50 Best Country Love Songs
Check out country music’s 50 best love songs, from the legends like Glen Campbell and Conway Twitty to new country crooners like Blae Shelton and Shania Twain. These are the best and most popular country love songs.
No. 50: Blake Shelton + Gwen Stefani, Happy Anywhere
Warner/Tenpoint
No. 50: Blake Shelton + Gwen Stefani, “Happy Anywhere”
This real-life husband-and-wife duo have proved that their musical collaborations are just as successful as their personal partnership: “Happy Anywhere” came out in 2020 as the lead single off Shelton’s Body Language album, and it quickly ascended to the top of the country chart. The song describes two people who’ve always been “rolling stones,” but since they got together, they could be happy tied down to “any map dot location” — as long as they had the other by their side. “Happy Anywhere” followed another hit love duet from Shelton and Stefani, “Nobody But You.”
No 49: Kathy Mattea, Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses
Mercury Records
No 49: Kathy Mattea, “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses”
Charlie’s got his gold watch because he’s done working and set to return home to live out his life with his bride. It’s the American dream, and while technology and trends may have changed, the details are what most of us all aspire to. Kathy Mattea’s “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses” is a country No. 1 from 1988 that shares this trucker story, and it still plays well on classic country radio stations today. The message was one an older audience could appreciate, but even as modern country music targets the youth, great stories still persevere. There is evidence of that all over this list of the 50 greatest country love songs of all time.
No. 48: Luke Combs, Better Together
River House/Columbia Nashville
No. 48: Luke Combs, “Better Together
It’s hard to pick just one of Luke Combs’ many love songs for his wife Nicole, but “Better Together” — a ballad about things that fit together perfectly, including a meant-to-be couple — is undoubtedly a top choice. “Better Together” was a No. 1 hit for Combs in 2020, which is also the year he and Nicole got married.
No. 47: Toby Keith, You Shouldnt Kiss Me Like This
Dreamworks Nashville
No. 47: Toby Keith, “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This”
We couldn’t compile a Top Country Love Songs list without including Toby Keith’s 2000 hit “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This.” The tune was found on Keith’s Dreamworks Nashville album, How Do You Like Me Now? and was its fourth and final single.
Keith sings of a love story of two people who felt the electricity between them from the moment they first kissed. Fans and peers alike couldn’t get enough of Keith’s song, pushing it to top the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It also peaked at No. 32 on the industry’s all-genre Hot 100 chart.
No. 46: Gabby Barrett, The Good Ones
Warner Music Nashville
No. 46: Gabby Barrett, “The Good Ones”
After a third-place finish on American Idol in 2018, Gabby Barrett shot out of the gate with her searing, vindictive breakup hit, the massively popular “I Hope.” But Barrett had much more in her toolkit aside from revenge anthems, and she proved it with her smash hit followup single, “The Good Ones.” A song that shows her softer side, “The Good Ones” also has an important personal connection. It was inspired by Barrett’s real-life love story with her husband and fellow Idol contestant, Cade Foehner.
No. 45: Kane Brown + Katelyn Brown, Thank God
RCA Nashville
No. 45: Kane Brown + Katelyn Brown, “Thank God”
This husband-and-wife duet off Kane Brown’s Different Man album was years in the making — the singer has said that he and Katelyn sifted through several different songs to potentially record together, but none of them felt right until they discovered the sultry and romantic “Thank God.” The song was worth the wait: It was an immediate hit with fans, who embraced Katelyn whenever she joined her superstar onstage to perform it, and became Brown’s 9th No. 1 hit at country radio in early 2023.
No. 44: Diamond Rio, Meet in the Middle
Arista Nashville
No. 44: Diamond Rio, “Meet in the Middle”
Diamond Rio became the first country group to have their debut single reach No. 1 when “Meet in the Middle” topped the charts in summer of 1991. The song begins with two young lovers meeting at a fence between their houses, before they get married and decide to meet in the middle on disagreements.
