The Best Country Songs of the 80s

What are the best country songs from the 80s?

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Media had a huge impact on Country music during the 1980s, starting in 1980 with the film Urban Cowboy. The film, which starred John Travolta, helped popularize Country music. Among other songs "Urban Cowboy" featured "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by the Charlie Daniels Band. This trend was spurred on even further by Dolly Parton's hit movie 9 to 5.

Another way media had an influence on Country music came with Cable and, along with it, cable networks such as TNN (The Nashville Network), and CMT (Country Music Television). Both of these networks were launched in March of 1983.

Country music began crossing over into the popular charts during the 1980s. Willie Nelson had three songs in the Billboard top 5 in the early eighties: "Always On My Mind," "To All The Girls I've Loved Before" with Julio Iglesias, and "Highwayman" with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson. Another number 1 hit occurred in 1983 was Shelly West's barn burning "Jose Cuervo."

Interestingly, 1986 and 1989 seemed to be the best years for Country music as they sprouted several new major country music artists. They include Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Suzy Bogguss, Lionel Cartwright and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Located below you will find a list of some of the best country songs of the 1980s. For your convenience, we have included links to the sheet music on Sheetmusicplus.com as well as the CD on Amazon.com whenever available. If you are looking to purchase the mp3 or would like to listen to a sample, then click on either the Amazon, Rhapsody, or iTunes links.

Rhapsody provides both music subscriptions as well as individual mp3s for sale in WMA format and iTunes only provides MPEG-4 audio files for sale. However, Amazon does offer mp3s that are compatible with both Windows Media Player and iTunes. For more information about where to purchase music online, we provide it on our Music Downloads page or our Music Subscriptions page.


These singles are considered among the best country songs to hit the charts in the 1980s.

