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20 Hit Country Songs That You Might Not Realize Are Actually Covers
Who doesn’t love a good cover?
Like any genre with roots steeped in tradition, country music is no stranger to covers. From Chris Stapleton redefining David Allan Coe’s “Tennessee Whiskey” to a new generation, to George Strait launching “Amarillo By Morning” into the stratosphere upon the release of his rendition, you don’t have to look very hard throughout country music’s history to find some shining examples of covers.
This is for good reason, of course. Not only are artists shining a light on the works of others, but oftentimes, it serves as a preservation of art that otherwise may have been lost with time.
Of course, you have your classics such as the aforementioned “Tennessee Whiskey” and “Amarillo By Morning,” both of which are fairly well known as covers. With that being said, however, there are a plethora of massive, even Grammy-winning hits throughout country music history that are, in fact, reworkings of songs from other artists.
Without further ado, here are 20 of the biggest hits in country music history you didn’t know were covers.
“Tennessee Whiskey”
Original artist: David Allan Coe
Popularized by: Chris Stapleton
Starting off with one of the most storied and widely known covers in the genre’s history is none other than “Tennessee Whiskey.” Originally recorded by David Allan Coe in 1981, the track was nothing more than a middling single for Coe and peaked at #77 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
Two years later, George Jones experienced quite a bit of success with the track, scoring a #2 hit in the fall of 1983. Given the success of Jones’ cover, “Tennessee Whiskey” became synonymous with the Possum.
That all changed in 2015, however, when Stapleton made his now-iconic breakout at the 49th CMA Awards. With well over a billion streams on Spotify alone, along with a 17x platinum certification from the RIAA, Stapleton’s version of “Tennessee Whiskey” has now become the definitive version to many.
“Hurt”
Original artist: Nine Inch Nails
Popularized by: Johnny Cash
Another incredibly popular and well-known cover, “Hurt” was originally recorded by Nine Inch Nails back in 1995 and even received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song in 1996. Despite its critical success, NIN’s original version of the song never quite reached the same heights as Cash’s 2002 cover.
Cash’s cover, which is now regarded as one of the best performances in country music history, was so good, in fact, that Trent Reznor himself said that the song solely belongs to the Man in Black. In an interview with the Associated Press, he said, “That song isn’t mine anymore.”
“Hurt” would go on to win Single of the Year at the 37th CMA Awards and Best Short Form Music Video at the 46th Grammy Awards.
“Amarillo By Morning”
Original artist: Terry Stafford
Popularized by: George Strait
Despite being one of the most popular songs in his legendary discography, not only is “Amarillo By Morning” shockingly not one of Strait’s record 60 #1 hits, it’s also a cover. The track was originally written and recorded by Terry Stafford in 1973 before the King would include it on his 1982 platinum record, Strait from the Heart.
Though Strait’s version would somehow only peak at #4 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart upon its release, it has remained one of the most recognizable songs in country music history and has been included among the best of all time on Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking in 2024.
“Always On My Mind”
Original artist: Gwen McRae
Popularized by: Willie Nelson
Widely regarded as not only one of Willie Nelson’s greatest songs, but one of the greatest songs in the history of the genre, “Always On My Mind” was not written by the living legend. The original version was actually recorded by the legendary soul singer, Gwen McRae, back in 1973, before being popularized by the likes of Elvis and Brenda Lee of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” fame.
With all of that being said, however, Nelson’s recording was undeniably the most successful version of the song. Not only was it the title track of his legendary 1982 record, it would also go on to receive three Grammy Awards in 1983, as well as two CMA Song of the Year nods in 1982 and 1983. Additionally, his version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.
“My Maria”
Original artist: B.W. Stevenson
Popularized by: Brooks & Dunn
“My Maria,” one of Brooks & Dunn’s early chart-toppers, was actually a #1 hit in an entirely different genre. Before the legendary duo made the track a ’90s country staple, B.W. Stevenson’s original would top Billboard’s Easy Listening chart in 1973, a full 23 years earlier.
Though Stevenson’s version undoubtedly was a success, Brooks & Dunn’s cover was cemented in history when it won them their second Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Vocal Group or Duo in 1997.
