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Sunny Sweeney's Rhinestone Requiem Leads That Nashville Sound’s Top Albums of 2025
In an era where singles dominate algorithms and attention spans are short, albums still matter deeply to artists and listeners who value cohesion, narrative, and emotional arc. The best records of 2025 were not just collections of songs, but complete statements. They rewarded listeners who pressed play and stayed put, albums that unfolded slowly and revealed more with every listen.
Country music, at its core, has always been about truth. Not perfection, not polish, but truth. This year’s strongest releases leaned into that ethos. Whether rooted in honky-tonk, bluegrass, folk, Southern rock, or modern Americana, the albums that rose to the top carried a sense of purpose and authenticity that could not be manufactured.
Before naming this year’s top album, it is worth reflecting on the records that have previously earned That Nashville Sound’s Album of the Year distinction. These winners represent moments when artistry, timing, and storytelling aligned in a way that left a lasting mark.
Previous That Nashville Sound Album of the Year winners
2006: Johnny Cash – American V: A Hundred Highways
2007: Alison Krauss & Robert Plant – Raising Sand
2008: Lee Ann Womack – Call Me Crazy
2009: Eric Church – Carolina
2010: Zac Brown Band – You Get What You Give
2011: Pistol Annies – Hell on Heels
2012: Marty Stuart – Nashville Volume 1: Tear the Woodpile Down
2013: Brandy Clark – 12 Stories
2014: Don Williams – Reflections
2015: Chris Stapleton – Traveller
2016: Ryan Beaver – RX
2017: Jason Eady – Jason Eady
2018: Ashley McBryde – Girl Goin’ Nowhere
2019: Erin Enderlin – Faulkner County
2020: Hailey Whitters – The Dream
2021: Mike and the Moonpies – One to Grow On
2022: Lainey Wilson – Bell Bottom Country
2023: Cody Johnson – Leather
2024: Three Times A Lady – Live at 3rd and Lindsley
Each of these albums captured something essential about its moment, while still standing the test of time. That lineage makes the 2025 winner all the more meaningful.
Sunny Sweeney – Rhinestone Requiem
Rhinestone Requiem is not just a return to form for Sunny Sweeney, it is a reaffirmation of who she has always been as an artist. Honest to a fault, rooted in classic country tradition, and delivered with grit, humor, and heart, this album feels like the most complete statement of her career.
From its opening moments, Rhinestone Requiem establishes its tone. These are songs shaped by real experiences, sung by someone who has lived them. The record balances sharp wit with vulnerability, heartbreak with resilience, and traditional country sounds with modern clarity. Sweeney’s voice carries the weight of the stories effortlessly, never over-singing, never hiding behind production.
Lyrically, the album shines in its specificity. These are not generic tales of love and loss. They are detailed, personal, and emotionally grounded, which makes them universally relatable. Musically, the record embraces honky-tonk roots, tasteful instrumentation, and arrangements that serve the song first and foremost.
Rhinestone Requiem stands out because it feels timeless without feeling dated. It respects country music’s past while confidently existing in the present. In a year filled with excellent albums, this one lingered the longest and left the deepest impression.
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Honorable mentions for 2025
Hailey Whitters – Corn Queen
A confident, joyful, and grounded album that continues Whitters’ rise as one of the most important voices of her generation.
Courtney Patton – Carry You With Me
Warm, reflective, and deeply human, this record showcases Patton’s gift for emotional storytelling.
The Steeldrivers – Outrun
A powerful blend of bluegrass tradition and forward momentum, filled with masterful musicianship.
Alison Krauss and Union Station – Arcadia
Elegant, restrained, and beautifully crafted, a reminder of the enduring power of harmony and subtlety.
Jason Isbell – Foxes in the Snow
Poetic and introspective, an album that rewards careful listening and emotional investment.
The Wilder Blue – Still in the Runnin’
Rich harmonies and thoughtful songwriting anchored in classic Americana influences.
Drew Kennedy – Drew Kennedy
A self-titled album that feels personal, honest, and quietly confident.
Trisha Yearwood – The Mirror
A reflective and mature album that highlights Yearwood’s timeless voice and interpretive strength.
The Doobie Brothers – Walk This Road
A seasoned band delivering thoughtful songs rooted in experience and musical craftsmanship.
The Castellows – Homecoming EP
An impressive and intimate collection that signals a bright future.
Mary Chapin Carpenter – Personal History
Graceful, literate songwriting from one of Americana’s most respected voices.
Turnpike Troubadours – Price of Admission
A powerful addition to the Red Dirt canon, filled with grit, heart, and authenticity.
Willie Nelson – Oh What a Beautiful World
Another reminder that Willie Nelson’s voice and perspective remain as vital as ever.
