Finding out that your lover has been unfaithful is, without a doubt, one of the worst and most heartbreaking feelings in the world. However, on the brighter side of such a horrible situation, your favorite music artists have written country songs about cheating to help you get through.
Whether you’ve been cheated on or probably, done the cheating – there are country songs about the warning signs of a cheating partner or country ballads about love triangles and forbidden romance that you would definitely relate to or pull on your heartstrings. After all, country stars are known for wearing their hearts on their sleeves.
So, without further ado, here are the perfect country songs about cheating for whatever you’re feeling.
1. Jolene by Dolly Parton
Released in 1973, “Jolene” swiftly became one of Parton’s most popular songs and is one of the most classic country songs about adultery and betrayal. In the song, a wife begs a stunningly beautiful red-haired woman named Jolene not to steal her man.
It helped Dolly Parton earn a Grammy Awards nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. It was also certified gold and has since been recorded by various artists.
2. Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood
Three decades later, Carrie Underwood recorded one of the most loved cheating country songs that tell a story of heartbreak and betrayal. “Before He Cheats” – which tells the story of a woman taking revenge on her unfaithful partner by vandalizing his car, smashing its headlights, and slashing its tires – took country music by storm. It even became a massive crossover success, ranking No. 8 on Billboard Hot 100.
3. Stay by Sugarland
Sugarland’s “Stay” is one of the hardest-hitting, raw, and honest country songs about two-timing and deceit. Interestingly, the song takes the mistress’ perspective of a man cheating on his wife. It begins with the mistress persuading the cheating husband to stay with her, despite his wife calling and asking where he is – just because the mistress is tired of being lonely.
In the end, the mistress realizes she doesn’t deserve a man who will never be completely hers.
4. Wish I Didn’t Know Now by Toby Keith
Here’s one of the most emotional country songs about the pain of being cheated on. Written by Toby Keith, the song tells the story of a man suspecting his lover was cheating and how he eventually found out his suspicions were true. Still, he went on blindly loving her.
It placed a spell on all who listened that it ranked No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
5. You Ain’t Woman Enough (to Take My Man) by Loretta Lynn
Without any doubt, this is one of the best cheating spouse country songs that are both heartbreaking and empowering.
Loretta Lynn shows her strong side in the biggest hit of her career, “You Ain’t Woman Enough (to Take My Man),” which shows her confronting a woman going after her man. Amazingly, the song was based on a real-life experience of a woman confiding in Lynn about how another woman was trying to steal her husband.
6. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under? by Shania Twain
While this saucy song was never a huge hit, it endured as one the most favorite country songs about being cheated on, which Shania Twain sang live at almost all her concerts. In the song, Twain tells her man to cross her off his list the next time he feels lonely. She knew he was fooling around and that she was not the only girl he had run to.
7. Whoever’s in New England by Reba McEntire
Here’s one of the top country songs about unfaithful partners and broken trust by country legend Reba McEntire. The song tells a Southern woman’s heartbreaking narrative as she believes her husband is having an affair whenever he leaves for Boston week after week “each time duty calls.”
For You
The song won McEntire her first Grammy Award in the Best Female Country Vocal Performance category.
8. White Liar by Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert has written some of the feistiest country songs about lying and cheating. Take, for instance, “White Liar,” which finds her confronting her husband for cheating. She calls him a white liar for deceiving her.
Meanwhile, Lambert donated the original, handwritten copy of the song to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for public display.
9. I Guess You Had To Be There by Lorrie Morgan
Lorrie Morgan knows how to stir your emotions. Released in 1993 off her album Watch Me, “I Guess You Had To Be There” peaked at No. 14 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It tells the story of a wife watching her husband with his new lover, happier than he’s ever been. She realized they had drifted so much apart.
10. The Window Up Above by George Jones
Many music critics praised the song as George Jones’ greatest composition. The country legend revealed that he wrote “The Window Up Above” within just twenty minutes while sitting down in a den one morning. He said the song was inspired by his deep-rooted fear of whatever is lurking under the “dream of hearth and home and happiness.”
11. The Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks delivered one of the most powerful country songs that capture the devastation of infidelity as he sings about a woman finding out that her lover has been cheating on her. While waiting for her man to come home late in the evening, she prayed he was safe and not cheating – only to smell a brand-new perfume on him. The thunder rolls in her heart for his betrayal.
12. On the Other Hand by Randy Travis
Written by renowned songwriters Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz, “On the Other Hand” became Randy Travis’ first No. 1 hit in the United States and Canada. It tells the story of a man tempted by another woman. He found himself making a list of the pros and cons of the current turbulent situation he was in.
13. Does He Love You by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis
This cheating song features a vocal battle between Reba McEntire and Linda Davis as the wife and the mistress of the same man. Although both of them know that the man is being unfaithful, they can’t help but wonder to whom his heart belongs. It won Grammy Awards for Best Country Vocal Collaboration and a CMA Award for Vocal Event of the Year.
14. When I Think About Cheatin’ by Gretchen Wilson
Released by Gretchen Wilson as the third single off her 2004 debut album, “When I Think About Cheatin'” tells the story of a woman doing all her might to resist the temptation of infidelity. She knows the possibility of losing her relationship over a new man would be too much for her to handle.
15. Someone Else Calling You Baby by Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan’s “Someone Else Calling You Baby” ranked No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart as several fans relate to the song about a man who sees his lover in someone else’s truck. He was left wondering if she was leaving him for someone else.
What do you think about these country songs about cheating? Go on and add them to your playlist, crank up the volume, and sing your heart out.
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