Best In Country Music 2024

2024: A Year in Review by Sarah Engemann

Albums

2024 saw many crossovers in Country Music from artists like Post Malone and Beyonce. Many anticipated albums from Riley Green, Koe Wetzel, and Lainey Wilson. We sobbed with Luke Comb’s “Father’s and Sons,” felt the 2000’s punk rock from Hardy’s “Quit!!”, and went to the moon with Megan Moroney in “Am I Ok?” It was a big year for collaborations and debut albums. Here is my take on the best country songs released in 2024.

Female Album

·       Megan Moroney – Am I Ok?

·       Lauren Watkins – The Heartbroken Record

·       Ella Langley – still hungover

·       Mackenzie Porter – Nobody’s Born With a Broken Heart

·       Lainey Wilson – Whirlwind

Winner: Ella Langley – Still Hungover

 Ella’s debut album did not fall short of anything and her deluxe version was even better. This album is vulnerable, raw, relatable, and raspy. There isn’t a bad song on the record. “Better Be Tough” is your typical crazy ex-girlfriend song. “Love You Tonight” depicts relatable regrets. “Girl Who Drank Wine” is just a mystery. My personal favorites are “Hungover”, “Nicotine”, and “Blame the Bar.” The deluxe version includes even more hits like “Weren’t for the Wind” and “Girl You’re Taking Home.”

Male Album

·       Riley Green – Don’t Mind If I Do

·       Post Malone – F-1 Trillion

·       Dylan Marlowe – Mid-Twenties Crisis

·       Kameron Marlowe – Keepin’ the Lights On

·       Zach Top – Cold Beer & Country Music

Winner: Riley Green – Don’t Mind If I Do

 “Don’t Mind If I Do” is arguably some of his best work yet. “Jesus Saves” should have been nominated for every category in the book for its storytelling and harsh truth. “Damn Good Day to Leave” and “Rather Be” are great upbeat breakup songs that are right up his alley. The self-titled track with Ella Langley makes me want them to put out a whole album of just duets. I was a moderate fan of Riley Green and this album changed my mind.

 Group/Duo/Collab Album

·       Tigerlily Gold – Blonde

·       Hixtape Volume 3: Difftape – Various

·       Brooks & Dunn – Reboot II

·       Midland – Barely Blue

·       The Red Clay Strays – Made by These Moments

Winner: Midland – Barely Blue

“Barely Blue” is great for easy listening with a stiff drink. It’s soft, sad, and mellow. It makes me want to find a bar in the desert that serves good whiskey and you can still smoke inside. It’s good old-fashioned sad country music mixed with some lovin’. My favorites off the album are “Barely Blue,” “Old Fashioned Feeling,” and “Lone Star State of Mind.”

 Debut Album

·       Ella Langley – hungover

·       Drew Parker – Camouflage Cowboy

·       Josh Ross - Complicated

·       Zach Top – Cold Beer & Country Music

·       Lauren Watkins – The Heartbroken Record

Winner: Ella Langley – Hungover

 No surprise here. It was probably one of the most anticipated debut albums in country music this year after previously finding success with her EP “Excuse the Mess,” which had “That’s Why We Fight” with Koe Wetzel and “Paint the Town Blue.” This album did not fall short of expectations. It was raw, emotional, sassy, and humorous, paired with incredible vocals and witty lyrics.

 EP

·       Ryan and Rory – Self-Titled

·       Maddie and Tae - What a Woman Can Do

·       Russell Dickerson – Bones the EP

·       Vincent Mason – Can’t Just Be Me

·       Tucker Wetmore – Waves on a Sunset

Winner: Tucker Wetmore – Waves on a Sunset

I’ll be honest. I was not the biggest Tucker fan when this EP first came out. I thought he was just another Morgan Wallen dupe, but after giving it some further airtime, I have changed my tune. “Wind Up Missin’ You” is one of my favorite songs of the year and gets stuck in my head every time. Other favorites are “Silverado Blue” and “You, Honey.” I am excited to see his career path over the next few years.

 Collaborations

·       Morgan Wallen and Post Malone – I Had Some Help

·       Blake Shelton and Post Malone – Pour Me a Drink

·       Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood – I’m Gonna Love You

·       Ella Langley and Riley Green – you look like you love me

·       Gavin Adcock and Vincent Mason – Almost Gone

 Winner: Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood – I’m Gonna Love You

Cody Johnson has slowly grown on me over the past few years and this song sold me on him. It’s been a minute since we have had a good country love song collab. I feel like there hasn’t been this good of a country love song since Tim and Faith's “I Need You.” Cody and Carrie’s voices together are a chef’s kiss. It’s a collab I never knew I needed that has restored my faith that true love does exist.

 Sad Collabs

·       Graham Barham and Lauren Watkins – Straight to My Heart

·       Ernest and Lainey Wilson – I Would If I Could

·       Riley Green and Ella Langley – Don’t Mind If I Do

·       Kameron Marlowe and Ella Langley – Strangers

·       Koe Wetzel and Jessie Murph – High Road

Winner: Riley Green and Ella Langley – Don’t Mind If I Do

 This song makes me want to cry every time. The soft vulnerable nature of admitting to yourself that you miss someone makes it so relatable. Unpopular opinion: this collab is better than “You look like you love me.” Ella’s raspy voice is perfect for the last verse. At least this song has a happy ending because most of the time in real life they don’t.

 Runner up: Ernest and Lainey Wilson – I Would If I Could

I swear this song is “The Chair” by George Strait reincarnated.

