There have been some huge and explosive singles released in 2020, both those that made a big impact on country radio and those that were quieter slow burners. Here we break down our top 50 favourite tracks released in 2020 in the world of country and Americana, including some tracks that slipped under the radar.
50. Twinnie, ‘I Love You Now Change’ – Twinnie’s track is both vulnerable and empowering in equal measure, singing to a lover who wanted to change her. It’s remarkably raw and honest, making it the standout track on Hollywood Gypsy.
49. Jimmie Allen, ‘Drunk & I Miss You’ (feat. Mickey Guyton) – Allen’s signature R&B/country sound is given an elevation with Guyton’s accompanying vocal on this delightful track. The duet goes into well-trodden territory, yet it is the duo’s extraordinary vocals and tasteful production that elevate this into uncharted territory.
48. Tim McGraw, ‘Hard To Stay Mad At’ – The best track from McGraw’s record ‘Here on Earth,’ sees him return with his stunning signature production, a different take on a lovesong and it’s wondrously delivered.
47. Dustin Lynch, ‘Momma’s House’ – One of Lynch’s strongest tracks to date, the track is rife with nostalgia whilst dealing with heartbreak. Another track we can’t wait to hear when live music returns.
46. Thomas Rhett, ‘What’s Your Country Song’ – Rhett’s catchiest and biggest track of recent years, ramming his love of country into one track, yet tastefully done.
45. Gone West ‘What Could’ve Been’ – Gone West bring their gorgeous Californian country sound to this track that wonders about a relationship that could have been, looking back with rose-tinted glasses.
44. Lee Brice, ‘One of Them Girls’ – Like Combs’ ‘Beautiful Crazy,’ Brice has emoted a song that many girls will read themselves into, it’s tender yet anthemic and will be a massive hit on the live circuit.
43. Kelsea Ballerini, ‘Half Of My Hometown’ – Accompanied by Chesney, Kelsea Ballerini sings about the different sides to their hometown – those that stayed and those that left. It’s poignant, tender and nostalgic, brimming with love for her hometown.
42. The Well, ‘Marcus King’ – King’s vocal is near unparalleled in its ability to emote even through heavy rip-roaring production. This track is testament to that.
41. Parker McCollum, ‘Pretty Heart’ – This is McCollum’s first number one on country radio and it’s easy to see why on this track questioning what the ending of a relationship says about him. The track is candid and real.
40. Lee Brice, ‘Memory I Don’t Mess With’ – Brice’s 2020 record was rammed with some gems, so we’ve included two on this list. Brice sings about leaving a memory of an ex, as something almost too painful to deal with, delivered with his powerful, signature vocal.
39. Brandy Clark, ‘I’ll Be The Sad Song’ – Gut-wrenching seems to be Clark’s MO with her 2020 record, this song is a glorious reminder of ‘seasons’ in life as she sings to a former lover that she will be the ‘sad song’ in the record of their life. As far as analogies go, it’s pretty flawless.
38. Gabe Lee, ‘Imogene’ – It is hard not to draw comparisons between Gabe Lee and Bob Dylan and this track about ghost town ‘Imogene,’ is an extraordinary take on Dylan in 2020.
37. Jason Isbell, ‘Dreamsicle’ – It’s hard to critique Isbell at any level, and ‘Dreamsicle’ from his 2020 album is another reminder of his extraordinary songwriting ability, replete with perfectly harmonies and guitar sequencing.
36. Josh Kerr, ‘Arizona’ – Kerr has an ability to emote like no other and ‘Arizona’ is a heart-wrenching pondering on past memories with an ex.
35. Danielle Bradbery, ‘Girls In My Hometown’ – Bradbery delivers a staunchly nostalgic reminder of her hometown, wondering about where all the girls in her hometown ended up and it feels like an authentic throwback to her days with ‘Heart of Dixie.’
34. Maddie & Tae ‘Water In His Wine Glass’ – The duo’s most mature track to date, a mournful take on alcoholism and its effects on those closest and the most traditional stripped back track we’ve heard from the girls in a while, letting the emotion in their vocals shine through.
33. Margo Price, ‘Letting Me Down’ – Price’s driving indictment closes the door on the past, she sings out the toxins on this searing track and it feels cathartic.
32. Secret Sisters, ‘Hold You Dear’ – An incredibly pensive and bittersweet track that showcases the duo’s soaring vocals with the delicate accompaniment of strings.
31. Travis Denning, ‘ABBY’ – A blistering middle finger to his ex, Denning’s track is rammed with comedic wit and we can’t get enough.
30. Kameron Marlowe, ‘Leavin’ To Me’ – If you only know Marlowe for ‘Giving You Up,’ take a listen to this track to realise his full depth. This is everything a country song should be, quietly plaintive, melancholic and heart-wrenchingly authentic.
29. Eric Church, ‘Stick That In Your Country Song’ – Brimming with barely muted anger, Church’s track sears a comment on the country industry itself, it’s brave and fearless as only Church can be.
28. Yola, ‘Hold On’ (feat. The Highwomen, Sheryl Crow) – In this mesmerising, gospel-edged anthem, Yola unleashes a powerful, universal song for the ages, and more specifically for 2020. The track is transcendent.
27. Ingrid Andress, ‘The Stranger’ – It’s hard to pick just one track from Andress’ debut record, but this may just be it. A gorgeous and haunting track about a couple deciding to go back to the roots of their relationship.
26. Michael Ray, ‘Whiskey and Rain’ – Michael Ray beckoned in a new era for his music with his September release that saw a return to his 90s country influences, vocally sublime.
