Best Country Songs of the ’90s

Grab your cowboy hat and dust off those CDs, because we’re about to take a ride back to the golden era of 90s country music! It was a decade of boot-stomping beats, heartfelt ballads, and anthems so catchy they’re still stuck in our heads. Whether you heard them playing in a packed bar or from your mom’s car radio, these songs are guaranteed hits.

Whether they were about love, loss, or letting loose, these tracks didn’t just rank high on the charts; they rooted themselves in our culture. Hits like “Strawberry Wine” by Deana Carter encapsulated the feelings of that first love, while the Dixie Chicks’ “Wide Open Spaces” represented the longing and freedom that defined a new generation. 

So, buckle up and prepare to feel nostalgic. These iconic songs still have us two-stepping, tearing up, and singing at the top of our lungs. It’s the sound of a decade we’ll never forget!

"Boot Scootin' Boogie" – Brooks & Dunn

"Boot Scootin' Boogie" - Brooks & Dunn
Image via Arista Nashville(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d05tQrhNMkA)
  • Year: 1991
  • Billboard Hot Country Songs Ranking: #1
  • Certification: 4x Platinum

Take a gander inside any honky tonk, and you’ll hear “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” by Brooks & Dunn blasting from the speakers. Released in 1991, the song took on a life of its own, reinvigorating the South’s love for line dancing. The upbeat rhythm and gritty vocals from Brooks & Dunn make it impossible not to get up and move!

"I Like It, I Love It" – Tim McGraw

"I Like It, I Love It" - Tim McGraw
Paul Natkin/Archive Photos/Getty Images(https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/american-musician-tim-mcgraw-plays-guitar-as-he-performs-news-photo/487636573?adppopup=true)
  • Year: 1995
  • Billboard Hot Country Songs Ranking: #1
  • Certification: 2x Platinum

 

Country music icon Tim McGraw is falling head over heels in his hit song “I Like It, I Love It.” In the song, he’s holding umbrellas, opening up doors for a girl, and wants some more of it! The country-rock jam skyrocketed to #1 and is certified 2x Platinum. It sounds like listeners liked it and loved it!

"Wide Open Spaces" – Dixie Chicks

"Wide Open Spaces" - Dixie Chicks
Image via Monument(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dom7VlltBUc&list=RDdom7VlltBUc&start_radio=1)
  • Year: 1998
  • Billboard Hot Country Songs Ranking: #1
  • Certification: 2x Platinum

No coming-of-age playlist is complete without “Wide Open Spaces” by the Dixie Chicks. Every girl needs room to make her big mistakes! This country anthem makes you want to drive with the windows down, yelling the lyrics. It went 2x platinum in everyone’s car back in the day!

"Friends in Low Places" – Garth Brooks

"Friends in Low Places" - Garth Brooks
Neil H Kitson/Redferns/Getty Images(https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/american-singer-songwriter-garth-brooks-wearing-a-red-and-news-photo/2214819609?adppopup=true)
  • Year: 1990 
  • Billboard Hot Country Songs Ranking: #1
  • Certification:

“Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks, released in 1990, is an iconic country anthem that topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at #1. As the lead single from his album No Fences, this song captures heartbreak with a twist of humor and defiance, making it a timeless favorite among country fans from the ’90s and beyond.

"Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" – Shania Twain

"Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" - Shania Twain
Image via Mercury Nashville(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJL4UGSbeFg&list=RDZJL4UGSbeFg&start_radio=1)
  • Year: 1997
  • Billboard Hot Country Songs Ranking: #4
  • Certification: 3x Platinum

 

Let’s go, girls! “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” by Shania Twain, released in 1997, is the ultimate girl-power anthem. This sassy hit reached #4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and earned a 3x Platinum certification. Its catchy beat and playful energy had everyone singing along and dancing their hearts out.

"Achy Breaky Heart" – Billy Ray Cyrus

"Achy Breaky Heart" - Billy Ray Cyrus
Image via PolyGram/Mercury(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byQIPdHMpjc&list=RDbyQIPdHMpjc&start_radio=1)
  • Year: 1992  
  • Billboard Hot Country Songs Ranking: #1
  • Certification: 1x Platinum

 

“Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus had everyone line dancing back in the day! This playful, toe-tapping tune shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and snagged a Platinum certification. With its unforgettable lyrics and danceable beat, it became a country classic that still gets folks moving!

"Fancy" – Reba McEntire

"Fancy" - Reba McEntire
Image via MCA(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zplc4Ienkws&list=RDzplc4Ienkws&start_radio=1)
  • Year: 1990 
  • Billboard Hot Country Songs Ranking: #8
  • Certification: 2x Platinum

 

“Fancy” by Reba McEntire, released in 1990, is a bold and dramatic Southern Gothic hit. This 2x Platinum hit, which peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, is a cover from singer Bobbie Gentry. With its powerful storytelling and vocals, “Fancy” still reigns as one of country music’s most memorable anthems, no matter who’s singing it!

"Strawberry Wine" – Deana Carter

"Strawberry Wine" - Deana Carter
Image via Capitol Nashville(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up06CryWQpE&list=RDUp06CryWQpE&start_radio=1)
  • Year: 1996
  • Billboard Hot Country Songs Ranking: #1
  • Certification: 2x Platinum

 

“Strawberry Wine” by Deana Carter, released in 1996, is a trip down memory lane. This 2x Platinum classic topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at #1, captivating listeners with its bittersweet story of first love and growing up. With its wistful lyrics and tender melody, “Strawberry Wine” remains a cherished favorite that defined ‘90s country music.

"This Kiss" – Faith Hill

"This Kiss" - Faith Hill
Image via Warner Bros. Nashville(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dls_cBmUt7Q&list=RDdls_cBmUt7Q&start_radio=1)
  • Year: 1998
  • Billboard Hot Country Songs Ranking: #1
  • Certification: 1x Platinum

 

“This Kiss” by Faith Hill, released in 1998, is a romantic and dreamy chart-topping hit! Its centrifugal motion landed at the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and earned it a Platinum certification – all thanks to its endearing lyrics and Faith’s powerful vocals. It’s no wonder this song is one of the best of the decade!

"Neon Moon" – Brooks & Dunn

"Neon Moon" - Brooks & Dunn
NBCUniversal/NBC/Getty Images(https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/episode-176-pictured-kix-brooks-and-ronnie-dunn-of-musical-news-photo/485383313?adppopup=true)
  • Year: 1991
  • Billboard Hot Country Songs Ranking: #1
  • Certification: 5x Platinum

 

“Neon Moon” by Brooks & Dunn, released in 1991, is a reflective country masterpiece. This heartfelt ballad hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and achieved an impressive 5x Platinum certification. With its soulful lyrics and gentle melody, it’s a timeless anthem for lonely nights that continues to resonate deeply with country fans everywhere.

Posted by Avery Morse

Avery Morse graduated from the University of Central Arkansas, where she studied English and Marketing. She’s a bookworm, matcha enthusiast, and cat lover.

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