It’s that time again: We’re kicking off our 2016 Year-End Rodeo!
Before the end of the year, we’ll be showcasing the Country Universe staff’s Top 40 Singles and Top 20 Albums, along with the individual writers’ ballots for each countdown. Because everyone loves a good list or a meta-list made up of other lists.
As ever, list-making is an inexact science, in that the sheer volume of new music that gets released during any given year makes it nearly impossible to catch everything. But we’ve done our best to identify as many eligible contenders for both the Albums and Singles lists as possible, and we’re sharing our Master Lists with you so that you can– calmly and politely, and without screaming at us about how negligent we are for forgetting [YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST]– let us know if there’s anything we’ve missed along the way!
Obviously, we’re not tipping our hands with the images we’ve chosen to accompany these master lists. Y’all know better.
Albums
We set a cut-off date of 12/02/2016 for eligibility for this year and rolled last year’s December releases– including Cam’s Untamed— forward for this year. We didn’t include reissues here, and we generally excluded albums that were entirely self-released without having at least a distribution deal, if not necessarily backing from a record label.
| First | Last | Title |
| Ben | Abraham | Sirens |
| Dave | Adkins | Dave Adkins |
| Jason | Aldean | They Don’t Know |
| American Young | AY | |
| Andrew Leahey & The Homestead | Skyline in Central Time | |
| Angie & The Deserters | Blood Like Wine | |
| Michaela | Anne | Bright Lights & The Fame |
| Applewood Road | Applewood Road | |
| Eddy | Arnold | Let’s Make Memories One More Time |
| Avett Brothers | True Sadness | |
| Rob | Baird | Wrong Side of the River |
| Drew | Baldridge | Dirt On Us |
| Frankie | Ballard | El Rio |
| Band of Horses | Why Are You OK? | |
| Moe | Bandy | Lucky Me |
| Devendra | Banhart | Ape in Pink Marble |
| Sam | Beam & Jessica Hoop | Love Letter for Fire |
| Ryan | Beaver | Rx |
| Bethany | Becker | I Want Love |
| Luke | Bell | Luke Bell |
| Dierks | Bentley | Black |
| John | Berry | What I Love the Most |
| Bonnie | Bishop | Ain’t Who I Was |
| Black Feathers | Soaked to the Bone | |
| Blackberry Smoke | Like An Arrow | |
| Blackfoot | Southern Native | |
| Blind Pilot | And Then Like Lions | |
| Blue Rodeo | 1000 Arms | |
| Bo-Keys | Heartaches by the Number | |
| Bobby | Bones & The Raging Idiots | The Critics Give It Five Stars |
| Wade | Bowen | Then Sings My Soul |
| Eric | Brace & Peter Cooper | C&O Canal |
| Brad Mehldau Trio | Blues & Ballads | |
| Billy | Bragg & Joe Henry | Shine a Light: Field Recordings from the Great American Railroad |
| Doyle | Bramhall II | Rich Man |
| Carl | Broemel | 4th of July |
| Garth | Brooks | Gunslinger |
| Garth | Brooks & Trisha Yearwood | Christmas Together |
| Brothers Osborne | Pawn Shop | |
| Marc | Broussard | Save Our Soul II: Soul on a Mission |
| Hollis | Brown | Cluster of Pearls |
| Kane | Brown | Kane Brown |
| Luke | Bryan | Farm Tour: Here’s to the Farmer EP |
| Paul | Burch | Meridian Rising |
| Sam | Bush | Storyman |
| Cadillac Three | Bury Me in Boots | |
| Cam | Untamed | |
| Hayes | Carll | Lovers and Leavers |
| Mary Chapin | Carpenter | The Things That We Are Made Of |
| Bill | Carter | Innocent Victims & Evil Companions |
| Troy | Cartwright | Don’t Fade EP |
| case/lang/viers | case/lang/viers | |
| Caleb | Caudle | Carolina Ghost |
| Chatham County Line | Autumn | |
| Kenny | Chesney | Cosmic Hallelujah |
| Mark | Chesnutt | Tradition Lives |
