Nashville's best songs of 2019 (so far)
It's been an incredible year for songs that were made in (or made their way through) Music City —
What's that? What do you mean "It's only been 6 months?"
Well, it sure doesn't feel that way. Back in January, if you brought up "Old Town Road," we would have thought you were giving us directions.
But a lot has happened since then — from the return of two giant Nashville rock acts to a string of assertive female anthems, a huge country duet that came out of nowhere, and hit songs about heartbreak, tragedy, God and beer.
While our minds reel at what could possibly happen in the next six months, take a spin through our list of Nashville's best songs of 2019 (so far). We kept this list strictly to songs that were released this year, so a number of country singles currently ruling the airwaves weren't eligible.
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Luke Combs, 'Beer Never Broke My Heart'
Long. Neck. Ice. Cold. Beer.
Luke Combs punches home each syllable to his latest installment of country radio dominance with vindication — assuring listeners that these three minutes feel as dependable as a 12 oz. domestic.
It's the latest in a record-breaking run of smash songs from Combs, who released his latest studio effort, the five-track "Prequel," in June. In one of country music's most touching moments this year, the North Carolina brought a raucous version of the song to the Grand Ole Opry — minutes after being surprised with an invitation to join the celebrated institution.
Unlike each of his singles to come before it, "Beer Never Broke My Heart" hasn't hit No. 1 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart ... yet. Sit back, crack open a cold one and watch it climb.
Maren Morris, 'The Bones'
“The house don’t fall when the bones are good.” On this standout from her sophomore album, “Girl,” Morris sings about how a relationship with a strong foundation can weather the storm. It also reveals a strong artistic core to the country singer. Even as she ventures out into R&B and pop balladry with tunes like these, her identity remains at the forefront.
The Raconteurs, 'Bored and Razed'
The winning alchemy of this Nashville-based supergroup is on full display on “Bored and Razed,” a sputtering, stream-of-consciousness verse from Jack White giving way to a soaring chorus from power-popper Brendan Benson, and a pummeling rhythm section that threatens to swallow the record whole. It’s a standout track from “Help Us Stranger,” the band’s first album in a decade.
Little Big Town, 'The Daughters'
Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild teamed with Sean McConnell and Ashley Ray to write "The Daughters," a timely look at the dated demands society still places on women and girls.
The articulate, poignant content is a diversion from country music's typical fare and some view it as controversial. But Little Big Town didn't blink.
The group, which also includes Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook and Philip Sweet, debuted the song on the ACM Awards to rave reviews. Country radio still hasn't embraced the ballad, but the song is finding its audience. While "The Daughters" is about women, it appeals to anyone with mothers, sisters, daughters or friends — because it's their story, too.
"The Daughters" is yet another career defining moment for the Grammy-winning group who already chased the odds with "Girl Crush" and won. Now they're at the starting line again. "The Daughters" is from Little Big Town's upcoming album.
Sturgill Simpson, 'The Dead Don't Die'
Wait three years for new Sturgill Simpson? Worth it.
Simpson returned in June with "The Dead Don't Die," his first slice of original music since 2016's clairvoyant "A Sailor's Guide to Earth." A swaying country ballad soaked in fiddle and piano, Simpson croons to his listeners that "the afterlife is over, the afterlife goes on ..."
The track comes off Jim Jarmusch's indie faux-zombie flick of the same name, where Simpson makes a cameo as a guitar-wielding member of the undead — a fitting parody to team against Simpson's musical sincerity.
Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton, 'Dive Bar'
Written by Garth Brooks, Mitch Rossell and Bryan Kennedy, “Dive Bar” is a romping beer-soaked, blue collar anthem that hearkens to “Friends in Low Places” and showcases both singers as the life of the party.
Like its big brother, the song also has secret lyrics that fans can only hear during live performances, Brooks said.
“Dive Bar” is from Brooks’ upcoming studio album “FUN.”
