We’ve compiled the top 10 most impactful and beloved country music songs from the 2010’s. Do you agree with our lineup? Who’s missing?
#10 Darius Rucker - “Wagon Wheel” (2013) This song is just infectious and while it didn't win any awards, it sure did get a lot of nominations for Song of the Year at both the CMA's and ACM's as well as a nod for Billboard's Top Country Song in 2014. The song was a remake of Old Crow Medicine Show's version in 2004. Darius actually heard the song while attending his daughter's dance recital.
#9 Kacey Musgraves - “Follow Your Arrow” (2013) Kacey Musgraves won the CMA's Song of the Year award in 2014 for this catchy song that sings about being who you are including references to the LGBT community with the lyrics, "Make lots of noise / And kiss lots of boys / Or kiss lots of girls / If that's something you're into."
#8 Cole Swindell - "You Should Be Here" (2015) This touching song was written by Cole after the sudden death of his father. Although there were many nominations, the song didn't win any major awards but has some of country music's best lyrics straight from Swindell's heart of how his father should be "here" enjoying his son's success in the music business in Nashville. The chorus sings, "You should be here, standing with your arm around me here / Cutting up, cracking a cold beer / Saying cheers, hey y'all it's sure been a good year / It's one of those moments, that's got your name written all over it / And you know that if I had just one wish it'd / Be that you didn't have to miss this / You should be here."
#7 Carrie Underwood - “Something in the Water” (2014) So many of Carrie Underwood's songs are powerful, but this one stands out as Carrie sings about being reborn after experiencing "Something' In The Water" shortly after baptism. The song won a Grammy in 2015 for Best Country Solo Performance at a Billboard Music Awards for Best Christian Song also in 2015. That same year it won CMT's Music Video of The Year.
#5 Luke Combs - "Beer Never Broke My Heart" (2019) This song is what catapulted Luke Combs to superstardom! The catchy and so relatable song hits home with fans as the video for the song that topped the Billboard Country Charts and has been viewed over 59 million times.
#6 Keith Urban - “Blue Ain’t Your Color” (2016) This romantic song from Keith Urban reached number one on Billboard's Country Airplay chart and number one on the Hot Country Songs chart and remained there for twelve consecutive weeks. It was released in August 2016 as the fourth single from Urban's album Ripcord. The song possesses a certain grove that's simply hard to get out of your head once you've heard it.
#4 Dan + Shay - “Tequila” (2018) Dan + Shay's "tequila" would be considered as the song that made this duo a major headliner in country music, sad part is just as they were getting ready for their first major tour as the headliner, COVID-19 stopped all touring. However, the song did win the duo many awards in 2019 including a Grammy and a couple of ACM awards for both Song of the Year and Single of The Year.
#3 Little Big Town - “Girl Crush” (2014) This song seemed to bring country music to their knees as it won a Grammy for best Country Song in 2016 as well as a couple of CMA Awards for Song and Single of the Year in 2015 and the CMT Video of the Year in 2016. The simple yet addictive song sings the tale of a woman who has a "Girl Crush" on the next woman her man loves with the lyrics singing, "I want to taste her lips / Yeah, 'cause they taste like you / I want to drown myself / In a bottle of her perfume."
#2 Tim McGraw - "Humble and Kind" (2016) This incredible song was one that Tim McGraw had trouble recording because he kept breaking down and crying while he was recording it. A song that all parents should sing to their children, the father of three young woman, McGraw sang it beautifully. It's no wonder the song won Best Country Song at the 2017 Grammys as well as at 2016 CMA Awards and "Country Song of the Year" at 2016 American Music Awards.
#1 Miranda Lambert - “The House that Built Me” (2010) This song has become a staple for Miranda Lambert, who recorded it after her then soon to be husband Blake Shelton passed on it when Lambert wanted to do it so badly. She performed the song during the 2010 Academy of Country Music Awards on April 18, 2010 and received a standing ovation. She won the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 2011.