive at its core. – LW

#81
“Our Song”
Taylor Swift
2007
Peak: #1

It’s hard to believe this bright, cleverly-written song was the brainchild of a fifteen year-old. Swift blends the kind of ingenuity you’d expect from a seasoned songwriter with all the radiance you’d expect from a puppy-love-drunk teenager. – TS

- – -

• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 1: #201-#181
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 2: #180-#161
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 3: #160-#141
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 4: #140-#121
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 5: #121-#101
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 6: #100-#81
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 7: #80-#61
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 8: #60-#41
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 9: #40-#21
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Conclusion: #20-#1

#120
“Tonight I Wanna Cry”
Keith Urban
2005
Peak: #2

A chillingly frank portrait of loneliness, awkward reference to “All By Myself” notwithstanding. Few mainstream vocalists today could pull off something this intense. – Dan Milliken

#119
“Portland, Oregon”
Loretta Lynn with Jack White
2004
Peak: Did not chart

If you can take a healthy dose of dirty rock ‘n’ roll in your country, this is one of the coolest-sounding records of the decade, a classic one-night-stand duet. That it’s a very cross-generational pairing singing it would be creepy if not for the goofy smiles shining through Lynn’s and White’s performances. – DM

#118
“If You Ever Stop Loving Me”
Montgomery Gentry
2004
Peak: #1

This charismatic band never encountered a better hook than this one, with an instant sing-along melody that is impossible to ignore. – Kevin Coyne

#117
“I Just Wanna Be Mad”
Terri Clark
2002
Peak: #2

A song that would have felt more at home in the 90s than in 2003, Clark’s playful plea is an encapsulation of all the female charm that’s missing from this decade’s mainstream country music. – Tara Seetharam

#116
“The Long Goodbye”
Brooks & Dunn
2001
Peak: #1

They often paint in broad strokes, but the portrait painted of this crumbling relationship is sympathetically detailed, with two decent people putting off the inevitable break-up. – KC

#115
“Heartbreak Town”
Dixie Chicks
2003
Peak: #23

“Heartbreak Town” could easily be a companion to Pam Tillis’ “Band in the Window.” While “Band in the Window” sounds more like a celebration, “Heartbreak Town” goes deeper and exposes the disappointment and heartbreak found in a town with so much talent that only a select number of people get to rise to the top. – Leeann Ward

#114
“Cry”
Faith Hill
2002
Peak: #12

It may not be as haunting as the Angie Aparo original, but Hill’s willingness to make her power ballads challenging and complex keeps her leagues beyond the pretenders. – KC

#113
“Life Ain’t Always Beautiful”
Gary Allan
2006
Peak: #4

Allan turns these simple lyrics into a chilling inner dialogue that’s both painfully dark and genuinely hopeful. – TS

#112
“That Train Don’t Run”
Pinmonkey
2006
Peak: Did not chart

The rootsy country-rock outfit named for some gag or other in The Simpsons revived this 1997 Matraca Berg single with awesome gusto, tearing into it with electric guitar, bright harmonies and dobro all ablaze. A must-hear. – DM

#111
“Blame the Vain”
Dwight Yoakam
2005
Peak: #58

While not produced by Pete Anderson, “Blame the Vain” harkens back to Yoakam’s signature rhythmic Bakersfield sound. Fruitlessly blaming everyone else for his failed relationship and, while he’s at it, all that’s wrong with the world, Yoakam finally concludes that he may have some ownership in things as well: “Oh and don’t you know that blame/Is always never enough/It just keeps you in the game/Till you’ve only got yourself left to bluff.” – LW

#110
“Every Friday Afternoon”
Craig Morgan
2003
Peak: #25

In one of the saddest singles of the decade, Morgan’s naturally plaintive voice perfectly captures the devastation of a father who is faced with the dilemma of his ex-wife moving far away from him with his little boy. Up until that point, he had him every weekend, but he now realizes that “there’s no way [he] can be there every Friday afternoon.” – LW

#109
“Best I Ever Had”
Gary Allan
2005
Peak: #7

A decent soft rock song is transformed into a guilt-ridden meditation on death, solely by the vocalist who has chosen it as his vehicle to express his grief. – KC