“The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia”
Original artist: Vicki Lawrence
Popularized by: Reba
Widely regarded as one of Reba’s signature songs, “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia” has recently received new life due to the virality of Briley King’s recent cover. Though the iconic murder ballad is closely associated with Reba, it’s actually none other than Vicki Lawrence’s song from 1972.
In fact, it can be argued that Lawrence’s version was even more successful chart-wise, scoring her a #1 single on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart along with a gold certification from the RIAA. With that being said, however, Reba’s cover has remained the most popular version over the past thirty years.
“Summertime Blues”
Original artist: Eddie Cochran
Popularized by: Alan Jackson
Often regarded as one of Alan Jackson’s early hits, “Summertime Blues” actually has a long history of being covered by a wide range of different artists. Originally recorded by Eddie Cochran in 1958, it would later be recorded by the likes of The Who, Johnny Chester, Blue Cheer, Rush and even fellow country star, Buck Owens.
Though Cochran’s original is widely regarded as a classic rock staple, the “Chattahoochee” singer popularized the song in country music world, scoring a #1 hit with the track on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in July of 1994.
“Wagon Wheel”
Original artist: Old Crow Medicine Show
Popularized by: Darius Rucker
The history of “Wagon Wheel” is extremely complicated and is worth its own article. Long story short, the song itself was written by Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show as an extension of a long-lost Bob Dylan demo that he found.
Old Crow’s version of the song is relatively successful, selling over three million units and being recognized as the band’s signature song. Rucker’s version success, however, is not comparable. The “Alright” singer scored a Grammy win for Best Country Solo Performance in 2014. Even more notably, his version sold over 11 million units, making it one of the few country songs in history to be certified diamond by the RIAA.
“Cover Me Up”
Original artist: Jason Isbell
Popularized by: Morgan Wallen
To say this song/cover is a controversial topic would be an understatement. For many (including myself), “Cover Me Up” is one of the greatest songs in Jason Isbell’s extensive discography. With that being said, however, many mainstream country listeners know the song better as a Morgan Wallen cover.
Regardless of your thoughts on the cover itself, you can’t argue with the fact that Wallen popularized the song to a mainstream audience, being performed at nearly every one of his concerts and retroactively being associated with the “Last Night” singer’s massively successful discography. In fact, his version is so popular that it currently boasts over 579 million streams on Spotify alone, along with a 4x platinum certification from the RIAA.
“The Gambler”
Original artist: Bobby Bare
Popularized by: Kenny Rogers
Before “The Gambler” became the most recognizable song in Kenny Rogers’ discography, complete with its own movie series and a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1980, the track was written independently by legendary songwriter, Don Schlitz and was first recorded by Bobby Bare.
Johnny Cash himself recorded the song just months before Rogers’ version in 1978 but did not receive much success. It was Rogers who truly made the song a classic, eventually scoring the “Islands in the Stream” singer a #1 hit.
“Fancy”
Original artist: Bobbie Gentry
Popularized by: Reba
Like “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia,” “Fancy” is another one of Reba’s most popular tracks that is actually a cover. First released back in 1969 by singer/songwriter, Bobby Gentry, “Fancy” was a success right out of the gate, scoring her a #1 hit on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart and a Top 10 hit here in the U.S. on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.
When Reba recorded the song in 1991, the song became a certified country classic. Though her cover of “Fancy” only peaked at #8 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, it has remained one of her most popular songs today and currently boasts a 2x platinum certification from the RIAA.
“Dirt Road Anthem”
Original artist: Colt Ford and Brantley Gilbert
Popularized by: Jason Aldean
For hardcore fans of both Ford and Gilbert, the fact that Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” was originally written and recorded by the duo seems like a no-brainer. However, casual fans of the song typically do not know that it was recorded back in 2008 by the pair.
While at a show together, Ford prompted Aldean to cut a version of the song, and the rest, as they say, is history. Aldean’s cover of “Dirt Road Anthem” went on to go 4x platinum and remains one of his most popular songs among his 30 #1 hits.