  1. "80's Ladies" performed by K.T. Oslin
     Find it on:  K.T. Oslin - Greatest Hits: Songs from an Aging Sex Bomb - 80's Ladies   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  2. "9 to 5" performed by Dolly Parton
     Find it on:  Dolly Parton - Dolly Parton: Greatest Hits - 9 to 5   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  3. "A Better Man" performed by Clint Black
     Find it on:  Clint Black - Clint Black: Super Hits - A Better Man   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  4. "A Country Boy Can Survive" performed by Hank Williams, Jr.
     Find it on:  Hank Williams, Jr. - Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 - A Country Boy Can Survive   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  5. "A Little Good News" performed by Anne Murray
     Find it on:  Anne Murray - A Little Good News - A Little Good News   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  6. "After All This Time" performed by Rodney Crowell
     Find it on:  Rodney Crowell - Diamonds & Dirt - After All This Time   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  7. "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" performed by Hank Williams, Jr.
     Find it on:  Hank Williams, Jr. - Hank Williams, Jr.: Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 - All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  8. "Always on My Mind" performed by Willie Nelson
     Find it on:  Willie Nelson - Always On My Mind - Always On My Mind   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  9. "Angel of the Morning" performed by Juice Newton
     Find it on:  Juice Newton - Juice Newton's Greatest Hits (And More) - Angel of the Morning   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  10. "Break It To Me Gently" performed by Juice Newton
     Find it on:  Juice Newton - Juice Newton's Greatest Hits (And More) - Break It to Me Gently   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  11. "Chisled in Stone" performed by Vern Gosdin
     Find it on:  Vern Gosdin - Vern Gosdin: Super Hits - Chiseled In Stone   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Sheetmusicplus
  12. "Could I Have This Dance?" performed by Anne Murray
     Find it on:  Anne Murray - Anne Murray: Love Songs - EP - Could I Have This Dance   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  13. "Drivin' My Life Away" performed by Eddie Rabbitt
     Find it on:  Eddie Rabbitt - Eddie Rabbit: All Time Greatest Hits - Drivin' My Life Away   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  14. "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" performed by Kathy Mattea
     Find it on:  Kathy Mattea - Kathy Mattea: A Collection of Hits - Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses   Amazon CD   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  15. "Elvira" performed by Oak Ridge Boys
     Find it on:  The Oak Ridge Boys - Fancy Free - Elvira   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  16. "Forever and Ever, Amen" by Randy Travis
     Find it on:  Randy Travis - Always & Forever - Forever and Ever, Amen   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  17. "Give A Little Love" performed by the Judds
     Find it on:  The Judds - The Judds: Greatest Hits - Give a Little Love   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  18. "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days)" performed by the Judds
     Find it on:  The Judds - The Judds: Number One Hits - Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  19. "He Stopped Loving Her Today" performed by George Jones
     Find it on:  George Jones - George Jones: 16 Biggest Hits - He Stopped Loving Her Today   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  20. "Highwayman" performed by Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson
     Find it on:  Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash & Kris Kristofferson - Highwayman - Highwayman   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  21. "Hold Me" performed by K.T. Oslin
     Find it on:  K.T. Oslin - Greatest Hits: Songs from an Aging Sex Bomb - Hold Me   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  22. "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me" performed by Rosanne Cash
     Find it on:  Rosanne Cash - Hits 1979-1989 - I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  23. "I Love A Rainy Night" performed by Eddie Rabbitt
     Find it on:  Eddie Rabbitt - Eddie Rabbit: All Time Greatest Hits - I Love a Rainy Night   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  24. "I Sang Dixie" performed by Dwight Yoakam
     Find it on:  Dwight Yoakam - The Very Best of Dwight Yoakam - I Sang Dixie   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  25. "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" performed by Barbara Mandrell with George Jones
     Find it on:  Barbara Mandrell & George Jones - Classic Country Gold - I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  26. "I.O.U." performed by Lee Greenwood
     Find it on:  Lee Greenwood - Lee Greenwood: Greatest Hits - I.O.U.   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  27. "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" performed by Keith Whitley
     Find it on:  Keith Whitley - Greatest Hits - I'm No Stranger to the Rain   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  28. "In My Dreams" performed by Emmylou Harris
     Find it on:  Emmylou Harris - Emmylou Harris Anthology: The Warner / Reprise Years - In My Dreams   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  29. "Islands in the Stream" performed by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
     Find it on:  Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - Dolly Parton: Greatest Hits - Islands in the Stream   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  30. "Little Ways" performed by Dwight Yoakam
     Find it on:  Dwight Yoakam - The Very Best of Dwight Yoakam - Little Ways   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  31. "Lost In The Fifties" performed by Ronnie Milsap
     Find it on:  Ronnie Milsap - RCA Country Legends: Ronnie Milsap - Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  32. "Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me" performed by Juice Newton
     Find it on:  Juice Newton - Juice Newton's Greatest Hits (And More) - Love's Been a Little Bit Hard On Me   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  33. "Make No Mistake, She's Mine" performed by Ronnie Milsap and Kenny Rogers
     Find it on:  Ronnie Milsap - Ultimate Ronnie Milsap - Make No Mistake, She's Mine   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody
  34. "Mama He's Crazy" performed by the Judds
     Find it on:  The Judds - The Judds: Greatest Hits - Mama He's Crazy   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  35. "Mountain Music" performed by Alabama
     Find it on:  Alabama - Mountain Music - Mountain Music   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  36. "Old 8x10" performed by Randy Travis
     Find it on:  Randy Travis - Old 8 X 10 - Old 8 x 10   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  37. "On The Other Hand" performed by Randy Travis
     Find it on:  Randy Travis - The Very Best of Randy Travis (Remastered) - On the Other Hand   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  38. "On The Road Again" performed by Willie Nelson
     Find it on:  Willie Nelson - Willie Nelson - 16 Biggest Hits - On the Road Again   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  39. "Queen of Hearts" performed by Juice Newton
     Find it on:  Juice Newton - Juice Newton's Greatest Hits (And More) - Queen of Hearts   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  40. "Southern Flavor" performed by Bill Monroe
     Find it on:  Bill Monroe - Country Music Hall of Fame Series: Bill Monroe - Southern Flavor   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  41. "That Lovin' You Feelin' Again" performed by Emmylou Harris and Roy Orbison
     Find it on:  Emmylou Harris & Roy Orbison - Emmylou Harris Anthology: The Warner / Reprise Years - That Lovin' You Feelin' Again   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s
  42. "That's The Way Love Goes" performed by Merle Haggard
     Find it on:  Merle Haggard - Down Every Road, 1962-94 - That's the Way Love Goes   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  43. "The Wind Beneath My Wings" performed by Gary Morris
     Find it on:  Gary Morris - Gary Morris: Hits 1981-1987 - The Wind beneath My Wings   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  44. "There's A Tear In My Beer" performed by Hank Williams and Hank Williams Jr.
     Find it on:  Hank Williams, Jr. - Hank Williams Jr.: Greatest Hits Vol. 3 - There's a Tear In My Beer (with Hank Williams)   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  45. "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me" performed by Ronnie Milsap
     Find it on:  Ronnie Milsap - Ultimate Ronnie Milsap - (There's) No Gettin' Over Me   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  46. "To All The Girls I've Loved Before" performed by Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
     Find it on:  Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias - Half Nelson - To All the Girls I've Loved Before (With Julio Iglesias)   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  47. "Where've You Been" performed by Kathy Mattea
     Find it on:  Kathy Mattea - Kathy Mattea: A Collection of Hits - Where've You Been   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  48. "Whoever's In New England" performed by Reba McEntire
     Find it on:  Reba McEntire - Reba #1's - Whoever's In New England   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  49. "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?" performed by George Jones
     Find it on:  George Jones - George Jones: 16 Biggest Hits - Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  50. "Why Not Me" performed by the Judds
     Find it on:  The Judds - The Judds: Number One Hits - Why Not Me   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  51. "Young Country" performed by Hank Williams Jr.
     Find it on:  Hank Williams, Jr. - Hank Williams Jr.: Greatest Hits Vol. 3 - Young Country   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  52. "You're The Reason God Made Oklahoma" performed by Frizzell & West
     Find it on:  David Frizzell with Coni Le - Country Super Hits of the 1980s (Re-Recorded Versions) - You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma (Re-Recorded)   Amazon CD   Sheetmusicplus


The Best Songs Music Line

Find some of the best songs of the 1980s by selecting one of the links below:



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The Best Songs