Current Country Music

Hi Friends!

Hope you’re doing well. After reading my Training Perfect Pitch and Rhythm (over 1,100 views, thank you so much!), and that “I’ve listened to an average of 10 hours of music per day”, many have asked what I listen to. That motivated what will be a now weekly series, for my posts each Monday, highlighting a specific genre and timeline of music I enjoy, and roughly a CDs worth of songs to listen to. Of course, I’ll include some explanation as to the history and why I love each song.

Without further ado, here’s Current Country Music! I love country music because it features simple, super singable melodies, fun guitar harmonies, and above all else, the music tells a story. Today I’ll explore 13 of my favorite country songs, spanning chart toppers to songs with messages that really resonate with me, released between 2020 and 2026. Sit back. Relax. Give this playlist a listen as you read. Below you’ll read why each of these songs is LEGENDARY in my book. In the spirit of exposing you to a lot of artists in the genre and timespan, I deliberately didn’t repeat any artist. If you’re feeling their vibe, look them up and enjoy many more of their songs!

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Exile by Taylor Swift & Bon Iver, 2020

What's interesting about this song is that Taylor Swift and Justin Vernon from Bon Iver both deliver their own version of the relationship's end, but crucially they never respond to each other's points; they talk past one another, circling the same truth from different angles. This call-and-response format is very interesting; two people in the same space but emotionally disconnected.

Buy Dirt by Jordan Davis & Luke Bryan, 2021

This song is built around a vivid scene: an 80-year-old man advising a younger man to "buy dirt"; not just land, but to invest your time in what really matters: love, family, faith and hard work. Not only is this song a chart-topping hit; it's a musical reminder to invest in what lasts. This is probably my favorite song on this list. Family first. Everything else comes later.

‘Til You Can’t by Cody Johnson, 2022

"If you got a chance, take it. Take it while you got a chance. If you got a dream, chase it. 'Cause the dream won't chase you back." This is a motivational, uplifting anthem encouraging listeners to seize opportunities and cherish loved ones "til you can't." This song won the CMA Single of the Year and Video of the Year (2022), the Grammy Award for Best Country Song (2023) and also was Cody Johnson's first #1 country hit.

Need A Favor by Jelly Roll, 2022

The song's narrative centers on a man in a state of depression, turning to God as his absolute last resort. He is painfully self-aware, openly admitting "I only talk to God when I need a favor." The internal conflict is sharp; he knows the path of righteousness but has constantly chosen another. This song earned Jelly Roll multiple CMT awards in 2024, including Male Video of the Year, Video of the Year and CMT Performance of the Year. We all need help sometimes, and this song is a beautiful reminder of that.

Fast Car by Luke Combs & Tracy Chapman, 2023

In 1988, folk-rock queen Tracy Chapman released the original Fast Car track. The themes of the song are escape, freedom, and ultimately hope. Luke’s Dad had the song on cassette tape, and Luke loved to sing it. As he became a country star, it became one of his go to acoustic songs. At the 2024 Grammy’s Luke Combs and Tracy Chapman sang the song together, a brilliant poignant crossover performance. The song won the CMA Song of the Year and Tracy Chapman was the first ever Black woman to win a CMA.

Last Night by Morgan Wallen, 2023

This song won Song of the Year at BMI Country Awards (2024) and was Billboard's #1 single of 2023, with a record-breaking chart performance including 16 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. I can’t say I’ve had much experience with relationships but this idea of love and hate operating in tandem is compelling. If you like Morgan’s voice, check out his other songs. He’s prolific and has had several hits in current country music.

Bigger Houses by Dan + Shay, 2023

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the message in this song. My dad and mom and bro all love it too. The lyrics are literal perfection and speak to the perpetual pursuit of “higher highs” and that that’s not the way to happiness. “You’re never gonna fill an empty cup if what you got’s still not enough”… “Thing about happiness I’ve found is it don’t live in bigger houses.” We never try to keep up with anyone, and money is never the goal but rather a means to support others and have new experiences. Also, happiness is found in the who, not the what. When I’m with my family, I’m happy. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing or how much it costs. Just a beautiful message. Could literally listen to this song on loop.  

I Remember Everything by Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves, 2023

Much like Exile, this song explores perspectives around a breakup. Zach offers the positive, nostalgic, joyous side, while Kacey offers the darker side as to how everything went south. The end is particularly powerful, with the pair singing together about the end of their relationship.

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM by Beyoncé, 2024

It was very interesting to see Beyoncé, known for her R&B/pop style make a country album in 2024. This song fuses her signature style with Western country elements, creating a real-life hoedown vibe. Born in Houston, Texas, she uses the song to highlight the Black origins of country music and challenge the genre's historical dominance by white artists. It was Beyoncé's first chart-topping country hit and made a statement for Black women in country music.

A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey, 2024

This song incorporates the clean version of J-Kwon's 2004 hit "Tipsy". It is a fun country/hip-hop bop, and even though the song is about alcohol and I don't drink, it's still a great song to sing along to. Award wise, it had 19 non-consecutive weeks of #1 on the Billboard charts, topped the Hot Country Songs chart for 35 weeks, and internationally, reached #1 in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden!

Worst Way by Riley Green, 2024

Some of you might be getting to know Riley via The Voice now as he’s the go-to country coach! He’s had a lot of hits recently but we wanted to include this one as it’s a bit different than anything else on this list. This song is all about deeply wanting someone, a theme in a lot of other genres of music. It actually reached #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and several international country charts and reached 4x Platinum.

South of Sanity by Zach Top, 2025

First and foremost, shoutout my WA homeboy Zach Top! Way to represent! The concept of beineg “somewhere south of sanity, still just north of insane” is incredible. We live in a world where most strive to be normal and those of us who are farthest removed from normal are viewed as crazy. I choose to embrace it and what a lovely way to phrase it. Sure I may be somewhere south of sanity and just north of insane, but that’s my sweet spot, and it’s amazing. OK this song is about a lost love, but it applies to other things too.

Choosin’ Texas by Ella Langley, 2026

Lyrically, this song is about a lover who's "choosin' Texas". The narrator recalls believing her man was falling for her in Tennessee, but Texas memories and dancing the Texas Two-Step reveal his heart is elsewhere. This song broke crazy records including surpassing Mariah Carey's 1994 hit song All I Want For Christmas Is You for the longest-running US #1 in Billboard chart history with 24 weeks (almost half a year!), the CMA Song of the Year 2026, and is very likely to win Billboard's #1 single of 2026.

Even if you’re done reading, please keep listening to the playlist to learn more about the genre and enjoy some fabulous music! Which of these songs was your favorite? Why? What might you include for fave country songs in the 2020s that I may have missed? Trust me, picking just 13 without repeating artists was HARD! Please share your thoughts in the comments or via DM. Also, what genres and timelines would you like me to include in future Monday blogs? Trust me, I listen to EVERYTHING, and if I don’t, I want to!

That’s all for today! See y’all next time! Sarang out.