my faves are: johnny cash - ring of fire, a boy named sue, folsom prison blues (live version), i walk the line. roger miller - king of the road, little green apples, dang me, atta boy girl. buck owens - act naturally. patsy cline - crazy. jimmy dean - big bad john. tennessee ernie ford - sixteen tons. don gibson - oh, lonesome me. glen campbell - rhinestone cowboy, wichita lineman. charley pride - is anybody goin' to san antone? tanya tucker - delta dawn, what's your mama's name child? bobby bare - green green grass of home. david allan coe - you never even called me by my name, if this is just a game. marty robbins - el paso, big iron. tammy wynette - stand by your man.
ok they are technically folk rock but country-adjacent in my mind!
i spent a lot of my childhood in various Yeehaw states and small towns in the US so here are some more classics i heard a bit growing up, and a few newer likes 🤠 (some are a little folk-leaning):
anything johnny cash!!!
dolly parton (duh) - 9 to 5, jolene
kacey musgraves - good ol‘ boys club, butterflies
hank williams jr - outlaw woman, family traditions
brandi carlile - raise hell
emory quinn - downtown san antone
kenny chesney - no shoes no shirt no problem
the chicks - there’s your trouble, ready to run
willie nelson - mamas don’t let your sons grow up to be cowboys, cowboys are secretly fond of other cowboys
taylor swift (sorry) - picture to burn, our song
woody guthrie - tear the fascists down !!
runaway june - buy my own drinks
maren morris - my church, circles around this town
shania twain - man i feel like a woman!, you’re still the one
darius rucker - wagon wheel
the highwomen - if she ever leaves me
john prine - your flag decal won’t get you into heaven
orville peck - dead of night, cmon baby cry
george strait - all my ex’s live in texas
