Staff Writer Sarah Engemann’s Best Country Music of 2023

2023 was an epic year for new country music from new Riley Green, Morgan Wallen’s double album, Luke Comb’s follow up to “Growin’ Up”, even more, Zach Bryan, Hardy’s half rock half country album, and Megan Moroney’s debut record. This is my roundup of my personal favorites from 2023. A lot of who I listen to has to do with what concerts I will be seeing that year. Judge all you want, I like who I like and that’s it. Everything nominated was either a song released in 2023 or an album that was released in 2023. So sorry nothing from Lainey Wilson's “Bell Bottom Country” because that would’ve won all my categories.

Best Female Album

- Ashley Cooke – shot in the dark

- Elle King – Come Get Your Wife

- Ashley McBryde – The Devil I Know

- Megan Moroney – Lucky (Deluxe)

- Lauren Watkins - Introducing: Lauren Watkins

WINNER – “LUCKY (DELUXE)” MEGAN MORONEY

Just like every country boy, I too am in love with Megan Moroney. There is not a single bad song on this debut album and I could have it on repeat for the rest of my life. There’s a song for every girl on this record. It’s got sad emo cowgirl songs, upbeat drunk bad decisions bangers, and lots of love lullabies. If you haven’t gone from dancing to “Lucky” to daydreaming about Morgan Wallen listening to “Tennessee Orange” to crying your eyes out to “Girl in the Mirror” to acting out Taylor Swift’s music video for “You Belong with Me” while listening to “Traitor Joe,” you are not normal or lying. And just when I think the album can’t get any better she released a deluxe version with songs featuring fellow blondie Mackenzie Carpenter and my husband (or at least in my mind he is) Kameron Marlowe to top it off. Ladies put on your sparkly prom dresses and turn this record up.

Best Male Album

- Jordan Davis – Bluebird Days

- Hardy – Mocking Bird and the Crow

- Chase Rice – I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell

- Nate Smith – Nate Smith

- Morgan Wallen – One Thing at a Time

WINER – “I HATE COWBOYS & ALL DOGS GO TO HELL” CHASE RICE

I listened to this album to prepare for his headlining show in Chicago and have had it on repeat ever since. I feel like this is the first time Chase is putting out music he wants to and is passionate about. I can’t listen to “Bad Day to be a Cold Beer” without it instantly putting me into a good mood. “Goodnight Nancy” is a good dive bar drunk dance hit and “I Walk Alone” was a highlight at his live show. And his song “Key West and Colorado” inspired one of my vacations this year.

Best Group Album

- Dan + Shay – Bigger Houses

- Flatland Cavalry – Wandering Star

- Old Dominion – Memory Lane

- Brothers Osborne – Brothers Osborne

- Restless Road – Last Rodeo

WINNER – “MEMORY LANE” OLD DOMINION

Old Dominion has found what songs work for them and this album is no different. This album is filled with day-drunk, beach bum, and good vibes melodies. “Memory Lane” offers a different sound than what we are used to from them. They have also had success with “I Should Have Married You” and “Can’t Break Up Now” with Megan Moroney. My favorites from the album are “A Million Things” and “Ain’t Got a Worry.”

Best EP

- Kelsea Ballerini - Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good)

- Mackenzie Carpenter – Don’t Mess With Exes

- Russell Dickerson – Three Months Two Streets Down

- Drew Parker – At The End Of The Dirt Road

- Matt Stell – One of Us

WINNER – “ROLLING UP THE WELCOME MAT (FOR GOOD)” KELSEA BALLERINI

I have to admit I was not the biggest Kelsea fan until I heard “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat.” I think it tells a beautifully sad story about falling out of love and starting over. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better she extended “The Interlude” and added “How Do I Do This.” I think it perfectly captures all too relatable feelings that so many have felt but never sung about before.

New Artist of My Year – People I did not know existed before this year, even though they have probably been in the country music circuit before this year

- Dillon Carmichael

- Josh Ross

- Connor Smith

- Austin Snell

- Lauren Watkins

WINNER – LAUREN WATKINS

I have been in love with female artists this year and Lauren Watkins is somewhere near the top of that list. I first heard Lauren on Sirius XM's The Highway with “Shirley Temple” and quickly became obsessed with her album “Introducing: Lauren Watkins.” She has since gotten number 1 on The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown with “Anybody But You.” My favorite song of hers is “Sleeping In My Makeup.” Check out her latest EP “Introducing: The Heartbreak.”