#108
“Beer in Mexico”
Kenny Chesney
2007
Peak: #1

Part Buffett, part Mellencamp. Part frat boy drinking anthem, part sincere self-reflection. And it’s about hanging out down by the equator. Such a perfect encapsulation of Kenny Chesney’s musical identity from this decade that you could skip over the most of the rest of his work and still get the basic idea. One of his few self-written hits, too. – DM

#107
“What Hurts the Most”
Rascal Flatts
2006
Peak: #1

Angst-ridden power pop country done right. – KC

#106
“It Just Comes Natural”
George Strait
2006
Peak: #1

This is simply a delightful celebration of love that “just comes natural”…or naturally. – LW

#105
“Up!”
Shania Twain
2003
Peak: #12

Twain’s incessantly peppy poppy positivity fully concentrated. – KC

#104
“Lost in This Moment”
Big & Rich
2007
Peak: #1

There’s nothing extraordinarily unique about the lyrics in this wedding ballad – besides the fact that it’s the otherwise bad-ass Big & Rich singing them – but somehow they feel incredibly commanding against the duo’s power vocals. It’s just a beautiful song with beautiful harmonies, and I’m not ashamed to admit that lines like, “Bow our heads while the preacher talks to Jesus: ‘please bless this brand new life’” get me every time. – TS

#103
“Just Got Started Lovin’ You”
James Otto
2008
Peak: #1

Otto’s suave performance and a purely addictive bass line makes for an irresistible piece of smoldering ear candy. – LW

#102
“Would You Go With Me”
Josh Turner
2006
Peak: #1

There’s something endearing about the way Turner covers the theme of free-spirited love in this song – the whimsical lyrics contrast sweetly with his deep, sensible vocals. – TS

#101
“Keep Your Distance”
Patty Loveless
2005
Peak: Did not chart

The best line of 2005 not played on country radio: “I played and I got stung. Now I’m biting back my tongue, and sweeping out the footprints where I strayed.”  I love Loveless the most when she taps into that Ronstadt growl. – KC

- – -

• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 1: #201-#181
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 2: #180-#161
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 3: #160-#141
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 4: #140-#121
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 5: #120-#101
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 6: #100-#81
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 7: #80-#61
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 8: #60-#41
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 9: #40-#21
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Conclusion: #20-#1

#140
“Who Says You Can’t Go Home”
Bon Jovi featuring Jennifer Nettles
2005
Peak: #1

Packed as country music has been lately with rocked-up little singalongs, perhaps it was only natural that one of the leading bands in rocked-up little singalongs should cross over for a bit to show everybody how it’s done. It was newcomer Nettles, though, who stole this show, driving Bon Jovi’s ditty home with an infectiously joyful performance. – Dan Milliken

#139
“God’s Gonna Cut You Down”
Johnny Cash
2006
Peak: Did not chart

The arrangement is cool enough, but it’s Cash’s stoic, slicing vocal performance that makes his version of this song so memorable. – Tara Seetharam

#138
“Young Man’s Town”
Vince Gill
2003
Peak: #44

Vince Gill, one of the most gracious and graceful artists in country music, is surely qualified to sing this gentle warning to his fellow artists who are being replaced by younger faces. He humbly advises, “Just teach ‘em what you know an’ pass it on down.” There’s no doubt that this song was just as much for him as it was for others. – Leeann Ward

#137
“Believe”
Brooks & Dunn
2005
Peak: #8

This song is no doubt a bit much for some, but that’s kind of what makes it work. It’s a shameless, deep profession of faith, brought to life by a simple yet profound story. – TS

#136
“When I Think About Cheatin’”
Gretchen Wilson
2005
Peak: #4

I love me some “Redneck Woman” bravado, but Wilson is most effective at traditional ballads like this one, on which she aptly blends tenderness and tenacity. – TS

#135
“Coalmine”
Sara Evans
2006
Peak: #37

Released at an unfortunate time, “Coalmine” likely never reached its potential as a radio hit. An unshakably fun song, it did not focus on the trials of coalmines, but rather the steamy relationship of a hardworking coalmine worker: “Gonna keep him busy ‘til it’s time/That he goes back to that coalmine.” – LW

#134
“Drugs or Jesus”
Tim McGraw
2005
Peak: #14

McGraw rejects society’s tendency to judge and divide people solely by the face of their conduct, making the provocative observation that we use drugs and religion to address the same core needs. – DM

