The Top 40 country songs for January 2021 are sure to include several of the best songs of the year.
It’s just the start of another year, and we can already consider this list as the ultimate playlist for 2021, with hits from Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini, Dan + Shay, Jon Pardi, Lee Brice, Thomas Rhett, and so much more. There’s also from newcomer Niko Moon.
More Top 40 Country: December 2020 | November 2020 | October 2020
But since there are only a few songs released last month, we can’t expect this list to have much of the month-to-month turnover that we usually have. Still, you will find new songs that are playlist must-haves from country singers Carly Peace, Hardy, and Trey Lewis.
Do you think your favorite country songs are included in the top 40? Keep on reading below to find out!
1. “Better Together” by Luke Combs
It took Luke Combs more than two years to finish “Better Together,” but the song only took a few months after its release to climb Billboard US Country Airplay’s top spot.
People have always loved the ballad ever since Combs put a little clip of it on his Instagram account. that they “ended up recording it and going with a kind of a very stripped-down production of just me and a piano, and I couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out,” the singer said.
“Better Together” was released in October 2020 off Combs’ album What You See Is What You Get, which received the Album of the Year award at both the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Awards.
2. “Starting Over” by Chris Stapleton
Stapleton is known for his talent to bring together real-life experiences and phenomenal country melodies – and he did just that with his recent hit, “Starting Over.”
The song was released as the first single and title track of Stapleton’s 2020 album, which reflects his life more than any other. This is somewhat because the album took over two years to complete, not because the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter worked endlessly on it, but for the reason that life kept on getting in the way.
Still, Stapleton said he is always trying to take the long view every time he encounters a setback.
“The older I get, the more I believe — and I try to keep this front of mind whenever things don’t seem easy or go as planned — I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and in its own time,” the singer pointed out.
3. “Good Time” by Niko Moon
Guess Niko Moon is having such a ‘good time’ now that he’s enjoying his first big hit as an artist, and the song persists in climbing into the country’s top ten.
But “Good Time” is hardly the first taste of success for the up-and-coming country artist. Moon has actually written five No. 1 hit for Zac Brown Band. As a matter of fact, Moon’s breakthrough hit barely missed being cut by someone else – originally wanting to pitch the song to Blake Shelton.
“‘Good Time’ just kind of came to life and, you know, became a song for me at that point,” Moon said.
4. “Happy Anywhere” by Blake Shelton (Feat. Gwen Stefani)
When Blake Shelton’s duet – “Happy Anywhere” – with Gwen Stefani took the country charts’ top spot right off the bat, many country fans were no longer surprised. The smooth harmonies and powerful lyrics quickly resonated with fans as the power couple really shows how in love they are.
“We’ve all been in quarantine and lockdown, and hopefully, we’ve been doing that with somebody that we really love and enjoy being around. That’s what happened with Gwen and me this summer – and this entire year,” Shelton said.
Shelton and Stefani have also premiered the delightful duet along with a romantic music video, which was filmed at Shelton’s Oklahoma ranch and featured archival footage from the pop star’s cellphone.
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5. “Pretty Heart” by Parker McCollum
Another country music newcomer has earned his first No. 1 hit on country radio. In fact, due to a heavy amount of online streaming, Parker McCollum’s “Pretty Heart” had already charted on Hot Country Songs before it was even officially released as a single.
“To have this song really and truly succeed on big-time radio is a dream come true,” Parker said. “And for it to happen during such an insanely crazy year makes it just that much more special.”
6. “Hole in the Bottle” by Kelsea Ballerini
Kelsea Ballerini finds herself nursing heartache from a broken relationship in “Hole in the Bottle.” Fortunately, she was able to beat it, thanks to a bottle of wine.
This is actually Ballerini’s first shot at one of the most classic country genres: the drinking song.
“I was like, how much longer can I call myself a country artist and not have a drinking song?” the singer said. “So, meet my drinking song.” Ballerini also concluded the song with a vibrant music video.
7. “I Should Probably Go to Bed” by Dan + Shay
Whether you’re thinking of sending a message to your old flame or just enjoying some late-night ice cream, country duo Dan + Shay propose you should really just go, catch some Zs.
The Grammy-winning country duo’s single, “I Should Probably Go to Bed,” serves as a warning that not many great things happen after the wee hours.
“I’ve had that phrase written in my phone for a long time,” Dan Smyers said. “Everybody’s gone through that. It’s just that classic tale of temptation, of something pulling you and rendering you kind of defenseless.”
The song’s simple message helped Dan + Shay land on Billboard US Country Airplay’s second spot. It also peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard US Hot Country Songs chart.
8. “Ain’t Always the Cowboy” by Jon Pardi
Unlike most country songs where it’s the cowboy who rides off into the sunset, this time it’s the miserably free-spirited woman who once broke his heart.
“I feel like the topic of the song hasn’t been written about in this way, and I love songs that approach things differently and offer fresh perspectives,” Pardi said, who describes the song as an “anthem for the girls trying to do her own things.”
“It’s kind of a leaving song, but a happy leaving song. It’s about going out to chase her dreams, be independent, or do her thing,” the singer added. “He ain’t mad about it, and I thought that was a really cool outlook of a song and melody; just everything about it was awesome.”
9. “One of Them Girls” by Lee Brice
Lee Brice returns to No. 1 on the US Billboard and Mediabase country airplay charts with his fastest-rising radio single to date, “One of Them Girls.” It is one of the songs included on his first full-length album – Hey World – since his self-titled release in 2017.
10. “Big, Big Plans” by Chris Lane
“Big, Big Plans” is Chris Lane’s first Country Airplay No. 1 as a writer, having written the song with Ernest K. Smith and Jacob Durrett. This is actually Lane’s most intimate song yet, and it never failed to strike a chord with fans.
The North Carolina native opened up about how the song came into fruition, inspired by his relationship with his wife, Lauren Bushnell. The singer revealed that it took three different attempts for them to finish the song, and it finally started taking shape the moment he shared the big plans he had for Bushnell.
“You never know if a song personal to your life is going to react in that way, but I’m thankful it did,” the singer said. “Now I see people making it their own story, using the song for their big moment as well. That’s really special.
- “What’s Your Country Song” by Thomas Rhett
- “7 Summers” by Morgan Wallen
- “Champagne Night” by Lady A
- “Beers and Sunshine” by Darius Rucker
- “The Good Ones” by Gabby Barrett
- “Long Live” by Florida Georgia Line
- “Somebody Like That” by Tenille Arts
- “Hell of a View” by Eric Church
- “Happy Does” by Kenny Chesney
- “One Too Many” by Keith Urban (Feat. Pink)
- “Down to One” by Luke Bryan
- “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” by Little Big Town
- “Settling Down” by Miranda Lambert
- “All Night” by Brothers Osborne
- “Gone” by Dierks Bentley
- “Breaking Up Was Easy in the ‘90s” by Sam Hunt
- “Almost Maybes” by Jordan Davis
- “Just the Way” by Parmalee and Blanco Brown
- “My Boy” by Elvie Shane
- “Made for You” by Jake Owen
- “How They Remember You” by Rascal Flatts
- “Momma’s House” by Dustin Lynch
- “Nobody” by Dylan Scott
- “Next Girl” by Carly Pearce
- “Give Heaven Some Hell” by Hardy
- “Lady” by Brett Young
- “Dear Rodeo” by Cody Johnson and Reba McEntire,
- “Blame It on You” by Jason Aldean
- “Dicked Down in Dallas” by Trey Lewis
- “Never Be Sorry” by Old Dominion
So, did you enjoy these top 40 country songs for January 2021? Which one is your favorite?