Best Single Male

- Jordan Davis – Damn Good Time

- Riley Green – Mississippi or Me

- Hardy – Truck Bed

- Sam Hunt – Outskirts

- Morgan Wallen - Everything I Love

WINNER – “TRUCK BED” HARDY

I was a little skeptical about Hardy’s half country/half rock album “Mockingbird and The Crow” and was very surprised to find I liked the rock half better. “Truck Bed” has been my workout anthem this year. I also love the play on words “I woke up on the wrong side of the truck bed this morning.” I never thought I’d be head-banging to a song about a truck, but here we are. Leave it to Michael Hardy to pull off punk rock on country radio.

Best Single Female

- Kelsea Ballerini – Blindsided

- Priscilla Block – Fake Names

- Ashley Cooke – your place

- Megan Moroney – Lucky

- Lauren Watkins – Sleeping in My Makeup

WINNER – “LUCKY” MEGAN MORONEY

The weatherman says there’s a 100% chance that this song is a hit. I can’t help but dance to this upbeat song about making bad decisions. The pauses, tone, and added instruments add to the overall old-school vibe of the song. This is a song that every college-age girl can relate to and sing in their sorority house at the top of their lungs.

Best Group Single

- Brothers Osborne – Might As Well Be Me

- Brothers Osborne – Nobody’s Nobody

- Old Dominion – A Million Things

- Restless Road – Last Rodeo

- Tigerlily Gold – Shoot Tequila

WINNER – “LAST RODEO” RESTLESS ROAD

I’m not going to lie when I first heard Restless Road I thought they were the country music Jonas Brothers, but after seeing them open for Russell Dickerson they are far from a copy-paste. The neighing and whistles at the beginning of the song make you feel like you truly are at a rodeo. I love this unique analogy for getting over a breakup.

Best Summer Single – songs you listen to on a boat, on the beach, on the lake, etc.

- Russell Dickerson – Beauty and the Beach

- Russell Dickerson - Down on the Beach

- Brian Kelly – See You Next Summer

- Old Dominion – Ain’t Got a Worry

- Jake Owen – On the Boat Again

WINNER – “DOWN ON THE BEACH” RUSSELL DICKERSON

Russell turned his stage into a beach when he broke out a lawn chair and a pink flamingo floatie when performing this in his show in Boston. It’s just a feel-good catchy beach song that everyone can relate to with creative lyrics. Hands down my favorite lyric of the year is “Sippin’ on a Heine with my heinie in the sand.”

Best Sad Boy/Breakup Anthem

- Dylan Marlowe – Empty Shotgun (Hey Mr. Mechanic)

- Dylan Marlowe – Record High

- Ian Munsick – Barn Burner

- Chase Rice – All Dogs Go To Hell

- Chris Stapleton – What Am I Gonna Do

WINNER – “BARN BURNER” IAN MUNSICK

I’ve heard a lot of cheatin’ crazy ex-girlfriend songs over the years like “Before He Cheats” and “Got My Name Changed Back,” but it’s been quite a while since I’ve heard a crazy ex-boyfriend song like this. “She broke my heart then her barn burned down as one thing led to the other” about sums it up. Ian Munsick’s gritty twangy voice just makes it all the better.

Best Love Song

- Luke Combs – Love You Anyway

- Mickey Guyton feat. Kane Brown – Nothing Compares to You

- Drew Parker – I’ll Love You Longer

- Nate Smith – If I Could Stop Loving You

- Chris Stapleton – I Think I’m in Love With You

WINNER – DREW PARKER “I’LL LOVE YOU LONGER”

Ooof the girls must’ve been scorned this year because this was a mostly male-dominated category. This was a toss-up between Drew Parker and Chris Stapleton. I love the blues sound mixed with Stapleton’s soothing voice on “I Think I’m in Love With You,” but ultimately I have to give this to “I’ll Love You Longer.” The tone inflections and extended notes get me every time. This song makes me believe that someone is going to love me longer than the Mississippi River. He has lots of real-life inspiration from his wife and adorable daughter. I’d say he has a knack for writing love songs with writing credits on Luke Comb’s “Nothing Like You” and “Forever After All” as well.

