Texas has its own soundtrack — a mix of honky-tonk anthems, southern rock staples and singalongs that echo from dance halls to tailgate parties. Whether it’s George Strait at the rodeo or ZZ Top on the car radio, these songs have become part of the Lone Star DNA.
From “Friends in Low Places” to “La Grange,” here are 30 songs every Texan knows by heart — whether they admit it or not.
1. ‘Amarillo by Morning’ – George Strait
The unofficial state anthem — every rodeo crowd still sings this one from the first fiddle note.
2. ‘La Grange’ – ZZ Top
Texas blues-rock at its best, inspired by a real-life small-town legend. “A-haw haw haw-haw.”
3. ‘Friends in Low Places’ – Garth Brooks
No honky-tonk night is complete without someone shouting the “’cause I’ve got friends…” line.
4. ‘On the Road Again’ – Willie Nelson
A love letter to life on tour, but just as fitting for a long Texas highway.
5. ‘I Never Lie’ – Zach Top
A fresh take on traditional country swagger — Texans love its throwback sound, clever lyrics, and honky-tonk honesty that feels straight out of the ’90s.
6. ‘Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)’ – Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson
Waylon and Willie immortalized a Hill Country town in one of country’s most timeless duets.
7. ‘Neon Moon’ – Brooks & Dunn
The slow-dance favorite that still fills every two-step floor from Dallas to Galveston.
8. ‘Pride and Joy’ – Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Blistering blues guitar that cemented Stevie Ray Vaughan as a Texas legend forever.
9. ‘The Gambler’ – Kenny Rogers
Timeless advice on knowing when to hold ’em, fold ’em, and walk away.
10. ‘Gunpowder & Lead’ – Miranda Lambert
A fiery small-town revenge anthem that proves Texas women don’t play around.
11. ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ – Chris Stapleton
Soulful, smooth and smoky — just like a late-night Austin bar.
12. ‘Free Fallin” – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
The road-trip essential, most likely blasting from trucks on I-10 every weekend.
13. ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’ – George Jones
Country heartbreak at its finest — and one of Texas’ most respected classics.
14. ‘Piece of My Heart’ Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin
Port Arthur’s own showed the world that Texas could rock with raw emotion.
15. ‘Boot Scootin’ Boogie’ – Brooks & Dunn
The line-dance song that defined the ’90s country bar scene.
16. ‘Chattahoochee’ – Alan Jackson
A summertime staple that captures the carefree, muddy-river spirit many Texans can relate to — even if the river’s not the Chattahoochee.
17. ‘Boys of Summer’ – Don Henley
A wistful Texas-born rocker looking back on love and long, hot seasons.
18. ‘Killin’ Time’ – Clint Black
The Houston-area native’s breakout hit that put Texas country back on the map.
19. ‘Night Moves’ – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
A coming-of-age classic that feels tailor-made for small-town Texas nights.
20. ‘Fancy’ – Reba McEntire
Big hair, big vocals and bigger attitude — all things Texans love.
21. ‘Piano Man’ – Billy Joel
No matter the genre, every Texas bar crowd belts out the chorus like it’s theirs.
22. ”Til You Can’t’ – Cody Johnson
A Texas native reminding everyone to live bold and love hard while you can.
23. ‘It’s a Great Day to Be Alive’ – Travis Tritt
Feel-good country that fits every sunny Texas morning.
24. ‘Ocean Front Property’ – George Strait
Only the King of Country could make heartbreak sound this smooth — Texans love the sly humor and desert-dry wit behind its “oceanfront in Arizona” punchline.
25. ‘Welcome to the Show’ – Cody Johnson
A rodeo-ready anthem that captures the grit, pride, and adrenaline Texans feel every time the spotlight hits and the gate swings open.
26. ‘Texas Flood’ – Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
A blistering blues masterpiece that feels like a storm rolling over Austin — soulful, raw, and unmistakably Texan.
27. ‘Tush’ – ZZ Top
Straight from Houston’s bearded legends, this gritty, guitar-driven hit is pure Texas barroom energy from start to finish.
28. ‘The Joker’ – Steve Miller Band
Recorded in part in Texas and embraced by generations of Texans for its laid-back groove — the perfect soundtrack for a slow summer drive down a backroad.
29. ‘All My Ex’s Live in Texas’ – George Strait
A tongue-in-cheek Texas love letter that perfectly blends charm, humor, and Lone Star swagger.
30. ‘El Paso’ – Marty Robbins
A Western ballad as epic as the Texas desert itself — Texans love its storytelling, heartbreak, and the vivid picture it paints of the Old West.
