Country music has undergone many transformations over the years, and one of the biggest tone shifts occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. Music as a whole had just recently changed in many ways due to new recording technology, more widespread radio and TV coverage for music, and more sales of vinyls and the hot new technology known as “cassette tapes" and, later, "compact discs."
Whether you’re looking to learn about new-to-you songs or want to reminisce about some of the oldies, in this list, you’ll find some of the top country songs from the pre-2000s era. It’s not possible to list every good or influential song, of course, so here are just a few of the best country songs from the 80s and 90s.
| Song | Artist | Year |
|---|---|---|
| He Stopped Loving Her Today | George Jones | 1980 |
| On The Road Again | Willie Nelson | 1980 |
| Mountain Music | Alabama | 1982 |
| Islands in the Stream | Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton | 1983 |
| Seven Spanish Angels | Ray Charles & Willie Nelson | 1984 |
| Diggin' Up Bones | Randy Travis | 1986 |
| Guitars, Cadillacs | Dwight Yoakam | 1986 |
| All My Ex’s Live in Texas | George Strait | 1987 |
| Forever and Ever, Amen | Randy Travis | 1987 |
| Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses | Kathy Mattea | 1988 |
| Friends in Low Places | Garth Brooks | 1990 |
| The Dance | Garth Brooks | 1990 |
| The Thunder Rolls | Garth Brooks | 1991 |
| Achy Breaky Heart | Billy Ray Cyrus | 1992 |
| Boot Scootin' Boogie | Brooks & Dunn | 1992 |
| Independence Day | Martina McBride | 1994 |
| Blue Clear Sky | George Strait | 1996 |
| Strawberry Wine | Deana Carter | 1996 |
| This Kiss | Faith Hill | 1998 |
| Wide Open Spaces | The Chicks | 1998 |
10 Top 80s Country Songs
In the 80s, country pop started to develop in a stronger sense, growing out of the roots that had been laid down in the 70s by countrypolitan sound (although that genre had a few hard years in the late 80s). Additionally, other subgenres started to grow, like country rock, neocountry, truck-driving country, and neotraditionalist country.
Country started appearing in pop culture references like the 1980 film Urban Cowboy starring John Travolta. The film spurred a new life into the public’s interest in country music, attracting new fans and encouraging existing ones.
Here are some of the best songs from the 80s that promoted the country genre.
"He Stopped Loving Her Today" - George Jones (1980)
This Grammy-winning ballad tells the heart-wrenching story of a man who never stops loving his first love until the day he dies, even though she had gone on to live her own life after they separated. Known for its poignant lyrics and Jones’s emotionally charged delivery, it is often hailed as the greatest country song of all time. Its universal themes of love and loss made it a timeless classic, harking back to the long-standing tradition in country music of telling stories of heartbreak.
“On The Road Again” - Willie Nelson (1980)
Released in August 1980, this upbeat anthem celebrates the joys of traveling and performing on the road.
Written in just a few minutes for the movie Honeysuckle Rose, it became one of Willie Nelson's most iconic songs. Its infectious melody and lyrics about freedom resonated with audiences worldwide, earning it a Grammy Award.
It’s clearly among the top of the 80 country songs top 100 by any measure.
"Mountain Music" - Alabama (1982)
A decidedly different beat from many other country songs at this time, “Mountain Music” combines Southern rock and country influences. The song’s nostalgic lyrics about life in the Appalachian Mountains made it a favorite among fans, making it one of the most successful 80s country album songs. Its success helped Alabama do well in the country charts throughout the 1980s. This track highlighted their ability to blend traditional themes with modern sounds.
"Islands in the Stream" - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (1983)
This iconic duet was written by the Bee Gees and became a crossover sensation, topping both country and pop charts. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s chemistry made the song an instant hit, giving fans an exciting collaboration project between two beloved artists for a spectacular payoff. The sweet and simple melody and lyrics made it one of the best songs of the 80s, regardless of genre.
"Seven Spanish Angels" - Ray Charles & Willie Nelson (1984)
Ray Charles’s soulful voice, paired with Willie Nelson’s signature drawl, created a powerful blend of country and soul. Together, they convey a mournful ballad telling a tale of lovers caught in a tragic showdown. The collaboration between Charles and Nelson was an exciting pairing for audiences. The mournful tone and content of the song were a callback to earlier tejano genre country music sung by artists like Marty Robbins back in the 50s.
"Diggin' Up Bones" - Randy Travis (1986)
Another heartbreaker, this depressing track is about revisiting old memories after a divorce.
Randy Travis's deep voice and the song’s traditional country style struck a chord with listeners, which has carried on to the present day.
Frequently called one of the top 80s songs, this hit helped Travis rise to prominence as a leading figure in country music's return to its roots.
“Guitars, Cadillacs” - Dwight Yoakam (1986)
In the late 80s, country saw a resurgence in going back to its roots, called neotraditionalism.
One of the catchiest 80’s songs, this honky-tonk anthem brought a fresh, edgy sound to country music by blending traditional styles with rock influences. The song was part of Yoakam’s debut album, which was a callback to the Bakersfield sound.
“All My Ex’s Live in Texas” - George Strait (1987)
This catchy, lighthearted tune easily became one of George Strait’s signature songs. The playful lyrics and fun vocals earned the song a #1 spot on the country charts. Its clever storytelling about avoiding past flames helped Strait bridge traditional honky-tonk with modern country appeal, easily making it one of the top 80s songs in terms of memorability.
