2021 has been another fabulous year of country music. Traditional country, bluegrass, modern country and Americana are all represented well in this modern day and age and this list proves that out- we’ve cast a wide net over that definition of roots-oriented music.
Later this month, we'll unveil our top albums of 2021, but today, we tackle our favorite songs. Few are radio singles. But you probably knew that already if you read this site.
Here are the rules by which this list was selected. It had to be released off an album that was released in 2021, is an independent release not on any other project, or is an already-released single off a to-be-released album. If the album came out in 2020 or before, it couldn’t be included- even if it wasn't released as a single until 2021.
Looking back, there's some amazing songs that moved us more than all the others:
2020 - Mickey Guyton - "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?"
2019 - Erin Enderlin - "Broken"
2018 – Ashley McBryde – “Girl Goin’ Nowhere”
2017 – Sunny Sweeney – “Bottle By My Bed”
2016 - Jack Ingram - "The Sailor and the Sea"
2015- Chris Stapleton - "Tennessee Whiskey"
2014 - Emily West - "Made for the Radio"
2013 - Kacey Musgraves - "Follow Your Arrow"
2012 - Waylon Jennings - "I Do Believe"
2011 - Ronnie Dunn - "Cost of Livin'"
2010 - Joe Diffie - "Route 5 Box 109"
2009 - Dean Brody - "Cattleman's Gun"
2008 - Jamey Johnson - "In Color"
2007 - Miranda Lambert - "Gunpowder and Lead"
2006 – Johnny Cash – “God’s Gonna Cut You Down”
And without further ado, we count down the songs that moved us the most in 2021.
1.
Jason Eady -
"French Summer Sun" - Co-written with fellow Texan (and That Nashville Sound favorite) Drew Kennedy, this song proves that the songwriting spirit of the likes of Guy Clark, John Prine and Woody Guthrie continue to live on in those they inspire. The song's heavy topic is the weight of the cost of war and all that follows the loss of a soldier. It shares dual stories of the same soldier, one who died on the beaches of Normandy and one that survived. He outlines the life (and the branches that break off from those branches of the survivor) and compares it against the story that ends and is cut down on that beach in the French summer sun. It's a cinematic masterpiece in five minutes and is pure genius. Eady is a frequent name at this site and this is just another demonstration of his lyrical brilliance.
2.
Addison Johnson -
"Cumberland River '58" - This song is another great story about an up-and-comer musician who mistakenly sleeps with the wife of one of the "Fat Cats" and is cut down in his prime. The haunting pedal steel in this song accompanies the track and the analogy of today's "disposability" of artists to the major labels cannot be overstated despite the fact that this fictional story occurred sixty years ago.
3.
Elvie Shane -
"My Boy" - Our first major radio hit on our list comes from a brand new artist who took a heartfelt slow-tempo song with heart through the clutter of drinking and backwoods uptempo songs all the way to number one. That alone is remarkable. It's a tribute to a stepson from a stepfather and a statement that blood alone doesn't tie family binds. It's got great heart and Shane delivers it with passionate conviction. One look to the comments on the video comments on YouTube shows just how much this song has meant to blended families of all ages.
4.
Lainey Wilson -
"Things A Man Oughta Know" - The song itself is all about a woman teaching a few lessons to a man, breaking gender stereotypes in a way that is both enticing and important. “Things A Man Oughta Know” reflects this honesty and self-conviction. “I can hang a picture same as I can take it down/ And how to keep it hidden when a heart gets broke/ Yeah I know a few things a man oughta know,” she croons on the track. Written with Jonathan Singleton and Jason Nix, “Things A Man Oughta Know” had the collaborators discussing the characteristics their parents taught them to look for in themselves and others. “It’s really a song about having good character and a song about treating people the way that you want to be treated — something that we all should know,” she explains. “It’s about standing up for what’s right. I would like for people to hear that through my music too.”
5. Megan Conner - "Me, 10 Years Ago" - I heard Megan (songwriter on tracks cut by Rascal Flatts, Chris Young, Danny Gokey and more) perform this track for the first time at my Golf & Guitars Music Festival and it floored me. Part retrospective, part sentimental, it tells the story of a woman who has had some successes and some challenges penning a message to herself ten years prior and giving herself advice on what's important and what's not. Conner's "Bonnie Tyler" powerhouse vocals deliver it with emotional feeling and the highly personal lyrics are introspective and in some cases, revealing. She's hopeful of releasing it as a single early in 2022 so keep an eye out for this brilliantly written song.
6.
Marc Broussard -
"Sad Songs" - This Louisiana-native usually borrows from zydeco and soulful themes and productions in his song, but this one slows things down with the blues- with an assist from a little guitar and keys. Broussard's voice is the greatest instrument here and his delivery on this (and nearly every other song he sings) delivers a room-capturing attention that only voices like the Chris Stapleton and Jamey Johnson's can do.
7.
Cody Jinks -
"I Don't Trust My Memories Any More" - This is incredible classic country along the lines of the best of Waylon, Haggard, Randy Travis and others. Damn this sing cuts deep. "No I Don’t Trust My Memories Anymore/They ain’t the friends I thought they were before/They used to be so fond /Now my faith in them is gone/No I Don’t Trust My Memories Anymore." The pedal steel in the background is just haunting and it's a great reminder that we've got a champion like Jinks to carry the traditional country torch going forward in a major way.
8.
Morgan Wallen -
"Sand In My Boots" - Much has been made of Wallen's discretions this year and the reaction of the media and country music. But if you peel back the controversy, what you get is a (mostly) terrific mainstream country album filled with some strong radio-friendly songs on his
Dangerous album. The standout on that project is this longing song about a Tennessee boy who lost his heart to a girl at a beach and now's back home longing for her. It's a simple hook but delivered with a lush production and heartfelt delivery with great lyrics.
9.
Marty Stuart -
"I've Been Around" - More than a decade after his passing, Johnny Cash's voice was heard again as Stuart took lyrics that Cash had written and released them to this incredible tribute in song. Stuart nails Cash's lyrics with a country thump, with Stuart imitating Cash’s signature vocal. It's classic Cash at his Man In Black best. Stuart says that he created the song’s melody in the style he figured Cash would have used and he nailed it perfectly. This track deserves to be on this list for it's historic relevancy alone.
10.
Mae Estes -
"Hell You Raised" - Estes channels the best of Miranda Lambert's fire and brimstone style and delivers this bad girl anthem with a great groove and spirit. She channels Wynonna and Dixie Chicks attitude and sings the gritty uptempo lyrics with conviction. She makes it damn-near impossible not to move along. Co-written with TNS favorite writer Chris Roberts and Brandon James.
