Whether you’re looking for a good love song or something to relax to, there’s a country song for pretty much everything. So we decided to seek out the top country song from the year you were born. Because who doesn’t get curious about what life was like when they first entered the world?
We’ve compiled a list of the top country songs every year from 1975 onward using the Billboard charts archive, and referencing Playback.fm country charts as well. Here’s the top country song from the year you were born.
1975: “Rhinestone Cowboy” – Glen Campbell
No matter how old you are, you’ve heard this country hit a time or two.
“Rhinestone Cowboy” – Glen Campbell
1976: "Convoy" - C.W. McCall
This song, "a trucker's protest anthem," held the number one spot for four weeks on Billboard charts.
1977: “Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love)" - Waylon Jennings
This song, described as "an outlaw fantasy," held the number one spot on Billboard's country music charts the longest in 1977.
"Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love)" - Waylon Jennings
1978: "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” - Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson each have had a couple of songs to top country music charts over the years, but in '78 they did so as a duet.
"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" - Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
1979: “If I Said You Have A Beautiful Body" - The Bellamy Brothers
This hit single, titled as a pretty smooth pick-up line, from their fourth album was the top country song of '79.
"If I Said You Have A Beautiful Body" - The Bellamy Brothers
1980: “Lookin' For Love" - Johnny Lee
If you were born in 1980, Johnny Lee's relatable hit, "Lookin' For Love," was the top country song the year you were born. This hit has been deemed the "pinnacle of his career."
"Lookin' For Love" - Johnny Lee
1981: “Feels So Right” - Alabama
Alabama held the number one spot on Billboard country charts in '81 and again in '91.
1982: "Always On My Mind" - Willie Nelson
Country music hall of famer and household name, Willie Nelson shared this hit with the world in '82, and it's still often played today. It's actually playing in the background of a popular ASPCA commercial.
"Always On My Mind" - Willie Nelson
1983: “Islands in the Stream" - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
These household names collaborated to release a country hit that we'll always love.
"Islands in the Stream" - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
1984: "To All The Girls I've Loved Before" - Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
This crossover duet with Spanish artist Julio Iglesias, rose in popularity in the early '80s and was the top country song of '84.
"To All The Girls I've Loved Before" - Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
1985: "Lost In The Fifties Tonight (In The Still)" - Ronnie Milsap
If you were born in 1985, or during the '80s period, you were basically born into the time of Ronnie Milsap hits.
"Lost In The Fifties Tonight (In The Still)" - Ronnie Milsap
1986: "Morning Desire" - Kenny Rogers
This song was on the Billboard charts for 22 weeks in 1986, topped the charts in early January, and has remained a fan favorite of country songs from the '80s.
"Morning Desire" - Kenny Rogers
1987: "Forever And Ever, Amen" - Randy Travis
Randy Travis held the spot for top country song two years in a row.
"Forever And Ever, Amen" - Randy Travis
1988: "I Told You So" - Randy Travis
This iconic ballad was the top country song in 1988, and resurfaced to regain popularity once again as Travis recorded this song as a duet with Carrie Underwood in 2007.
"I Told You So" - Randy Travis
1989: "I'm No Stranger To The Rain" - Keith Whitley
...and we're no stranger to this 1989 chart-topper.
"I'm No Stranger To The Rain" - Keith Whitley
1990: "Love Without End, Amen" - George Strait
George Strait has had countless songs on the Billboard charts over the years, but this one held the top spot in all of country music in 1990.
"Love Without End, Amen" - George Strait
1991: "Down Home" - Alabama
Alabama is a legendary country music group that really dominated the '80s and early '90s.
1992: "Achy Breaky Heart" - Billy Ray Cyrus
Love it or hate it, you definitely know it.
"Achy Breaky Heart" - Billy Ray Cyrus
1993: "Chattahoochee" - Alan Jackson
If you were born in '93, this feel good Alan Jackson hit was the top country song. If you're curious as to exactly what the Chattahoochee is, it's a pretty popular, historic river in North Georgia.
"Chattahoochee" - Alan Jackson
1994: "I Swear" - John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery had the most popular country hit with this love song, giving us major wedding song vibes.
