Ever since Carly Pearce graced the country radio five years ago, she has quickly carved a place for herself in today’s country music landscape. Carly Pearce songs about her doubt, hard-hitting truths, and making space for grief, laughter, and growth are relatable enough, taking the country world by storm.
From a very young age, the Kentucky native already knew that a career as a country singer was her future. So, she took a big leap to make it happen – until her luck began to turn in 2016 when her independent single started making an impression on the radio.
And today, her success shows no sign of stopping. In addition to being officially the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, Pearce also has two brand-new CMA nominations. And we’re just so excited to see what’s more in store for this young artist. But in the meantime, let’s look at some of her greatest hits so far.
1. “Every Little Thing”
Carly Pearce first turned heads with her heartbreaking ballad “Every Little Thing,” which she wrote for the man who once broke her heart – little did she know it would shoot her to fame. The song reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay while peaking at No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
2. “Hide the Wine”
This sassy tune sings about a very relatable situation. It tells the story of having a little too much to drink and then giving a then-lover a call – which you definitely should not do! As Pearce suggests, better hide that drink before doing something you’d later on regret.
3. “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
Inspired by the country songstress’ own past relationship, Pearce joined forces with Lee Brice for this breakup ballad, which is an antidote for both hurting parties. As if that tandem is not star-studded enough, “I Hope You’re Happy Now” is also co-written by country star Luke Combs.
4. “Next Girl”
Pearce channeled her love for the women of 90s country into “Next Girl,” a twangy, upbeat message of empowerment for any woman fixated on a relationship that’s filled with broken promises. The country singer said she wrote the song as a love letter to the next woman who dates her old flame.
5. “Call Me”
Pearce showed her flirty side in “Call Me,” a feel-good jam with an irresistible groove and sassy lyrics tailor-made for a woman who’s newly fallen in love. Pearce said she knew she wanted to cut the song the moment she heard it. “As a woman, I love songs that speak to our confidence,” she said.
6. “Messy”
Did you ever find yourself rushing back onto the dating scene after a devastating breakup only to realize it wasn’t right? Well, Pearce runs into the same realization here in “Messy,” wherein she details how the desire for a rebound will leave you capable of making bad decisions.
7. “It Won’t Always Be Like This”
Pearce took this emotional wisdom one step further in this resonant ballad about appreciating every stage of life, which the singer said, “my story in a nutshell. It’s — I just feel like it’s me.”
8. “Heart’s Going Out of Its Mind”
After her second date with then-husband Michael Ray, Pearce wrote this uptempo ballad about the thrill of falling in love.
For You
9. “Never Wanted To Be That Girl”
In her duet with Ashley McBryde, the two country stars confront each other, having been the ‘other woman’ in this confessional story-song “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” – with Pearce as the wife and McBryde as the mistress. They wrapped it up simply regretting their own situation rather than directing their spite towards each other.
10. “Should’ve Known Better”
The country star poured her heart, hurt, and truth in “Should’ve Known Better,” a song she co-wrote with her rage against a lack of intuition being the central theme.
11. “Finish Your Sentences”
Co-written by fellow country superstars Kelsea Ballerini and Thomas Rhett, this lighthearted, pop-infused track captured the early days of Pearce’s early relationship with then-husband, fellow country singer Michael Ray – where they complete each other’s sentences while embracing a feel that calls back to the 90s.
12. “Closer To You”
The romantic song finds Pearce singing about the endless bliss of young love, not wanting to be away from each other.
13. “Dear Miss Loretta”
Carly Pearce may not have met the Coal Miner’s Daughter yet, but she believes they have plenty of things in common. So, she wrote the country icon a letter of admiration through a song, “Dear Miss Loretta.” But what makes this song even more amazing is that Pearce is joined by another country icon, Patty Loveless.
14. “Day One”
After going through a turbulent year, Pearce tries to convince herself that all will be okay in “Day One,” where she shows she’s more resilient than ever.
15. “Show Me Around”
Pearce suffered one big blow in 2019 when she lost her longtime musical mentor, Busbee, after a brief battle with brain cancer. She co-wrote “Show Me Around,” inspired by the speech that fellow songwriter delivered at Busbee’s funeral.
Some More Carly Pearce Songs That Are Undeniably The Best In Her Catalog
Indeed, Pearce is now one of country music’s biggest names, and it’s safe to say things are only just beginning for her.
Here are some more of her songs that you need to check out.
How about you? What are your favorite Carly Pearce songs?