#133
“Hello God”
Dolly Parton
2002
Peak: #60

A pleading, conflicted, beautifully honest prayer of a song. – TS

#132
“Landslide”
Dixie Chicks
2002
Peak: #2

Amazing how a Fleetwood Mac cover provides one of the purest country moments on a pretty pure country album to start with. As a vocal group, I don’t think they ever sounded better than they do on this track. – Kevin Coyne

#131
“Walking in Memphis”
Lonestar
2003
Peak: #8

Speaking of surprisingly great covers of pop songs, Richie McDonald’s performance of this Marc Cohn hit is so commanding and soulful that it makes the original – which was already solid – sound like a demo. Arguably Lonestar’s finest moment. – DM

#130
“Backseat of a Greyhound Bus”
Sara Evans
2003
Peak: #16

Redemption comes not from the forgiveness of the judgmental town that has banished this single mom-to-be, but from the pure and selfless love that she has for her newborn child. – KC

#129
“If My Heart Had Wings”
Faith Hill
2001
Peak: #3

One of those rare country songs that demands you turn the radio up and roll the windows down. Unless it’s winter. Then just rock out with the windows closed. – KC

#128
“Give It Away”
George Strait
2006
Peak: #1

Jamey Johnson wrote it, but George Strait sings the fire out of it. Instead of quibbling over who gets what, the woman just says, “give it away.” She’s so done with their relationship that she has no use for anything connected with it. Now, that’s a bitter ending if there ever was one. – LW

#127
“Red Dirt Road”
Brooks & Dunn
2003
Peak: #1

Want to make your nostalgic country-rock song stick out from the pack? Two tips: 1) Fill it with memorable details that tell an actual story – bonus points if you can rhyme a main character’s name with “blackberries.” 2) Have Ronnie Dunn sing it. – DM

#126
“Tough”
Craig Morgan
2007
Peak: #11

I come from a family of matriarchs who are far stronger than the men who put up the appearances of being tough. I’ve seen this exact scenario play out more than once, and it’s spot-on. – KC

#125
“I Go Back”
Kenny Chesney
2004
Peak: #2

A Chesney-style reminder that one of music’s best and most powerful qualities is its reminiscent, transcendental nature. – TS

#124
“Picture”
Kid Rock with Sheryl Crow
2002
Peak: #21

Kid Rock does such a good job of writing a pure country song that it sounds like a cover of a classic than a Kid Rock original. – LW

#123
“Dancin’ Circles ‘Round the Sun (Epictetus Speaks)”
Rodney Crowell
2005
Peak: Did not chart

Who needs self-help books when you can just listen to Rodney Crowell? The bouncy “Dancin’ Circles ‘Round the Sun” is surely a more fun way to get your positive fix. – LW

#122
“Down the Road”
Kenny Chesney with Mac McAnally
2008
Peak: #1

I don’t know if it’s the layered textures of Chesney’s and McAnally’s voices, or the way each artist is a poignant storyteller in his own right, or the simplistic, bittersweet story of giving a child away – but something about this song touches me deep inside. - TS

#121
“A Woman Knows”
John Anderson
2007
Peak: Did not chart

“A Woman Knows” is a first-rate cheating song. While everything seems perfect on the surface, Anderson suggests that a woman knows when it’s not quite right. He sings this song as a man who knows it just as well as the woman.

- – -

• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 1: #201-#181
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 2: #180-#161
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 3: #160-#141
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 4: #140-#121
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 5: #121-#101
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 6: #100-#81
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 7: #80-#61
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 8: #60-#41
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 9: #40-#21
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Conclusion: #20-#1

#160
“Last Call”
Lee Ann Womack
2008
Peak: #14

Womack’s second-best Aughts song about late-night temptations is still better than a lot of people’s first-best songs about anything. Even in avoiding her drunken ex’s advances, she sounds positively heartbroken, suggesting she’d gladly make the other decision if she didn’t know better. – Dan Milliken

#159
“She’s Not Just a Pretty Face”
Shania Twain
2003
Peak: #9

Her motivation for her music has always been escapism, but I love the personal touch she slips into this one. Her late mother is the one who she’s referring to when she sings “at night, she pumps gasoline.” – Kevin Coyne

#158
“Wild West Show”
Big & Rich
2003
Peak: #21

Big & Rich’s loud “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)” overshadowed this quieter song that showcases Big Kenny’s and John Rich’s supreme harmonies, their biggest asset. – Leeann Ward