“We’d gain a lot of ground / Cause we’d both give a little / Ain’t no road too long / When we meet in the middle,” this talented group of harmonizers sing. Like so many songs on the list, “Meet in the Middle” is still alive on country radio today.
No. 43: Thompson Square, Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not
Stoney Creek Records
No. 43: Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not”
Young love is love in its purest form, don’t you think? It certainly worked for Thompson Square, a married country duo that hooked an emotion and rode it to No. 1 in the early 2010s. “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?” finds a couple poised to seal their fate, but he’s a little nervous, so she gives him the nudge he needs. First kiss songs aren’t as easy to come by in country music as you’d think. First kiss songs that describe the emotions of the moment are even more rare.
No. 42: Brothers Osborne, I Dont Remember Me (Before You)
EMI Nashville
No. 42: Brothers Osborne, “I Don’t Remember Me (Before You)”
Though “I Don’t Remember Me (Before You)” just missed the Top 30 at country radio when it was released as a single in 2018, it’s still an enduring classic off the duo’s Port Saint Joe album, in part because of its powerful message. The lyrics describe a love so powerful it’s life-changing: The time before this love interest entered the picture feels like a completely different lifetime, and the lyrics wonder, “Was my heart beatin’ in my chest? Was I even alive before the day we met?”
No. 41: Dan + Shay, Tequila
Warner Music Nashville
No. 41: Dan + Shay, “Tequila”
Country music’s best modern love curators have two songs on this list of the 50 best country love songs. Dan + Shay dropped “Tequila” as a single in 2018, and it quickly climbed the charts and became an award-winning vacuum cleaner for the duo. Is this song a love song as defined in the intro to this list? Well, we don’t really find out if the narrator’s love is reciprocated, but since it’s such a good song, we’re going to give him the benefit of the doubt.
No. 40: Dierks Bentley, Come a Little Closer
Capitol Nashville
No. 40: Dierks Bentley, “Come a Little Closer”
Dierks Bentley surprised fans with this slow and sexy love song from the Modern Day Drifter album in 2005. Prior to this single, he was known for his rowdy, rambling country jams like “What Was I Thinkin'” and “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do.” Steam comes from the speakers when this song is playing. The singer proves to be one of the more passionate vocalists in Nashville.
“Every inch of you against my skin / I wanna be stronger than we’ve ever been / So come a little closer baby / I feel like strippin’ it down,” Bentley says, almost moaning. Years after its release, “Come a Little Closer” remains one of the hottest songs on the radio.
No. 39: Kip Moore, Hey Pretty Girl
MCA Nashville
No. 39: Kip Moore, “Hey Pretty Girl”
Maybe you forgot about “Hey Pretty Girl.” Kip Moore’s best ballad and truest love song doesn’t get the airplay it deserves — often slow songs get left behind, it seems — but we didn’t forget. The untraditional structure of each verse and chorus is but a footnote on a song that finds a man thought to be reticent to share his emotions spilling them across several acoustic minutes. Like an onion, we’ve learned who Kip Moore is over the years. This was the first layer pulled back.
No. 38: Faith Hill, Breathe
Warner Brothers
No. 38: Faith Hill, “Breathe”
It’s been more than two decades since its release, but country music fans of all ages still know every single word to Faith Hill’s hit song, “Breathe.” The timeless love song was released in 1999 and quickly had country and pop fans alike singing along.
Hill also released a video for this addition to the Top Love Songs list, and it caught on like wildfire, thanks to the sexy shots of her covered only by a white sheet. Despite its controversial presence on the airwaves, the video for “Breathe” was ranked No. 4 on CMT’s Top 100 Videos. In 2009, the single was named the 27th most successful song of the 2000s on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade countdown.