25. O&O, ‘Dancing on the Floor’ – O&O delivered a fresh take on their sound with the blistering blues-y guitar riffs on this track that references religion and liquor. One of their best to date.
24. Maren Morris, ‘Better Than We Found It’ – Morris can deliver a political statement more poetically than almost any other writer – just listen to ‘Dear Hate’ – and this track, released before the election will make you feel like you yourself can do better.
23. Rae Lynn, ‘Me About Me’ – Rae Lynn never ceases to surprise and on her Baytown EP, this was one of the stand-out tracks, laying out reasons for the end of the relationship with a self-involved partner – classily done.
22. Emma & Jolie, ‘I Don’t Need A Man’ – The stunning and empowering debut from new UK duo, Emma & Jolie, written with Emily Hackett. If this doesn’t make you want to dance and be single, we don’t know what will.
21. Brothers Osborne, ‘All Night’ – Brothers Osborne can deliver a spicy guitar solo like no other. The track brims with vitality and the raw energy that the duo bring to their live set.
20. Kip Moore, ‘South’ – This is a track built for a road trip, a zinging guitar riffing track that drives through from start to finish.
19. The Chicks, ‘Sleep at Night’ – If the rest of the album doesn’t break you, then this plaintive track surely will, quietly infused with anger at how someone could treat the singer like this – desperately asking the question most of us are too afraid to ask, for answers and closure.
18. HARDY, ‘A ROCK’ – Hardy can turn a lyric like no other and this track is cleverly and wittily crafted, with twists and turns that take your breath away.
17. Matt Stell, ‘Sadie’ – An almost U2-infused country anthemic track, a love letter to ‘Sadie,’ artfully told and masterfully delivered.
16. Tenille Townes, ‘The Most Beautiful Things’ – Townes has an extraordinary signature vocal that paints a picture of everything we should be grateful for in this heartwarming track. Stunning.
15. Caylee Hammack, ‘Forged In The Fire’ – A stand-out track from Hammack’s debut record, this track showcases her vocal like no other.
14. Lainey Wilson, ‘WWDD’ – A rip-roaring, hell-raising and empowering track, an ode to Dolly Parton and to country music, Wilson’s Southern twang is pivotal to make this track anthemic.
13. Cam, ‘Forgetting You’ – A stunning and poignant heartbreak of a track, about moving on from a lover, at all times except when alone. Cam’s vocal has a vulnerability like no other and it is this that brings the magic to this track.
12. Russell Dickerson, ‘Southern Symphony’ – Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this is Dickerson’s best track yet, a stunning love song to country music and to America generally.
11. Ruston Kelly, ‘Brave’ – Kelly’s vocal has always been immensely evocative and this story is a stunning depiction of just what it means to be ‘brave,’ questioning his own existence and how he will be remembered.
10. Carly Pearce, ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’
Pearce’s 2019 duet with Lee Brice has been one of the most-played tracks of the year, yet this deeper cut from Pearce’s sophomore and self-titled record sums up every emotion that we needed this year, through Pearce’s stunning, emotive vocal.
9. Morgan Wallen, ‘More Than My Hometown’
Morgan Wallen is definitely one to watch out for in 2021, having won the CMA for New Artist of the Year, he is set to release his masterpiece, lengthy record in January that is bound to be a great success. ‘More Than My Hometown’ captures everything about why Wallen is a star ascendent, engaging and catchy vocals with an extraordinary tone couched in traditional country lyrics with a twist.
8. Brett Eldredge, ‘Sunday Drive’
Eldredge found the title track for his 2020 record Sunday Drive whilst interning and saved it up for his fourth studio record. The track is a poignant and bittersweet look at a Sunday drive with one’s parents as they age – peaceful yet subtly melancholic and Eldredge’s stunning vocal captures all that complexity of emotion.
7. Sam Hunt, ‘2016’
Hunt gets shockingly vulnerable and candid on ‘2016’ from his long-anticipated sophomore record Southside and nowhere more so than on track ‘2016,’ owning up to his mistakes that made the news.
6. Luke Combs, ‘Six Feet Apart’
A little cliched? Yes, but Combs has a way in this track of expressing everything we wanted to and distilling it into a few minutes – perfectly poignant and delicately done – a legacy track.
5. Ashley McBryde ‘Voodoo Doll’
A rip-roaring, explosive dynamite of a track from McBryde that headed into uncharted, heavily rock-tinged territory. The track sears with vitriolic energy that literally fizzes down the airwaves.
4. Amanda Shires, ‘The Problem’ (feat. Jason Isbell)
An extraordinary track, laying out a conversation between Isbell and Shires on abortion rights – it’s thoughtful, considered, evocative and unlike anything we have ever heard.
3. Jordan Davis, ‘Church in a Chevy’
The stand-out track from Davis’ 2020 EP ‘Detours,’ ‘Church in a Chevy’ is a raw and authentic look at his perspective on religion and his own spirituality, in an incredibly artful form – this is the core of country music’s power, offering a fresh perspective on the world.
2. Chris Stapleton, ‘Cold’
Stapleton consistently breaks her hearts over and over again, like no one else can. In ‘Cold’ from his fourth studio album Starting Over, Stapleton questions being left by a partner – it’s evocative and authentic and a reminder of just how emotive songwriting can be in just a few lines.
1. Mickey Guyton, ‘What Are You Gonna Tell Her’ / ‘Black Like Me’
We couldn’t truthfully decide between these two powerful and immensely important tracks on Guyton’s EP ‘Bridges’ so we’re including them both in the top spot. Guyton’s vocal rises supreme in flawless and thoughtful songwriting that questions your own place in the world and just what legacy you’d like to leave behind. Don’t just listen, listen.