Chris Young – 'Drowning'
Chris Young has built his career on his distinct baritone voice and penchant for sexy love songs and fun-loving hits like his current Top 10 “Raised on Country.”
The Murfreesboro native typically keeps a tight lid on his personal life, but “Drowning” is a window into his grief surrounding the unexpected death of one of his close friends. A video clip of Young breaking down in tears while performing “Drowning” on the Opry went viral in June. When the song was released the following week, it skyrocketed to the top of sales and streaming charts.
Lyrics include: You were taken way too soon| It ain’t the same here without you| I’ve got to say, missing you comes in waves| And tonight I’m drowning.
“Drowning” is from Young’s new studio album that will be available this fall.
Trisha Yearwood, 'Every Girl in This Town'
Trisha Yearwood’s “Every Girl in This Town” is an empowering sing-along, fist-pumping anthem for every girl with dreams bigger than her town, every teenager who has suffered a broken heart and every woman who has overcome obstacles she thought might get the best of her.
Yearwood didn’t mean to record a female anthem, she said, but she did.
Lyrics include: Every girl in this town is somebody's daughter| An angel, a devil, no matter what they call her| If they try to hold you down under that water|Just come up baptized baby, let it make you stronger
“It’s not preachy,” she promised. “It’s saying, ‘Believe in yourself. It’s OK to be whoever you are. It’s OK to not be perfect.”
“Every Girl in This Town” is the lead single from Yearwood’s new album “Every Girl” that will be in stores Aug. 30.
Blake Shelton, 'God’s Country'
Blake Shelton thinks of “God’s Country” as a combination of “Ole Red” and “A Country Boy Can Survive” – not only traditional country but also Southern rock anthem.
Country music fans just think of it as a hit.
Shelton released “God’s Country” in April and is poised to be his 26th No. 1 country radio hit next week. At 15 weeks old, “God’s Country” has already accumulated more than 100 million on-demand streams and is nearly platinum.
“Nothing has ever had this kind of an impact on me,” Shelton said. “Even before I put the vocal on it, it was just the sound that was the missing link to where we are in country music now and where we came from. It’s almost like a chance to stop and catch your breath and go, ‘We’re still all here. We still like this stuff, too, right?’”
“God’s Country” is from Shelton’s forthcoming album.
Tyler Childers, 'House Fire'
With "House Fire," Tyler Childers teases listeners back into his world.
He doesn't force visitors to catapult headfirst into his heartfelt stories of rural Appalachia — tales of love, struggle and the world in-between. His warm diction instead leads a gentle touch of folk-tinged country; the kind of storytelling that softly requests repeat visits.
Childers' rough-around-the-edges voice shakes in offering the chorus: 'You can set my house on fire, baby/ You can turn it into cinder and smoke/ ‘Cause this house is mighty cold/ And I feel like meltin' all the snow away."
The heart-on-his-sleeve Kentucky breakout released "House Fire" earlier this year. It's the first taste of "Country Squire," a summer album from Childers that may be the most anticipated of any produced out of Nashville this season.
The worst part? It's just one song. "Country Squire" drops Aug. 2.
Hayes Carll, 'Jesus and Elvis'
Step into bar stool comfort with a warming story from Americana penman Hayes Carll.
Co-written by Carll with Allison Moorer and Matraca Berg, the latest version of "Jesus and Elvis" (Kenny Chesney released his take in 2016) toasts to the faith put into a place as familiar as home.
It's a song vague enough to feel personal, as if Carll stepped into your neighborhood haunt and captured what he saw. He sings in the chorus: "Jesus and Elvis, painted on velvet/ Hanging at the bar here every night/ It's good to be back again, oh, me and my old friends/ 'Neath the neon cross and a string of Christmas lights." '
"Jesus and Elvis" comes off Carll's sixth studio album, "What It Is."
Midland, 'Mr. Lonely'
Midland can't help but have a good time.