| Chris Robinson Brotherhood | Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel | |
| Chris Robinson Brotherhood | If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home by Now | |
| Chris Stalcup & The Grange | Downhearted Fools | |
| Churchwood | Hex City | |
| Brandy | Clark | Big Day in a Small Town |
| Coal Porters | No. 6 | |
| Brent | Cobb | Shine On Rainy Day |
| Charly | Cole | Gotcha |
| Jason | Collett | Song & Dance Man |
| Shawn | Colvin & Steve Earle | Colvin & Earle |
| RJ | Comer | Nightly Suicide |
| Confederate Railroad | Lucky to Be Alive | |
| Elizabeth | Cook | Exodus of Venus |
| Diana | Corcoran | In America |
| Billy Ray | Cyrus | Thin Line |
| Anthony | D’Amato | Cold Snap |
| Dan + Shay | Obsessed | |
| Charlie | Daniels | Nighthawk |
| Elise | Davis | The Token |
| Dawes | We’re All Gonna Die | |
| Dawg Yawp | Dawg Yawp | |
| Jared | Deck | Jared Deck |
| Del McCoury Band | Del and Woody | |
| Devil Makes Three | Redemption & Ruin | |
| Alex | Dezen | Alex Dezen |
| Luther | Dickinson | Blues & Ballads: A Folksinger’s Songbook |
| John | Doe | The Westerner |
| Casey | Donahew | All Night Party |
| Drive-By Truckers | American Band | |
| Ronnie | Dunn | Tattooed Heart |
| Earls of Leicester | Rattle & Roar | |
| Stewart | Eastham | Dancers in the Mansion |
| Tim | Easton | American Fork |
| Edison | Familiar Spirit | |
| Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros | PersonA | |
| Brett | Eldredge | Glow |
| Robert | Ellis | Robert Ellis |
| Will | Erickson | The Five Year Weight |
| Alejandro | Escovedo | Burn Something Beautiful |
| John | Evans | Polyester |
| Florida Georgia Line | Dig Your Roots | |
| John | Fogerty | Tales from the Bayou |
| Sawyer | Fredericks | A Good Storm |
| Dori | Freeman | Dori Freeman |
| Robbie | Fulks | Upland Stories |
| Gaither Vocal Band | Better Together | |
| Vince | Gill | Down to My Last Bad Habit |
| Grascals | …and then there’s this | |
| Great American Canyon Band | Only You Remain | |
| Green River Ordinance | Fifteen | |
| Greensky Bluegrass | Shouted, Written Down, & Quoted | |
| Wayne | Hancock | Slingin’ Rhythm |
| Handsome Family | Unseen | |
| Hard Working Americans | Rest in Chaos | |
| Kree Harrisson | This Old Thing | |
| Harvest Thieves | Rival | |
| Ty | Herndon | House on Fire |
| Herrick | Cottonfields | |
| Fay | Hield | Old Adam |
| High Valley | Dear Life | |
| Gary | Hoey | Dust & Bones |
| Randy | Houser | Fired Up |
| Sierra | Hull | Weighted Mind |
| Infamous Stringdusters | Ladies & Gentlemen | |
| Jack | Ingram | Midnight Motel |
| Jim | James | Eternally Even |
| James Edge & The Mindstep | On a Red Horse | |
| Sarah | Jarosz | Undercurrents |
| Jayhawks | Paging Mr. Proust | |
| Shooter | Jennings | Countach (For Giorgio) |
| Cody | Jinks | I’m Not the Devil |
| Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers | Sacred Memories | |
| Joey+Rory | To Joey, With Love | |
| Joey+Rory | Hymns That are Important to Us | |
| Buck | Johnson | Enjoying the Ride |
| Robby | Johnson | Don’t Look Back |
| Cody | Johnson | Gotta Be Me |
| Eric | Johnson | EJ |
| Norah | Jones | Day Breaks |
| Cledus T. | Judd | Things I Remember Before I Forget |
| Damien | Jurado | Visions of Us on the Land |
| Kacy & Clayton | Strange Country | |
| Robert Earl | Keen | Live Dinner Reunion |
| Josh | Kelley | New Lane Road |
| Charles | Kelley | The Driver |
| Irene | Kelley | These Hills |
| Paul | Kelley & Charlie Owen | Death’s Dateless Nights |
| Stephen | Kellogg | South, West, North, East |
| Pete | Kent | The Hidden Hand |
| Kentucky Headhunters | On Safari | |
| Kris | Kristofferson | The Cedar Creek Sessions |
| Daniel | Kushnir | Nothin Left to Give |