“It’s a Great Day to Be Alive”
Original artist: Darrell Scott
Popularized by: Travis Tritt
Before Travis Tritt popularized the song in 2000, “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” was written and recorded by Darrell Scott on his 1997 album, Aloha from Nashville. Scott’s version would never be released as a single.
Tritt’s version peaked at #2 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and has remained one of his signature songs, up there with the likes of “Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)” and “I’m Gonna Be Somebody.”
“Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys”
Original artist: Ed Bruce
Popularized by: Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings
“Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys,” one of the most iconic duets from two of the most influential songwriters in country music history, is surely an original composition, right? Wrong. Though the track has cemented itself as a cornerstone of the two Highwaymen’s respective discographies, it’s actually a cover of Ed Bruce’s 1975 original.
Bruce’s version proved to be quite successful, peaking at #15 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in January of 1976. Two years later, however, Willie and Waylon would take the song to new heights. Cementing itself as an important part of the outlaw movement, it would eventually hit #1 on the aforementioned Billboard chart and win Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 21st Grammy Awards.
“Who Are You When I’m Not Looking”
Original artist: Joe Nichols
Popularized by: Blake Shelton
For many, “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” is simply one of Blake Shelton’s 30 #1 hits, being released during the height of his popularity in 2010 before he joined The Voice. What many don’t realize, however, is the fact that none other than Joe Nichols recorded the song first on his 2007 album, Real Things.
“Travelin’ Soldier”
Original artist: Bruce Robison
Popularized by: The Chicks
Though “Travelin’ Soldier” is widely recognized as one of the Chicks’ most popular songs, second only to “Wide Open Spaces,” it was actually independently written and recorded by Bruce Robinson in 1996 before the trio released their cover in 2002. Their version would go #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and is currently certified platinum.
“Elvira”
Original artist: Dallas Frazier
Popularized by: The Oak Ridge Boys
Appearing on their 1981 album, Fancy Free, “Elvira” has remained The Oak Ridge Boys’ signature song. The song was so successful for the legendary group, in fact, that it netted them a platinum certification all the way back in 1982 (a rare achievement for a single back in the day), along with a #1 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and a Top 5 hit on the all-genre Hot 100.
However, the song was originally recorded by Dallas Frazier all the way back in December of 1965, nearly 20 years before The Oak Ridge Boys popularized it.
“Ring of Fire”
Original artist: Anita Carter
Popularized by: Johnny Cash
If there’s one song on this list that does not need an introduction, it’s “Ring of Fire.” Getting consistent placement as one of the greatest songs ever recorded across all genres, it’s considered by many to be his signature hit, up there with the likes of “Hurt,” “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk The Line.” However, it was June Carter, not Johnny Cash, who wrote the song.
“Ring of Fire” was first released by June’s sister, Anita Carter, on her 1962 album Folk Songs Old and New, a full year before Cash released his version in 1963 on his compilation album, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash.
“Bless The Broken Road”
Original artist: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Popularized by: Rascal Flatts
Love or hate Rascal Flatts as a group, there’s absolutely no denying the success of “Bless The Broken Road.” Beyond its position as one of the most commonly used country wedding songs of all time, it also scored them a #1 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, along with a platinum certification. What many don’t know, however, is the fact that another famous country band released the song over a decade earlier.
None other than Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, famous for “Fishin’ in the Dark,” actually released the version over a decade earlier on their 1994 album, Acoustic.
“Ol’ Red”
Original artist: George Jones
Popularized by: Blake Shelton
Despite being his self-proclaimed “signature song” and even the name of his restaurant chain, Blake Shelton has George Jones to thank for “‘Ol’ Red.” Originally a deep cut on the Possum’s 1990 album, You Oughta Be Here with Me, the track was also recorded by Kenny Rogers in 1993.
Though Jones is nothing short of a legend, Shelton’s cover of “‘Ol’ Red” is the most successful version commercially. Beyond the aforementioned restaurant, the song itself scored the “Austin” singer a Top 20 hit and a 2x platinum certification from the RIAA.The post 20 Hit Country Songs That You Might Not Realize Are Actually Covers first appeared on Whiskey Riff.
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