No. 37: Glen Campbell, Gentle on My Mind
Capitol Nashville
No. 37: Glen Campbell, “Gentle on My Mind”
With its rolling rhythm and Glen Campbell’s iconic country vocals, “Gentle on My Mind” is the epitome of a feel-good country love song. The Grammy-winning hit was written by John Hartford in 1968 and was a cover song for Campbell. Both Hartford and the legendary country star won Grammy Awards for the folksy country tune.
Not only did this addition to the Greatest Country Love Songs list win two Grammys in one year, but it spurred a major career break-through for Campbell. Before hearing the song on the radio and deciding to arrange a country version, the late legend had little success establishing a name for himself in country music. “Gentle on My Mind” helped put him on the map.
No. 36: Willie Nelson, Always on My Mind
Columbia Nashville
No. 36: Willie Nelson, “Always on My Mind”
When it came to picking classic country love songs to include on our list of the best country love songs of all time, there was no way we could overlook the Willie Nelson hit “Always on My Mind.”
The ballad won over the hearts of not only country fans, but fans of all genres and all ages back in 1982 when it hit the airwaves. “Always on My Mind” is the title track from Nelson’s album at the time, which spent significant time at No. 1 — a total of 23 weeks. The song also helped the album stay on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart. Brenda Lee and Elvis Presley made famous their own versions of the tune back in 1972.
No. 35: Clint Black, When I Said I Do
RCA Nashville
No. 35: Clint Black, “When I Said I Do”
When it came time for Clint Black to sing the tender “When I Said I Do,” it was a no-brainer to have his actress wife, Lisa Hartman Black, join him. The song oozes with romance and was the perfect choice for this list of love greats.
As you’d expect, the song soared up the country singles chart after its release in August of 1999, eventually landing at No. 1. It was the first from Black’s album D’lectrified. “When I Said I Do” also peaked at No. 31 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, making it a crossover hit for the celebrity couple.
No. 34: Taylor Swift, Love Story
Big Machine Label Group
No. 34: Taylor Swift, “Love Story”
On paper, a country love song that mirrors Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet sounds cheesy and cliche, but Taylor Swift’s pop-country interpretation and infectious melody made this song one you couldn’t quit on in 2008 and 2009. “Love Story” is another that made the list of the Top 100 Country Songs ever, as well.
“Romeo, save me, they’re trying to tell me how to feel / This love is difficult, but it’s real / Don’t be afraid, we’ll make it out of this mess / It’s a love story, baby just say yes,” Swift sings. With time, the hit figures to only move up this list of the greatest love songs.
No. 33: Chris Young, Gettin You Home
RCA Nashville
No. 33: Chris Young, “Gettin’ You Home”
Chris Young’s “Gettin’ You Home” may be the sexiest love song of the ’00s. Each note of the chart-topper is perfectly placed, yet it never feels forced too soon. This song on the 50 Greatest Country Love Songs list adds some sizzle to any couple’s night.
“Walkin’ through the front door / Seein’ your black dress hit the floor / Honey there sure ain’t nothing / Like you lovin’ me all night long / And all I can think about is gettin’ you home,” he sings. This song kicked off a stretch of five straight No. 1 hits for Young.
No. 32: Maren Morris, The Bones
Columbia Nashville
No. 32: Maren Morris, “The Bones”
No one — not even Maren Morris herself — expected “The Bones” to become the monster hit it did. Back when it was first released to country radio in 2019, it seemed like a simple, mid-tempo, soul-tinged ode to love that lasts through the hard times. But something in the story behind “The Bones” resonated with a broader audience: Not only did it become a No. 1 hit on the country charts, but it also topped Billboard‘s Adult Contemporary and Adult Top 40 charts, and earned quadruple-platinum certification.