Cody Jinks – In My Blood
Raw, direct, and emotionally grounded, continuing Jinks’ outlaw legacy.
Tyler Childers – Snipe Hunter
Bold and uncompromising, rooted in Appalachian tradition and fearless expression.
Waylon Jennings – Songbird
A remarkable archival/postumous release that underscores Waylon’s enduring influence.
Jake Owen – Dream to Dream
A reflective and melodic independent album that hints at a new career direction for Owen.
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Final thoughts
The best albums of 2025 shared one thing in common: they told the truth. In different voices and from different places, these artists reminded us why albums still matter and why country and Americana continue to resonate so deeply.
Sunny Sweeney’s Rhinestone Requiem leads the way this year, but the strength of the field speaks volumes about where the music is headed. Honest. Grounded. And built to last.
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Saturday, December 27, 2025
Friday, December 26, 2025
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Pat Green & Corey Kent Take That Nashville Sound’s Top Country & Americana Song of 2025 With "Two Hands"
This shift has unlocked a wider range of production styles, songwriting voices, and collaborations than we’ve seen in years. Artists are releasing music that feels more personal, less formulaic, and deeply connected to real-life experiences — and listeners are responding. The result is a landscape where songs don’t need massive radio rotation to matter. They need authenticity, emotional pull, and staying power.
That spirit defines our Top Country & Americana Songs of 2025 — a list shaped not by charts alone, but by resonance. These are the songs people kept talking about, kept sharing, and kept coming back to.
🏆 Song of the Year
"Two Hands" — Pat Green & Corey Kent
Few songs in 2025 captured the soul of modern country music quite like “Two Hands.” Bringing together two Texas-rooted voices from different generations, Pat Green and Corey Kent delivered a song built on grit, humility, and lived-in truth. It doesn’t chase trends — it honors work, family, perseverance, and the quiet pride that comes from building something with your own two hands. In social posts, Pat Green described Two Hands as a song about grit, building something that lasts, and honoring hard work — and that message proved to be the heartbeat of its success. At a time when listeners are craving authenticity, the song spoke directly to working-class values and personal perseverance without sounding polished or preachy. Instead, it felt lived-in and earned. That universality — the pride of showing up, putting your head down, and creating a life with your own two hands — allowed the song to transcend across the country.
Fans didn’t just listen; they related, shared, and claimed it as their own. The collaboration between Green and Corey Kent further reinforced that bridge between generations, proving that real stories still travel fastest. In a modern music landscape driven by connection rather than consumption, “Two Hands” resonated deeply, and that resonance is what carried it so far.
Other Finalists- The Songs That Defined 2025
"Hidin' Behind This Microphone"— Wade Bowen feat. Cody Johnson
A powerful reflection on vulnerability and truth, this duet pulls back the curtain on life behind the spotlight. Bowen’s seasoned storytelling paired with Johnson’s raw delivery created one of the most emotionally honest performances of the year.
"The Cowboy" — Waylon Jennings
A timeless outlaw spirit echoes through “The Cowboy.” Whether rediscovered or newly embraced, this song stands as a reminder that independence, authenticity, and grit never go out of style. That this song was discovered well after his passing and released under the careful guidance of his son Shooter makes it all the more unique and special.
"Circa 1943" — Chase Rice
Nostalgic without being sentimental, “Circa 1943” bridges eras with thoughtful storytelling and a reflective tone. Rice continues to evolve, leaning into depth and maturity that resonated strongly with listeners this year.
"Whatever Happened To Heroes" — Jason Michael Carroll
This song struck a chord by asking a question many listeners have felt but couldn’t quite articulate. Carroll’s heartfelt delivery and poignant lyrics made it one of our favorite heartfelt songs of the year. Carroll continues to deliver a powerhouse vocal well into his career and this look back on the heroes of yesteryear is sentimental and introspective as an artist and a nation equally.
"Dream Come True" — Carly Pearce
Pearce once again proves that emotional clarity is her superpower. “Dream Come True” is tender, sincere, and beautifully grounded — a love song that feels earned rather than imagined.
King Rodeo — Tim McGraw
A confident, swagger-filled anthem from a veteran who still knows how to connect. “King Rodeo” blends heartland storytelling with arena-ready energy, reminding us why McGraw remains a cornerstone of the genre.
Final Thoughts
The songs of 2025 prove that country and Americana are thriving not because of tighter formulas, but because of wider creative freedom. With fewer barriers between artists and audiences, the best songs are rising naturally — carried by connection, conversation, and community.
At That Nashville Sound, we celebrate the music that finds its way into people’s lives and stays there. These songs did exactly that — and together, they tell the story of a genre very much alive, evolving, and rooted in truth.
Up next: our look at the Top Country & Americana Albums of 2025.