| Jim | Kweskin & Geoff Muldaur | Penny’s Farm |
| Lake Street Drive | Side Pony | |
| Seth | Lakeman | Ballads of the Broken Few |
| Lambchop | FLOTUS: For Love Often Turns Us Still | |
| Miranda | Lambert | The Weight of These Wings |
| Ray | LaMontagne | Ouroboros |
| Chris | Lane | Girl Problems |
| Greg | Laswell | Everyone Thinks I Dodged a Bullet |
| Cyndi | Lauper | Detour |
| Johnny | Lee | You Ain’t Never Been to Texas |
| Amos | Lee | Spirit |
| Brennen | Leigh | Sings Lefty Frizzell |
| Aaron | Lewis | Sinner |
| Bob | Lind | Magellan Was Wrong |
| Lissie | My Wild West | |
| Little Big Town | Wanderlust | |
| Bill | Lloyd | Lloyd-ering |
| Lonesome River Band | Bridging the Tradition | |
| Lonestar | Never Enders | |
| Liz | Longley | Weightless |
| Lydia | Loveless | Real |
| Loving Mary Band | Little Bit of Love | |
| Claire | Lynch | North by South |
| Loretta | Lynn | White Christmas Blue |
| Loretta | Lynn | Full Circle |
| Mandolin Orange | Blindfaller | |
| Martina | McBride | Reckless |
| Edwin | McCain | O Edwin, Where Art Thou? |
| Leyla | McCalla | A Day for the Hunter, A Day for the Prey |
| Neal | McCoy | You Don’t Know Me |
| Michael | McDermott | Willow Springs |
| Lori | McKenna | The Bird & The Rifle |
| James Vincent | McMorrow | We Move |
| Tony | Memmel | We’ll Be on the Radio |
| Buddy | Miller & Friends | Cayamo Sessions at Sea |
| Parker | Millsap | The Very Last Day |
| Monkeyjunk | Time to Roll | |
| Justin | Moore | Kinda Don’t Care |
| Kip | Moore | Underground |
| Craig | Morgan | A Whole Lot More of Me |
| Lorrie | Morgan | Letting Go…Slow |
| William Michael | Morgan | Vinyl |
| Mount Moriah | How to Dance | |
| Mountain Heart | Blue Skies | |
| Michael Martin | Murphey | High Stakes: Cowboy Songs VII |
| Kacey | Musgraves | A Very Kacey Christmas |
| David | Nail | Fighter |
| Jeremy | Nail | My Mountain |
| Graham | Nash | This Path Tonight |
| Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats | A Little More From… EP | |
| Tami | Neilson | Don’t Be Afraid |
| Willie | Nelson | For the Good Times: A Tribute to Ray Price |
| Willie | Nelson | Summertime – Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin |
| Jennifer | Nettles | Playing with Fire |
| Carrie | Newcomer | The Beautiful Not Yet |
| Nitty Gritty Dirt Band & Friends | Circlin’ Back | |
| Nudie | Everything’s Different in the Light | |
| O’Connor Band | Coming Home | |
| Aofie | O’Donovan | In the Magic Hour |
| O’s | Honeycomb | |
| Conor | Oberst | Ruminations |
| Marie | Osmond | Music is Medicine |
| Jake | Owen | American Love |
| Jon | Pardi | California Sunrise |
| Dolly | Parton | Pure & Simple |
| Jason | Paulson | Crow River Ramble |
| Grant-Lee | Phillips | The Narrows |
| Pines | Above the Prairie | |
| Mo | Pitney | Behind This Guitar |
| Margo | Price | Midwest Farmer’s Daughter |
| Price Sisters | Price Sisters | |
| John | Prine | For Better or Worse |
| Joe | Purdy | Who Will Be Next |
| Bonnie | Raitt | Dig In Deep |
| Randy Rogers Band | Nothing Shines Like Neon | |
| Johnny | Rawls | Tiger in a Cage |
| Reckless Kelly | Sunset Motel | |
| Kelly | Richey | Shakedown Soul |
| Rides | Pierced Arrow | |
| LeAnn | Rimes | Remnants |
| Carrie | Rodriguez | Lola |
| Randy | Rogers & Wade Bowen | Watch This |
| Daniel | Romano | Mosey |
| Dex | Romweber | Carrboro |
| Chelle | Rose | Blue Ridge Blood |
| Rossington | Take It on Faith | |
| Bobby | Rush | Porcupine Meat |
| John | Scofield | Country for Old Men |
| Darrell | Scott | Couchville Sessions |
| Hillary | Scott & The Scott Family | Love Remains |
| Aubrie | Sellers | New City Blues |
| Blake | Shelton | If I’m Honest |