No. 31: Jason Aldean, You Make it Easy
Broken Bow/Macon
No. 31: Jason Aldean, “You Make it Easy”
Jason Aldean’s early-2018 slow jam delivers a wedding-song-ready ode to life with a partner who makes settling down just make sense. The song comes off Aldean’s Rearview Town album, and it was the singer’s 18th career No. 1 hit at country radio. Fun fact: It took not one but three country superstars to pen this modern-day love classic. Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley co-wrote the song with a then-up-and-coming Morgan Wallen, as well as noted Nashville songwriter Jordan Schmidt.
No. 30: Conway Twitty, Id Love to Lay You Down
MCA Nashville
No. 30: Conway Twitty, “I’d Love to Lay You Down”
When Conway Twitty released “I’d Love to Lay You Down” in 1980, it rose to the top of country charts and became the legendary country star’s 24th No. 1 single. Despite its name, this all-time great country love song is about far more than just a physical relationship. Lyrics like: “When a whole lot of Decembers are showin’ in your face / Your auburn hair has faded and silver takes its place / You’ll be just as lovely and I’ll still be around / And if I can’t I know that / I’d still love to lay you down” are made sweeter by Twitty’s country twang. Not surprisingly, thanks to Twitty’s status as a popular country star, “I’d Love to Lay You Down” remained on the country charts for 12 weeks.
No. 29: Trisha Yearwood, How Do I Live
MCA Nashville
No. 29: Trisha Yearwood, “How Do I Live”
On Trisha Yearwood’s “How Do I Live,” the singer’s timeless voice tells a beautiful story of romance and desire. It’s the ultimate slow dance song and a wedding favorite that’s transcended at least one generation. This song was a certainty for our Greatest Country Love Songs list. “Without you there’d be no sun in my sky / There would be no love in my life / There’d be no world left for me / And I, baby I don’t know what I would do,” Yearwood sings on this Top 5 country hit from 1997. It was originally recorded for the Con Air movie soundtrack.
No. 28: John Michael Montgomery, I Swear
Atlantic Records
No. 28: John Michael Montgomery, “I Swear”
John Michael Montgomery became the king of romance in the early ’90s, earning a string of No. 1 country songs with beautiful love ballads, including the chart-topper “I Swear.” The track was first recorded by the country superstar in 1993, but later became a crossover smash hit for the pop group All-4-One. Montgomery’s version was the most-played song on country radio that year, according to Billboard, and helped the singer’s album, Kickin’ It Up, sell more than four million copies.
No. 27: Josh Turner, Your Man
MCA Nashville
No. 27: Josh Turner, “Your Man”
Josh Turner asked country fans if he could be their man in 2006, and the reception from the heartthrob’s legion of loyal ladies was unanimous. The title track of Turner’s sophomore album earned him his first No. 1. It was also writer Chris Stapleton’s first commercial hit, eight years before the mainstream would meet him at the CMA Awards. “Your Man” certainly elevated the career of the devoted husband and father of three, selling one million digital downloads and more than two million copies of the accompanying album — Turner’s first multi-Platinum certification.
No. 26: Trisha Yearwood, Shes in Love With the Boy
MCA Nashville
No. 26: Trisha Yearwood, “She’s in Love With the Boy”
Country love songs don’t need to make you cry or even need to be romantic in the classic roses and red wine kind of way. Trisha Yearwood’s “She’s in Love With the Boy” is a timeless love story about two young lovers defying a father’s edicts and his eventual understanding that he was acting like a cantankerous old man. Who doesn’t see themselves somewhere in this story? We’re the young lovers or the aging parents watching our children stumble through love. Maybe we’re both. Yearwood owns the melody of the John Ims-written chart-topper, a career song for her that still is among the highlights of her concerts today.
No. 25: Keith Urban, Making Memories of Us
Capitol Records Nashville
No. 25: Keith Urban, “Making Memories of Us”
Keith Urban has been romancing country music listeners for a long time, but one song that will always stand out as a fan favorite is his 2005 hit “Making Memories of Us.” It’s his most unrelenting love song and a sure addition to any list of country’s great love songs. The sweet love ballad warms the heart of Urban’s female fanbase, talking about all the romantic and sexy ways he will continue to make memories of their love story, including greeting his lady with a “warm, wet kiss.” The tune was originally recorded by the song’s sole writer, Rodney Crowell, and has been covered by many other acts, including Vince Gill and Tracy Byrd. Urban cut the song for his Be Here album in 2004, and the tune went on to be a five-week No. 1 hit for him a year later.
