Year in review: Top country songs of 2018

Artist: Mitchell Tenpenny

Tenpenny’s single "Drunk Me” was his first to hit the Billboard charts. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Tenpenny will release his album "Telling All My Secrets" on Dec. 14.

Artist: LANCO

LANCO, short for Lancaster and Company and fronted by Brandon Lancaster, was founded in 2015. This upbeat tune is the band’s third single, and comes from their album "Hallelujah Nights," released this past January.

Artist: Walker Hayes

"You Broke Up With Me” put Hayes back on the map after his first album was shelved, prompting the musician to take a graveyard shift at Costco. Hayes says the song is about his relationship with Nashville.

Artist: Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton’s "I’ll Name the Dogs” offers a glimpse into the singer's affinity for canine companionship: "You name the babies and I’ll name the dogs.” The song hit #5 on the Billboard charts.

Artist: Sam Hunt

This song was nominated for two Grammy Awards, but is not without controversy: Hunt and his team of writers have been accused of putting in too little effort to produce it. 

Artist: Keith Urban Featuring Julia Michaels

Keith Urban’s single "Coming Home” was inspired by his love for fellow country singer Merle Haggard’s music. "Hearing that rolling Haggard guitar lick sparked memories of my childhood—and my dream to come to America,” Urban says.

Artist: Maren Morris

Maren Morris’ debut album, "Hero," produced three top 10 singles, including "Rich.” The lyrics describe what the artist would do if she had money. Spoiler alert: it's buying yachts and wearing Prada.

Artist: Jimmie Allen

Allen is currently touring with Scotty McCreery on the singer's "Seasons Change" tour, and released his debut album, "Mercury Lane," earlier this year. "It took about 10 years to get my first record deal,” the singer recalls. 

Artist: Morgan Evans

Australian singer-songwriter Morgan Evans is often assumed to have written "Kiss Somebody” about wife Kelsea Ballerini. He claims, however, to have written it to cheer up a friend he used to stay with in Nashville. For those wondering, his first song about his wife was "Dance with Me.”

Artist: LANCO

This wistful ballad by LANCO is also from the band's January 2018 album, "Hallelujah Nights." It was the group’s first #1 country hit.

Artist: Darius Rucker

This is the second #1 single from Rucker’s 2017 album, "When Was the Last Time." "For the First Time” showcases the voice fans first got to know in Hootie and the Blowfish, and follows the success of "If I Told You.”

Artist: Carrie Underwood

Country music powerhouse Carrie Underwood sings about vulnerability and surrender in the title track from her September 2018 album. 

Artist: David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney

Featured on his album "No Zip Code," David Lee Murphy’s #1 single featuring Kenny Chesney has hit the airwaves hard. Murphy says a highlight of his recent tour has been hearing 60,000 people singing this song, which gives him "goosebumps." 

Artist: Kane Brown, featuring Lauren Alaina        

Kane Brown featured this song on his self-titled debut album. The lyrics refer to all the doubts and hopes you have at the beginning of a new relationship.

Artist: Old Dominion

"Written in the Sand” refers to the doubts in a budding relationship. Old Dominion refers to texting bubbles and last calls, as well as things being written "in the stars" versus in the sand.

Artist: Sugarland Featuring Taylor Swift

Country duo Sugarland recorded their hit single "Babe" with pop-country crossover star Taylor Swift. Swift wrote the final cut of the song—it’s the only song on "Bigger" that Sugarland didn’t write.

Artist: Brett Eldredge

A sweet, simple ode to love, Brett Eldredge’s "The Long Way” comes from his self-titled album. The music video generated rumors that he was dating its leading lady, but Eldredge says actress Sadie Robertson is "just a good friend.”

Artist: Chris Young

"Hangin’ On” is from Young’s 2017 album, "Losing Sleep." After weeks at the #2 spot on Billboard’s charts, the single finally reached #1 in early November 2018.

Artist: Dan + Shay

Dan + Shay’s single "Speechless” is from their self-titled third studio album and was inspired by their wives. In fact, the music video includes their reactions to seeing their wives for the first time on each of their wedding days, both in 2017.

Artist: Russell Dickerson

Russell Dickerson’s song "Yours” went platinum, setting a record for the longest for a debut song by a solo male artist has taken to reach the top of the country charts. Dickerson recalls seeing his face on a billboard in Times Square, calling the memorable moment "surreal.”

Artist: Russell Dickerson

The follow-up single to "Yours,” "Blue Tacoma” tells the story of a West Coast trip Dickerson and his wife took, continuing the story. Events described in the song—like the couple singing Shania Twain’s "Still the One”—really happened on the trip.

Artist: Devin Dawson

"All On Me” is from Devin Dawson’s debut album, "Dark Horse," which was released in January 2018. The sentimental, upbeat song put Dawson on the map as a country singer.

Artist: Dierks Bentley

This song of devotion Bentley wrote with his wife Cassidy in mind was his 17th career #1 hit. Bentley calls it one of his "more personal songs.”

Artist: Blake Shelton

This nostalgic song was intended to bring simple music back to country radio. "I Lived It" alludes to Shelton’s lifelong musical influences, like Earl Thomas Conley and John Conlee.

