This better be the worst single of 2011.

Written by Kenny Beard, Casey Beathard, and Rivers Rutherford

Grade: F

Listen: Brown Chicken Brown Cow

When the nominees were announced in August for the 44th annual CMA Awards, they sparked a firestorm of headlines –and thoughtful commentary by critics and fans alike– thanks to the CMA voters’ surprisingly bold moves. It’s all about change this year, as the voters revamped the ballot with a slew of fresh faces in almost all of the big categories.

How will it all play out? We’ll know for sure on Wednesday at 8pm Eastern, but before Gwenyth Paltrow throws on her cowboy boots, check out our staff picks and predictions and join the discussion in the comments below. And be sure to drop by Wednesday night for all of the CU live blog madness!

Entertainer of the Year

Should Win:

• Lady Antebellum
• Miranda Lambert – Kevin
• Brad Paisley
• Keith Urban
• Zac Brown Band – Leeann, Dan, Tara

Kevin:  Among the five nominees, Miranda Lambert has best represented the genre this year.

Leeann: I’m torn between Lambert and the Zac Brown Band as most deserving this year. I recently saw Lambert’s show and wasn’t incredibly impressed, however. While I have not yet attended a ZBB show, theirs is one of the few spots that I look forward to at awards shows these days. Moreover, I’m impressed by how much of a following they had even before they made any mainstream records.

Dan: Of these five, Zac Brown Band had the second-most success this year (after Lady A) and made the second-best music (after Lambert), so that’s pretty good standing. And I feel like giving this award to a grassroots act would be a good way for the industry to greet the future.

Tara: I’m consistently impressed by Zac Brown Band’s live performances, and it would be really refreshing to see them win – so I’ll go with them. (But I’m still disappointed that the first year my head and heart align on Carrie Underwood deserving an EOTY award, I can’t support her. I’m holding out for 2012…)

Will Win:

• Lady Antebellum
• Miranda Lambert – Tara
• Brad Paisley – Kevin, Leeann, Dan
  
• Keith Urban
• Zac Brown Band

Kevin: I’ve probably learned nothing from last year’s Swift sweep by going with Paisley again, but he’s the only nominee of veteran stature who hasn’t won yet.

Leeann: I can’t imagine that Paisley won’t finally win this one.

Dan: I was going to guess Lady A, since they’re sort of 2010′s “flavor of the year” the way Taylor Swift was 2009′s. But when I think about it, Swift’s ascent was greater and more gradual, and she stood in contrast to the rest of her nominee pool (four male veterans) in a way Lady A don’t with theirs (in which they’re one of three new competitors). So, Paisley.

Tara: I have no rationale. My gut says Lambert.

Male Vocalist of the Year

Should Win:

• Dierks Bentley – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
• Brad Paisley
• Blake Shelton
• George Strait
• Keith Urban

Kevin: Bentley made the best music this year.

Leeann: Bentley may not have the best technical voice out of these nominees, but he has the most interesting and distinctive of them, which is always something that I gravitate toward. Also, I agree with Kevin that he’s made the best music this year.

Dan: Shelton and Bentley are the only ones in this pool who made significant career strides this year – Shelton at radio, and Bentley creatively. Since I’m backing someone else in the Album category, this is where I’d like to see Bentley recognized for following his muse.

Tara: I guess Up on the Ridge is as good a reason as any to fall off the Brad-for-MVOTY bandwagon. He’s a close second for me, though.

Will Win:

• Dierks Bentley – Kevin, Dan
• Brad Paisley – Leeann, Tara
• Blake Shelton
• George Strait
• Keith Urban

Kevin: I can see the roots album giving Bentley an edge. Then again, Paisley could just repeat again, or Shelton may suddenly have deep support among voters. I say, Bentley by a nose.

Leeann: I think that voters will reflexively give this one to Paisley again.

Dan: I’ll ditto Kevin.

Tara: I can’t really see Paisley losing this one, but I think if he does lose to Bentley, it’ll be a telling moment.