No. 24: Deana Carter, Strawberry Wine
Capitol Nashville
No. 24: Deana Carter, “Strawberry Wine”
Deana Carter shot to overnight stardom with this plaintive song about lost innocence, which helped propel her debut album Did I Shave My Legs for This? to multi-Platinum status. “Strawberry Wine” — a song Garth Brooks would later call his favorite song of the ’90s — saw No. 1 on the country charts in November of 1996, and earned the CMA Award for Song of the Year in 1997. While bittersweet, it’s an ultimate country expression of young love. Musically, the mid-tempo track provides an effective setting for Carter’s wistful vocal, which perfectly suits the lyric: “Strawberry wine, 17 / The hot July moon saw everything / My first taste of love, so bittersweet and green on the vine / Like strawberry wine.”
No. 23: Randy Travis, Forever and Ever, Amen
Warner Brothers
No. 23: Randy Travis, “Forever and Ever, Amen”
Randy Travis was already well on his way to becoming one of the biggest country stars of his generation when he released “Forever and Ever, Amen” in 1987. Written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz, the song became Travis’ third No. 1 single, cementing his position as one of the leading lights of the New Traditionalist movement. The track is classic country, highlighted by Travis’ exceptionally rich baritone. The song earns its spot in this list of the greatest country love songs with its promise of undying love, “As long as old men sit and talk about the weather / As long as old women sit and talk about old men.” “Amen” won a Grammy for Best Country and Western Song, and an ACM Award for Song of the Year.
No. 22: Shania Twain, From This Moment On
Mercury Nashville
No. 22: Shania Twain, “From This Moment On”
“From This Moment On” was more of a pop and international hit than a country hit for Shania Twain, although it fared well on country charts. The song’s lasting impact is what puts it on this list of the best country love songs of all time. The singer’s slow, sweeping vocals represent everything a tender moment with your spouse should be. The song felt like one built for a first wedding dance or an endless kiss on the beach, and it still does.
No. 21: Brett Young, In Case You Didnt Know
Republic Nashville
No. 21: Brett Young, “In Case You Didn’t Know”
“In case you didn’t know / Baby I’m crazy about you,” Brett Young sings during the chorus of “In Case You Didn’t Know,” his career-defining hit from 2017. The acoustic love song introduced the singer as a pure country vocalist with pop sensibilities. It also opened up his own love story with wife Taylor, with whom he was still on-again, off-again at the time. Young was among the first class of Taste of Country RISERS that year and his acoustic video of the song has reached nearly 50 million fans since it debuted that March.
No. 20: Brad Paisley, Little Moments
Arista Nashville
No. 20: Brad Paisley, “Little Moments”
Mud On the Tires is thought of as Brad Paisley’s best all-around album in part because of this love song. “Little Moments” is similar in messaging to “Beautiful Crazy,” Luke Combs’ addition to this Greatest Country Love Songs list. But Paisley presents his observations in a way that’s much cuter and more endearing. Chris DuBois helped write the hit from 2003, but it was wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley who inspired the lyrics. Few songs make you want to hug someone quite like “Little Moments” does when he plays it live.
No. 19: Charley Pride, Kiss an Angel Good Mornin
RCA Nashville
No. 19: Charley Pride, “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'”
When it comes to some of country music’s most recognized and respected tunes on our Greatest Country Love Songs list, Charley Pride’s “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'” places high. The simple and sweet song finds Pride explaining just why he walks around with a smile on his face … because every day he gets to wake up and “kiss an angel good mornin‘.” The song was released in 1971 and has become one of the most famous tunes of his career. “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'” ended up topping the charts that year, marking his eighth No. 1 song on the country singles chart. It also reached the Top 20 on the pop charts and Top 10 on the Adult Contemporary charts.
