Artist - Brittney Spencer 2

Graphic - New for 2022 NO BORDER

Holler's pick of 10 artists that will take 2022 by storm

Holler's New for 2022: 10 Artists to Watch 

Holler

Artist - Loretta Lynn

Inspired by the success of Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn parlayed her sizeable talent and natural charm into one of the most successful country careers of all time. We look back at 15 of her best songs. 

Will

Artist - Keith Urban 1 

More than 30 years into his career, Keith Urban is part of an elite group of country stars. With 21 career No. 1s on country radio, the veteran singer/songwriter is among the ranks of some of the genre’s greats. Holler picks 15 of his best songs.

Taylor

Artist - Kelsea Ballerini 1

Revisiting her songbook so far, we handpick Ballerini's best songs, from hit singles to essential deep cuts.

Jason 

Artist - John Denver 1 

John Denver is all too often written off as a pop-country lightweight. Holler takes a look back at his musical highs, finding an artist who flew his own path through country.

Artist - Glen Campbell & Tanya Tucker

Run, Jof, Run! Holler's Head of Music Baylen Leonard sends our roving reporter Jof Owen out jogging to test out the best country running songs

Artist - Kenny Chesney 1

Whether he's having 'Beers In Mexico' or wandering down 'El Cerrito Place', the mesmerizing journey through the world Kenny Chesney creates in his songs is always worth the trip. We looked back at some of his best. 

Lorie

Artist - Willie Nelson 2

So many of Nelson’s tunes can now be considered standards. Still going strong at 88 years of age, it’s hard to pick 20 songs from his legendary cannon, but here’s our shot at it. 

Deborah 

Artist - Luke Bryan 2

Bryan’s down south twang and endearing personality have charmed both his listeners and contemporaries in equal measure. Now, we're delving into his spectacular catalogue to rank our favourite songs from the man himself.

Holly

Taylor Swift Sad

Holler picks out 15 of country music’s best break up songs

Mark

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Holler picks out 10 of country music’s soppiest love songs

Line Dancing Image

Graphic - The Best Country Line Dance Songs

Grab your dancin’ boots, gather a few friends and prepare for a hoedown, because Holler has compiled a list of 15 of our favorite country songs to line dance to.

Madeleine

Artist - Dolly Parton 2

Dolly Parton is more than just a cultural icon; she’s a fairy godmother to us all. Holler spent a long weekend listening to her vast collection of songs and picked out 20 of our favourites.

Dolly Christmas homepage

Artist - Christmas Dolly Parton

While tucking into our mince pie ice cream and taste-testing the best Irish creams, we made this list of the best country Christmas Songs ever! Happy Holler-days!

Holler's Ultimate Country Christmas Gift Guide 

Country Gift Guide Twitter / homepage size 

From Midland's tequila to a precious Dolly mug, these are the country music gifts you need to buy this Christmas.

The Ultimate Country Christmas Gift Guide

Artist - Brandi Carlile 5

Singer, songwriter, speaker, producer, artist, activist, author - Brandi Carlile is a force of nature. Bob Harris selects her Top 10 songs for this definitive list. 

Artist - John Prine 1 

John Prine told the truth as he saw it with tender wisdom; combining honesty, compassion, empathy and homespun humour. Bob Harris puts together his own list of favourite John Prine songs from his incredible body of his work.

ROTY homepage

Graphic - Records of the Year 2021

The top 20 country, Americana and roots records from 2021, as voted for by Holler staff and contributors. 

Artist - Luke Combs 1 

Combs’ signature style has been used to build a discography that can already be described as no less than legendary. We take a dive through to pick out his premium songs so far.

Artist - Emmylou Harris

From first falling in love with Gram Parson's left-field artistry to recording with Linda and Dolly, here we look back at 20 of Emmylou Harris' greatest songs. 

Helen M

Artist - Tim McGraw

In his 30-year career, Tim McGraw has sold more than 50 million records worldwide, while taking 10 of his albums and 43 of his singles all the way to #1. Holler took a round trip back to pick out the very best of them.

Graphic - Thanksgiving Cover Square

The Holler team trial country stars' favourite Thanksgiving recipes, courtesy of in-house chef and resident American, Baylen Leonard. 