Female Vocalist of the Year

Should Win:

• Miranda Lambert – Kevin, Leeann, Dan
• Martina McBride
• Reba McEntire
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood – Tara

Kevin: Underwood and McEntire are the women who made my favorite singles from the eligibility period, but Lambert’s the only one who hasn’t won this award.  She’s not overdue, but she’s due.

Leeann: Kevin’s right that Lambert is due to win this award now, not to mention that she’s my favorite female singer out of the bunch.

Dan: Lambert still isn’t at Underwood’s sales level, much less Swift’s, and I don’t see her catching up before traditional music sales die out altogether. Doesn’t matter, though: her habit of making creative music will sustain her regardless of industry conditions, and will elevate the genre in the long run. It’s time to look ahead.

Tara: I’m 50/50 on Lambert and Underwood. I’m not sure how to balance Lambert’s long overdue mega-year against Underwood’s continuous stream of solid success, ambassadorship and artistic growth. I’ll be happy either way, but personal investment’s got me in Underwood’s camp.

Will Win:

• Miranda Lambert - Kevin, Dan, Tara
• Martina McBride
• Reba McEntire
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood- Leeann

Kevin: I’d be shocked if Lambert lost, and can’t even make a guess as to who she’d lose to, should she somehow lose.

Leeann: It’s between Lambert and Underwood, but I give Underwood the edge, especially since it’s somewhat surprising that she didn’t get an Entertainer nomination. Although Lambert has gained popularity in the past year, Underwood is still one of the two biggest females in the business and I refuse to predict that Swift will win the award.

Dan: Lambert’s had enough mainstream success this year to give tasteful voters an excuse to give her some props.

Tara: The voters love them some Lambert this year, and I think of all her nominations, this is the one she’s got in the bag.

Vocal Duo of the Year

Should Win:

• Brooks & Dunn
• Joey + Rory – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
• Montgomery Gentry
• Steel Magnolia
• Sugarland

Kevin: I’m assuming “Stuck Like Glue” was after the eligibility period, so I think actually making some music over the year is important. Joey + Rory are the only duo I like who have yet to win.

Leeann: I simply like them the most, but I know they don’t have a chance.

Dan: I mean, why not? Nobody on this ballot has done much but tour.

Tara: I’m not very excited about any of these acts right now, to be honest. It would just be heartwarming to see Joey + Rory pick this one up.

Will Win:

• Brooks & Dunn – Kevin, Dan
• Joey + Rory
• Montgomery Gentry
• Steel Magnolia
• Sugarland – Leeann, Tara

Kevin: Sugarland’s year off helped guarantee a B&D victory lap, which would probably have happened anyway.

Leeann: It’s between Brooks & Dunn and Sugarland. I should just pick B&D because of their retirement, but I’m still going with Sugarland because of their popularity.

Dan: Brooks & Dunn, unless voters ignore the eligibility period and stick with Sugarland.

Tara: Isn’t the Brooks & Dunn retirement thing kind of old news by now, or am I just out of touch?

Vocal Group of the Year

Should Win:

• Lady Antebellum – Tara
• Little Big Town
• Rascal Flatts
• The Band Perry
• Zac Brown Band – Kevin, Leeann, Dan

Kevin: Let’s start getting some variety in this category, instead of having Lady A own it for five years.

Leeann: They’re the only group that I like right now.

Dan: I’ll probably be rooting for Little Big Town come ACM season, but for now…

Tara: I don’t want Lady A to own this for five years, either, but I do think they deserve to win this year. At least in my opinion, their huge success on the charts and with album sales can be attributed much to their ability to (I know, I know – I’m a broken record) hone in on specific emotion and deliver it in a way that people can really connect with. There’s some meat (and a heck of a lot of potential) behind their success that tends to go unnoticed.

Will Win:

• Lady Antebellum – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
• Little Big Town
• Rascal Flatts
• The Band Perry
• Zac Brown Band

Kevin: Lady A and Zac BB are both very popular with voters, but I’m thinking that this is the only race where voters can reward Lady A for dominating at retail this year.

Leeann: Ditto to Kevin.

Dan: New Artist will be ZBB’s consolation prize.

Tara: …And I think the voters will agree with my pick, if not for the same reasons.

