The Best 1990s Country Music Songs

A list of the best 1990s country songs. These are the songs that defined the genre and made country music what it is today.

Introduction

The 1990s was a decade of change in country music. A new generation of artists began to emerge at the beginning of the decade, as Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks and others brought country music back to its roots. At the same time, a number of veteran artists continued to enjoy success on the charts. Here’s a look at some of the best country songs of the 1990s.

“The Dance” by Garth Brooks

“The Dance” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Garth Brooks. It was released in January 1990 as the sixth and final single from his album Garth Brooks. The song reached number two on both the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada. “The Dance” was nominated for multiple Grammy Awards, ultimately winning for Best Country Song in 1991. The song is told from the perspective of a man looking back on his life, with specific focus on a failed relationship.

“Strawberry Wine” by Deana Carter

“Strawberry Wine” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Deana Carter. It was released in August 1996 as the lead single from her album Did I Shave My Legs for This? The song became Carter’s breakthrough hit, spending six weeks at Number One on the Billboard Country singles chart in early 1997. It also peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it her only single to date to crossover to the latter chart.

“I Can Love You Like That” by John Michael Montgomery

“I Can Love You Like That” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist John Michael Montgomery. It was released in February 1995 as the third single from his album Kickin’ It Up. The song reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in May 1995. Billboard ranked it as the No. 3 country song of 1995. It was also a crossover hit, peaking at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Steve Diamond, Marv Green and Monty Powell.

The song is told from the point of view of a man who is about to cheat on his wife or girlfriend with another woman, but he ultimately decides against it because he knows that he can love her “like that”, meaning with the same selfless, romantic love that he knows she has for him.

“Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)” by John Michael Montgomery

“Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist John Michael Montgomery. It was released in August 1995 as the fourth single from his album Kickin’ It Up. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in November 1995, becoming Montgomery’s fourth Number One hit on that chart. It also peaked at number 2 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada. The song was written by Steve Bogard,Montgomery and Jeff Stevens.

Sold tells the story of an auctioneer (played in the video by Billy Zane) who falls in love with a woman who is up for auction (played by Tia Carrere). The two had been involved before she left town. The auctioneer tries to buy her, but is outbid by another man. She is then sold to him for $500. The woman attempts to explanation to the man who bought her that she does not want to be with him, but he ignores her protests and takes her away. The song talks about how the auctioneer regrets not being able to buy her and save her from the situation she is now in.

“Any Man of Mine” by Shania Twain

“Any Man of Mine” is a song co-written and recorded by Canadian country music artist Shania Twain. It was released in March 1995 as the fourth single from her album The Woman in Me. It became Twain’s first Number One single on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in the United States, and also peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song won Single of the Year at both the Country Music Association Awards and Academy of Country Music Awards.

“I Still Believe in You” by Vince Gill

Vince Gill’s “I Still Believe in You” was released in 1992 as the lead single from his album I Still Believe in You. The song became one of Gill’s signature hits, reaching the top of the Country charts and becoming one of his most-played songs on radio. “I Still Believe in You” is a gentle ballad with a message of hope and faith, which resonated with country music fans in the early 1990s. The song remains a favorite of Gill’s fans, and is often cited as one of the best country songs of the 1990s.

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

This song was released in 1991 as Yearwood’s debut single. It is a ballad about young love, and is one of Yearwood’s most well-known songs. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Country charts, and it helped to launch Yearwood’s career.

“Chattahoochee” by Alan Jackson

“Chattahoochee” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in May 1993 as the third single from his 1992 album A Lot About Livin’ (And a Little ’bout Love). The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in August 1993, giving Jackson his ninth No. 1 single on that chart. Jackson wrote the song with Jim McBride.

“What’s It Gonna Be” by Mark Chesnutt

“What’s It Gonna Be” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Mark Chesnutt. It was released in March 1995 as the lead-off single to his album Almost Goodbye. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart that May, becoming his eighth Number One on that chart. Chesnutt wrote this song with Max D. Barnes.