| Shenandoah | Good News Travels Fast | |
| Amanda | Shires | My Piece of Land |
| Shires | My Universe | |
| Shovels & Rope | Little Seeds | |
| Sturgill | Simpson | A Sailor’s Guide to Earth |
| Sister Hazel | Lighter in the Dark | |
| David G. | Smith | First Love |
| Elliott | Smith | Heaven Adores You OST |
| Granger | Smith | Remington |
| Todd | Snider | Eastside Bulldog |
| Snowapple | Tracks | |
| Frank | Solivan | Family, Friends, & Heroes |
| Southern Culture on the Skids | Electric Pinecones | |
| Mavis | Staples | Livin’ on a High Note |
| Stray Birds | Magic Fire | |
| Streets of Laredo | Wild Mercury | |
| Kiefer | Sutherland | Down in a Hole |
| Cole | Swindell | You Should Be Here |
| Sylvia | It’s All in the Family | |
| Tall Heights | Neptune | |
| Aaron Lee | Tasjan | Silver Tears |
| Jack | Tempchin | One More Song |
| Thao & The Get Down Stay Down | A Man Alive | |
| The Cactus Blossoms | You’re Dreaming | |
| The Lumineers | Cleopatra | |
| The Roosevelts | The Greatest Thing You’ll Ever Learn | |
| Ward | Thomas | Cartwheels |
| Teddy | Thompson & Kelly Jones | Little Windows |
| Time Jumpers | Kid Sister | |
| Trent | Tomlinson | That’s What’s Working Right Now |
| Steven | Tyler | We’re All Somebody from Somewhere |
| Keith | Urban | Ripcord |
| Vandaveer | Wild Mercury | |
| Various Artists | The Life & Songs of Emmylou Harris | |
| Various Artists | Southern Family | |
| Various Artists | God Don’t Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson | |
| Various Artists | I Saw the Light OST | |
| Various Artists | Bright Star – Original Broadway Cast Recording | |
| Various Artists | Feel Like Going Home: The Songs of Charlie Rich | |
| Phil | Vassar | American Soul |
| Rhonda | Vincent | All the Rage Volume 1 |
| Waco Brothers | Going Down in History | |
| Henry | Wagons | After What I Did Last Night |
| Kelsey | Waldon | I’ve Got a Way |
| Jason | Walker | All Night Ghost Town |
| Wheeler | Walker Jr. | Redneck Shit |
| Steve | Wariner | All Over the Map |
| Sara | Watkins | Young in All the Wrong Ways |
| Sean | Watkins | What to Fear |
| Gene | Watson | Real Country Music |
| Bob | Weir | Blue Mountain |
| Whiskey Myers | Mud | |
| Tony Joe | White | Rain Crow |
| Drake | White | Spark |
| John Paul | White | Beulah |
| Jenny | Whiteley | The Original Jenny Whiteley |
| Chuck | Wicks | Turning Point |
| Wilco | Schmilco | |
| Lucinda | Williams | The Ghosts of Highway 20 |
| Marlon | Williams | Marlon Williams |
| Joy | Williams | Venus EP |
| Hank | Williams Jr. | It’s About Time |
| Luke | Winslow-King | I’m Glad Trouble Don’t Always Last |
| Bob | Woodruff | The Year We Tried to Kill the Pain |
| Chely | Wright | I am the Rain |
| Wynonna & The Big Noise | Wynonna & The Big Noise | |
| Dwight | Yoakam | Swimming Pools, Movie Stars… |
| Pete | Yorn | Arranging Time |
Singles
Note that we defined official “singles” as having had an add-on date at country radio, having an official music video (or, as much as it pains me to write this, an “official” lyric video), having been added by at least 3 stations at AAA radio, or having otherwise been tagged as a single by an artist’s promotional team. We’re fairly generous with what we considered for this list, even taking a second look at some singles that were released late in 2015 but that didn’t have their greatest commercial impact until 2016.
We also tried to weed out things that were obvious album tracks or potential 2017 singles. As with the albums, we set a cut-off of 12/02– meaning some terrific singles like Drake White’s “Makin’ Me Look Good Again” and Candi Carpenter’s “Burn the Bed”– will have to wait until our 2017 list.