"I Swear" - John Michael Montgomery
1995: "I Like It, I Love It" - Tim McGraw
If you've always wanted to go to a Tim McGraw concert, but never been, watch the music video to this 1995 chart-topper.
"I Like It, I Love It" - Tim McGraw
1996: "My Maria" - Brooks & Dunn
Easily one the most well-known duos of all time, Brooks & Dunn, held the number one spot the longest on country music charts in 1996 with their hit "My Maria."
1997: "It's Your Love" - Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
I think we all want to find that someone we can sing this song to (and with).
"It's Your Love" - Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
1998: "Just To See You Smile" - Tim McGraw
This will forever and always be a song we love.
"Just To See You Smile" - Tim McGraw
1999: "Amazed" - Lonestar
We're going to guess that this ballad was a karaoke anthem back in '99.
2000: "I Hope You Dance" - Lee Ann Womack
If this song doesn't bring a tear to your eye, you're lying.
"I Hope You Dance" - Lee Ann Womack
2001: "I'm Already There" - Lonestar
This song hits you right in the feels, every single time.
"I'm Already There" - Lonestar
2002: "The Good Stuff" - Kenny Chesney
This hit from Chesney's multi-platinum album "No Shoes No Shirt No Problems," held the top spot on country music charts for seven weeks, and is a song that has some true, real life experiences wrapped into it.
"The Good Stuff" - Kenny Chesney
2003: "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" - Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
This song describes that Friday afternoon, almost the weekend, time for a drink feeling "to a T."
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" - Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
2004: "Live Like You Were Dying" - Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw held the number one spot for top country song in 2004 with this inspiring song.
"Live Like You Were Dying" - Tim McGraw
2005: "As Good As I Once Was" - Toby Keith
Toby Keith's music tells a story. This story, told with comedic flair, held the top spot in country music the longest in 2005.
"As Good As I Once Was" - Toby Keith
2006: "Jesus, Take The Wheel" - Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood won "American Idol" in 2005, and held the spot for top country song the following year.
"Jesus, Take The Wheel" - Carrie Underwood
2007: "Never Wanted Nothing More" - Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney has never had a song that wasn't a hit, but this one in particular topped the charts in 2007.
"Never Wanted Nothing More" - Kenny Chesney
2008: "Letter To Me" - Brad Paisley
This song is all about the things that he wishes he could tell his younger self, something we all could probably write to our younger selves, we may just not be able to sing it as well as Brad Paisley does.
2009: "Need You Now" - Lady Antebellum
Often times country music hits you right in the feels, and this Lady Antebellum hit did so back in 2009.
"Need You Now" - Lady Antebellum
2010: "Why Don't We Just Dance" - Josh Turner
Josh Turner's hit just makes you want to dance, or makes you wonder why you're not doing so.
"Why Don't We Just Dance" - Josh Turner
2011: "Honey Bee" - Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton got it right with this cute love song.
2012: "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift's break up anthem held the number one spot on Billboard charts the longest of all country songs in 2012.
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Taylor Swift
2013: "Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line
Florida Georgia Line had the top country song again in 2013 with this summertime anthem.
"Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line
2014: "Burnin' It Down" - Jason Aldean
What's not to love about Jason Aldean's music? This song was one of many hit singles that came off of his sixthth album, "Old Boots New Dirt."
"Burnin' It Down" - Jason Aldean
2015: "Girl Crush" - Little Big Town
Little Big Town had several hits on their 2014 album "Pain Killer," but this hit is the one that really rose in popularity and topped the charts in the following year, 2015.
"Girl Crush" - Little Big Town
2016: "H.O.L.Y." - Florida Georgia Line
This Florida Georgia Line hit held the top spot on Billboard's country music chart for 15 weeks.
"H.O.L.Y." - Florida Georgia Line
2017: "Body Like A Back Road" - Sam Hunt
You couldn't be in the car for 10 minutes or more without hearing this song on the radio throughout all of 2017.
"Body Like A Back Road" - Sam Hunt
2018: "Meant To Be" - Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line
Florida Georgia Line has really nailed the crossover hits, collaborating with artists like Bebe Rexha, Nelly, and The Chainsmokers.
"Meant To Be" - Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line