 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Songs

·       Wranglers - Miranda Lambert

·       Better Be Tough – Ella Langley

·       Indifferent – Megan Moroney

·       Truck on Fire – Carly Pearce

·       Mama I Made It - Lauren Watkins

Winner: Mama I Made It – Lauren Watkins

 I love this song because it is nothing like I thought it would be from the title. It’s a rare confession for a female to admit that she started a fight in a relationship and has to deal with the consequences. “This train’s a wreck. It’s such a mess and Mama I made it.” The perspective of this song coming from a phone call to her mom makes it so unique.

 Mad as Hell Boyfriend Songs

·       Psycho – Hardy

·       How Do You Sleep at Night? – Cody Johnson

·       Darlin’ – Chase Matthew

·       Bulletproof – Nate Smith

·       High Road – Koe Wetzel

Winner: Darlin’ – Chase Matthew

 I had this song on repeat all summer. So catchy. “Ole boy drives a Ridgeline and I drive a Chevy. He ain’t got no straight pipe so baby can you tell me, why’s he call you darlin?” this might be one of the best disses I’ve ever heard because the Honda Ridgeline, while it might be fuel efficient and safe, is the worst of all trucks. I was not a big fan of Chase Matthews before this, but I sure am now.

Love Song

·        Quit You – Kameron Marlowe

·        Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney

·        Meanwhile in Carolina – Connor Smith

·        Wind Up Missin’ You – Tucker Wetmore

·        4X4XU – Lainey Wilson

Winner: 4X4XU – Lainey Wilson

This song was written by Lainey and one of my favorite songwriters, Aaron Raitiere who also wrote: “You look like you love me.” I could have this song on repeat and never get sick of it. Nothing like coming home to your man after a long day. I imagine Lainey and Devlin riding off into the sunset in a dust cloud with this one.

 Sad Boy Song

·        Man He Sees in Me – Luke Combs

·        Hell is a Dance Floor – Vincent Mason

·        Love the Leavin' – Drew Parker

·        Use Me – Zach Top

·        I Never Lie - Zach Top

Winner: Drew Parker – Love the Leavin’

Drew’s voice is made for this song. The passion that comes through is so powerful. You can feel him begging his baby to come home through the speakers. It was a pretty cool moment to hear Drew’s voice on this one echo in the speakers of American Family Field prior to the song being released.

 Sad Girl Song

·       Girl You’re Taking Home – Ella Langley

·       Hungover – Ella Langley

·       Heaven By Noon – Megan Moroney

·       No Caller ID – Megan Moroney

·       I Tried a Ring On – Tigerlily Gold

Winner: No Caller ID – Megan Moroney

 I have never heard a song that captures what dating in your 20s is like right now more than this one. In the age of modern technology, there isn’t a single college girl who can’t relate to this song about a guy trying to weasel his way back into your life at 3 AM right after you start to move on. No matter how many times you block, ignore, or leave on do not disturb they will find a way to remind you that they exist. And I think Megan Moroney does an excellent job of putting into words what that feels like. Now excuse me while I cry on the floor with this song on repeat like an emo cowgirl.

 Play on Words Song

·       Bless You Heart – Megan Moroney

·       Man on the Moon – Megan Moroney

·       Reel Problems – Riley Green and Luke Bryan

·       State I’m In – Ryan and Rory

·       Mama I Made It – Lauren Watkins

Winner – Man on the Moon – Megan Moroney

The lyrics to this song are so different than anything that’s out there right now. It’s clever, relatable, and upbeat. It’s my favorite song on “Am I Ok?” I love the line “I don’t mean to be dramatic, but can somebody call NASA or a billionaire with money to burn” because it sounds like a line I would say in a conversation with one of my girlfriends when I’m over a guy.

 New Kid on the Block: People I Haven't Heard of Before this Year

·       Graham Barham

·       George Birge

·       Vincent Mason

·       Ryan and Rory

·       Tucker Wetmore

Winner: Ryan and Rory

Ryan and Rory are newer than new. While neither are new to music, they’re new as a duo. They gained traction this year opening for Sam Hunt and Jamey Johnson. As well as having “Pour Decisions” climbing the charts on SiriusXM. Their debut self-titled EP has been one of my favorites this year. My personal favorites are “Drunk and Lonely” and “State I’m In.” The way they harmonize and play off each other is great. Keep an eye on these guys in 2025.

 Artists that Have Been Around for a Minute That I Finally Gave a Chance

·       Wyatt Flores

·       Cody Johnson

·       Chase Matthew

·       Zach Top

·       Koe Wetzel

Winner: Zach Top

Zach Top is the artist every 20-something like myself has been looking for. Zach Top is for the generation that didn’t get to witness Garth, Alan, or George in their prime, but grew up on their music. He is bringing the 90’s sound back into a country music world that sounds more like pop and rap every day. He’s the leader in bringing classic country back and I’m hating myself for not listening sooner. Country music is in good hands with Mr. Top. Check out his debut album “Cold Beer and Country Music.”

 Bonus Categories

Best Podcast

Winner: Highway Feet Podcast

A feel-good listen with some good ole boys from Larry Fleet’s team just shootin’ the breeze

Best Movie Soundtrack

Winner: Twisters

A star-studded powerhouse of country music that didn’t nearly get enough emphasis in the movie.

Best Cross Over Into Country Music

Winner: Post Malone

Most anticipated crossover of the year and it didn’t disappoint.

Favorite Fiddle Player

Winner: Christian Stolz

Pretty much the only reason I bought tickets to Ernest was to see Christian play. Sorry, not sorry.