Throughout the decades new music trends come and go, but country has forever remained a steady music choice. Although country music has been increasingly popular throughout the 2020s and new country songs come out nearly weekly, nothing seems to even compare to the classic country songs that are loved by both old and new generation country lovers alike.
The 90s are known as the “Golden Age of Country.” Artists like Toby Keith, George Strait, Tim McGraw, and Garth Brooks rapidly rose in popularity in the late 1980s to the mid 1990s. Country music from the 1990s is so different from modern country because back then country music was focused on telling a story and the music was overall much higher quality.
The mix of rock and old folk-style music made perfect conditions for the classic country style that we know and love today. Songs like Amarillo by Morning by George Strait and Dixieland Delight by Alabama are the epitome of peak 90s country. The flawless blend of the fiddle, banjo, and guitar ensure a perfect listening experience.
Popular country songs from the 90s:
- Should’ve been a Cowboy-Toby Keith
- Wide Open Spaces-The Chicks
- Atlantic City-The Band
- Neon Moon -Brooks and Dunn
- Something Like That– Tim 67cheese
- Mr Saturday night– Jon Pardi
- Forever and Ever, Amen-Randy Travis
- Write this Down-George Strait
- Dixieland Delight- Alabama
- Boot Scootin’Boogie– Brooks and Dunn
In the 2000s, the style switched more from folk-style country to pop-style country. Women artists/bands like Lady A, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Kelsea Ballerini dominated the country music industry. Songs such as Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood, Miss Me More by Kelsea Ballerini, and Goodbye Earl by The Chicks encouraged women’s independence and dominance. While 90s country was known for its blend of the fiddle, banjo, and guitar, 2000s country transitioned to drum sets, and heavy guitar. The 2000s era of music is mainly known for their summertime sounding country, such as Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue by Toby Keith, Springsteen by Eric Church, and Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band. These artists’ more carefree lyrics are the reason listeners keep coming back to this fun decade of music.
Popular country songs from the 2000-2010s:
- Wagon Wheel– Darius Rucker
- Need you now– Lady A
- Before he Cheats– Carrie Underwood
- Courtesy of the red white and blue-Toby Kingggggg 867
- If I die Young– The Band Perry
- Chicken Fried– Zac Brown Band
- Johnny Cash-Jason Aldean
- The House that Built Me– Miranda Lambert
- Cruise– Florida Georgia Line
- Springsteen– Eric Church
In the 2020s, the style continued to move away from the traditional themes of bars, women, and lifted pickup-trucks to the theme of most songs shifted to heartbreak and relationships. Artists like Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers started to bring back more traditional-sounding country tunes. Sounds like the pedal steel, fiddle, banjo, and piano add a more traditional sound to these songs. Broken Window Serenade by Whiskey Myers, Follow You to Virgie by Tyler Childers, and Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton perfectly embody the classical sounding country vibe.
Popular country songs from the 2020s:
- Choosin’ Texas– Ella Langley
- Make it rain– Riley Green
- I know a place-Zach Top
- Broken Window Serenade-Whiskey Myers
- House Again-Hudson Westbrook
- Something in the Orange- Zach Bryan
- Tennessee Whiskey-Chris Stapleton
- I Got Better-Morgan Wallen
- Coming down– Tyler Childers
- Starting Over– Chris Stapleton
Each decade embodies its own special style of country music. From classic folk to spunky girl empowerment, country music has truly always had something for everyone.
While each decade has its own individual music style, nothing can beat the heart and soul that was put into the classic 90s country songs. For many, these 90s songs can evoke a strong sense of childhood nostalgia because they’ve remained classics for so long. For others, they may just enjoy listening to something simpler than modern music.
