My 20 Favorite No. 1 Country Hits of the 2000s
As a companion piece to a recent story about a dozen of my favorite country albums of the decade, I came up with this playlist representing my top tunes of the 2000s. To narrow it down to just 20 selections, I enlisted two requirements: That the song climbed to No. 1 on Billboard's country airplay chart and that I still enjoy hearing it whenever it comes on. I have personal stories tied to pretty much all of these tracks, and I bet they will trigger a lot of memories for you, too.
"I Hope You Dance," Lee Ann Womack
"Angry All the Time," Tim McGraw
"Somebody Like You," Keith Urban
"She'll Leave You With a Smile," George Strait
"Travelin' Soldier," Dixie Chicks
"Red Dirt Road," Brooks & Dunn
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
"I Love This Bar," Toby Keith
"Somebody," Reba McEntire
"Suds in the Bucket," Sara Evans
"Anything but Mine," Kenny Chesney
"My Give a Damn's Busted," Jo Dee Messina
"Come a Little Closer," Dierks Bentley
"Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off," Joe Nichols
"Your Man," Josh Turner
"Wasted," Carrie Underwood
"Ticks," Brad Paisley
"Do You Believe Me Now," Jimmy Wayne
"Already Gone," Sugarland
"People Are Crazy," Billy Currington
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
trink says:
Some awesome chocies there Craig some of my favorites for sure.
Redmaz says:
Very dissapointed in your requirements…
Merry Christmas says:
i agree with trink. If I used redmaz’s termenology, my favorite country-pop songs on the list would be Travelin’ Soldier(in it’s own class for me), Somebody, I Hope You Dance, She’ll leave you with a smile, and even Wasted(I am not the biggest Carrie fan)
Redmaz says:
My terminology? Thanks for the credit, but a quick music history lesson would prove I didn’t make up the term. I just happen to believe in basic music fundamentals and genre description. As far as “Travelin’ Soldier” it was recognized in the Roots music scene long before the Chicks covered it. The song writer, and Texas music legend Bruce Robison had the original version on his 1999 CD “Long Way Home from Anywhere”, and I personally don’t believe that just because a song hits #1 on the Billboard charts makes it better than where it originally came from.
wanda says:
hi red i told my sister you thought she was intelligent and now her head won’t fit through the door
Michelle R. says:
My favorite is definitely the Keith Urban hit, “Somebody Like You.” I love all of Keith’s songs, but that one still remains one of my favorites!
Peacock Queen says:
ANY song by George Strait tops my list!!!!
Linda says:
I like the way you narrowed down your choices to just #1s. I love “Wasted” by Carrie Underwood.
Lioness says:
Craig, I like your list all except that stupid TICKS song! I will never in a million years figure out Brad Paisley’s greatness. The only song I ever liked of his was Whiskey Lullaby but that was only because Allison Krauss’s beautiful voice made that song. Same with Dolly on his When I Get Where I’m Going. I’ve just never thought Brad has much passion in his singing and he doesn’t sing that well.
Pam says:
Still can’t listen to I Hope You Dance, they played the heck out of that song when it first came out and I’m still tired of it.
LOVE Somebody Like YOu, still my fave KU song.
I happen to like Ty Englands version of Travelin Solider better than the Dixie Chicks version.
5 O’Clock somewhere always grated on my nerves, especially that talking bit at the end UGH LOL
Would rather here I LOVE NASCAR by Cledus LOL
COme A Little Closer, Tequila Makes Her CLothes Fall Off, YOur Man and People are Crazy still get turned way up when they come on. :)
Total Country says:
Love most on there, two -three favorites, Wasted, Already Gone, People are crazy-3 top listed
matt says:
Redmaz you kill me.
Redmaz says:
Really? If that’s a question, the answer is no. I won’t.
Carrie says:
Suds In The Bucket….Love it!! Of course I love any Sara Evans song!
BonaguroBitesTheBigOne says:
I like anything by Craig Morgan. Has he had any number ones. Cuz if he had they are my favorites.
i like the fact that Craig brings sophistication, class, and with to Country.
Also, I like “I Hope You Dance” for its comic appeal and Suds in the Bucket cuz its about horndog teenagers.