#157
“Muddy Water”
Trace Adkins
2008
Peak: #22

A gospel-infused, fervent plea for forgiveness, fueled by the power of Adkins’ rumbling vocals. – Tara Seetharam

#156
“Real Live Woman”
Trisha Yearwood
2000
Peak: #16

We didn’t get any new music from Bobbie Cryner this decade, but at least we got a couple of songs, this one being the best. It’s an understated anthem to be sure, but who wouldn’t want to hold in his arms a woman with such hard-earned self-confidence? – KC

#155
“Settle for a Slowdown”
Dierks Bentley
2006
Peak: #1

The haunting opening strains of this song are captivating enough, but the ultimate strength of “Settle for a Slowdown” lies in the palpable desperation of the man who knows his relationship is over, but doesn’t want it to end: “I know there’s nothin’ stopping you now, but I’d settle for a slowdown.” – LW

#154
“How’s the World Treating You?”
Alison Krauss & James Taylor
2003
Peak: Did not chart

Some songs simply get more interesting when you turn them into male/female duets, where the same sentiment is expressed on both sides of a romantic divide. This is one of those songs. – DM

#153
“Trying to Stop Your Leaving”
Dierks Bentley
2008
Peak: #5

Poor Dierks Bentley isn’t having much luck with the ladies. Much like in “Settle for a Slowdown”, the narrator of “Trying to Stop Her Leavin’“ knows his relationship is over, but is still holding onto a shred of hope. It seems that the odds are against him and she’s leaving no matter how hard he tries to stop her. The song, with its pulsating undercurrent, successfully creates the atmosphere of urgency. – LW

#152
“Family Tree”
Darryl Worley
2002
Peak: #26

“Family Tree” seems to depict a chaotic household that’s still happy to add yet another limb to their family tree. Worley’s manic performance suggests joy and, perhaps, a hint of resignation as well. – LW

#151
“Brokenheartsville”
Joe Nichols
2003
Peak: #1

“Here’s to the past; they can kiss my glass.” If that’s not a classic drinkin’ song, I will kiss your glass. – DM

#150
“Johnny & June”
Heidi Newfield
2008
Peak: #11

Many a country song tries to get by on the sheer strength of the names it drops, but Newfield bypasses exploitation with “Johnny and June.” Instead, she creates a metaphor of a song that is so vigorous and so impassioned that you can’t help but feel at least a smidgen of the Cashs’ fiery love. – TS

#149
“Down in Mississippi (Up to No Good)”
Sugarland
2006
Peak: #17

In which a bored housewife and her two best friends head down to the Delta for some gambling, or possibly some sleeping around expressed in gambling metaphors. Not totally sure which, but apparently all you can see during it is asses and elbows. – DM

#148
“I Play Chicken with the Train”
Cowboy Troy with Big & Rich
2005
Peak: #48

Scoff if you must. But this decade has been marked by countless attempts to sneak outside musical styles into the mainstream country tent, and it’s a trend worth documenting at its best and worst. Troy’s “hick-hop” probably gave us some of both, but it’s certainly easy to admire this deliriously catchy, danceable debut single, even if only for camp value. – DM

#147
“My Give a Damn’s Busted”
Jo Dee Messina
2005
Peak: #1

In this playfully sassy number, Messina just don’t give a damn. – TS

#146
“Me And God”
Josh Turner with Ralph Stanley
2006
Peak: #16

Not only is “Me And God” more traditional than what radio tends to play; Josh Turner stood firm against pressure to remove Ralph Stanley from the radio version. The song is a simple and joyful depiction of an intimate relationship with God. Instead of the fire and brimstone image in “Long Black Train”, “Me and God” defines Him as a beloved companion and friend. – LW

#145
“It Must Be Love”
Alan Jackson
2000
Peak: #1

It’s a shame that it’s hard to imagine a song like this climbing today’s charts. Jackson’s cover of Don William’s 1979 hit is a simplistic, delightfully charming take on the joy of being in love. – TS

#144
“If Something Should Happen”
Darryl Worley
2005
Peak: #9

A man makes preparations for his best friend to look after his family, should something go wrong. Good dad. – KC