New Artist of the Year

Should Win:

• Luke Bryan
• Easton Corbin
• Jerrod Niemann
• Chris Young – Leeann
• Zac Brown Band - Kevin, Dan, Tara

Kevin: ZBB is in another league, which makes me wish they still called this the Horizon Award.

Leeann: It’s weird to see ZBB here considering their nominations elsewhere, so I think that Chris Young has the most potential of the remaining nominees.

Dan: I’d love to see Young take this, but ZBB can’t be denied.

Tara: This is a great line-up, but there’s no question that ZBB deserves this win.

Will Win:

• Luke Bryan
• Easton Corbin
• Jerrod Niemann
• Chris Young
• Zac Brown Band – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara

Kevin: ZBB is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, much like Ricky Skaggs was when he won Horizon in 1982. (Skaggs also won Male Vocalist, which means I may have to rethink my pick for Vocal Group, too.)

Leeann: Kevin’s argument is too compelling not to follow. Also, they are the most popular of the nominees, therefore, probably the most deserving.

Dan: Everyone here but Niemann has had a significant breakthrough. With ZBB in the mix, though, it’s no contest.

Tara: It’s a funky set-up to have ZBB nominated for both the top and bottom (figuratively) prizes, and I think this one will play out exactly the way Kevin explained it.

Album of the Year

Should Win:

• Dierks Bentley, Up on the Ridge – Leeann
• Lady Antebellum, Need You Now
• Miranda Lambert, Revolution – Dan, Tara
• George Strait, Twang
• Carrie Underwood, Play On – Kevin

Kevin: I have all five of these albums, and Underwood’s is the one that I listen to the most, with Strait a not-too-close second. In 2010, of course, “listening to an album” really means “how many songs do I pull off the album and put on a play list,” which has Underwood ahead by three tracks.

Leeann: If I follow Kevin’s test, Bently wins with Lambert as a close second. Bentley’s is, hands down, my favorite album of these choices. I’d love to see something this different from the mainstream win.

Dan: Also employing Kevin’s test, I flip-flop Leeann’s first and second choices. Only about two thirds of Revolution click for me a year later, but those two thirds have helped redefined what I thought modern country could be (still flipping about “Me and Your Cigarettes”), and the stray third at least tried.

Tara: I’m not going to follow Kevin’s test: I don’t play Revolution quite as much as three of the other albums on here, but I feel it’s the most deserving. It’s sharp, smart and an excellent example of an artist taking her potential by the horns.

Will Win:

• Dierks Bentley, Up on the Ridge
• Lady Antebellum, Need You Now
• Miranda Lambert, Revolution – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
• George Strait, Twang
• Carrie Underwood, Play On

Kevin: I really do think Lambert will sweep. I think she should’ve won for her last album, which wasn’t even nominated, but I’m not going to complain about an ambitious album getting the prize.

Leeann: I’m guessing either Lambert or Underwood. Although Lambert has the better album, Underwood has the slight edge because it sold better. I wouldn’t be especially surprised if Lady A takes it though.

Dan: Seems to me like a toss-up between Lady A’s commercial favorite and Lambert’s critical one. Lambert?

Tara: This is Lambert’s to lose, but I wouldn’t be too surprised if Lady A (or maybe Bentley?) snatched it.

Single of the Year

Should Win:

• Easton Corbin, “A Little More Country Than That”
• Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now”
• Miranda Lambert, “The House That Built Me” – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
• Miranda Lambert, “White Liar”
• Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins, “Hillbilly Bone”

Kevin: It’s the big chunk of meat in a category of mashed potatoes and candied apples.

Leeann: Kevin just made me really hungry, therefore, kind of distracted. It’s a good thing that my choice doesn’t need justification then.

Dan: “Need You Now” had the biggest impact, of course, but “The House That Built Me” was no slouch either – four weeks at #1 – and was arguably the riskiest, most rewarding release. Also of note: she sang it real pretty.

Tara: “Need You Now” and “The House That Built Me” are performed equally well, but “House” is the better-written song. I’ll go with “House” on the basis of that, but I do think country music will be represented justly either way. Both songs resonate with pure, compelling sentiment.