The honky-tonkin' Texas trio returned in 2019 with "Mr. Lonely," a musical booty call built to go straight from the studio to the boot-scootin' dance hall. It's a swinging, riffy slice of throwback country that builds on the tipsy jams Midland kicked out with 2017 debut, "On The Rocks."
"Mr Lonely, Mr Good-Time/ Mr. One-You're-Gonna-Want-On-A-Saturday-Night,' vocalist Mark Wystrach sings.
Still not sold? The video comes with a must-see cameo from actor Dennis Quaid.
Lil Nas X, 'Old Town Road'
Is it country or not? Whatever side of the debate you fall on, there’s no disputing that Lil Nas X’s chart-topping hit had the entire nation talking, thinking and caring about what we call country music.
And when it wasn’t grabbing headlines for being removed from Billboard’s country chart, “Old Town Road” was bringing listeners together like few other hits in the 20th century. Whether he was in an elementary school gym, the BET Awards or Nashville’s CMA Music Festival, Lil Nas X had audiences on their feet and singing along.
Cage The Elephant, 'Ready to Let Go'
On a trip to Pompeii, Cage The Elephant frontman Matt Shultz and his now-ex-wife realized they needed to divorce.
Shultz channeled that moment into one of the best songs his band has ever recorded – a doomed dance-rocker that’s a brilliant swirl of emotion and imagery, inspired by his surroundings.
“I’ma spread these ashes, never had control…I'm ready to let go
Yola, 'Ride Out In the Country'
British singer-songwriter and powerhouse vocalist Yola kicked off her 2019 with the release of “Walk Through Fire,” a wildly promising debut produced by Dan Auerbach.
"I take a ride out in the country, in the soft summer breeze," she sings on the dreamy country-soul standout. "Forgetting about you, forgetting about me."
The Black Keys, 'Shine a Little Light'
On their first album in five years, The Black Keys come out swinging with an instant career classic. “Light” marries the clobbering blues riffage of their Basement days with the slinky soul of their mainstream breakthrough, “Brothers” — and a hook that takes inspiration from “Put a Little Love In Your Heart.”
Molly Tuttle, 'Take The Journey'
Her flatpickin' excellence kicks off the song, but it's the melodic instinct of Molly Tuttle that makes "Take The Journey" a standout from her debut full-length.
Released on the 11-track "When You're Ready," the 2018 Instrumentalist of the Year at the Americana Music Honors & Awards urges her audience to "Take the journey
No matter where it starts or where it ends."
It's an enduring sentiment that she rings home with blistering guitar work; a timely summer soundtrack for wandering spirits looking for the next adventure.
Keith Urban, 'We Were'
“We Were” is a reflective, yearning mid-tempo tribute to ill-fated young love. Written by Ryan Tyndell, Jeff Hyde, and Eric Church, and co-produced by Dann Huff and Urban, the song opens with a lilting guitar intro and unfolds into three minutes and nine seconds of scenic, heartfelt storytelling.
“I write a lot of songs and get songs from a lot of people and ‘We Were’ was one of those songs I got sent,” Urban said. “I just loved it. It was within seconds. The opening riff got me, and as soon as I heard that imagery, I just loved the song. I could relate to it right away. It just spoke to me.”
Lady Antebellum, 'What If I Never Get Over You'
Lady Antebellum hit rewind in the best way with “What If I Never Get Over You.” The longing duet between members Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott, is a return to the types of songs on which the trio built its career — think “Need You Now” and “I Run to You.”
Lyrics include: What if I’m tryin,' but then I close my eyes| And then I’m right back, lost in that last goodbye| And what if time doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do| What if I never get over you.
“It’s been so many years since we released a mid-tempo, longing, heartbreak duet that really we love and is so much a part of who we are as a band and how we started,” Scott said. “In a way, it kind of feels like coming home.”
“What If I Never Get Over You” is from Lady Antebellum’s upcoming album.