It’s amazing how listening to country songs about missing someone helps you understand and express your feelings. There are even heartfelt tunes to remind you that you are not alone in this experience and are lucky enough to have someone special that you miss in your life.
Maybe it’s a close friend who has moved far away that you are missing, or perhaps it’s your doting grandparents you have not seen for a while. It could even be a romantic partner that your heart is aching for or an old lover, the one that got away.
While your emotions for these special people are some form of love, they never fail to leave a hole in your heart when they’re gone. And if you’re having trouble expressing these feelings, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking to say with the best country songs about missing someone. Here are our top picks!
1. I Drive Your Truck by Lee Brice
Get your tissues ready, as this is one of the most nostalgic country songs about missing someone that never fails to bring tears to anyone’s eyes! “I Drive Your Truck” is a poignant ballad about a man driving a truck owned by his brother, who sadly died in action during his stint in the US Army. He drives the truck to feel close to his brother.
2. See You Again by Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood released one of the most profound country songs about missing someone who passed away. While it’s very sad to lose someone through death, having faith that you’re going to see them again is such an amazing thing – this is what this power ballad is all about. It conveys the message of the promise of being reunited with every fallen loved one in the afterlife.
3. Where Do I Put Her Memory? by Charley Pride
Charley Pride’s catalog includes one of the most classic country songs about missing someone that contains many sentiments anyone missing someone would surely relate to.
While it’s unclear whether the relationship in this song ended because of a breakup or a death, “Where Do I Put Her Memory?” finds Pride getting rid of everything that would remind him of his lover. Unfortunately, her memory is already etched on his mind.
4. Carrying Your Love with Me by George Strait
Since George Strait released “Carrying Your Love With Me” in 1997, it has become one of the most beloved country songs about missing someone far away and an anthem for anyone in a long-distance relationship. The romantic ballad is actually about a man promising to carry the love of his girl with him whenever he is away from home.
5. Believe by Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn has released several emotional country songs for missing someone throughout their career, and “Believe” is a standout. The poignant ballad features lead vocals from Ronnie Dunn as it tells the story of an elderly man who lost his wife and son. While he is often heartsick, he can keep going because of his faith in seeing them “in just a little while.”
6. Need You Now by Lady A
Country songs about missing someone you can’t be with can make you deal with the raw emotion you feel and can’t get out of your head. Take, for instance, this Grammy Award-winning hit by Lady A.
“Need You Now” describes picking up the phone to call someone in the middle of the night as you feel lonely enough. Sadly, it’s someone you can no longer be with.
7. Grown Men Don’t Cry by Tim McGraw
One common misconception against men is the belief that if they show emotion, they are incompetent in facing harsh conditions head-on. Tim McGraw demonstrates it well in “Grown Men Don’t Cry,” in which he keeps having this dream about his late father. However, he shrugged off this emotion and chose to talk to the wind.
8. The Truth by Jason Aldean
Anyone going through a serious breakup or a bad relationship will surely relate to Jason Aldean’s “The Truth,” one of the most poignant country songs about longing for a lost love. It tells the story of a man looking at his failing relationship, asking his former lover not to tell others the truth about it – including the fact that he still loves and needs her.
9. Leaving On A Jet Plane by John Denver
Leaving the people we love is one of the hardest things to do, and no one knows better about this than John Denver. Denver actually wrote this catchy hit during a layover at Washington Airport while he was a relatively unknown musician. It is said to be inspired by his childhood years, being a child of a military family that frequently moved from one place to another.
10. Best I Ever Had by Gary Allan
“Best I Ever Had” was originally released by alternative rock band Vertical Horizon in 2001. Four years later, Gary Allan covered the song – and made it into one of the most poignant country songs about missing someone special – after his wife committed suicide. In the song, he sings about remembering the girl who left him down and lonely.
11. Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It by Darius Rucker
Here is a song for the one that got away! In it, a man was pining and whining about a girl who left him. He is having a hard time getting her out of his mind, and he often wonders what would have happened if he had only worked things out.