Will Win:

• Easton Corbin, “A Little More Country Than That”
• Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now” - Dan, Tara
• Miranda Lambert, “The House That Built Me” - Kevin, Leeann
• Miranda Lambert, “White Liar”
• Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins, “Hillbilly Bone”

Kevin: I think Lady A would have a better shot if they hadn’t won last year for “I Run to You.”

Leeann: It’s simply the clear winner.

Dan: Again, somewhat for diversity’s sake, I’ll guess that many voters have already forgotten about “I Run to You” – I certainly have – and will use this category to recognize the biggest hit, while they use Song to recognize the best one.

Tara: I’m jumping on Dan’s train…

Song of the Year

Should Win:

• “A Little More Country Than That” – Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress & Wynn Varble
• “Need You Now” – Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott
• “The House That Built Me” – Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
• “Toes” – Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Hopkins & Shawn Mullins
• “White Liar” – Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert

Kevin: Overall, I think that “Need You Now” is a better Single than Song, and that “The House That Built Me” is a better Song than Single, but “House” is better than “Need” on both counts.

Leeann: I’m just being repetative now. It’s the best single and song of the year.

Dan: It’s the deepest-cutting of the five and the most unique.

Tara: “The House That Built Me” is, quite simply, beautifully written.

Will Win:

• “A Little More Country Than That” – Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress & Wynn Varble
• “Need You Now” – Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott – Kevin
• “The House That Built Me” – Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin – Leeann, Dan, Tara
• “Toes” – Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Hopkins & Shawn Mullins
• “White Liar” – Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert

Kevin: Here’s where they can honor “Need You Now” without shortchanging Lambert.

Leeann: I just see “House” sweeping in all possible categories.

Dan: They often manage to pick the actual best song of the five, especially when that song is also the most “serious.”

Tara: This just seems way to obvious; I don’t see how the voters could bypass the most clearly deserving song.

Musical Event of the Year

Should Win:

• Dierks Bentley featuring Jamey Johnson & Miranda Lambert, “Bad Angel” – Tara
• Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews, “I’m Alive”
• Alan Jackson with Lee Ann Womack, “‘Til the End” – Leeann, Dan
  
• Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins, “Hillbilly Bone” – Kevin
• Zac Brown Band featuring Kid Rock, “Can’t You See”

Kevin: I don’t find any of these five songs particularly compelling, so I’ll go with the two artists who are longest overdue for some CMA love.

Leeann: I’m not big on any of these either, but the Jackson/Womack collaboration is the one I like the most if I have to choose.

Dan: I’d be fine with either “Til the End” or “Bad Angel”. Whatevs.

Tara: The Jackson/Womack song falls squarely within my typical taste, but “Bad Angel” gets under my skin – in a good way. It’s just a really cool record.

Will Win:

• Dierks Bentley featuring Jamey Johnson & Miranda Lambert, “Bad Angel”
• Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews, “I’m Alive”
• Alan Jackson with Lee Ann Womack, “‘Til the End”
• Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins, “Hillbilly Bone”- Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
• Zac Brown Band featuring Kid Rock, “Can’t You See”

Kevin: Its presence in the Single category makes “Hillbilly Bone” the most likely winner.

Leeann: It’s the most mainstream of all the choices.

Dan: “Bad Angel” could play a welcome spoiler, since all three of the artists behind it command a lot of respect right now. I still see this going to the hit, though.

Tara: I’m predicting the big boys will win this one. It’s a decent song, but it makes me laugh that it gets as much love as it does – I mean, this is the song that has Adkins admitting that he’s “always wanted to sing a bone song”…!

Music Video of the Year

Should Win:

• Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now”
• Miranda Lambert, “The House That Built Me”
• Miranda Lambert, “White Liar” – Kevin, Dan, Tara
• Brad Paisley, “Water”
• Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins, “Hillbilly Bone”

Kevin: Lambert made the two best clips, with the humor of “Liar” outpacing the literalism of “House.”

Dan: The “House” video is beautifully conceived and directed, but somehow the “White Liar” one just sticks out more. Maybe it’s because “White Liar” is a thinner song, so the video has more of a chance to establish its own identity.

