The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating its 100th birthday all year long. And it’s getting the country music community and its fans to help mark its rich history.
The Opry is naming the 100 Greatest Country Songs of all time, with the help of fans who have weighed in, nominating their favorites. All summer long, the Opry will be releasing lists separated by era. By the end of the summer, the Opry promises fans will have the ultimate country playlist.
List one featured the 18 greatest country songs released from the 1930’s through the 1960’s.
In its second list, the Opry gave fans a glimpse of the 19 greatest country songs released in the 1970’s.
The third list focuses on 80’s country, with the 19 songs that defined the era.
List four took on the 1990’s, adding 17 iconic songs to the Opry list. Some of today’s most iconic country singers speak of “90’s Country” with warm nostalgia.
Which brings us to the 2000’s. The Opry added 14 songs from this era.
Here’s the list along with insider descriptions on why these songs got the votes.
Alan Jackson Dominates the Decade With Three Songs on the List
‘Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning‘ – Alan Jackson
Opry Vice President & Executive Producer Dan Rogers writes, “I would bet my next paycheck that everyone who was in the Grand Ole Opry House on November 7, 2001, vividly remembers watching Alan Jackson sing his newly penned song written in the days after that year’s September 11 terrorist attacks. I know I do. I remember being struck by how ‘Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning,’ while intensely personal, was also speaking not only for everyone in the room that night but surely also for millions of fans tuned in to the broadcast across the country. I was also one of countless fans who heard the song the following morning, as radio stations across the country were so anxious to share the song with listeners that they played the CMA performance they’d taped the night before. Within weeks it had become the most-played song in the U.S. More than 20 years later, Jackson’s ACM, CMA and Grammy-winner still resonates. And the greatest is love.”
‘Remember When‘ – Alan Jackson
WSM Radio DJ Charlie Mattos writes, “A big hit loved by fans and critics alike, ‘Remember When’ arrived in the fall of 2003 and soon found its way to the top of the country charts. Fans instantly related to its nostalgic look at the passage of time (‘Remember when 30 seemed so young’) and Alan has said on stage several times that it’s his wife Denise’s favorite song of his. Reviews at the time called it ‘poignant’ and fans have cherished hearing it again in the set list on Alan’s ‘Last Call: One More for the Road’ tour. Jackson’s history at the Opry goes back even further than his 1990 debut, just a few years before being inducted into the Opry by Roy Acuff. Prior to signing his publishing deal and recording contract, Jackson worked in the mailroom at TNN headquarters and routinely delivered letters and packages to the Grand Ole Opry House.”
‘It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere‘ – Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffett
Craig Shelburne, who wrote The Opry’s “100 Years of Grand Ole Opry” book, writes, “Whether you’re way down yonder on the Chattahoochee or wasting away in Margaritaville, it’s always happy hour when you hear Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett’s ‘It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.’ As the first single from Jackson’s Greatest Hits Volume II, ‘It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere’ spent eight weeks at number one and became the most-played country single of 2003. The duet also led to Buffett’s first-ever industry award when it won the CMA Vocal Event of the Year. In addition, songwriters Jim ‘Moose’ Brown and Don Rollins collected a Grammy for Best Country Song. Rollins borrowed the title from a former boss who would always say, ‘Well, it’s five o’clock somewhere’ as they headed out for a round of afternoon drinks. When Alan Jackson thought about making the song into a duet, there was no need to wonder, ‘What would Jimmy Buffett do?’ He’d joyously sing along with the rest of us.”
Carrie Underwood Roars Onto the Scene With Two Hits on the List
Carrie Underwood won “American Idol” halfway through the decade in 2005. But she still managed to score two song’s on the Opry’s list for the best country songs of the 2000’s. That’s more than any other country artist except Alan Jackson.
‘Jesus, Take the Wheel‘ – Carrie Underwood
Craig Shelborne writes, “The idea for ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ started out as merely a childhood memory. Songwriter Gordie Sampson told his collaborators Brett James and Hillary Lindsey about a story he’d heard as a kid from his aunt. As she recalled losing control of her car on an icy road, she told him, ‘I threw up my hands and I asked God to take control of the wheel.’ When they wrote it, Carrie Underwood hadn’t yet won American Idol, though it’s hard to imagine her powerhouse career without it. Released in 2005, ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ spent six weeks at number one, won two Grammys, and claimed an ACM Award for Single of the Year. In 2008, Randy Travis surprised her with an invitation to join the cast. Underwood’s rise to superstardom also inspired future Opry stars Lauren Alaina, Kelsea Ballerini and Carly Pearce, and she remains an iconic voice in country music.”
‘Before He Cheats‘ – Carrie Underwood
Singer/songwriter Kendra Olson writes, “It’s 2006, 10-year-old me has fallen in love with the talent of Carrie Underwood after watching her on “American Idol” every week, and my mom takes me to see her at the North Dakota State Fair. This is my first country concert, and as Carrie belts out ‘Before He Cheats,’ I am forever changed. Now there’s no one, country fan or not, man or woman, who doesn’t recognize this song from the first two notes, and who doesn’t immediately scream the words ‘I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped-up four wheel drive’ when it gets to the chorus. An Opry member since 2008, Carrie is one of the greatest singers ever to bless country music, and this Grammy-winning song written by Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear showcases her powerful range and fiery personality. I would also be remiss if I didn’t say thanks to Carrie for indirectly paying our rent for so many years with all the $20 requests we got to sing the song down on Broadway in Nashville. Thanks for keeping our dream alive, Carrie!!”