#143
“Lovin’ All Night”
Patty Loveless
2003
Peak: #18

It’s not easy to greatly outshine a Rodney Crowell original, but Emmylou Harris does it with Crowell’s “Leavin’ Louisiana in the Broad Daylight” and Patty Loveless does it with “Lovin’ All Night.” Loveless adds an addictive energy to this flirtatious song, which resulted in a radio comeback of sorts for her. – LW

#142
“Looking for a Job”
Todd Snider
2006
Peak: Did not chart

Snider plays an ex-con fed up with his new boss’ crap, producing one of country’s sharpest work anthems in years. – DM

#141
“Who You’d Be Today”
Kenny Chesney
2005
Peak: #2

A painfully sad song about a loved one who died too young. I still can’t watch the video without getting chills and tearing up. – KC

.

- – -

• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 1: #201-#181
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 2: #180-#161
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 3: #160-#141
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 4: #140-#121
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 5: #121-#101
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 6: #100-#81
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 7: #80-#61
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 8: #60-#41
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 9: #40-#21
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Conclusion: #20-#1

#180
“These Days”
Rascal Flatts
2002
Peak: #1

It’s the pairing of aching nostalgia and all the power that comes with a Flatts country-pop ballad that makes this song so potent. – Tara Seetharam

#179
“Takin’ Off This Pain”
Ashton Shepherd
2007
Peak: #20

Like a wide-eyed hybrid of Loretta Lynn and Jennifer Nettles, Shepherd burst onto the scene snapping her newly ring-free fingers at the clueless sap not treating her right. Next Decade, please take note: you’ve got a star in waiting. – Dan Milliken

#178
“Welcome to the Future”
Brad Paisley
2009
Peak: #2

Paisley blends funky, fresh production with a powerful yet lighthearted depiction of the progress that marks our times. Refreshingly, the result is a politically-tinged song that doesn’t preach, but celebrates. – TS

#177
“A Real Fine Place to Start”
Sara Evans
2005
Peak: #1

Evans simply soars on this perfect bubblegum hook, a hormone rush courtesy of the inimitable Radney Foster. – DM

#176
“Ticks”
Brad Paisley
2007
Peak: #1

One of the decade’s most polarizing singles, as evidenced by its inclusion in both this countdown and our recent Worst Singles of the Decade one. Indeed, Paisley’s shamelessly pervy, creepy ditty has inspired much tut-tutting from those who equate quality with seriousness, or who simply don’t care for pervy, creepy things in general. For others, however, “Ticks” is just a hilariously wrong little novelty with some of the smokingest Telecaster riffs around. – DM

#175
“Band in the Window”
Pam Tillis
2007
Peak: Did not chart

In this jaunty song, Pam Tillis pays tribute to the struggling hopefuls whose only platforms for sharing their music is in bar bands that can be seen through windows by passersby. It’s a celebration of Nashville’s vibrancy wherein talent can be found on every corner. – Leeann Ward

#174
“Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me”
Keith Urban
2003
Peak: #1

Only Urban could strip a phrase like this of all its pomposity and turn it into a hook for an exhilarating song about open-road bliss. – TS

#173
“Something More”
Sugarland
2005
Peak: #2

An anthem for those who believe that happiness is something we create. – Kevin Coyne

#172
“Ten Rounds With José Cuervo”
Tracy Byrd
2002
Peak: #1

Byrd is contagiously entertaining on this boozy, purely fun number. – TS

#171
“Some Beach”
Blake Shelton
2004
Peak: #1

The often cerebral Paul Overstreet helped write this catchy and amusing song that skates around cussing with “some beach” as the expression of choice instead of what is more likely to come out when one has had a bad-luck day like the one in this song. – LW

#170
“Cowboys are Frequently Secretly (Fond of Each Other)”
Willie Nelson
2006
Peak: Did not chart

The Aughts have brought us some classic Willie, from reggae experiments to dead-on Western swing revivals to badass live sets. Also classic: his cover of Ned Sublette’s underground “gay cowboy” song, equal parts goofy satire and bold queer theory. “Say, what did you think all them saddles and boots was about?” – DM

#169
“Sounds So Good”
Ashton Shepherd
2008
Peak: #21

“Sounds So Good” effectively illuminates the joys of summer activities by effectively focusing on their sounds, most notably that of a cooler slushing. – LW

#168
“Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right”
Billy Currington
2005
Peak: #1