Tara: The “White Liar” video is the brightest and most creative of the bunch.

Will Win:

• Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now”
• Miranda Lambert, “The House That Built Me”
• Miranda Lambert, “White Liar” – Kevin, Dan, Tara
• Brad Paisley, “Water”
• Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins, “Hillbilly Bone”

Kevin: I think “White Liar” has won all the video awards this year, so I guess it will win again.

Dan: This is the logical place to reward the other Lambert single the CMA liked this year.

Tara: One of Lambert’s videos will win for sure. My best guess is “White Liar” since it’s won before, like Kevin said.

Musician of the Year

Should Win:

• Paul Franklin (steel guitar) – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
  
• Dann Huff (guitar)
• Brent Mason (guitar)
• Mac McAnally (guitar)
• Randy Scruggs (guitar)

Kevin: Paul Franklin is the nominee I’m rooting for the most this year. Give the man, and the steel guitar, some long overdue recognition!

Leeann: It’s the steel guitar for heaven’s sake! It should be a no-brainer, even though it’s clearly not.

Dan: I won’t pretend I know what’s going on. I’m just going to root for the guy who hasn’t won yet until he finally does.

Tara: How can you pass up the steel guitar?

Will Win:

• Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
• Dann Huff (guitar)
• Brent Mason (guitar)
• Mac McAnally (guitar) – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
• Randy Scruggs (guitar)

Kevin: Mac McAnally won the last two years, so I guess he’s the favorite. Did I mention that Franklin is 0-for-17 going into this year’s ceremony?

Leeann: I suppose its a habit to give it to McAnally at this point. So, why should I be so bold as to predict anyone else?

Dan: No justice!

Tara: Just going off of pattern here.

Now, we are pleased to announce that courtesy of Show Dog-Universal, Country Universe is giving away two (2) autographed copies of Trace Adkins’ brand new album, Cowboy’s Back in Town, which was released last Tuesday, August 17.

As his first record on the Toby Keith owned record company, one can’t help but be curious to hear what the transition will mean for Adkins. With a big helping of raucous tunes and a handful of softer melodies, Adkins begins the new chapter in his career with a bang.

To enter the random drawing for one of the copies of Adkins autographed albums, leave a comment that tells us your favorite Trace Adkins song(s). The contest will be closed Thursday August 26 at midnight.

Now, Toby Keith and Tim McGraw were regularly invited to the party in the first half of the last decade, with four and three nominations, respectively. But the race has essentially been dominated by the same five men: Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, George Strait, and Keith Urban, who combine for forty nominations in just one decade.

The recent history has been pretty boring. After two consecutive wins by Alan Jackson, we’ve had three consecutive wins each by Keith Urban and reigning champ Brad Paisley.

Will there be a new winner this year, or even a new nominee? Should there be?

Let’s take a look at last year’s race:

2009

• Kenny Chesney
• Brad Paisley
• Darius Rucker
• George Strait
• Keith Urban

Darius Rucker was the new face to enter the race last year. No brand new nominee has been nominated again in this category since Keith Urban earned his first nomination in 2004. He’s been in the race ever since.  I’d say Rucker’s close to a lock, along with Paisley. But just like in the Entertainer race, a case could be made for a decent shake-up, especially some of this category’s veteran acts have dipped at radio and retail.

Here’s who I would nominate this year. Share your picks in the comments:

Jason Aldean

Anybody else notice that this guy’s outselling the rest of the male solo artists? All the while, he’s been completely ignored at the country awards shows for his last two projects.  He’s not overdue just yet, but he’s due.

Dierks Bentley

He went out of his comfort zone to release a bluegrass-flavored album that was pretty darn good.

Brad Paisley

He just missed my list for preferred Entertainer nominees, but he’s at the head of the pack in this category. With his domination at radio, not to mention a stronger studio album than his previous two, I wouldn’t be shocked for him to become the third artist in history to win four of these.

Blake Shelton

His hit-making has certainly been kicked up a notch as of late.  He may be destined to toil just under the radar of this category like Trace Adkins and Gary Allan before him, but it would be nice to see him get a nod.

