Just like last month, the Top 40 country songs for March 2021 are still headed by the newcomers – with Gabby Barrett and Niko Moon taking over the top spot.
Amazingly, Taylor Swift is back on the list more than a decade later with her new version of “Love Story” and even once again reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. You will find songs from country superstars such as Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, and Luke Bryan too. Be sure to also listen to new songs from Jon Pardi, Scotty McCreery, Chris Young, and so much more.
More Top 40 Country: February 2021 | January 2021 | December 2020 | November 2020 | October 2020
So, without further ado, let’s go through the top 40 country songs for this month and see if your favorite tunes made it to the list.
1. “The Good Ones” by Gabby Barrett
After her breakthrough song, “I Hope,” Gabby Barrett followed it up with a song that’s a total change of message. While her No. 1 debut single is a revengeful song about a woman who wants her ex-lover to go through the same pain he caused her, “The Good Ones” is a romantic song for the ones worth holding onto.
And for Barret, it’s her husband, fellow singer Cade Foehner. Barret and Foehner’s love story dates back to when they were still competing on the 16th season of American Idol in 2018. Their courtship quickly grew into a serious relationship – tying the knot in October 2019 in Garrison, Texas, in front of 100 family and friends.
According to Barrett, she felt the need to write a song “for the good ones” after her song “I Hope.” The country singer said she doesn’t want to give people false hope, thinking all relationships are terrible.
2. “Better Together” by Luke Combs
Luke Combs finds himself singing about the love of his life, whom he compares to perfect pairs like “a cup of coffee and a sunrise” and “good ole boys and beer,” in the song “Better Together.”
The idea for the song came into fruition after Combs invited some songwriters to a writing retreat in the mountains of his home state of North Carolina. And the song’s title just naturally fell on top of the chorus!
“Better Together” is the fifth single off Comb’s 2020 album, What You See Is What You Get – which earned the title of Album of the Year at both the Country Music Association & Academy of Country Music Awards.
3. “Good Time” by Niko Moon
Niko Moon has scored his very first No. 1 hit, as “Good Time” reached the top spot of Billboard’s Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts. But that doesn’t end there as Moon made history for being the first debut single to reach No. 1 – at the same time – on both charts since 2014.
Moon wrote the song with his wife, Anna Moon, along with three other songwriters. He originally penned it with the intention of pitching it to other country artists but eventually ended up keeping the song for himself. And indeed, he made the right decision!
Though this may be Moon’s first time atop the charts as a solo artist, it’s not new to him as a songwriter – notching five No. 1 hits he penned for Zac Brown.
4. “Starting Over” by Chris Stapleton
When Chris Stapleton wiped all his social media pages clean in 2020, we know something great is bound to happen. The Nashville trailblazer then released “Starting Over” a few months after as the lead single of his album of the same name – and it’s just perfect!
The song carries the same rustic sound of Stapleton backed with the flawless fusion of acoustic guitar and a percussive shake and the same strength of storytelling. The romantic ballad tells the tale of a man who is convincing the woman he loves to come with him – after all, they got nothing left to lose.
This is Stapleton’s first project since his double volume From A Studio was released in 2017.
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5. “Down to One” by Luke Bryan
This mellow love song brings plenty of country radio’s regular favorite themes – like the nostalgia of young love. And in addition to that, Luke Bryan has recently released a romantic video for “Down to One,” and it’s as lush and spine-tingling as the song. In the short clip, the country singer took backstage to a young couple wandering in and out of breathtakingly executed romantic scenes that will definitely get you in the mood for love.
The video premiere definitely boosts Bryan’s latest single even more, bringing it to the top of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.
“Down to One” is the fourth single from Bryan’s recent album Born Here Live Here Die Here.
6. “Made for You” by Jake Owen
Jake Owen’s romantic single “Made for You” was released to the radio in May 2020 and is the fourth single from his 2019 studio album Greetings from… Jake.
Now, it has finally found its way to the top. The heartwarming ballad features simple lyrics about love, dedication, and simply being made for somebody. Owen tells the love of his life that he was made for her, and it’s impossible for him to function without her.
For Owen’s case, that’s his girlfriend Erica Hartlein – who was also featured on the song’s music video alongside their daughter Paris Hartley and Owen’s daughter with his ex-wife, Olive Pearl.
7. “What’s Your Country Song” by Thomas Rhett
Make sure to listen to Thomas Rhett’s “What’s Your Country Song” and have fun spotting as many country classic and modern hits as you can. There’s Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried,” Garth Brooks’ “Friends In Low Places,” Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee,” George Strait’s “All My Exes Live in Texas,” and so much more.
Rhett sat down with his father along with three other songwriters in a hotel room in Dallas, Texas, to write this feel-good song. The country singer revealed that the shout-outs to the classic songs began as a joke that they later turned into a story.
In the end, no matter where you’re from, there will always be a little bit of country inside your bones.
8. “Love Story” by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift re-recorded her 2008 hit song “Love Story” – a song that helped her become the superstar that she is today. Undoubtedly, it still has the nostalgic emotion that made it once a chart-topper.
Thirteen years later, the song once again topped the Billboard Digital Songs and Hot Country Songs charts. This makes Swift the second artist – next to Dolly Parton – to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with both the song’s original and re-recorded versions.
9. “Minimum Wage” by Blake Shelton
Released early this year as the lead single from Blake Shelton’s forthcoming album, “Minimum Wage” sings about how love is enough to make you feel rich even if you’re poverty-stricken. The famed country singer revealed that he related to the lyrics so much, saying that he used to struggle financially before fame.
However, some music fans are calling out Shelton for being insensitive, debuting the song at a time when plenty of businesses are shutting down and countless people are losing their jobs because of the pandemic. Still, Shelton maintained pride about the song’s “great message.”
10. “Beers and Sunshine” by Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker has landed another No.1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with “Beers and Sunshine.”
Co-written by Rucker during a physically distanced Zoom writing session, the feel-good song sings about living in the moment, finding the silver lining, enjoying the simple joys, and ignoring all the negativities – which is very relevant in this challenging year.
- “Just the Way” by Parmalee (Feat. Blanco Brown)
- “Glad You Exist” by Dan + Shay
- “One Too Many” by Keith Urban (feat. Pink)
- “Hell of a View” by Eric Church
- “Somebody Like That” by Tenille Arts
- “Settling Down” by Miranda Lambert
- “Lady” by Brett Young
- “Momma’s House” by Dustin Lynch
- “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” by Little Big Town
- “Long Live” by Florida Georgia Line
- “Breaking Up Was Easy in the ‘90s” by Sam Hunt
- “Almost Maybes” by Jordan Davis
- “Undivided” by Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard
- “Famous Friends” by Chris Young (Feat. Kane Brown)
- “We Didn’t Have Much” by Justin Moore
- “My Boy” by Elvie Shane
- “Gone” by Dierks Bentley
- “Nobody” by Dylan Scott
- “How They Remember You” by Rascal Flatts
- “Chasing After You” by Ryan Hurd (Feat. Maren Morris)
- “Blame It on You” by Jason Aldean
- “Next Girl” by Carly Pearce
- “You Time” by Scotty McCreery
- “Tequila Little Time” by Jon Pardi
- “We Were Rich” by Runaway June
- “All Night” by Brothers Osborne
- “Freedom Was a Highway” by Jimmie Allen (Feat. Brad Paisley)
- “Single Saturday Night” by Cole Swindell
- “Worship You” by Kane Brown
- “Just About Over You” by Priscila Block
So, what do you think of the Top 40 country songs for March 2021? Did you find a new favorite?