For You
12. You Should Be Here by Cole Swindell
Cole Swindell wrote this tender ballad alongside renowned songwriter Ashley Gorley. The country singer revealed that it is about his late father, who passed away during the 2013 Labor Day weekend while he was out on his radio tour.
13. These Days by Rascal Flatts
Wouldn’t it be great to finally tell the person you are missing all the feelings you’ve kept ever since you parted ways? Well, this is what this song is about. It tells the story of a man unexpectedly crossing paths with a former lover. He tells her he has spent time thinking and dreaming about her since she disappeared from his life.
14. Paint Me a Birmingham by Tracy Lawrence
While it’s not one of the most famous country songs about missing someone, it truly will touch your heart. In it, a man asked a painter to paint a picture of the life he had imagined – long before he lost the woman he loved. He described a house in a Birmingham style and a scene where he and his lover are together again.
15. I’m Already There by Lonestar
This is one of the most heartfelt country songs about missing someone that became associated with the September 11 attacks, especially family members who are being deployed. This song – which details how a man feels whenever he’s away from his family – has also been heard countless times on Good Morning America at the time.
16. The Dance by Garth Brooks
This heart-stopping country favorite was released as the final track from Garth Brooks’ self-titled debut album. It made its way into the hearts of millions of listeners with its message about the end of a passionate relationship when the man’s romantic partner has died. It has certainly remained one of Brooks’ signature tunes.
17. You’ll Think of Me by Keith Urban
In this song, Keith Urban finds himself a little bitter over a rough breakup, with the memories of his lover keeping him awake at night. Unfortunately, she has moved on with another man. He only finds comfort in the thought that she will be the one thinking of him someday.
18. More Than a Memory by Garth Brooks
What’s worse than missing a lover who has left you? “More Than a Memory” is a tale of heartache and pain about a man trying to move on from his past relationship. Now, he tries to stay awake at night so as not to dream about her.
19. He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones
This is one of the country songs about missing a loved one that would surely leave a hole in your heart. It tells the story of a man whose lover leaves him. He longs for her every day, keeps her old letters and photos, and hopes she will return to his life someday.
20. Strawberry Wine by Deana Carter
Sometimes, it is not just the people we miss but also certain places and moments from our past. Deana Carter’s Strawberry Wine is certainly one of the most melancholic country songs for missing someone.
In the song, Carter finds herself coming back – year after year – to the very place where she had her first taste of love.
21. Every Light in the House by Trace Adkins
We got here one of the best country songs about longing for someone. This striking and catchy ballad by Trace Adkins tells the story of a brokenhearted man who leaves every light on in his house in case his old lover decides to come home. He misses her so much that he figured he would only turn the lights off when he begins getting over her, which, unfortunately, he never did.
22. How Do I Live by LeAnn Rimes
In addition to being a huge hit for LeAnn Rimes, “How Do I Live” also earned Trisha Yearwood the No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. The two country singers released the song on the same day. Since then, it has become one of the most tearful country songs about missing someone, as it sings about the pain of losing a loved one.
23. I Still Miss Someone by Johnny Cash
“I Still Miss Someone” has been a staple on most of Johnny Cash’s live recordings. It’s no surprise, as many relate to its lyrics filled with longing and constant feelings crushing your heart whenever you miss someone. In the song, the narrator is trying to move on by going out to a party and looking for a little fun – but it seems impossible because he is missing someone.
24. Lonely Tonight by Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe
Blake Shelton and Ashley Monroe are ex-lovers who reconnect for one last night through a bittersweet one-night stand in this melancholic ballad. They long and ache for missing each other so much that they decide to spend the night together – hold each other until the heartbreak’s gone – even though they know they should not.
25. Hello Darlin’ by Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty absolutely left us with some of the most heartbreaking country ballads about missing someone – and “Hello Darlin’” is a true standout. The sorrowful ballad sings about a man’s encounter with an old flame. He puts up his bravado, telling her he is getting along fine – only to confess later how he cries all night missing her.
Indeed, there’s nothing quite like the pain of missing someone. So, if you find yourself missing the presence of a loved one in your everyday life, or if you’re looking for solace over someone who’s no longer part of your life, pretty sure these country songs about missing someone would be of great help.
