Country music is full of love songs and, through the years, has produced some real gems. As we celebrate love today on Valentine’s Day, we share what we believe are some of the best love songs of all time in country music.
Luke Combs - "Forever After All" (2020)
Written by Luke Combs with a video that shares moments from the couple’s actual 2020 Wedding Day. One line in the song sums it up perfectly: “A love like that makes a man have second thoughts / Maybe some things last forever after all.”
Kane and Katelyn Brown - "Thank God" (2022
The first number-one song in country music that has charted with a husband and wife singing it since Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s “It’s Your Love” in 1997. This song is the perfect love song for any couple who knows they have found the right partner and are grateful for it.
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani - "Happy Anywhere" (2021)
This loving and fun duet is infectious and great for Valentine’s Day. The lyrics include, “You’re always my destination / You’re the only thing that I’m chained to / I could be happy anywhere / I could be happy anywhere with you.” Yeah, couple goals!
Maren Morris – "The Bones" (2019)
A song Maren co-wrote with her husband Ryan about their relationship. Ryan even appears in Morris’ sweet and romantic beach location music video for the song.
Dan + Shay – "Speechless" (2018)
A wedding song staple. This song went to number one on Billboard’s “Hot Country Songs” chart and stayed for eight weeks. The music video features footage from Smyers’ and Mooney’s 2017 weddings, including the grooms’ first looks at their brides, the brides walking down the aisle, and the couples’ introductions at their respective receptions.
Thomas Rhett – "Die A Happy Man" (2015)
This is an absolute love song gem. Thomas co-wrote the song for his wife, Lauren, who appears in the music video. The lyrics include, “And I know that I can’t ever tell you enough / That all I need in this life is your crazy love / If I never get to see the Northern Lights / Or if I never get to see the Eiffel Tower at night / Oh, if all I got is your hand in my hand / Baby, I could die a happy man, yeah.”
Lady A - "Need You Now" (2011)
The song that started it all for Lady A. This amazing love song also won the trio several Grammy Awards, including for “Record of the Year,” “Song of the Year,” “Best Country Song,” and “Best Country Album” for the Need You Now album.
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill - "It's Your Love" (1997)
Remember when Tim McGraw and Faith Hill ruled country music in the late 1990s and were considered the King and Queen of country? Well, it all started with a love song duet called “It’s Your Love.”
Keith Whitley - "When You Say Nothing at All" (1988)
A number-one song for Whitley, who died just one year after it was released. The tender love song was also a chart-topper a few years later for Alison Krauss.
George Strait - "I Cross My Heart" (1992)
On the soundtrack of Strait’s debut acting performance in the film “Pure Country.” The lyrics include, “I cross my heart / And promise to / Give all I’ve got to give / To make all your dreams come true / In all the world / You’ll never find / A love as true as mine.”
Chris Stapleton - "Tennessee Whiskey" (2015)
Chris has a lot of heartbreaking songs, but this one is about love. Written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove, it was first recorded by David Alan Coe, and then George Jones, before Stapleton did his version on his debut album Traveller. “You’re as smooth as Tennessee whiskey / You’re as sweet as strawberry wine / You’re as warm as a glass of brandy / And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time.” Enough said.
Shania Twain - "You're Still the One" (1997)
Still holds up after all these years. Shania’s lyrics sing in part, “You’re still the one I run to / The one that I belong to / You’re still the one I want for life.” Tim McGraw loves the song so much; he just recently covered it on his social media in honor of Twain’s 2023 album “Queen of Me” being released.
Dolly Parton - "I Will Always Love You" (1973)
Dolly wrote this song for Grand Ole Opry star Porter Wagoner after she left his show to pursue a solo career. Whitney Houston’s version of the song in the 1990s made it a sensation. Parton herself re-recorded this love song herself a couple of times during her career.
John Michael Montgomery - "I Swear" (1993)
Montgomery’s biggest hit spent four weeks at number one on the U.S. Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, later crossing over to pop radio and reaching number 42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. A cover by All-4-One was released in April 1994 and became a number-one hit in numerous countries, later garnering a spot in Billboard’s All-Time Top 100 Songs ranking.