Josh Turner

A decent comeback at radio and retail, coupled with him being a great singer who’s been overlooked, makes me hope he finishes out this category.

___

I left off previous nominees Keith Urban, George Strait, and Darius Rucker because they haven’t put out new albums during the eligibility period, so it seems like a good time to let some new folks get a chance. I left off Kenny Chesney because he’s been doing nothing but stopgap releases for the past year, none of which sold to  his normal standards.  I left off Tim McGraw, even though he’s made some music I really like lately, because he hasn’t been doing as well as usual at radio and retail.

400 Greatest Singles of the Nineties: #200-#176

#200
Carrying Your Love With Me
George Strait
1997 | Peak: #1

Listen

A traveler gets through his lonely nights on the sheer strength of love. It’s perhaps a little too saccharine for some, but the sweet melody and Strait’s understated vocals make the record work. – Tara Seetharam

#199
Nothing’s News
Clint Black
1990 | Peak: #3

Listen

A man sits around in a bar “talking ’bout the good old times, bragging on how it used to be.” Standard premise, but Black’s melancholy performance lifts the record to Haggardly heights. – Dan Milliken

#198
Rockin’ Years
Dolly Parton with Ricky Van Shelton
1991 | Peak: #1

Listen

The lyric is unabashedly cutesy, but Dolly’s and Ricky’s way of leaning into the song with no shame makes it all okay and even endearing. – Leeann Ward

#197
We Can’t Love Like This Anymore
Alabama
1994 | Peak: #6

Listen

A beautiful requiem for a dying love. The man just needs to know it’s over for sure so he can begin to make peace with it coming to an end. – Kevin Coyne

#196
Daddy Won’t Sell the Farm
Montgomery Gentry
1999 | Peak: #17

Listen

The emotional and family roots are planted so deep that there’s no way that the family farm will be sold if father and son have anything to say about it. We’ve heard the sentiment before, but Montgomery Gentry’s take on the theme is a worthy addition. – LW

#195
Trouble is a Woman
Julie Reeves
1999 | Peak: #39

Listen

A firecracker of a song that pays tribute to the tenacity and steadfast determination of a woman who’s been done wrong. Reeves’ performance is as blazing as the woman she’s singing about. – TS

#194
What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am
Lee Roy Parnell
1992 | Peak: #2

Listen

What’s that saying again?: “Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me.” It seems that Parnell understands that concept rather well, as he plainly says, “You hurt me one time, I finally learned.” – LW

#193
Too Cold at Home
Mark Chesnutt
1990 | Peak: #3

Listen

A melancholy record about a man who finds himself stuck at a bar because it’s too hot outside and too cold at home. Sounding both dejected and wistful, Chesnutt does a superb job conveying his pain, and his vocal emphasis on “cold” is just gorgeous. – TS

#192
I’m On Your Side
Kathy Mattea
1997 | Peak: Did Not Chart

Listen

Jim Lauderdale sure knows how to write some catchy melodies and Kathy Mattea knows how to bring them to life. What’s more, this is actually a heartwarming, albeit fun, pledge of fierce loyalty. – LW

#191
Let Go
Brother Phelps
1993 | Peak: #6

Listen

Finally breaking free from anything that’s held you back is liberating, but comes with the bittersweet realization that you were free to go all along. – KC

#190
Livin’ On Love
Alan Jackson
1994 | Peak: #1

Listen

Jackson gave us so many strong neotrad ditties in the nineties that they can tend to run together and feel same-y, even when any one of them could have been a career highlight for a lesser artist. Like “Little Bitty” or “Gone Country” or “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow,” “Livin’ On Love” more or less tells you in the title what you’re getting, and also like those songs, it delivers with charm and catchy hooks to spare. – DM

#189
When You Walk in the Room
Pam Tillis
1994 | Peak: #2

Listen

It was a quintessential crush song for the Searchers in the mid-sixties. Tillis adds a steel guitar to the classic guitar hook, but what sends the song to the stratosphere is her vocal. While the original had the lead singer matching the quiet tension of the backing music, Tillis lets loose toward the end, giving the song an added punch worthy of its lyric of unrequited love. – KC

