New York. By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! Download on Amazon. Known in the last decades of his life as the greatest living country music singer, Jones had no shortage of chart-toppers during his musical career. Jackson reportedly felt conflicted about profiting from the tragedy but wrote the song in an attempt to process his associated emotions—and survivors and listeners thanked him for doing so. Despite its inherently somber topic, this feel-good, hip-swaying tune finds McGraw waxing poetic over the ability to truly live life to the fullest.

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Dolly Parton — "Jolene"
What makes a great country song? It has to have a melody that just makes you want to sing along and lyrics that mean something. Parton wrote and recorded it in as a farewell to her former partner and mentor, Porter Wagoner, before she embarked on a solo career. In , Parton serenaded Wagoner with the song on stage at the Grand Ole Opry, to help celebrate his 50th anniversary as an Opry member.
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Born from blues and folk, the country music genre has generated countless hits over the past several decades. From sad songs about mourning and loss, to funny country songs sure to make you laugh; from classic country beach tunes to romantic ballads, there's something for everyone when it comes to country music. But these 70 iconic country jams, from old Hank Williams and Patsy Cline tracks to more modern melodies with staying power Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" will never get old , top our list of the best country songs of all time. Whether you're driving down an old dirt road, headed to a Southern wedding, going on a summer road trip, singing karaoke, or celebrating Christmas , there's a classic country song for every occasion. Country Life. Design Ideas.
How do you make a sprawling list of tunes seem criminally short? As we considered a century's worth of story-driven songcraft, we did our darndest to make sure all of the greats were recognized. One song from Cash. One song from Garth. And, yes, as tough as it can be, only one song from Dolly. Agree or disagree? CDT Tuesday, Aug.