Best Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Song – songs you put on your crazy ex-girlfriend playlist to listen to when men make you angry. Girls, you know exactly what I’m talking about

- Kelsea Ballerini – Interlude (Full Length)

- Megan Moroney – Sleep on My Side

- Elle King – Tulsa

- Kasey Tyndall - Dirt Road to Hell

- Lauren Watkins – Anybody But You

WINNER – “INTERLUDE (FULL LENGTH)” KELSEA BALLERINI

The sass in this song is incredible and didn’t come across it until the full-length version came out. “We really turned goodbye to a game, to a hobby. You collected bones, but I buried the body,” is my favorite line especially with the bones knocking together in the background. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted to say in an argument but didn’t because you were trying to stay civil. Really any song off of “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat” could’ve won this category.

Best Drinkin’ Song

- Dillon Carmichael – Drinkin’ Problems

- Jordan Davis – Damn Good Time

- Larry Fleet – Beer Needs a Beer

- Chase Rice – Bad Day To Be a Cold Beer

- Nate Smith – One Good Girl

WINNER – “BEER NEEDS A BEER” LARRY FLEET

While this is not the most upbeat drinkin’ song, I think it perfectly captures the feeling of having a long work week where the beer is overdue. As someone who has a full-time job and 3 part-time jobs, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve quoted “My day needs a day to get itself together” to my boss this year. So here’s to everyone out there who’s overworked, overbooked, and just trying to get through the week. This one’s for you. Get your beer a beer.

Best Comfort Song – lighthearted easy melody songs to listen to on a quiet drive or with morning coffee

- Kelsea Ballerini – Leave Me Again

- Luke Combs - Fast Car

- Jordan Davis – Tausan Too Late

- Ashley McBryde – Light on in the Kitchen

- Chase Rice – Key West and Colorado

WINNER – “LIGHT ON IN THE KITCHEN” ASHLEY MCBRYDE

“Light on in the Kitchen” is comfort food for the ears. Listening to this song is like getting a warm hug from a loved one. I can’t think of a better way to capture all of the life advice and things a mom says to a daughter to pick her up and help guide her through life. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve heard my own mom say at least half of these things to me in my lifetime which just makes the song all the better.

Best Ugly Singing Song – A song you just crank up and sing as loud as you can

- Jordan Davis – Damn Good Time

- Priscilla Block – Fake Names

- Megan Moroney – I’m Not Pretty

- Morgan Wallen – Ain’t That Some

- Morgan Wallen - Everything I Love

WINNER – “EVERYTHING I LOVE” MORGAN WALLEN

This was easily my favorite song off “One Thing at a Time” the first time through listening to it. I love the subtle “Midnight Rider” reference and beat throughout the song. I loved watching the stadium recite every word to this one on Morgan’s “One Night at a Time” tour this summer. It was cool to see every single person dancing and screaming the lyrics to their friends sitting beside them rather than staring straight ahead at the stage. I still obnoxiously ugly sing this song in the ear of anyone who’s earshot when it comes on.

Best Collab

- Zach Bryan feat. Maggie Rogers – Dawns

- Hardy, Morgan Wallen, and Post Malone – Pickup Man

- Mickey Guyton feat. Kane Brown – Nothing Compares to You

- Megan Moroney and Makenzie Carpenter – Nothin’ Crazy

- Morgan Wallen feat. Eric Church – Man Made a Bar

WINNER – “MAN MADE A BAR” MORGAN WALLEN FEAT. ERIC CHURCH

It’s about time Morgan and Eric did a collab as they are one of country music’s favorite friendships/mentorships. The CMA Award show performance was one of my favorite moments of the night with Eric’s tone inflections. Also, how can I not pick a song that involves my 3 favorite artists? While this song is sung by Wallen and Church, Larry Fleet is a writer on it which makes it a trifecta in my mind.

Best Play on Words Song

- Megan Moroney – Traitor Joe

- Ashley Cooke – your place

- Lauren Watkins – Grain of Salt

- Scotty McCreary – Cab in a Solo

- Hardy – Truck Bed

WINNER – “YOUR PLACE” ASHLEY COOKE

Ashley Cooke has been making waves in country music for a few years now, but this is the first song that caught my ear. Her play on words like “My spare time and my spare key don’t go to your front door” and “You don’t get to care where I’m waking up these days, it ain’t your place” to convey that her ex-boyfriend doesn’t get an opinion on her life anymore is pure genius. It’s a tasteful way to say “Screw you.”

Staff Writer Sarah Engemann’s Best Country Music of 2023

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