#188
Tonight the Heartache’s On Me
Dixie Chicks
1999 | Peak: #6

Listen

The first of four Chicks singles that made our countdown, this one isn’t quite as lightweight as it appears on the surface. It’s satisfyingly self-pitying, but it’s also astute – from the clever spin on words in the hook, to the apt bite in Natalie Maine’s performance, to the sly line in the second verse: “I wonder if he told her she’s the best he’s ever known/The way he told me every night when we were all alone.” – TS

#187
We Shall Be Free
Garth Brooks
1992 | Peak: #12

Listen

Garth Brooks lost some airplay with this gospel-tinged piece of social commentary that was inspired by the Rodney King beating and the riots that followed. It, however, remains one of his most overtly substantive songs. – LW

#186
Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House
Garth Brooks
1991 | Peak: #1

Listen

How many clichéd metaphors can you fit in one song? I counted over ten, and Brooks makes every one of them work in this raucous, hilarious tribute to his better half. – TS

#185
Time Marches On
Tracy Lawrence
1996 | Peak: #1

Listen

The passage of time seems like a broad, simple theme, but as the series of family vignettes in this song show, its impacts are specific and complicated. In an instance of brilliant songcraft, “Time Marches On” maintains a totally detached, matter-of-fact voice in touching on its characters’ developments, underscoring the point that time doesn’t make judgments or linger on particular moments the way we’re used to doing; it just keeps moving along, changing us without pause or permission. – DM

#184
I’m Over You
Keith Whitley
1990 | Peak: #3

Listen

There’s nothing like righteous indignation (Why they makin’ those stories up”?) fueled by denial (“I’m over you”). Whitley naturally emotes these common, conflicting responses with his signature tear-stained voice, which makes for an irresistible slice of hard core country music. – LW

#183
Every Light in the House
Trace Adkins
1996 | Peak: #3

Listen

Staunch conviction meets tender grief. Only Adkins could have made this as powerful a record as it is. – TS

#182
You’re Still the One
Shania Twain
1998 | Peak: #1

Listen

It’s hard to believe that the woman who filled a million wedding hall dance floors never had a true ballad hit until this instant standard was released. Finally, an anniversary song for those who didn’t have the support of their family and friends when they got married! – KC

#181
Lipstick Promises
George Ducas
1994 | Peak: #9

Listen

The Roy Orbison single you didn’t even know you were missing. Ducas won’t be falling for you and your deceitful cosmetics anymore, treacherous woman. – DM

#180
A Broken Wing
Martina McBride
1997 | Peak: #1

Listen

A rousing story of a woman who rose above the physical and emotional constraints of her spirit-crushing husband. Like the best inspirational hits in McBride’s catalogue, “A Broken Wing” also doubles as a powerful tribute to women everywhere who’ve been told that “only angels know how to fly.” – TS

#179
Walking Away a Winner
Kathy Mattea
1994 | Peak: #3

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In 1994, Kathy Mattea made a calculated attempt at an explicitly commercial country record. It worked, thanks in large part to the album’s powerful title track. With surprisingly aggressive production behind her, she gives a performance that’s empowering to listen to even when you aren’t walking away from a bad situation. – KC

#178
I Fell in Love
Carlene Carter
1990 | Peak: #3

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Carter falls in love and throws a freaking musical party for herself. The song begs to be hula hooped or limboed to. – DM

#177
Girls With Guitars
Wynonna
1994 | Peak: #10

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Mary Chapin Carpenter might have written it, but it might as well be autobiography with the fiery authenticity that Wynonna rips into it. Bonus points for Lyle Lovett, who gives distinctive background vocals that nearly drown out fellow backup singer Naomi Judd. – KC

#176
On the Road
Lee Roy Parnell
1993 | Peak: #6

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Sometimes you hit the road knowing that there’s probably nothing better on the other end of it. But getting gone is still better than sticking around where you’re no longer valued, as Parnell demonstrates through the desperation of a lonely housewife, a teenage kid dodging college, and an unhappily retired couple. – KC