| First | Last | Title |
| A Thousand Horses | Southernality | |
| Trace | Adkins | Lit |
| Trace | Adkins | Jesus & Jones |
| Lauren | Alaina | Road Less Traveled |
| Jason | Aldean | A Little More Summertime |
| Jason | Aldean | Lights Came On |
| Gary | Allan | Do You Wish It Was Me |
| Avett Brothers | Ain’t No Man | |
| Avett Brothers | True Sadness | |
| Frankie | Ballard | Cigarette |
| Frankie | Ballard | It All Started With a Beer |
| Kelsea | Ballerini | Yeah Boy |
| Kelsea | Ballerini | Peter Pan |
| Band Perry | Comeback Kid | |
| Banditos | Old Ways | |
| Jeff | Bates | That Thing We Do |
| Tucker | Beathard | Momma and Jesus |
| Tucker | Beathard | Rock On |
| Luke | Bell | Sometimes |
| Dierks | Bentley | Black |
| Dierks | Bentley | Somewhere on a Beach |
| Dierks | Bentley feat. Elle King | Different for Girls |
| Beyonce w/Dixie Chicks | Daddy Lessons | |
| Big & Rich | Lovin’ Lately (with McGraw) | |
| Bonnie | Bishop | Mercy |
| Blackberry Smoke | Sunrise in Texas | |
| Blackberry Smoke | Let It Burn | |
| Billy | Bragg & Joe Henry | The Midnight Special |
| Doyle | Bramhall II | Mama Can’t Help You |
| Garth | Brooks | Baby Let’s Lady Down and Dance |
| Brothers Osborne | 21 Summer | |
| Kane | Brown | Thunder in the Rain |
| Kane | Brown | Used to Love You Sober |
| Luke | Bryan | Home Alone Tonight (w/Karen Fairchild) |
| Luke | Bryan | Huntin, Fishin, Lovin’ Every Day |
| Luke | Bryan | Move |
| Chase | Bryant | Room to Breathe |
| Sam | Bush | Transcendental Meditation Blues |
| Cactus Blossoms | Stoplight Kisses | |
| Cadillac Three | Graffiti | |
| Calexico | Falling from the Sky | |
| Cam | Mayday | |
| Craig | Campbell | Outskirts of Heaven |
| Hayes | Carll | The Love That We Need |
| Mary Chapin | Carpenter | Something Tamed, Something Wild |
| case/lang/viers | Atomic Number | |
| Caleb | Caudle | Carolina Ghost |
| Kenny | Chesney | Noise |
| Kenny | Chesney w/ Pink | Setting the World on Fire |
| Mark | Chesnutt | Oughta Miss Me By Now |
| Chris Robinson Brotherhood | Leave My Guitar Alone | |
| Eric | Church | Kill a Word (w/ Rhiannon Giddens) |
| Eric | Church | Record Year |
| Brandy | Clark | Girl Next Door |
| Brandy | Clark | Love Can Go to Hell |
| Coal Porters | The Day the Last Ramone Died | |
| Brent | Cobb | Down Home |
| Colvin & Earle | You’re Right (I’m Wrong) | |
| Luke | Combs | Hurricane |
| RJ | Comer | One Day |
| RJ | Comer | The Moon Ain’t Fallen On Me Yet |
| Elizabeth | Cook | Dyin’ |
| Easton | Corbin | Are You With Me |
| Billy | Currington | It Don’t Hurt Like it Used to |
| Dan + Shay | From the Ground Up | |
| Dan + Shay | How Not To | |
| Elise | Davis | The Token |
| Dawg Yawp | Lost at Sea | |
| Jared | Deck | 17 Miles |
| Devil Makes Three | Drunken Hearted Man | |
| Luther | Dickinson | Hurry Up Sunrise |
| Casey | Donahew | Kiss Me |
| Drive-By Truckers | Surrender Under Protest | |
| Ronnie | Dunn | Damn Drunk (w/Kix Brooks) |
| Clare | Dunn | Tuxedo |
| Earls of Leicester | The Train That Carried My Girl from Town | |
| Anderson | East | Devil in Me |
| Stewart | Eastham | Leavin’ By Sundown |
| Tim | Easton | Right Before Your Own Eyes |
| Tim | Easton | Elmore James (feat. Megan Palmer) |
| Brooke | Eden | Diamonds |
| Brett | Eldredge | Wanna Be That Song |
| Eli Young Band | Saltwater Gospel | |
| Alejandro | Escovedo | Heartbeat Smile |
| Farewell Angelina | If It Ain’t With You | |
| Farewell Angelina | Shotgun Summer | |
| Tyler | Farr | Our Town |
| Felice Brothers | Plunder | |
| Florida Georgia Line | H.O.L.Y. | |
| Florida Georgia Line | May We All (with Tim McGraw) | |
| Ryan | Folesse | Float Your Boat |
| Colt | Ford | 4 Lane Gone |