Artist - The Rolling Stones 1

Country has been a recurring marker on the Stones' musical map of American influences - here, we take a look back at 14 occasions where the band went south, and west, and came back with an authentic twang of their own.

A Guide To: The Rolling Stones' Country Songs

Paul

Album - Taylor Swift - Red (Taylor's Version)

It'd be difficult to narrow down a list of top songs for a lot of artists, but with Taylor Swift, it’s damn near impossible. If you picked 10 Swifties off the street and asked them for their favourite song, you’d get different answers from all of them. Nevertheless, we’re giving it a crack. 

Artist - Miranda Lambert 2

Revelling in all the heartbreak and happiness that a well-lived life throws at you, Lambert set the bar for a whole new generation of country singers.

CMA Moments - Charlie Rich

Awards ceremonies are notoriously juicy affairs. We take a look back at 10 of the most unforgettable CMA Awards moments. 

Graphic - The Best 90s Country Songs homepage

Thumbnail - That Don't Impress Me Much

Thumbnail - George Strait - If I Know Me

Thumbnail - Lorrie Morgan - Something in Red

Thumbnail - Steve Earle - Telephone Road

Thumbnail - Clay Walker - If I Could Make a Living

Thumbnail - Pam Tillis - Maybe it was Memphis

Thumbnail - Clint Black - Summers Comin'

Thumbnail - Wynonna Judd - Change the World

Thumbnail - Tracy Lawrence - If The World Had A Front Porch

Thumbnail - Jo Dee Messina - I'm Alright

Thumbnail - Son Volt - Back into Your World

Thumbnail - Patty Loveless - I Try To Think About Elvis

Thumbnail - Dolly Parton - Dolly Parton Norah Jones - The Grass Is Blue @ The CMAs

Thumbanil - Marty Stuart - Tempted

Thumbnail -Dwight Yoakam - Fast As You

Thumbnail - The Chicks - Cowboy Take Me Away

Thumbnail - Randy Travis - Heart of Hearts

Thumbnail - Reba McEntire - Does He Love You ft. Linda Davis

Thumbnail - Alison Krauss and Union Station - Baby, now that I've found you

Thumbnail - Diamond Rio - Meet In The Middle

Holler's run down of the top 50 tunes of the 90s, as selected by our crack team of contributors, staff, and friends. Let's go girls! 

Artist - Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley was born to entertain. To celebrate his 49th birthday, we’ve taken a look at some of the best songs that he’s released over the years.

Graphic - Halloween

Get the apples bobbing, stick a bowl of candy by the door and sit back to enjoy some of country music’s spookiest moments with Holler’s guide to the best Halloween Country songs.

Artist - Elton John 1

Elton's most specific sorties into country have usually been tucked away on albums or B-sides, but it's an inspiration that has reared up repeatedly in his 50-year-plus recording career. So, take a stroll with us through Elton Country.

Artist - Alan Jackson 1

For a little over 30 years, Alan Jackson has kept it country with a down-home honesty, humour, integrity, unpretentiousness and personal warmth that’s made country music fans all over the world connect with his earthy baritone.

Artist - Rosanne Cash

Bob Harris delves into the catalogue of his old friend Rosanne Cash to share his favourite songs of hers for Holler.

Live - Allison Russell 2 homepage

Live - Allison Russell 1

One of the real joys AmericanaFest has to offer is not only the opportunity to enjoy more familiar fare, but also to discover new up-and-coming performers who are showcasing their music for the first time.

A Guide To: The 10 Best Emerging Acts From AmericanaFest 2021.

Artist- Johnny Cash 2

Johnny Cash was one of those rarest of things: an artist who managed to crossover into all walks of life, somehow meaning something to almost everyone. It's something even rarer still for a country singer.

Artist - Faith Hill 1

To celebrate her birthday this week, we look back through some of Faith Hill's greatest hits to define the ultimate list of her best songs.

Artist - Hank Williams 1

Bob Harris delves into the catalogue of the first bonafide superstar of country music to determine the definitive ranking of his best songs. 

