The Top Country Music Hits of the 2000s

Looking for a walk down memory lane? Check out our list of the top country music hits of the 2000s! From chart-topping singles to unforgettable songs, these are the tracks that defined the decade.

Introduction

The 2000s was a big decade for country music. A new crop of country stars emerged, and the genre continued to grow in popularity. If you’re a fan of country music, chances are you have fond memories of listening to some of the biggest hits of the decade.

Here’s a look at some of the top country music hits of the 2000s:

“I’m Already There” by Lonestar
Released in 2001, “I’m Already There” is a sentimental ballad about a father who is away from home on business but longing to be with his family. The song resonated with fans, becoming one of Lonestar’s biggest hits.

“Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts
Released in 2004, “Bless the Broken Road” is a gentle ballad about finding love after experiencing heartbreak. The song was a massive hit, spending six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

“Remember When” by Alan Jackson
Released in 2003, “Remember When” is a reflective ballad about aging gracefully and cherishing memories. The song was one of Alan Jackson’s biggest hits, spending five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

“Jesus, Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood
Released in 2005, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” is an uptempo song about faith and redemption. The song was Carrie Underwood’s breakout hit, cementing her status as a rising star in country music.

“Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw
Released in 2004, “Live Like You Were Dying” is an inspirational song about making the most of life. The song was inspired by McGraw’s father-in-law, who passed away shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.

“Breathe” by Faith Hill

“Breathe” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Faith Hill. It was released in October 1999 as the first single from her fourth studio album, Breathe. The song became Hill’s seventh number one on the Hot Country Songs chart in the US. The song spent six weeks at number one in February 2000 and became the biggest hit of her career. “Breathe” was written by Holly Lamar and Craig Wiseman.
The song is an uptempo where the female narrator is asking her male significant other not to take life so seriously: “Don’t look too hard, sometimes it’s just like that/And you don’t have to try to explain it away.”
In an interview with Los Angeles Times, Faith said: “‘Breathe’ is a love song, but not necessarily between a man and woman. You can interpret it many ways – mother, child, God – because we all need to remember to just breathe.”

“Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw

Live Like You Were Dying is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in October 2004 as the lead single from his album Live Like You Were Dying, and won Single of the Year at both the 2005 Academy of Country Music Awards and the 2005 Country Music Association Awards. The song was written by Mark D. Sanders, Tia Sillers and Tim Nichols, based on a true story about Sanders’ father who, shortly after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, made a list of things he wanted to do before he died. It became McGraw’s ninth single release to top the Hot Country Songs Chart, spending seven weeks at Number One in early 2005.

“I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack

“I Hope You Dance” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Lee Ann Womack. The song debuted at number 59 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of April 8, 2000. It spent twenty weeks on that chart and peaked at number 1 on July 29, 2000, her first Number One hit on that chart. In October 2000, it became Womack’s only single to date to crossover to the Adult Contemporary format, peaking at number 26 there. “I Hope You Dance” won the Country Music Association Song of the Year award for 2000.

“Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” by Alan Jackson

“Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” is a song written by American singer-songwriter Alan Jackson, released on October 2, 2001, as a single from his album, Drive. The song became the first and only single to serve as a double A-side in the U.K., where it was simultaneously released with “Drive (For Daddy Gene)”.

The song is a response to the September 11 attacks, and its title refers to Jackson’s personal reflection on that fateful day. It peaked at number one on both the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. In 2002, “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” won Jackson two Grammy Awards for Best Country Song and Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

Although originally intended as a one-time release, due to overwhelming response from radio stations and fans alike, “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” was eventually certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over two million digital copies in the United States.

“Jesus, Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood

“Jesus, Take the Wheel” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Carrie Underwood. It was released in October 2005 as the lead single from her debut studio album, Some Hearts. The song tells the story of a young mother who has her hands full with her young child and prayerfully asks Jesus to take over while she tries to deal with her hectic life. “Jesus, Take the Wheel” became a commercial and critical success, spending six weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and winning both the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and the Academy of Country Music Award for Single Record of the Year.

“She’s in Love with the Boy” by Trisha Yearwood

“She’s in Love with the Boy” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Trisha Yearwood. It was released in February 1991 as the fourth single from her album Hearts in Armor. The song was written by Yearwood and Jon Iveys. It was her first Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1991.

“Stupid Boy” by Keith Urban

Keith Urban’s “Stupid Boy” is one of the top country music hits of the 2000s. The song was released in 2006 as the lead single from Urban’s album “Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing.” “Stupid Boy” peaked at number one on the Billboard Country charts and received critical acclaim from music critics.

“Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood’s career began in 2005 when she won American Idol. Her first single, “Inside Your Heaven,” was released in June 2005 and became a Number One hit. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was released in November of that same year and has been certified 7x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. In 2007, Underwood won two Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance. “Before He Cheats” was released in October 2006 as the third single from Some Hearts. The song was written by Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear and quickly rose to the top of the country charts, becoming Underwood’s second Number One hit. “Before He Cheats” won a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance in 2008.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our trip down memory lane with the top country music hits of the 2000s. It’s amazing how many great songs came out during that decade. From heartwarming ballads to rowdy party anthems, there was something for everyone.

While the 2000s may be over, the memories of these great songs will live on forever. So crank up the volume and enjoy!