| Kevin | Fowler | Sellout Song (feat. Zane Williams) |
| Sawyer | Fredericks | Take It All |
| Dori | Freeman | Fine Fine Fine |
| Brantley | Gilbert | The Weekend |
| Vince | Gill | Me and My Girl |
| Shakey | Graves | Tomorrow |
| Green River Ordinance | Red Fire Night | |
| Mickey | Guyton | Heartbreak Song |
| Merle | Haggard | Kern River Blues |
| Trent | Harmon | There’s a Girl |
| Kree | Harrison | This Old Thing |
| Kree | Harrison | Dead Man’s House |
| Hunter | Hayes | Yesterday’s Song |
| Henningsens | Sugar Rush | |
| Ty | Herndon | That Kind of Night |
| High Valley | Make You Mine | |
| Randy | Houser | Chasing Down a Good Time |
| Randy | Houser | Song Number 7 |
| Randy | Houser | We Went |
| Sierra | Hull | Black River |
| Sam | Hunt | Make You Miss Me |
| Infamous Stringdusters | Sirens | |
| Jack | Ingram | I’m Drinking Through It |
| Alan | Jackson | The One You’re Waiting On |
| Chris | Janson | Holdin’ Her |
| Sarah | Jarosz | House Of Mercy |
| Jayhawks | Quiet Corners & Empty Spaces | |
| Cody | Jinks | I’m Not the Devil |
| Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers | All Dressed Up | |
| Cody | Johnson | With You I Am |
| Robby | Johnson | Together |
| Norah | Jones | Carry On |
| Kacy & Clayton | Strange Country | |
| Toby | Keith | A Few More Cowboys |
| Toby | Keith | Beautiful Stranger |
| Charles | Kelley | Lonely Girl |
| Josh | Kelley | It’s Your Move |
| Kristen | Kelly | Fire |
| Jana | Kramer | Said No One Ever |
| Jana | Kramer | Circles |
| April | Kry | Fireflies |
| Seth | Lakeman | Meet Me in the Twilight |
| Miranda | Lambert | Vice |
| Ray | LaMontagne | Hey, No Pressure |
| Lanco | Long Live Tonight | |
| Chris | Lane | Fix |
| Chris | Lane | For Her |
| Olivia | Lane | Make My Own Sunshine |
| Last Bandoleros | Where Do You Go? | |
| Cyndi | Lauper | Funnel of Love |
| Brennen | Leigh | Mama |
| Aaron | Lewis | That Ain’t Country |
| Lissie | Don’t You Give Up On Me | |
| Little Big Town | Better Man | |
| Little Texas | Slow Ride Home | |
| LoCash | I Know Somebody | |
| Liz | Longley | Swing |
| Love and Theft | Candyland | |
| Lydia | Loveless | Longer |
| Lydia | Loveless | Same to You |
| Loving Mary Band | Little Bit of Love | |
| Lumineers | Ophelia | |
| Lumineers | Cleopatra | |
| Dustin | Lynch | Seein’ Red |
| Claire | Lynch | Molly May |
| Lera | Lynn | Shape Shifter |
| Loretta | Lynn & Elvis Costello | Everything It Takes |
| Maddie & Tae | Sierra | |
| Martina | McBride | Reckless |
| Martina | McBride | Just Around the Corner |
| Michael | McDermott | Shadow In the Window |
| Reba | McEntire | Just Like Them Horses |
| Tim | McGraw | How I’ll Always Be |
| Tim | McGraw | Humble and Kind |
| Lori | McKenna | Wreck You |
| James Vincent | McMorrow | Get Low |
| Midlan | Drinkin’ Problem | |
| Parker | Millsap | Pining |
| Steve | Moakler | Suitcase |
| Kip | Moore | Running for You |
| William Michael | Morgan | I Met a Girl |
| Craig | Morgan | I’ll Be Home Soon |
| Maren | Morris | 80s Mercedes |
| Maren | Morris | My Church |
| Mount Moriah | How to Dance | |
| Kacey | Musgraves | Late to the Party |
| David | Nail | Good At Tonight (w/Brothers Osborne) |
| Tami | Neilson | Holy Moses |
| Jennifer | Nettles | Hey Heartbreak |
| Jennifer | Nettles | Unlove You |
| Jarrod | Niemann | A Little More Love (w/Lee Brice) |
| Nudie | It Ain’t Gonna Happen Today | |
| Old Dominion | Snapback | |
| Old Dominion | Song for Another Time | |
| Os | Halfway Sideways | |
| Jake | Owen | American Country Love Song |
| Jake | Owen | If He Ain’t Gonna Love You (w/Chris Stapleton) |
| Brad | Paisley | Today |
| Brad | Paisley (w/Demi Lovato) | Without a Fight |