No. 18: Alan Jackson, Remember When
Arista Nashville
No. 18: Alan Jackson, “Remember When”
With a successful 40 years of marriage under his belt, Alan Jackson is a consummate crooner, penning some of country music’s most romantic love songs throughout his iconic career. His 2003 ballad “Remember When” is the perfect example of the singer’s exceptional lyrical skills, especially in love. For an aging couple, it’s the quintessential country love song. The track topped the country charts for two weeks and helped his Greatest Hits Volume II collection sell more than six million copies. The accompanying video features Jackson serenading his wife, Denise, with the couple’s personal home footage sprinkled throughout.
No. 17: Chris Stapleton, Millionaire
Mercury Nashville
No. 17: Chris Stapleton, “Millionaire”
When he released the song in 2017, Chris Stapleton’s “Millionaire” instantly resonated with listeners whose love story makes them feel like a million bucks — even if they’re not rolling dough. With lyrics like “I got a woman with eyes that shine / Down deep as a diamond mine / She’s my treasure so very rare / She’s made me a millionaire,” Stapleton describes a love that’s more precious than any sum of money in his song. Fittingly, the singer’s wife Morgane — his backing vocalist in virtually all his recordings, as well as a constant presence on his tours — lends her vocal harmonies to this track.
No. 16: The Judds, Love is Alive
RCA Nashville
No. 16: The Judds, “Love is Alive”
The Judds released plenty of love songs over the course of their career as a duo, but none are quite as simple, pure and hard-hitting as “Love is Alive,” which went to country radio in 1985 and peaked at No. 1. Classic harmonies between mother and daughter Naomi and Wynonna Judd pump up the emotional power of this track, but it’s the words of the song — “Love is alive and at our breakfast table every day of the week / Love is alive and it grows every day and night even in our sleep” — that really drive home the message of the constant, unconditional love that serves as a foundation for a happy home.
No. 15: George Strait, I Cross My Heart
MCA Nashville
No. 15: George Strait, “I Cross My Heart”
George Strait has many songs worthy of inclusion on a list of the best country love songs. “I Cross My Heart” was the one that just couldn’t be ignored. The scene-closer to his Pure Country movie is nearly 30 years old, but it’s one we expect to be hearing for 30 more. The song, like the singer, is timeless. “I cross my heart and promise to / Give all I’ve got to give to make all your dreams come true / In all the world you’ll never find a love as true as mine,” Strait sings on this chart-topper from 1992. “I Cross My Heart” is the perfect wedding song.
No. 14: Don Williams, I Believe in You
MCA Nashville
No. 14: Don Williams, “I Believe in You”
This No. 1 hit for the Gentle Giant of country music is flat out one of the greatest songs in all of country music. Don Williams’ velvet voice and innocent lyrics make this a song to stop and think on. “I believe in love / I believe in old folks / I believe in children / I believe in you,” Williams sings on “I Believe in You” from 1980. He had No. 1 country hits before this one, but this country love song also became an international hit while crossing over to find pop success that year. After a brief retirement in 2006, Williams came back to record And So It Goes in 2012. He died in 2017.
No. 13: Garth Brooks, To Make You Feel My Love
Capitol Nashville
No. 13: Garth Brooks, “To Make You Feel My Love”
Because of the success of Garth Brooks’ version of “To Make You Feel My Love,” it’s often forgotten that Bob Dylan and Billy Joel recorded the song before Brooks made it a huge country hit in 1998. He earned Grammy nominations and watch the song go to No. 1, but what makes this song a legendary love song is its sparse production. It relies on the singer to add a little more to express genuine vulnerability and tenderness. Brooks absolutely nails it in a way that has rarely been duplicated in country music. “I’d go hungry, I’d go blind for you / I’d go crawling down the avenue / There ain’t nothing that I wouldn’t do / To make you feel my love,” Brooks sings. Credit Dylan for the lyric.
