The Top 20 Selling Country Songs of All-Time

There is no secret that country music is one of the most popular genres of all time. For those that think country is dead and that its best days are behind it, one needs to look at reality. Country music is still selling albums by the millions.

In fact, some of the most popular country music songs of yesteryear still remain wildly popular today. With that in mind, take a look at the following list of of the top 20 selling country songs of all-time, ending with number one.

So, that is quite the list. Which of these songs brings back some memories? Which songs do you own, and which would you like to listen to perhaps for the first time? Break out that old record player and relive your earlier years.

20. Love Story – Taylor Swift

Yes, we know. Taylor Swift seems to go back and forth between the pop and country music genres, but this song definitely fits in the latter category.

The story itself is based on a strange and possibly incorrect interpretation of the classic Romeo and Juliet, but her legions of fans have fallen in love with it. It was written in 2008, on what was her second country music album. 

19. Whiskey Lullaby – Brad Paisley

This is a song that Brad Paisley actually recorded together with Alison Krauss as a duet. It is a song filled with heartbreak and a redemption story all rolled into one.

The conclusion to the song is rather sad, making it ideal for many country music songs. It was an instant hit and has twice been certified Platinum by the RIAA. This is the fourth time that Brad Paisley would hit that milestone, definitely making this one of the top 20 selling country songs of all time.

18. You’ll Never Know – Mindy McCready

Kim Richey and Angelo Petraglia, hailing from Ohio, originally wrote this song back in 1995. It is the story of a tragedy that took place in the life of one woman that has lead to a lifetime of heartbreak. Mindy McCready would adapt the song in 1997 and add her own music license to it. The result is astounding, and fans instantly fell in love with it. 

17. Somebody Like You – Keith Urban

Very few country music fans have never heard of this classic. It was the first hit ever produced by Cash and it was on the Billboard chart as the top song for 43 straight weeks. The song was written by Cash to pledge his love and commitment to his new wife at the time, Vivian Liberto. The song itself was written in the course of one night, all while he was backstage after a show.

16. Devil Went Down to Georgia – Charlie Daniels Band

It should come as no surprise that a song by Garth Brooks is one of the best selling country songs of all time. This one was produced very early in his career and was actually handed to him at the time by Dewayne Blackwell and Earl Bud Lee.

One has to wonder how they feel about that now. Brooks was relatively unknown at the time, but this song would quickly catapult to the number one spot. The rest, as they say, is history. 

15. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain – Willie Nelson

Many regard him as the best country music singer ever, particularly during the last years of his life. He had many songs that rose to the top of the charts, but this one really set him apart from the competition. It was the cover track from his 1999 album and is still widely regarded by his legions of fans as the best he has ever produced.

14. Follow Your Arrow – Kacy Musgraves

Most country music songs are written to tell a story, and this one is certainly no exception. Listening to the lyrics will bring tears to even the hardest of hearts. It recounts the world of abuse that a young girl was forced to endure. The song was written in 2002 and was an immediate hit.

13. Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood

This is a song that was written after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Anyone who lived through this likely remembers exactly where they were when they heard what was happening. This was his way of trying to get through the emotions that everyone was feeling. While he was a bit convicted about making money from a song of this nature, he nonetheless felt it important to get it out there to help people to heal. 

12. Breathe – Faith Hill

Faith Hill is another country music star that has also had success in the pop genre. Breathe, however, is all country. It went straight to the top of the charts when it first came out in 1999. This was the seventh time that Faith Hill would produce a chart topping song, and this is the one that would sell her the most. It is a song that speaks to love and romance, and it stayed near the top for more than a year.

11. Walkin After Midnight – Patsy Cline

This is a true classic. Strangely enough, Cline herself did not actually like it much when it was first produced. Her fans are glad that she carried through with it. The song was written by Alan Black and Donn Hecht, and it would go on to be her first number one hit back in 1956. 

10. Fancy – Reba McEntire

This song actually forced the cover for Bobbie Gentry’s 1969 album and music video. It conveys the story of Fancy Rae Baker and how she quite literally went from rags to riches. It is the type of story that people still like to hear, and it has been an inspiration to countless country music fans over the years. 

9. Take Me Home Country Roads – John Denver

The only surprise about this song being on the list is that it is not ranked higher. Still, being number nine all time is nothing to sneeze about. John Denver wrote this song back in 1971 and it may just be one of the most universally well know songs every played. It quickly rose to the top of the Billboard charts, and it is still the song the put John Denver on the map, even though he was taken from this world far too soon. 

8. I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack

This is a song that was actually co-written by Mark Sanders and Tia Sillers. It has an emotional tilt to it, and it is most popular as a song that is played at countless weddings across the country each year as the father-daughter dance. It was written in 2000 and Womack would take home a grammy as a result of it. 

7. Jolene – Dolly Parton

Here is a song by Dolly Parton that needs no introduction. It is amazing to consider that she is still going strong after all these years, as Jolene dates all the way back to 1973. This is the song that is also most played to this day. It was actually the second time that her music would top the charts, but it sold more than any others. She has sense revealed that Jolene is a combination of a bank teller and a fan that she once met at a show. Funny how that works. 

6. Live Like You Were Dying – Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw makes the list, and his fans will not be surprised that it is with this song. It is a feel good song the encourages everyone listening to find the good in life and to live each day like it were the last. It is the type of feel good song that people just want to buy and listen to over and over again. 

5. Where Were You – Alan Jackson

This is a song that was written after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Anyone who lived through this likely remembers exactly where they were when they heard what was happening. This was his way of trying to get through the emotions that everyone was feeling. While he was a bit convicted about making money from a song of this nature, he nonetheless felt it important to get it out there to help people to heal. It certainly did that. 

4. Concrete Angel – Martina McBride

Most country music songs are written to tell a story, and this one is certainly no exception. Listening to the lyrics will bring tears to even the hardest of hearts. It recounts the world of abuse that a young girl was forced to endure. The song was written in 2002 and was an immediate hit. It brought her even more fans.

3. Choices – George Jones

Many regard him as the best country music singer ever, particularly during the last years of his life. He had many songs that rose to the top of the charts, but this one really set him apart from the competition. It was the cover track from his 1999 album and is still widely regarded by his legions of fans as the best he has ever produced. .

2. Friends in Low Place – Garth Brooks

It should come as no surprise that a song by Garth Brooks is one of the best selling country songs of all time. This one was produced very early in his career and was actually handed to him at the time by Dewayne Blackwell and Earl Bud Lee. One has to wonder how they feel about that now. Brooks was relatively unknown at the time, but this song would quickly catapult to the number one spot. The rest, as they say, is history. 

1. I Walk the line – Johnny Cash

Very few country music fans have never heard of this classic. It was the first hit ever produced by Cash and it was on the Billboard chart as the top song for 43 straight weeks. The song was written by Cash to pledge his love and commitment to his new wife at the time, Vivian Liberto. The song itself was written in the course of one night, all while he was backstage after a show.

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