| Jon | Pardi | Dirt on My Boots |
| Parmalee | Roots | |
| Dolly | Parton | Outside Your Door |
| Dolly | Parton | Pure & Simple |
| Eric | Paslay | Angels in This Town |
| Mo | Pitney | Everywhere |
| Cassadee | Pope | Summer |
| Margo | Price | Four Years of Chances |
| Margo | Price | Hurtin’ (On the Bottle) |
| Stephanie | Quayle | Drinking With Dolly |
| RaeLynn | Love Triangle | |
| Jordan | Rager | Now That I Know Your Name |
| Randy Rogers Band | Tequila Eyes | |
| Nathaniel | Rateliff & The Night Sweats | Look It Here |
| Nathaniel | Rateliff & The Night Sweats | I Need Never Get Old |
| Nathaniel | Rateliff & The Night Sweats | Wasting Time |
| Michael | Ray | Think a Little Less |
| Restless Heart | Wichita Lineman | |
| Thomas | Rhett | Star of the Show |
| Thomas | Rhett | T-Shirt |
| Thomas | Rhett | Vacation |
| Chase | Rice | Everybody We Know Does |
| Chase | Rice | Whisper |
| LeAnn | Rimes | Celebrate Me Home (w/Gavin DeGraw) |
| LeAnn | Rimes | How to Kiss a Boy |
| LeAnn | Rimes | The Story |
| Chelle | Rose | Reckon With the Devil |
| Rossington | Take It On Faith | |
| Darius | Rucker | If I Told You |
| Runaway June | Lipstick | |
| SaraBeth | Runnin’ Outta Lipstick | |
| Kalie | Schorr | He’s Just Not That Into You |
| Dylan | Scott | Crazy Over Me |
| Dylan | Scott | My Girl |
| Darrell | Scott | Down to the River |
| Hillary | Scott & The Scott Family | Thy Will |
| Scott Brothers | Hold On | |
| Aubrie | Sellers | Sit Here and Cry |
| Aubrie | Sellers | Light of Day |
| Blake | Shelton | A Guy with a Girl |
| Blake | Shelton | Came Here to Forget |
| Blake | Shelton | Savior’s Shadow |
| Blake | Shelton | She’s Got a Way With Words |
| Amanda | Shires | When You’re Gone |
| Kalie | Shorr | Fight Like a Girl |
| Shovels & Rope | I Know | |
| Shovels & Rope | Botched Execution | |
| Dee Jay | Silver | Just Got Paid (with Austin Webb) |
| Sturgill | Simpson | Sugar Daddy |
| Sturgill | Simpson | Brace for Impact (Live a Little) |
| Sturgill | Simpson | In Bloom |
| Alex | Smith | Load it Up |
| Granger | Smith | If the Boot Fits |
| Canaan | Smith | Hole in a Bottle |
| Smithfield | Hey Whiskey | |
| Todd | Snider | Ways and Means |
| Southern Culture on the Skids | Grey Skies | |
| Southern Halo | Rewind | |
| Jamie Lynn | Spears | Sleepover |
| Morgane | Stapleton & Chris Stapleton | You Are My Sunshine |
| George | Strait | Goin’ Goin’ Gone |
| Striking Matches | Trouble Is As Trouble Does | |
| Kiefer | Sutherland | Not Enough Whiskey |
| Kiefer | Sutherland | Can’t Stay Away |
| Cole | Swindell | Middle of a Memory |
| Cole | Swindell | You Should Be Here |
| Sylvia | Every Time a Train Goes By | |
| Aaron Lee | Tasjan | Little Movies |
| Jack | Tempchin | One More Song |
| Jack | Tempchin | Song for You |
| Tara | Thompson | Somebody to Take Your Place |
| Teddy | Thompson & Kelly Jones | Never Knew You Loved Me Too |
| Thompson Square | You Make it Look So Good | |
| Cyndi | Thomson | Sippin’ Wine on the Water |
| Time Jumpers | I Miss You | |
| Trent | Tomlinson | When She Goes There |
| Rick | Trevino | Cowboys Like Me |
| Josh | Turner | Hometown Girl |
| Turnpike Troubadours | Come As You Are | |
| Steven | Tyler | Red, White, and You |
| Steven | Tyler | We’re All Somebody from Somewhere |
| Carrie | Underwood | Church Bells |
| Carrie | Underwood | Dirty Laundry |
| Carrie | Underwood | Heartbeat |
| Keith | Urban | Blue Ain’t Your Color |
| Keith | Urban | Wasted Time |
| Vandaveer | Love is Melancholy | |
| Various Artists | Forever Country | |
| Phil | Vassar | American Soul |
| Waco Brothers | Had Enough | |
| Henry | Wagons | Santa Fe |
| Kelsey | Waldon | All By Myself |
| Wheeler | Walker Jr | Redneck Shit |