No. 12: Dan + Shay, Speechless
Warner Music Nashville
No. 12: Dan + Shay, “Speechless”
Dan + Shay are known as being some of country music’s finest modern-day love balladeers, and it’s easy to see why with songs like “Speechless.” Set to a sultry, soul-tinged groove and spotlighting Shay Mooney’s incomparable vocal prowess, “Speechless” speaks from the perspective of a man who’s still bowled over by his partner’s beauty, even after years together. Both members of the duo know a little something about that: Mooney and his band mate Dan Smyers are both happily married men, and they frequently pull from life to write their love songs.
No. 11: Vince Gill, Look at Us
MCA Nashville
No. 11: Vince Gill, “Look at Us”
“Look at Us” is as timeless as Vince Gill. The Top 5 hit from 1991 tells of a couple married many years, taking a moment to appreciate their legacy. Gill is one of country music’s finest country vocalists, and he has a special talent for love songs. He’s just so patient and gifted enough as a songwriter to tell his story between the lyrics as much as he does with them.
No. 10: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Its Your Love
Curb Records
No. 10: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, “It’s Your Love”
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill became the ultimate contemporary love couple in part because of this duet. “It’s Your Love” was chosen for its many accolades, its astonishing run up the music charts and because of the undeniable passion between McGraw and new wife (at the time) Faith Hill. Their white-hot love radiates through the radio speakers. It’s truly an all-time classic. “It’s your love / It just does somethin’ to me / It sends a shock right through me / I can’t get enough,” the young lovers sing during the song’s climatic moments. The duet picked up four ACM Awards and one CMA Award.
No. 9: Rascal Flatts, Bless the Broken Road
Lyric Street Records
No. 9: Rascal Flatts, “Bless the Broken Road”
“Bless the Broken Road” is a signature song for Rascal Flatts, and one of the finest love songs ever recorded by a country music group. The 2005 multi-week chart-topper is actually a cover, but their version has out-performed the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s original by far. More than two million singles of the song have been sold, and it continues to top wedding playlists years after its debut. “Every long lost dream led me to where you are / Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars / Pointing me on my way into your loving arms,” Gary LeVox sings. The heartfelt, creative lyric spells love song for an entire generation of country music fans.
No. 8: Loretta Lynn, Love is the Foundation
MCA
No. 8: Loretta Lynn, “Love is the Foundation”
Loretta Lynn is best known today for ground-breaking songs with acerbic, true-to-life lyrics about marital strife, addiction, contraception, women’s rights and much more. But she could also sing the heck out of a love song, and this soaring, harmony-soaked hit ballad from 1973 is proof. “And love is the foundation we lean on / All you need is love to ease your mind,” Lynn sings in the chorus.
No. 7: Kenny Rogers, Lady
Liberty Records
No. 7: Kenny Rogers, “Lady”
The power of Lionel Richie’s words mixed with the strength of Kenny Rogers’ voice made for an unlikely, but inspiring, love song. “Lady” is a passionate recording. Rogers starts slow, holding you in eager anticipation of every note and phrase before finishing with a flurry. While the singer has many fine love songs, “Lady” is his best. “Lady, your love’s the only love I need / And beside me is where I want you to be / ‘Cause, my love, there’s somethin’ I want you to know / You’re the love of my life, you’re my lady,” he sings to finish the song.