Artist: Luke Combs

"Beautiful Crazy,” from his debut release LP "This One’s for You," was released as a bonus track nearly a year later. The affectionate song includes the lyrics "her crazy’s beautiful to me.”

Artist: Thomas Rhett

Rhett’s song about the nature of life comes from his record of the same name, his third studio album. The album went platinum, and Rhett re-released a deluxe version on its one-year anniversary

Artist: Jake Owen

"I Was Jack (You Were Diane)” puts a country twist on the classic tune, with echoes of John Mellencamp’s famous words. In fact, Owen went directly to Mellencamp to ask for the artist’s blessing in recording this nostalgia-fueled song.

Artist: Luke Combs

Like many country songs, this tune is about heartbreak. Combs seems to have bounced back just fine, though—this song is off his latest hugely successful album, and he's recently been on tour with Jason Aldean.

Artist: Scotty McCreery

This single from "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery pays homage to his late grandfather. The song is from his latest album, "Seasons Change," which was released in March 2018 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts.

Artist: Kane Brown

Kane Brown’s first single, "Lose It,” on his second album, "Experiment," was released in June 2018. It was one of 11 songs on the album Brown co-wrote.

Artist: Old Dominion

Old Dominion scored its sixth #1 hit with the catchy "Hotel Key” from "Happy Endings," the third single from their sophomore album.

Artist: Jordan Davis

Davis, who recently embarked on his "White Wine and Whiskey" tour, debuted "Singles You Up” in January 2018. The song is about what might happen if a girl the narrator is pining after suddenly becomes single.

Artist: Chris Janson

Chris Janson encourages male listeners to be morally sound in this wholesome song about respect between the genders, especially given the impacts of the #Metoo movement.

Artist: Dylan Scott

Dylan Scott, who is currently at work on his sophomore album, had his second top five single with "Hooked.” Scott has been known to take time off from his busy career around the holidays.

Artist: Luke Bryan

This song about young summer love by country favorite Luke Bryan hit the charts instantaneously. It's the artist’s 20th #1 country hit, and his 13th consecutive one.

Artist: Chris Stapleton

Stapleton debuted this song at Nashville's famed Ryman Auditorium in February 2017, sharing with the audience that the song is about "people who have passed away before their time.”

Artist: Cole Swindell

This wistful song about lost love is Swindell at his most vulnerable. "Even if I knew you’d be the one that got away/I’d still go back and be with you,” Swindell croons.

Artist: Jason Aldean, featuring Miranda Lambert

Like many country songs, this one features booze. In this case, "the thing that really gets me/is how your memory drowns the whiskey.” Aldean, who collaborated on this song with Miranda Lambert, has lived in Nashville for more than 20 years and had a long climb to the top.

Artist: Chris Lane Featuring Tori Kelly

Chris Lane and Tori Kelly sing about the girl you take home to meet your parents in this chart-topper. The song is the debut single from Lane's album "Laps Around the Sun."

Artist: Luke Bryan

Luke Bryan played this life-affirming song throughout 2018 on his "What Makes You Country" tour. "I believe most Friday nights look better under neon or stadium lights,” Bryan sings.

Artist: Morgan Wallen, featuring Florida Georgia Line

25-year-old Morgan Wallen earned his first #1 single this year with "Up Down.” Wallen joined Luke Bryan for a number of dates on the superstar singer's "What Makes You Country" tour.

Artist: Brett Young

Young’s third single, "Mercy,” from his eponymous debut album, features a brooding piano intro. It soulfully describes the messy end of a doomed romance.

Artist: Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney had been signed to BNA and Columbia Records for more than 20 years before releasing "Get Along,” his first new track with Warner Music Nashville. 

Artist: Florida Georgia Line

This song about the simple pleasures of love is just that: uncomplicated. "It’s like one, two, three, just as easy as can be, just the way you look at me, you make me smile.”

Artist: Luke Combs

The third single, "One Number Away,” from Luke Combs’ debut album, This One’s for You, is about holding back from calling your new flame. "In my brain, dial it up, everything I want to say/but I’m still one number away,” Combs sings.

Artist: Thomas Rhett

This sweet song about a former lover's upcoming wedding has echoes of "Speak Now.” "She wanna get married/but she don’t wanna marry me,” Rhett croons.

Artist: Jason Aldean

This single from Jason Aldean’s eighth album, "Rearview Town," was released in January 2018. The song, was originally written for another artist by Morgan Wallen and Jordan Schmidt, as well as Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line.

Artist: Dan + Shay

The music video for this song by country superstars Dan + Shay broke a number of barriers. "Tequila" features deaf actor, model, and former "Dancing With The Stars" contestant Nyle DiMarco meeting a beautiful woman in the wilderness, and falling in love while teaching her American Sign Language. 

Artist: Kane Brown

Brown’s #1 hit from his self-titled debut, "Heaven” sees the artist reflecting on his career, wondering whether heaven could possibly be better than a happy life.

Artist: Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line

As of Dec. 7, this collaboration is Grammy Award-nominated. "Meant To Be" stayed at the top of the Hot Country charts for 50 weeks, breaking all previous records. There's been minor controversy over its nomination in the Country category as opposed to Pop, but this catchy tune is no worse for the wear. Tune in to the Grammy Awards on Feb. 10, 2019 to see if "Meant To Be" wins big.