Artist - Sturgill Simpson 1

Let that fluttery festival feeling build and look over the 10 artists we’re most excited to see when MerleFest returns to North Carolina on September 16th 2021.

A Guide To: 10 Artists to See at MerleFest

Amanda

Artist - Kacey Musgraves 6

, we're considering Musgraves’ impactful songwriting, further examining what lies within the golden tier of her work.

Artist - Ray Charles 1

To celebrate his induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame and forthcoming 

 collection, we looked back at 10 examples of Ray Charles’ finest and most influential country performances - just a small sampling of his work in the genre.

Artist - Robyn Ottolini 1 

Holler's selection of some of the best new up-and-coming country artists from Canada.

Artist - Shania Twain 1

Shania Twain is the epitome of female empowerment. Her genre-bending hits have touched the hearts and minds of millions across the globe, the positivity and energy she injects into every song enabling them to remain popular for the last three decades. 

Artist - LeAnn Rimes

To celebrate LeAnn Rimes' birthday, Holler looks back at some of the best songs of the singer's illustrious career.

Artist - Tom T. Hall

‘The Storyteller’, Tom T. Hall, passed away on August 20, 2021. Here, we look back at his life through the songs that made him one of the greatest country songwriters of all time. You could start anywhere with his work, but if you’re going to start somewhere, these essentials are as good a place as any.

Artist - Lee Ann Womack

Lee Ann Womack blew into Nashville as a Texas traditionalist who knew how to meet the business halfway, going as commercial as necessary to land on the radio while staying true to the history and craft of the music she lived and breathed.

Artist - Nanci Griffith 1

On Friday 13th August, Nanci Griffith passed away at the age of 68. A proper appreciation of her life and work is deserved, something we hope to provide with a guide to her key songs.

Artist - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

Delving into the array of collaborations from across his career, Holler presents the ultimate guide to the duets of ‘The Gambler’, Mr Kenny Rogers.

Artist - Billy Joe Shaver 1

On what would have been his 82nd birthday, we've made a definitive list of Billy Joe Shaver’s best songs to celebrate the rainy, windy morning he was born on.

Artist - Elvis Presley 2

There's often a less celebrated tier to the Elvis legacy, and that's as a trailblazer and torch-bearer in country music. Here we rank the best country songs The King ever recorded. 

Artist - Martina McBride 2

Artist - Martina McBride 1

As she celebrates her 55th Birthday and 30 years on the country music scene, we look back through the powerhouse's catalogue and remind ourselves of some of the classics she has released over the years. Disclaimer - you may need the tissues when listening to some of these!

Artist - Carrie Underwood 3

In 16 years, Underwood has built an enduring legacy, cementing herself as one of the biggest country music stars of her generation. Holler takes the opportunity to rank a few of the musical highlights from her incredible career, one that doesn’t look like slowing down any time soon.

Artist - Eric Church 2

Channelling Church favourites ‘Smoke A Little Smoke’ and ‘I’m Getting Stoned’, it’s “high” time we took a definitive – and occasionally subjective – look back at the very best of The Chief’s songs.

Artist - The Chicks

The biggest country group of the 90s? You would be hard pressed to argue against the Chicks. We take a look back at band’s discography to create the definitive list of their best songs. 

Artist - Linda Rondstadt

Linda Marie Ronstadt has few rivals for the sheer breadth and depth of her interpretative skills. It’s a rare artistic timeline that began in folk, then sat at the forefront of country-rock to the tune of tens of millions of records.

Artist - Toby Keith 1 

As he celebrates his 60th Birthday, Holler delves into his comprehensive catalogue to decide what are the very best Toby Keith songs.

Windy City Smokeout

All the top tips and best advice for a great weekend at Chicago's Windy City Smokeout festival.

A Guide To: 10 Things to Know Before You Go to Windy City Smokeout

Alison

Graphic - Bluegrass 1961

To modern ears, bluegrass might seem like an eternally safe space for close harmonies, collaborative musicianship and everyone uniting to preserve tradition. But initially, the reality was somewhat different, and by the time the very first bluegrass festival took place on July 4th 1961, it was all-out war.