‘Austin‘- Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton was still rocking a serious mullet when he scored this hit.
Opry historian Craig Shelborne writes, “Opry star Blake Shelton blasted into country music with his 2001 debut single, ‘Austin.’ When Shelton heard the demo, he liked the song but the production sounded more like a piano ballad than a country hit. Bobby Braddock, his producer, encouraged Blake to try playing it on guitar instead. Together they reimagined the feel of the song (written by David Kent and Kirsti Manna) by focusing on his smooth baritone and poignant storytelling. A five-week number one hit, ‘Austin’ documents a moment in the early 2000s when people could carry on conversations through answering machine messages, though technology moved quickly in the decade that followed. In fact, Blake was invited to join the Opry in a Twitter post in 2010. He’s since accrued dozens of number ones, guided nine singers to victory on The Voice, and presided over the Opry 100 special on NBC – but it all started with ‘Austin.'”
‘American Soldier‘ – Toby Keith
Craig Shelborne writes, “Fiercely patriotic and famously outspoken, Toby Keith took a stand for US forces in ‘American Soldier,’ a #1 hit in 2004. Instead of writing a defiant anthem about America, Keith and co-writer Chuck Cannon focused on the fighters on the frontlines. Veterans of a past generation also received recognition in the thoughtful music video, where sepia-toned flashbacks showed reverence to those who serve their country. ‘American Soldier’ earned ACM nominations for Single and Song of the Year, but more importantly, it gave a voice to the families personally affected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After more than three decades on the country chart, Keith’s most-quoted lyric may reference a boot in the you-know-where, but ‘American Soldier’ is all about the heart. The Oklahoma native received the National Medal of Honor in 2020. Eight months after his death in 2024, Keith was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.”
‘Live Like You Were Dying‘ – Tim McGraw
Recent health struggles have likely brought an even deeper meaning to this song for Tim McGraw.
Country artist Kaitlin Butts writes, “Between Tim McGraw’’s tender vocals, the touching story, and the triumphant string section, you get the formula for one of the best country songs of all time. Within the first couple of lines, you’re immediately taken into a hospital room of someone getting the news of a terminal illness. Instead of the story taking a morbid turn, it flips the other way around and becomes a lesson in living life to the fullest, soaking in the little moments, and being the man he wishes he would have been before he was told his inevitable fate. Another thing that I love about this song is its conversational manner, where it feels like you’re sitting across from them at the dinner table. To be so specific on lines like riding ‘a bull named Fu Man Chu,’ but then opening it up to be more broadly relatable on lines like ‘I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,’ puts you in the shoes of this person and makes you think about how news like this might soften you, make you go a little wilder, not fret about the little stuff, and truly live your life to the fullest.”
‘Whiskey Lullaby‘ – Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss
Songwriter Don Schlitz (‘The Gambler,’ ‘Forever & Ever, Amen’) writes, “‘She put him out, like the burning end of a midnight cigarette.’ There is no one best opening line, but there is none better. The scene is set, the story told between the lines. It’s Romeo, it’s Juliet, it’s us, all of us. If you’re reading this, you survived. When you listen to this song, you have no idea how you did it. But the memory is real, part of who we are. This is one of my very favorite songs. I listen to it over and over. I once put the bottle to my head and pulled the trigger. Thank God I missed. Mr. Paisley and Ms. Krauss give our eulogy with grace and forgiveness.”
‘Believe‘ – Brooks & Dunn
Opry historian Craig Shelborne writes, “Country fans experienced a spiritual awakening with ‘Believe,’ the 2005 Brooks & Dunn hit written by Ronnie Dunn and Craig Wiseman. As listeners, we could feel the strong connection between the young boy and Old Man Wrigley through their front porch conversations. When the boy goes to college and hears from his mother that Old Man Wrigley has died, it may be the most emotional moment in the duo’s discography. ‘Believe’ earned ACM and CMA Song of the Year awards, as well as a CMA trophy for its poignant music video. After a hiatus, Brooks & Dunn reunited for a 2019 album, Reboot, which featured a duet version of ‘Believe’” with Kane Brown. That same year, Brooks & Dunn were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The legendary duo returned to the 2024 CMA Awards stage with Jelly Roll to once again share the powerful message of ‘Believe.'”
‘I Hope You Dance‘ – Lee Ann Womack
Craig Shelborne writes, “Arriving at the turn of the 21st century, ‘I Hope You Dance’ offered a road map to a positive future: ‘I hope you never fear the mountains in the distance / Never settle for the path of least resistance.’ It provided a perfect anthem for high school graduations, but the message would have touched the heart of any listener. Up to this point, Lee Ann Womack had secured her reputation as one of country music’s most respected traditionalists, a favorite among fans and country superstars like Alan Jackson and George Strait. ‘I Hope You Dance,’ however, broadened her horizons and propelled her to stages around the world, including the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in 2000. Songwriters Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers shared in the ACM wins for Single, