The Best of 2003: A List of Country Music Songs

From George Strait’s “Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa” to Dixie Chicks’ “Travelin’ Soldier,” these are the best country songs of 2003.

Introduction

It’s hard to believe that 2003 is already coming to a close. It seems like just yesterday we were ringing in the New Year, and now the holidays are upon us. As we reflect on the year gone by, it’s only natural to think about the music that has soundtracked our lives over the past twelve months. From heartbreak to happiness, country music has a way of speaking to us all, and this year has been no exception.

As we look back on the year, there are a few songs that stand out above the rest. These are the tunes that have made us laugh, cry, and everything in between. So without further ado, here is our list of the best country songs of 2003.

1. “Live Like You Were Dying” – Tim McGraw
2. “ bless The Broken Road” – Rascal Flatts
3. “She Wouldn’t Be Gone” – Blake Shelton
4. “I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love” – Vince Gill
5. “Beer For My Horses” – Toby Keith & Willie Nelson
6. “Wave On Wave” – Pat Green
7. “Baby Girl” – Sugarland
8. “100 Miles From Memphis” – Sheryl Crow
9. “The Truth Is… (I Lied About Everything) – Brad Paisley
10. “No Regrets” – Dierks Bentley

“The Cowboy in Me” by Tim McGraw

“The Cowboy in Me” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in March 2003 as the second single from his album Set This Circus Down. The song became McGraw’s seventh number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Billboard Country Airplay) chart in August 2003. It was written by Kent Blazy, Craig Wiseman and Steve McEwan.

“Red Dirt Road” by Brooks & Dunn

“Red Dirt Road” is a song recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in May 2003 as the lead single from their album Red Dirt Road. The song became the duo’s seventeenth Number One hit on the Billboard country charts in August 2003.

The song was written by Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks, Donnay Seymour and Anthony Smith. In it, the narrator talks about how he longs for the “simple life” that he once had growing up on a red dirt road.

Both Brooks and Dunn have said that this is one of their favorite songs to perform live, as it always gets the crowd singing along.

“She’s My Kind of Rain” by Tim McGraw

“She’s My Kind of Rain” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in February 2003 as the second single from his album Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in May 2003, becoming McGraw’s eleventh Number One single on that chart. It was written by Mark Nesler, Tony Martin and TomDouglas.

“She’s My Kind of Rain” is a mid-tempo ballad in which the male narrator describes his lover as being like rain. Nesler, Martin and Douglas wrote it in February 2002, after Nesler had gone through a divorce. He came up with the phrase “she’s my kind of rain” while watching a news report about severe thunderstorms.

“Beer for My Horses” by Toby Keith

“Beer for My Horses” is a song recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith with guest vocals from Willie Nelson. It was released in August 2003 as the lead single from his album Shock’n Y’all. The song, which Keith co-wrote with Scotty Emerick, achieved success in several countries. In the United States, it became Keith’s sixth Number One single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in early 2004. “Beer for My Horses” won Single of the Year at both the 2003 Country Music Association Awards and the 2003 Academy of Country Music Awards.

The song is a ballad that reflects on a friendship between two men and how they look out for each other. The narrator tells of how he would do anything for his “bud”, even if it means breaking the law to save him from a death sentence.

The song was well-received by critics and was praised for its simple lyrics and catchy melodies. It was also praised for its message of loyalty and friendship.

“No Place That Far” by Sara Evans

“No Place That Far” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Sara Evans. It was released in December 1998 as the fourth single from her album No Place That Far. The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in February 1999. It was written by Evans, Tony Martel and Tom Shapiro.

The song is a mid-tempo ballad in which the narrator lists all of the places she would go and things she would do for love.

Critical reception

Billboard gave the song a positive review, saying that “Sara Evans’ soaring voice soars even higher on this heartfelt ballad.” They goes on to say that “The production is top-notch, with nice fiddlepassages and some great guitar licks providing nice support for Evans’ ethereal vocal.”

“The Good Stuff” by Kenny Chesney

“The Good Stuff” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in February 2003 as the third single from his album No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems. The song became Chesney’s sixth number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in May 2003. Chesney wrote this song with Craig Wiseman.

The song is a mid-tempo ballad in which the narrator talks about “the good stuff” in life: simple pleasures such as cold beer on a hot day, fishing, and blue jeans.

Critical reception for “The Good Stuff” was positive. Allmusic gave the song a favorable review, saying that it was “lukewarm summertime fun”. Billboard also reviewed the song favorably, calling it “a wistful love letter to small-town life.”

“The Good Stuff” reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in May 2003, becoming Chesney’s sixth number one hit on that chart. The song also peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and at number 11 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

“I Believe” by Diamond Rio

“I Believe” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music band Diamond Rio. It was released in February 2003 as the lead single from their album God Bless the USA. The song peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in May 2003.

The song was written by band members Marty Roe and Duncan Cameron, along with Nashville songwriter Phil Vassar. Roe told The Boot that the three of them wrote the song in about an hour: “It was one of those magical days where everything just came together,” he said. “It was definitely a God moment.”

The song is an uptempo with patriotic lyrics, featuring a children’s choir during the chorus. Roe said that the idea for the choir came from producer Byron Gallimore: “Byron had this idea of using a children’s choir on it,” he said. “We thought that was a great idea, so we went out and found a local children’s choir.”

“I Believe” was released as a single on February 10, 2003 and debuted at number 55 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It became the band’s tenth Top Ten hit on that chart in May 2003, peaking at number 4; it also peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. In May 2003, Diamond Rio received the Academy of Country Music’s Home Depot Humanitarian Award for their work with Habitat for Humanity; they performed “I Believe” at the ceremony.

“Wave on Wave” by Pat Green

Pat Green’s “Wave on Wave” was released in 2003 as the second single from his album of the same name. The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Country chart and #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Green’s highest-charting single to date. “Wave on Wave” is a laid-back, relaxin’ song about summer love that really set the tone for beach-themed songs in the years to come.

“Bring It On Home” by Little Big Town

“Bring It On Home” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released in June 2003 as the second single from the group’s self-titled debut album. The song reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in August 2003. The group members wrote this song with Earl Bud Lee, who has also co-written several singles for Garth Brooks and George Strait.

In an interview with CMT, Karen Fairchild said that they wrote this song “with the intention of maybe pitching it to somebody else.” She also said that “after we wrote it, we just couldn’t imagine giving it away.” Jimi Westbrook told The Boot that:
“‘Bring It On Home’ is one of those songs that just feels like classic country music. We definitely wanted to keep that kind of flavor to it.”

“Something More” by Sugarland

This light-hearted song about young love hit the airwaves in early 2003 and quickly rose to the top of the country charts. With a catchy beat and memorable lyrics, “Something More” is a perfect example of the type of country music that was popular in the early 2000s.

“Something More” was Sugarland’s debut single, and it helped catapult them to stardom. The song was co-written by Sugarland’s lead singer, Jennifer Nettles, and it quickly became a favorite among country music fans.

In 2003, “Something More” won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song, making Sugarland the first group to ever win this award. The song was also nominated for three other Grammy Awards, including Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

“Who I Am” by Jessica Andrews

“Who I Am” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Jessica Andrews. It was released in May 2003 as the lead single from her album, Who I Am. The song became Andrews’ second Number One hit on the Billboard country charts in August 2003.

“Who I Am” was co-written by Andrews, Marv Green and Kent Blazy. In an interview with SongFacts, Blazy stated that “[the] song is really about being comfortable in your own skin and being happy with who you are.”

The song entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at number 57 on the week of May 3, 2003. It peaked at number one on the chart dated August 9, 2003, spending five weeks at that position. “Who I Am” also peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated September 6, 2003, becoming her only top ten single on that chart to date. In Canada, it reached number 10 on the RPM Country Tracks chart dated July 21, 2003.

“Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts

“Bless the Broken Road” is a song co-written by Marcus Hummon and Bobby Boyd that was first recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1994. The song enjoyed renewed popularity when it was recorded in 2004 by American country music group Rascal Flatts. The band’s version of the song was released in August 2004 as the second single from their album Feels Like Today and became one of their most successful singles. It spent five weeks at Number One on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in early 2005, giving the group their seventh consecutive Number One hit on that chart — a streak that would eventually reach ten Number One songs. “Bless the Broken Road” earned a Grammy Award for Best Country Song at the 2005 ceremony.

“Bless the Broken Road” is an up-tempo ballad with influences of country pop. Its lyrics speak of trusting God to lead one down “the broken road” and finding love again after experiencing heartache. In addition to Hummon and Boyd, credit for the song is also given to Jeff Hanna of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, who co-wrote it with them but was not credited on either version until 2005.

The Rascal Flatts version of “Bless the Broken Road” debuted at Number 37 on the Hot Country Songs chart dated August 28, 2004. It became their seventh consecutive Number One single on February 12, 2005 and remained in that position for five weeks. As of December 2014, it has sold 2,625,000 copies in the US.

“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 September 2004 as the lead single from his album Live Like You Were Dying. The song reached number one on the Billboard Country charts and won Single of the Year at both the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Awards.

“Jesus, Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood

“Jesus, Take the Wheel” is a song co-written and recorded by American country artist Carrie Underwood. It was released in October 2005 as the lead single from Underwood’s debut studio album, Some Hearts (2005). The song became Underwood’s breakthrough hit and one of her most successful singles. It earned several awards and nominations, including a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and an American Music Award for Single of the Year. “Jesus, Take the Wheel” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in December 2005 and held that position for six weeks. It also peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March 2006, making it her first top forty hit on that chart. The song was certified 4× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of four million copies in January 2006.

“The World” by Brad Paisley

“The World” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in October 2003 as the fourth single from his 2003 album Mud on the Tires. The song peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart in February 2004. Paisley wrote this song with Kelley Lovelace and Frank Rogers.

The opening monologue and first verse describe a lover’s complaints about the world (“Where’d all the good people go?”). The second verse shifts gears, however, to a more serious tone as it talks about U.S. troops serving in Iraq. In the chorus, Paisley lists off various elements of the world and how they have changed since he was younger (“Mommas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys / Daddies don’t let your daughters date drunks”).

Critical reception for “The World” was positive. Allmusic’s Jason Birchmeier considered that although the song is “somewhat lighter fare” compared to other tracks on Mud on the Tires, it is still “solid” and “worthwhile”. In 2005, CMT named “The World” as one of Paisley’s Greatest Hits.

“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 country music artist Alan Jackson. The song was released in late 2001, becoming one of the defining songs of the early 2000s in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The song became one of Jackson’s most successful singles, reaching the top of the country charts and becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time. The song earned Jackson a Grammy Award for Best Country Song, as well as multiple other awards and nominations.

“I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song)” by Brad Paisley

“I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song)” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in May 2002 as the lead-off single to his album Part II. The song spent five weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Country Airplay) chart in August and September 2002. It was Paisley’s fourth Number One on that chart. The song was written by Paisley and Frank Rogers.

Paisley stated that he got the idea for the song while out fishing with a friend, who stated that his wife had told him he could go fishing anytime he wanted, but she would be gone when he got back.

“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” by Toby Keith

“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released in May 2002 as the lead single from his album Unleashed. The song’s lyrics express a patriotic sentiment, and became popular in the wake of the September 11 attacks. It peaked at number one on both the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Country Airplay) chart and the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Keith’s only single to top both charts. In 2009, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” was named the greatest patriotic country song of all time by County Music Television.

“Angels” by Montgomery Gentry

“Angels” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Montgomery Gentry. It was released in May 2003 as the third single from their album My Town. The song peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in October 2003.

The song was written by Eddie Montgomery, Troy Gentry and Hillary Lindsey.