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5 Country Songs Released This Year That Should’ve Been Hit Singles
It’s hard to believe we’re about to put 2025 in the rearview mirror.
I feel like it was just yesterday when I was putting this list together last year… I don’t know where the time has gone, but I do know that it’s been a great year for country music — from mainstream to independent country, Texas to Appalachia and beyond, there was so much great stuff released over the last 12 months or so that I’m having an incredibly hard time narrowing down my top 40 albums of the year (our list is coming soon, by the way).
With so many great records obviously comes thousands of great songs that will never get a chance at country radio, even if they’re released on a major label by a mainstream country artist, which is part of the tragedy of being a music fan.
It feels like so often the songs that I love the most are deep cuts which never become radio singles, and really, I only care because I just want everyone to love some of them as much as I do.
And that’s not to say a song topping the country charts makes it “good,” but it does mean that a lot of people are listening to it and like it enough to help it reach the top spot, though the whole radio discussion is a story for a whole separate post.
This article is really more about sharing some underrated songs I love, from albums that I really loved, with all of you, in case you missed it on your playlist or never had a chance to really dive into some of this music yet. You’ll find that they’re all from major label artists, because hey, I guess I’m trying to be somewhat realistic in terms of if they could have a real chance at getting played on country radio..
Without further ado, let’s get into it… here are a few of my favorite deep cuts that I think should, and still could be, hit singles.
“Homewrecker” — Willow Avalon
This song is from Willow Avalon’s Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell album, which was one of my personal favorites released in 2025. Willow is a rising star in the country genre, who was raised in rural Georgia, and began playing piano in church and taught herself guitar at age 12.
She’s country to the core, but incorporates folk and even some rock elements, as well. Her full length debut album is spectacular, and “Homewrecker,” which she wrote with JR Atkins and Tofer Brown, has a ton of bite and sass, and in my opinion, is a big ole hit.
“Montana” — Lukas Nelson
“Montana” was my #1 listened to song of 2025 according to my Apple Replay this year, and there’s a reason… it’s an incredible song.
Lukas Nelson wrote it for his debut solo album American Romance, which he put out this past summer. It finds him reminiscing on a relationship and a weekend he spent with a former lover in, you guessed it, Montana, and reflecting on how magical it was. He admits that he hasn’t really been able to fully move on, and he still goes there in his mind all the time.
There’s something to forlorn and sad about it, and the nostalgia factor just plays so well along with the simple acoustic production and his beautiful voice. Lukas made a huge statement with his debut album, and it’s nominated in the brand new Best Traditional Country Album for the 2026 Grammy’s, and obviously, I think he should win…
Either way, this song is a hit to me and will love it forever:
“Like Ya Stole It” — Kip Moore
Kip released a fantastic project in his sixth studio album, Solitary Tracks, in February. It’s dense and expansive, coming in with a tracklist of 23 songs, easily the biggest record he’s ever put out.
And there were some truly great songs on the album, but the one that immediately stood out to me and remains my favorite is “Like Ya Stole It,” which is a sweet nod to his father and seemingly references some of his previous hits like “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck,” and is really heartfelt and touching.
The lyrics are raw and earnest, and we all know how hard it can be to make a “truck song,” so to speak, actually special, unique, and most importantly, heartfelt. Kip’s history with country radio has been iffy at best over the years, but this song should have been all over it:
“I’d Like To Love You Baby” — Waylon Jennings
In October, Shooter Jennings released a posthumous album called Songbird, which featured a tracklist full of archival songs that he recently discovered, which were all recorded in the prime of his legendary father, Waylon Jennings’, career.
There were truly so many amazing songs that it’s hard to imagine how every single one of them got left on the cutting room floor, but considering these were recorded in some form or fashion between 1973 and 1984, it was the prime of Waylon’s career, and every single song he ever wrote or recorded just doesn’t always find its way onto a record, even though I think they should.
But one I’ve had on repeat is called “I’d Like to Love You Baby,” which finds him admitting he wants to find the kind of love that pulls him away from his hard-livin’ lifestyle. It’s classic Waylon in every sense…
The album charted well, and many of his fans seemed impressed with the quality of the music and how well Shooter produced everything, but I think he deserved a hit single too, and this one has my vote:
“Daddy’s Mugshot” — Laci Kaye Booth
Laci is a name you need to know, and she has been making a name for herself in Nashville for years now, and while she had success with her song “Shuffle,” from her 2021 self-titled record several years ago, it was her 2024 record The Loneliest Girl In The World that really showed of her impressive writing chops and incredibly unique voice.
She’s put out several great singles this year, but the one I keep finding myself going back to (along with “George ****** Strait”), is her song “Daddy’s Mugshot.” It has such a cool and groovy production, and her voice is so distinct and interesting that makes the song that much more fun to listen to. It’s one of those that just gets stuck in your head and the story behind it is completely true…
I hope she has plans for a full-length album in 2026, because she’s poised for a breakout year thanks to songs like this:
That’ll do it for some of my favorite singles released this year. Honestly, I could’ve kept going, because overall, I think we’re in a pretty good spot with the country genre and were blessed with a ton of great music this year.
What are some of your favorite singles released in 2025?The post 5 Country Songs Released This Year That Should’ve Been Hit Singles first appeared on Whiskey Riff.
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