A Guide To: The World's First Bluegrass Festival, 1961

Artist - Bonnie Raitt 1 

An eloquent advocate for artists' rights, Bonnie Raitt spends far more time championing her fellow travellers than amplifying her own achievements. It gives us all the more reason to do the latter, as we invite you to leaf through Bonnie's back pages.

Graphic - Summer Country List

Time to stock up on hayfever tablets and smother yourself in factor 50 - here are the best summer country songs according to Holler.

Graphic - Gone Country 2 

We take a look at 10 occasions non-country artists hit the motherload and unexpectedly came up with some (fairly) solid country classics.

Artist - Blake Shelton

As he turns 45 today and celebrates 20 long years in the business, we delve deep into the ultimate Blake Shelton songs. 

Artist - Cousin Minnie Pearl & Roy Acuff - Grand Ole Opry

Comedy and humour are deeply rooted in country music’s foundations - and not just in specific songs or performances, but in its very culture.

Graphic - Holler Country Cocktails 1

Are we drunk or is he drunk? Are you drunk? We really don’t know what’s going on anymore. Time we called it a night. Happy World Cocktail Day!

Artist - CSNY

Though each hold their own weight and influence on contemporary music, when put together, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills and Neil Young created unwavering magic.

Nathan

Graphic - What Is Americana? 

Jof's got his investigative Stetson on again. This time, he's trying to solve one of the greatest musical mysteries of the modern era: what actually is Americana? 

Artist - Waylon & Willie 

Nelson, Jennings and Kristofferson set out to change country music's future in the early 1970s. The result of their work, now some 50 years on, is still prolific in paving the way for Nashville and country music as a whole. 

Artist - Reba McEntire

To celebrate Reba McEntire's 66th Birthday, we reflect on her illustrious career so far; delving deep into album tracks and picking out the best of her 25 number one hits. These are the best Reba McEntire songs according to Holler!

Artist - Allen Toussaint 

“New Orleans is a metropolis in the middle of a swamp, that also serves as the womb of American music" - a definitive guide to the Soul, Cajun and Zydeco legacy of Louisiana, through 11 songs that galvanize the rich cultural tradition. 

A Guide To: Louisiana's Soul, Cajun and Zydeco Legacy

Marcus K.

Austin City Limits 2

 has held a special connection to country music. Beloved by artists and fans alike, the show is known for authentic music presented in live and uncut performances.

The Best Austin City Limits Performances 

We've picked 15 of the best feminist country songs for you to sing along to while celebrating empowering women and dismantling the patriarchy

Artist - Colter Wall (Murder Ballads) 

Murder is a topic that’s found its way in all genres, but in country and western, it’s become a rite of passage for musicians to cast their gaze upon the gallows and lend their voice to a haunting ballad. But how did the tradition really come about?

Artist - Rodger Wilhoit 

He never did get lucky when all else failed. But maybe, all these years later, Rodger Wilhoit might just get a posthumous roll of the dice.

A Guide To: Unearthing the Genius of Rodger Wilhoit

Artist - Jason Aldean 1

To celebrate his birthday this coming Sunday (2/28), we whittle down the finest songs of the man from Macon, Georgia. 

Artist - Johnny Cash 3

A list of the silliest and funniest songs from The Man In Black to lift your spirits ahead of what would've been his 89th Birthday next week.

Artist - the Band 

It's impossible to overstate what The Band did to bring rural North American musical tradition and time-honoured instrumentation into the rock world. To celebrate their legacy and the 50th anniversary re-release of The Band's third album 

Holler took on the (rather daunting) task of capturing their lightning in ten momentous instalments.

lists

Holler's New for 2022: 10 Artists to Watch

The Best Loretta Lynn Songs

The Best Keith Urban Songs

ESSENTIALS•The Best Kelsea Ballerini Songs

ESSENTIALS•The Best John Denver Songs

ESSENTIALS•The Best Country Running Songs

ESSENTIALS•The Best Kenny Chesney Songs

The Best Willie Nelson Songs

The Best Luke Bryan Songs

The Best Country Break Up Songs

The Best Country Love Songs

The Best Country Line Dance Songs

The Best Dolly Parton Songs

The Best Country Christmas Songs