The Best Country Music of 2016

It’s been a great year for country music! Here are some of the best songs of 2016.

The Best Country Music of 2016

It’s been a great year for country music, with a wide variety of sounds and styles emerging from the genre. We’ve put together a list of our favorite country songs of 2016, ranging from traditional ballads to upbeat anthems. Take a listen!

The Best Country Albums of 2016

The best country music of 2016 came from a wide range of artists, including both newcomers and veterans. Some of the year’s most acclaimed releases came from country music’s biggest stars, including Miranda Lambert, Dolly Parton, and Keith Urban. But 2016 also saw breakout hits from lesser-known artists like Maren Morris and Missy Lynn.

No matter your taste in country music, there was something to enjoy in 2016. Here are our picks for the best country albums of the year.

Maren Morris – Hero
Maren Morris’ debut album Hero was one of the most buzzed-about releases of 2016. The album combined Morris’ powerful voice with a blend of country, pop, and R&B influences. Among the album’s standout tracks are “My Church” and “80s Mercedes.”

Dolly Parton – Pure & Simple
Dolly Parton returned to her roots on Pure & Simple, an album that found the legendary singer stripped down and focused on emotion over flashiness. The result was some of Parton’s most touching work in years, including the beautiful ballad “Forever Love.”

Keith Urban – Ripcord
Keith Urban’s eighth studio album Ripcord found the country star working with a wide range of collaborators, including rappers Pitbull and Nile Rodgers. The result was an eclectic mix of sounds that ranged from traditional country to dance-infused pop. Highlights include the hit single “Wasted Time” and the soulful ballad “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”

The Best Country Songs of 2016

The best country songs of 2016 came from a mix of veteran artists and fresh faces. Justin Timberlake brought country-influenced pop to the masses with “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” Keith Urban continued his hot streak with “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” and Maren Morris notched a No. 1 hit with “My Church.”

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for country music in 2016. The passing of legend Merle Haggard prompted tributes from across the genre, while the tragic terrorist attack at an Orlando nightclub led to an emotional performance by Eric Church at the CMA Awards.

Here’s a look at the 10 best country songs of 2016:

1. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
2. “Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban
3. “My Church” – Maren Morris
4. “Humble and Kind” – Tim McGraw
5. “Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett
6. “Record Year” – Eric Church
7. “Better Man” – Little Big Town
8. “Different for Girls” – Dierks Bentley (Feat. Elle King)
9.”A Girl Like You” – Dustin Lynch 10.”Forever Country” – Artists of Then, Now & Forever

The Best Country Music Videos of 2016

The year 2016 brought a bevy of great country music videos, each one representing a different side of the genre. Here are our favorites.

1. “Humble and Kind” by Tim McGraw

This video, directed by Wes Edwards, perfectly captures the sentiments of the song, with cameos from a diverse group of people including McGraw’s own mother and daughter.

2. “Hunter Hayes – “Yesterday’s Song”

Hayes co-directed this video with Patrick Tohill, which features the singer undergoing a radical transformation in order to better understand what it means to be alive and in love.

3. “Sugarland – “Stay”

The video for this haunting ballad, directed by Peter Zavadil, features Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush as a long-suffering couple who are finally able to find closure.

4. “Florida Georgia Line – “H.O.L.Y.”

The video for this soaring love song, directed by Tim Mattia, features stunning imagery of Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley against the backdrop of the California desert.

The Worst Country Music of 2016

It’s no secret that 2016 was a rough year for a lot of people. But it was also a great year for country music. So many artists released new music this year, and there was a lot of variety in the sound and style of the songs. But not all of the new music was good. In fact, there was some pretty terrible country music released this year.

The Worst Country Albums of 2016

It was a tough year for country music, with many disappointing albums coming out in 2016. Here are the worst of the bunch:

10. “Famous in a Small Town” by Miranda Lambert
9. “Frontier” by Marty Stuart
8. “Ripcord” by Keith Urban
7. “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth” by Sturgill Simpson
6. “Skeletons” by Nick 13
5. “Black” by Dierks Bentley
4. ” Mr Misunderstood” by Eric Church
3.” Kinfoke”. Toby Keith 2.”This Is Not a Test” 1.” anything from Florida Georgia Line

The Worst Country Songs of 2016

There were many great country songs released in 2016, but there were also a fair share of duds. Here are ten of the worst country songs that were released this year.

“Different for Girls” by Dierks Bentley featuring Elle King
This sexist and outdated song is not only one of the worst country songs of 2016, but one of the worst songs period. It paints a very narrow minded view of gender roles and is just plain insulting to both men and women.

“Sangria” by Blake Shelton
Shelton has had some great songs in the past, but “Sangria” is not one of them. It’s a lazy, uninspired song that just feels like Shelton phoned it in.

“Think of You” by Chris Young featuring Cassadee Pope
This duet between Young and Pope is forgettable at best. It’s a sappy, cliche-ridden love song that brings nothing new to the table.

“Kiss Somebody” by Morgan Evans
Evans’ debut single is a bland, generic love song that does nothing to make it stand out from the sea of other songs like it.

The Worst Country Music Videos of 2016

There were a lot of great country music videos released in 2016, but there were also some real turkeys. Here are our picks for the worst offender

1. “My House” by Florida Georgia Line

This video features the duo romping around in a giant mansion, throwing parties and generally just being obnoxious. It’s all very over-the-top and just not very likable.

2. “Cabin” by Blake Shelton

This video is just lazy. It’s basically Blake Shelton standing in front of a cabin in the woods, looking sullen. We get it, you’re brooding and mysterious. But it’s just not interesting to watch.

3. “Thinkin’ Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran is a great singer, but this video is just painfully boring. It’s literally just him singing the song while walking around a city. We get it, you’re soulful and deep. But this video is just yawn-inducing.