Intimate, soulful and incredibly sensual – there’s not much more to say. Currington has never sounded so good. – TS

#167
“Twenty Years and Two Husbands Ago”
Lee Ann Womack
2005
Peak: #32

Beautifully frank, from the awesome title to the distinct little moments of bittersweet hindsight throughout. – DM

#166
“Sweet Music Man”
Reba McEntire
2002
Peak: #36

Kenny Rogers wrote a nice song that was marred by insufferable, dated eighties production. Fortunately, Reba McEntire had the good sense to update the song by eliminating the synthesizers, which uncovers a gem with a more organic, acoustic sound. – LW

#165
“High Cost of Living”
Jamey Johnson
2009
Peak: #34

This song is dark for today’s sterile radio climate, and Johnson’s no-nonsense performance makes no effort to lighten the mood in any way. As a result, we get a glimpse into raw emotions and real consequences that make for a more authentic and enlightening song. – LW

#164
“For These Times”
Martina McBride
2007
Peak: #35

McBride is no stranger to socially conscious songs, but there’s a sad honesty to this one that sets it apart from the others. It reads like a prayer for these often disheartening times in which we live, that we can’t and weren’t made to give up on. – TS

#163
“Already Gone”
Sugarland
2008
Peak: #1

Sure, they’ve got some silly-pops in the fridge, but few modern country acts write with the passion and intelligence of this duo at their best. “Already Gone” makes the insightful observation that we spend much of our lives playing catch-up to our hearts, and touches upon both the joys and tragedies that that tendency can bring. – DM

#162
“No Fear”
Terri Clark

With this reflective song co-written by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Terri Clark shows that bravery and silence are not contradictory. – KC

#161
“In Color”
Jamey Johnson
2008
Peak: #9

A song whose premise is a series of photographs may have fallen flat in the hands of another artist, but Johnson infuses it with poignant imagery and a heaping amount of understated conviction – and just like that, it comes alive. – TS

- – -

• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 1: #201-#181
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 2: #180-#161
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 3: #160-#141
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 4: #140-#121
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 5: #121-#101
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 6: #100-#81
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 7: #80-#61
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 8: #60-#41
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 9: #40-#21
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Conclusion: #20-#1

The devastation this has brought to record company bottom lines was probably unavoidable anyway, given the realities of post-Napster society. But technology has its perks. Now you can buy the songs on this list with a click of the mouse!

And what a list it is: 201 singles that run the gamut, from genuine hits that topped the charts to songs spun only by renegade DJs working the night shift. Here’s how we compiled it: four Country Universe writers ranked their personal favorite 100 singles, with an inverted point system applied (#1 on a list meant 100 points, while #100 on the list meant 1 point.) The songs were then ranked by number of total points, greatest to least. Ties were broken by the number of lists the song appeared on, then by highest individual ranking.

There was more consensus than usual for CU, and we all agreed on one thing: this list was a heck of a lot of fun to compile. We hope you enjoy it, too!

The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 1: #201-#181

#201
“I Run To You”
Lady Antebellum
2009
Peak: #1

There’s a palpable intensity to this song that grips me every time I listen to it. Love isn’t always characterized by peacefulness, and the song’s pulsing production perfectly conveys the urgency, desperation and passion that often accompanies it. – Tara Seetharam

#200
“The Last Thing on My Mind”
Patty Loveless
2001
Peak: #20

Given her allegiance to country music’s history and personal association with both Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, you might think this was a cover of that duo’s first top ten hit. Instead, it’s a very modern-sounding song with a modern-day woman who never thinks about the guy she’s left behind until right before she goes to sleep, when “something in my broken heart rewinds” as she lies in an “empty bed as big as Arkansas.”  – Kevin Coyne

#199
“She’s Everything”
Brad Paisley
2006
Peak: #1

It’s the sweetest tribute to all the parts that make the whole of Paisley’s love for his wife. Some are small (“she’s ‘I want a piece of chocolate’”), and some are large (“she’s the hand that I’m holding when I’m on my knees and praying”) – but each is as endearing as the next. – TS

#198
“Drinkin’ Me Lonely”
Chris Young
2006
Peak: #42

“Drinkin’ Me Lonely” is a great drinking song with killer falsetto that helps to contribute to the narrator’s dreary mood. – Leeann Ward