| Morgan | Wallen | The Way I Talk |
| Ward Thomas | Carry You Home | |
| Waterloo Revival | Backwood Bump | |
| Sean | Watkins | What To Fear |
| Sara | Watkins | Move Me |
| Sara | Watkins | Young in All the Wrong Ways |
| Aaron | Watson | Outta Style |
| Aaron | Watson | Bluebonnets (Julia’s Song) |
| Bob | Weir | Only a River |
| Whiskey Myers | Mud | |
| Drake | White | Livin’ the Dream |
| John Paul | White | Simple Song |
| John Paul | White | What’s So |
| White Stripes | City Lights | |
| Chuck | Wicks | She’s Gone |
| Wilco | If I Ever Was a Child | |
| Lucinda | Williams | Dust |
| Marlon | Williams | I’m Lost Without You |
| Hank | Williams Jr. | The Party’s On |
| Chely | Wright | What About Your Heart |
| Wynonna & The Big Noise | Jesus & A Jukebox | |
| Wynonna & The Big Noise | Cool Ya | |
| Wynonna & The Big Noise | Ain’t No Thing (feat. Susan Tedeschi) | |
| Trisha | Yearwood | Broken |
| Dwight | Yoakam | These Arms |
| Pete | Yorn | Lost Weekend |
| Pete | Yorn | I’m Not the One |
| Brett | Young | Sleep Without You |
| Chris | Young | Sober Saturday Night (w/Vince Gill) |
| Chris | Young | Think of You (w/Cassadee Pope) |
| Zac Brown Band | Beautiful Drug | |
| Zac Brown Band | Castaway |
And there we have it! Over 300 albums and 300 singles– plus anything our sharp-eyed readers have noticed that we’ve missed– that we’re considering for this year’s final lists!
Not that she’ll get in but you guys missed Brooke Eden “Daddy’s Money” (the song isn’t bad, just not good).
For me my favorite singles came from Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Tim McGraw, Little Big Town, Lauren Alaina (I know she has no shot), Runaway June, Cole Swindell shockingly and Maddie & Tae.
For albums the albums from Miranda Lambert, Cam, Brothers Osborne and Drake White. I also didn’t mind the albums from Jake Owen, Maren Morris, Jason Aldean, High Valley, and Cole Swindell. The only album that had an outright hate from me were the latest from Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney as both of them left me unimpressed and Dierks Bentley also didn’t leave a good impression on me with his album.
I am very excited to see who makes the list!
I didn’t see Mark Chesnutt’s album, “Tradition Lives”. I read that he signed to a company in which his longtime producer, Jimmy Ritchey, is part owner for his new album. Ritchey partnered up with some guys and they formed their own record label. Don’t know if that satisfies your requirements for inclusion here.
singles
1. Forever Country – Various
2. Record Year – Eric Church
3. Are You With Me – Easton Corbin
4. Peter Pan – Kelsea Ballerini
5. Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw
My favorite discovery this year was Cody Jinks. I absolutely love I’m Not the Devil. Looking forward to seeing what I missed. Last year it was Turnpike Troubadors but I haven’t heard anything from them sense.
A pity Lori McKenna’s album isn’t listed. Is the label she’s under (CN Records) ineligible under this criteria?
Thanks, gang!
Re: Brooke Eden. We had “Daddy’s Money” on last year’s eligibility list based upon its initial release date.
Re: Mark Chesnutt and Lori McKenna. Both of those albums are eligible and were just oversights in compiling the list. They’ve been added in!
Let us know if there are more additions we need to make!
Margo Price has an official video for “Hands of Time” that was released in November.
What about Maren Morris’ Hero album? Not really a country album (though nominated as such for various awards), but an enjoyable album nonetheless.
I’ve noticed that Margo Price has made a lot of year-end best lists. I may have to check her out.