No. 6: Tracy Byrd, The Keeper of the Stars
MCA Nashville
No. 6: Tracy Byrd, “The Keeper of the Stars”
Tracy Bryd’s most poetic lyric warrants a high spot on a list of country’s greatest love songs because of the way it was uniformly praised upon being released as a single in 1994, and for how it still resonates today. “The Keeper of the Stars” was only a Top 5 hit, but it is one of the more powerful love songs of all time. “Soft moonlight on your face oh how you shine /It takes my breath away / Just to look into your eyes / I know I don’t deserve a treasure like you / There really are no words / To show my gratitude,” Byrd sings on this hit that ties romance to spirituality.
No. 5: Buck Owens, Together Again
Capitol Records
No. 5: Buck Owens, “Together Again”
Steel guitar cries all over Buck Owens’ “Together Again,” representing the pain the singer knew just before this special moment. The hit from 1964 finds him with his lover once again after a breakup. “Together again / The gray skies are gone / You’re back in my arms / Now where you belong,” he sings during a verse. “Together Again” is a standard that shows how simple songwriting is often the best songwriting. A few well-placed words with appropriate musical scenery is always much better than a vocalist spelling the whole story out without an instrumental break. “Nothing else matters, we’re together again,” he sings to close.
No. 4: Thomas Rhett, Die a Happy Man
Valory Music Co.
No. 4: Thomas Rhett, “Die a Happy Man”
Taste of Country’s review of “Die a Happy Man” predicted that “Thomas Rhett may have just released the love song of the year,” and it was hard to argue against that in 2015. In fact, it may be the best country love song of the decade. “Die a Happy Man” is a slow-burning moon-setter that relies on Rhett’s vocals and tender songwriting with sparse production that makes room for all the emotions in between. We knew it was personal — country America’s obsession wit Rhett and wife Lauren Akins was just beginning at the time — so with a mature, but adorable music video the singer had us falling head over heels in love with the song and his love. This chart-topper from Tangled Up won CMA and ACM Awards, but missed out on the Grammy win.
No. 3: Lonestar, Amazed
BNA Nashville
No. 3: Lonestar, “Amazed”
This megahit from Lonestar was one of the few country songs to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100 charts. It was also a multi-week chart-topper in country music, and really became the first song you mention in a conversation of all time greatest Lonestar songs. “Amazed” was one of the contenders for No. 1 on the 50 Greatest Country Love Songs list. The fact that it lands here speaks to the power of the upcoming songs. “I wanna spend the rest of my life / With you by my side / Forever and ever / Every little thing that you do / Baby I’m amazed by you,” lead singer Richie McDonald sings during this hit from 1999. More than two decades later, the song is still chosen as a first dance for newlyweds before more contemporary music.
No. 2: Garth Brooks, If Tomorrow Never Comes
Capitol Records
No. 2: Garth Brooks, “If Tomorrow Never Comes”
Garth Brooks calls this his signature song. “If Tomorrow Never Comes” is a classic love story delivered by one of country music’s most reliable narrators. Find the singer pushing himself to be a better husband as he drifts off to dreamland one night. It’s a slow, sweeping sentiment that’s so full of emotion that it continues to be played in the hearts of fans and on radios and stages today, 30 years after the release on his debut album. The song — Brooks’ first No. 1 hit — is perhaps his most important, but it’s really a gift to any country couple looking for the words to express what’s happening in their hearts.
No. 1: Keith Whitley, When You Say Nothing at All
RCA Nashville
No. 1: Keith Whitley, “When You Say Nothing at All”
Keith Whitley’s career song reached No. 1 just months before he died in 1989. It’s one of the most covered songs, but few have sung “When You Say Nothing at All” with as much grace and tenderness as he did. His voice leaves a warm trail after each phrase, which bring goosebumps to whoever is around. The song’s originality puts it above all others and at No. 1 on the list of the 50 Greatest Country Love Songs. “It’s amazing how you can speak right to my heart / Without saying a word, you can light up the dark / Try as I may I could never explain / What I hear when you don’t say a thing,” Whitley sings before beginning a timeless chorus. One can’t help but wonder how many more beautiful love songs we’d have from Whitley today if his time had not ended too soon.