#197
“Fifteen”
Taylor Swift
2009
Peak: #7 (still charting)

Swift speaks directly to the fragile emotional core underlying her own boy-centric outlook. It’s her most explicitly youth-oriented song yet, yet it’s also her most mature. – Dan Milliken

#196
“On the Rocks”
The Wrights
2005
Peak: Did not chart

The Wrights are a more sassy husband-wife duo than the beloved Joey + Rory, but they are charming nonetheless. The catchy and bluesy “On the Rocks” is a biting assessment of a relationship gone bad, but there seems to be a hint of love underneath the exchanged derision. – LW

#195
“A Feelin’ Like That”
Gary Allan
2006
Peak: #12

A rocking blast of adrenaline, as Allan realizes that no thrill in the world – be it skydiving, running with bulls, speeding at night with closed eyes – is intense enough to displace the memory of his past love. He’s supercharged with righteous lust for that memory, and leaves you thinking there’s nothing he won’t do to make it real again. – DM

#194
“I’m Just Talkin’  About Tonight”
Toby Keith
2001
Peak: #1

Keith does his best to negotiate a rendezvous with charming bravado and hilarious results. – KC

#193
“Nothin’ to Lose”
Josh Gracin
2005
Peak: #1

This tongue-in-cheek, mile-a-minute toe-tapper is cleverly written and infectiously performed – reminiscent of the bouncy country songs from the 90′s that I’ve so missed. – TS

#192
“Out of the Rain”
The Duhks
2006
Peak: Did not chart

About that moment of clarity when you realize that the only way to progress is to get yourself out of the destructive situation you’re in. The song doesn’t advocate avoiding problems entirely, but acknowledges that some are impossible to solve as long as you remain in the emotional thick of them.  – DM

#191
“He Gets That From Me”
Reba McEntire
2004
Peak: #7

The heartbreak queen at her heartbreaking best, mourning a lost husband while celebrating his presence living on in their child. – KC

#190
“Tennessee”
Marcel
2003
Peak: Did not chart

He’s an acquired taste, as few like their country balladeers to be so relentlessly earnest. But this one gets me every time. – KC

#189
“So Small”
Carrie Underwood
2007
Peak: #1

Underwood’s most underrated single and my personal favorite, “So Small” is an earnest ode to what matters most in life, wrapped in a beautiful, swelling melody. The gospel undertones add an element of soul to the song, and suggest a deeper ‘love’ than the lyrics spell out. – TS

#188
“Perfect”
Sara Evans
2003
Peak: #2

Funny how a song about how you don’t have to be perfect is close enough to perfect itself.  – KC

#187
“What a Beautiful Day”
Chris Cagle
2003
Peak: #4

This upbeat chronicle of the life of a relationship is both clever and entertaining. The underlying piano riff is addictive as well. – LW

#186
“Forgive”
Rebecca Lynn Howard
2002
Peak: #12

I understand the appeal of subtlety, but sometimes you just need to belt it out. This is one of those times. – KC

#185
“Ol’ Red”
Blake Shelton
2002
Peak: #14

Ol’ Red” is one of those cool story songs, complete with a plot twist, that country music is known for. – LW

#184
“Me and Emily”
Rachel Proctor
2004
Peak: #18

One of country music’s great one-hit wonders, although even this one barely broke the Top 20. Proctor’s tale of a mother and daughter fleeing an abusive home brims with warmth and maternal love, even as it acknowledges the tense uncertainty of the duo’s future. – DM

#183
“Shine”
Dolly Parton
2001
Peak: Did not chart

Parton teams up with Nickel Creek to turn Collective Soul’s classic rock song into a timeless acoustic gospel number. She’s rarely sounded so inspired. – DM

#182
“Mine All Mine”
SHeDaisy
2002
Peak: #28

Bittersweet regret and tight family harmonies have always been a killer combination in country music. They work so well here that even the phrase “my bad” doesn’t seem out of place. – KC

#181
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”
Miranda Lambert
2006
Peak: #50

You don’t want to mess with this self-professed crazy ex-girlfriend. She’ll take you down! – LW

- – -

• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 1: #201-#181
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 2: #180-#161
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 3: #160-#141
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 4: #140-#121
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 5: #121-#101
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 6: #100-#81
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 7: #80-#61
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 8: #60-#41
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 9: #40-#21
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Conclusion: #20-#1