The Best Country Music of 1990

The top country songs of 1990 were a great mix of heartbreak ballads and uptempo honky-tonk tunes. Take a walk down memory lane with this list of the best country music of 1990.

George Strait – “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”

George Strait’s “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” was one of the biggest country hits of 1990. The song became a number one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and helped Strait win the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year award. “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” is a classic country song that has been covered by many artists over the years.

Garth Brooks – “The Dance”

Garth Brooks’ “The Dance” was released in 1990 as the fifth single from his album No Fences. The song became one of Brooks’ signature songs, and is one of his most enduring hits, spending six weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. “The Dance” is a ballad in which the narrator reflects on a past relationship that ended, but still holds dear in his memory.

Alan Jackson – “Chattahoochee”

“Chattahoochee” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in May 1993 as the fourth single from his album A Lot About Livin’ (And a Little ’bout Love). The song is a Mid-tempo in which the narrator talks about growing up near the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, United States.

The song was written by Alan Jackson and Jim McBride. It was one of three songs penned by Jackson for the album which he did not plan to release as singles. The other two being “She’s Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)” and “Midnight in Montgomery”. Jackson’s producer Keith Stegall convinced him that “Chattahoochee” was too good not to be a single.

The song became one of Jackson’s most successful singles, reaching number one on both the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada. In addition, it peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Jackson his biggest pop hit at that time, as well as his twelfth Number One hit on Billboard’s country charts. Certified Platinum by both the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Music Canada, it has sold over two million copies in the United States and over three million in Canada.

Clint Black – “A Better Man”

Released in June 1990, “A Better Man” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Clint Black. It was released in June 1990 as the lead single from his album Killin’ Time. The song became Black’s second number one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in August 1990. Black wrote this song with Hayden Nicholas.

George Jones – “He Stopped Loving Her Today”

George Jones’s “He Stopped Loving Her Today” is widely considered to be the greatest country song of all time. The song was released in 1980, but it didn’t reach the top of the charts until 1990, when it finally hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The song tells the story of a man who never stopped loving his ex-wife, even after she left him and married someone else. The lyrics are incredibly sad, but they’re also beautifully written and sung with passion by Jones. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” is a perfect example of country music at its best.

Brooks & Dunn – “Brand New Man”

“Brand New Man” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in May 1993 as the lead-off single from their album Hard Workin’ Man, and it peaked at number 1 on both the U.S. and Canadian country charts. The song was written by the duo along with Ronnie Dunn’s brother Vic Fuentes.

In 2009, Billboard ranked it as the 44th biggest country hit of all time from 1944 to 2008.

In an interview with The Boot, lead singer Kix Brooks said that “Brand New Man”‘s sound was inspired by George Jones’ 1960 song “He Stopped Loving Her Today”.

Hank Williams Jr. – “A Country Boy Can Survive”

Hank Williams Jr. released “A Country Boy Can Survive” in September 1981 as the lead single from his album Major League. The song was co-written by Williams and Darrell Edwards and became one of his most popular songs, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The song would become an iconic country anthem and would be covered by many artists over the years.

Travis Tritt – “Help Me Hold On”

“Help Me Hold On” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Travis Tritt. It was released in February 1990 as the second single from his album Country Club. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in May 1990. Tritt wrote the song with Karen Staley.

In his review of Country Club, Bill Friskics-Warren of The Tennessean described “Help Me Hold On” as a “rocking weeper.” The song is in the key of G major with a main chord pattern of G-D/F#-Em-C, and Tritt’s vocals span from G3 to D5.

Dwight Yoakam – “Ain’t That Lonely Yet”

Yoakam’s brand of honky-tonk was already feeling a little anachronistic by the early ‘90s, but that didn’t stop him from putting out some of the best country music of the decade. “Ain’t That Lonely Yet” is a perfect example of his neo-traditionalist approach, with its twangy guitars and heartbreak lyrics. It’s a song that would have fit right in on any country radio station in the 1950s, but it also sounded fresh and new in 1990.

Vince Gill – “Go Rest High on That Mountain”

Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High on That Mountain” was one of the most impactful country songs of the 1990s. It was released in December 1995 as a single from his album When I Call Your Name, which won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album. The song was written by Gill after the death of his brother, Bob, who died of cancer in 1993.

“Go Rest High on That Mountain” is a powerful song about loss and acceptance. Gill’s soaring vocals are incredibly emotive, and the lyrics are both poignant and beautiful. The song quickly rose to the top of the country charts, and it remains one of Gill’s most beloved songs.