A Look at ‘Rolling Stone’s’ 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time

“Rolling Stone” published “The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time” Friday, celebrating the 10th anniversary of their website, “Rolling Stone Country.” While the list features a ton of classic country artists and songs, some love was also shown to those that formed the genre and those that continue evolving country music today.

For “Rolling Stone,” a great country song “tells a story,” “draws a line” and “has twang you can feel down to the soles of your feet.” It’s worth noting that while most of 2014’s top-100 list’s top-10 is the same, some songs have shuffled around, with a few big risers.

Outside the top-100 songs on “Rolling Stone’s” list featured some interesting selections, including relative newcomer Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange landing at 194. Beyoncé’s new single, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” found its way onto the list at 192. Luke Combs’s “Beer Never Broke My Heart” came in at 188, while the other Luke – Luke Bryan – had “Drink a Beer” slot in at 169.

Lil Nas X’s remix of “Old Town Road” with Billy Ray Cyrus landed inside the top-150 at 138. Taylor Swift made her first appearance on the list at 126 with her song “Tim McGraw.” Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” which has enjoyed a nice renewed run thanks to Comb’s 2023 cover of the same name, landed at 113.

The late Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar” makes for the legendary artist’s only appearance in the top-200 at 98. Chris Stapelton, the ACM awards’ 2024 Male-Artist-of-the-Year award winner, has his “Tennessee Whiskey” land at 90.

The country classic “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys” from the legendary duo of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson finds itself at 69. The song was at 10 on the site’s 2014 top-100 list. Not too far ahead of that is Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” at 67. Eric Church’s nostalgic “Springsteen” was placed at 58.

The king of rock and roll, Elvis Presely, had his version of Bill Monroe’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky” placed as one of the first couple songs inside the top-50 at 49. Another moon song, “Neon Moon” by Brooks & Dunn, sits at 41.

The 30s feature a few massive 90s country hits with Garth Brooks’s “Friends in Low Places” and Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” at 35 and 30 respectively. A couple classic country staples like Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire and Kenny Rogers’s “The Gambler” land at 25 and 21. Swift reappears at 20 with her song “Mean,” making it the highest-ranked country song of the current century.

10. “Amarillo by Morning” by George Strait, 1982.

“Rolling Stone’s” top-10 starts off with George Strait’s “Amarillo by Morning” at 10, which originally wasn’t a part of 2014’s top-100 rankings.

9. “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard, 1968.

At nine sits Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried,” one spot off its 2014 position.

8. “Stand By Your Man” by Tammy Wynette, 1968.

Eight features Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man,” which was at six on the top-100 list.

7. “Standing on the Corner (Blue Yodel #9)” by Jimmie Rodgers, 1930.

Sitting at seven is Jimmie Rodgers’s “Standing on the Corner (Blue Yodel #9).” The father of country music’s song was ranked at five in 2014.

6. “You Don’t Know Me” by Ray Charles, 1962.

Ray Charles’s hit cover of Cindy Walker’s 1955 song, “You Don’t Know Me,” moves up a spot from its top-100 ranking to slot in at six.

5. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones, 1980.

George Jones kicks off the top-five at five with “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” one spot off its 2014 placement at four.

4. “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by Hank Williams, 1949.

Hank Williams’s “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” sits a spot back from its top-100 ranking at four.

3. “Crazy” by Patsy Cline, 1961.

Like the two songs preceding it, Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” fell a spot to three. The song was written by Willie Nelson, which he later featured his own recording on his 1962 debut album, “…And Then I Wrote.”

2. “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash, 1956.

2014’s top-ranked song, Cash’s “I Walk the Line,” falls to two. It was his first #1 hit on the Billboards charts.

1. “Jolene” by Dolly Parton, 1973.

The top spot of the top-200 goes to Dolly Parton’s 1973 mega hit “Jolene.” The song was placed at nine on “Rolling Stone’s” 2014 list.