"Forever and Ever, Amen" - Randy Travis (1987)
Easily one of the best country songs of the 80s, this heartfelt ballad became a wedding favorite thanks to its romantic lyrics. It was pivotal in Travis's career and promoted the rise of the neotraditional country movement. Its timeless message about unwavering love captured the hearts of fans and won a Grammy.
"Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" - Kathy Mattea (1988)
Truck-driving country was a sub-genre that actually saw a lot of traction in country music. This touching song tells the story of a truck driver’s retirement and love for his wife. Its relatable storyline and Mattea’s emotive delivery made it a massive hit. Her storytelling and singing allowed the song to easily top the country charts and win several awards. The song became an anthem for hard-working Americans, which always makes for popular music from the 80s (or any era, really).
10 Top Country Hits of the 90s
The 90s was a more pivotal time for country, as the genre evolved in more ways in terms of sound, subgenres, and cultural relevance. More female artists emerged and/or gained prevalence. Line dancing (with country music) suddenly became popular again. Country music became more popular in the mainstream audiences' sphere of awareness, especially since pop country really stepped up a notch at this point.
Here are some of the hallmark songs and sounds from the 90s that define this decade of country music.
“Friends in Low Places” - Garth Brooks (1990)
Brooks, who was at first dismissed as a “hat act,” showed everyone wrong with his many 90 country top hits. One of his first successes, this rowdy anthem became synonymous with Brooks's larger-than-life persona. The song’s sing-along chorus and entertaining vocals made it an instant classic. It topped the country charts and became a favorite at concerts and bars nationwide. Its success helped catapult Brooks to superstardom and redefine modern country.
“The Dance” - Garth Brooks (1990)
Another hit by the legendary singer, this poignant ballad talks about the beauty of life’s fleeting moments, even those accompanied by loss. It struck an emotional chord with listeners, becoming a staple at memorials and celebrations. The song was praised for its poetic lyrics and heartfelt delivery.
"The Thunder Rolls" - Garth Brooks (1991)
We said Brooks was a monumental figure in top country hits of the 90s, didn’t we?
In this dramatic single, a husband commits infidelity, and the emotional fallout is like thunder in the relationship. The controversial music video even helped raise money for women’s shelters since its depiction of domestic violence was deemed “too controversial” and therefore removed from TV, so fundraisers were held where people could see the video for themselves.
“Achy Breaky Heart” - Billy Ray Cyrus (1992)
The line-dancing craze of the 90s was encouraged by this upbeat tune, filled with simple, catchy lyrics and a twangy rhythm. Although technically a song about heartbreak, its fun and bouncy sound hits more like a relaxed party song. Although it was a polarizing track amongst critics, the song nonetheless catapulted Billy Ray to fame and has gone down in history as one of the most memorable 90s country greatest hits.
"Boot Scootin' Boogie" - Brooks & Dunn (1992)
Continuing the uptick of line dancing in the 90s, “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” was a perfect addition to the genre that made people feel like getting up and dancing together. Its infectious rhythm and honky-tonk vibe made it a fan favorite and a staple at country dance halls. People today still love learning to boot scoot and boogie along with Brooks & Dunn’s fun song!
“Independence Day” - Martina McBride (1994)
This powerful anthem proves that music can be a potent facilitator of change.
It tells the harrowing story of a woman escaping domestic abuse by burning the house down with her and her abusive husband inside.
Their young daughter, who is telling the story, was safely at an Independence Day parade when it all happened.
Though controversial at the time, the song became a rally anthem for women facing domestic abuse.
In fact, many women felt empowered to finally leave their situation after hearing the song.
"Blue Clear Sky" - George Strait (1996)
"Blue Clear Sky" is a feel-good love song inspired by a line from the movie Forrest Gump. The lyrics celebrate the unexpected arrival of true love, a theme that resonates with audiences through time. George Strait's smooth vocals and the song's catchy melody made it an instant hit, earning it the #1 spot on the country charts. The song and album by the same name won multiple awards.
"Strawberry Wine" - Deana Carter (1996)
Carter’s nostalgic ballad reflects on a young woman’s first love and loss of innocence. Its poetic lyrics and heartfelt delivery resonated with audiences across genres, earning it the CMA Song of the Year award. The crossover hit has become one of the quintessential 90s songs and helped country pop become more active in the pop culture scene.
“This Kiss” - Faith Hill (1998)
The epitome of 90s country pop, Faith Hill’s memorable vocals and lyrics in this joyful love song made the track stand out both then and now. Its infectious melody and relatable lyrics made it a radio favorite and confirmed Hill’s success as a crossover star. The song’s success marked a shift towards country-pop and brought a new level of mainstream attention to the genre, as it dominated the country and pop charts alike.
"Wide Open Spaces" - The Chicks (1998)
Another powerful moment for women in music was when The Chicks (formerly The Dixie Chicks) took off. This breakout hit captures the excitement and bittersweet emotions of leaving home to chase dreams. The harmonic magic of The Chicks’ music caught the attention of listeners, especially women and girls. Its empowering message gave many women embarking on new life journeys comfort and confidence. The Chicks easily became a staple in 90 country music hits with this one song, but they had many more smash hits as well.
The 80s and 90s were a fun and pivotal time for country music as it evolved. Some subgenres took large steps away from traditional country sounds, while others incorporated those roots. What’s interesting about country is that it is a large genre with room for lots of different styles and sounds while still encapsulating that “country essence” you can just feel when you listen!
And, while some may argue that country pop after the 90s often steps so far into “pop” territory that it hardly has any toes left in “country,” it’s all part of the shared history of country music.
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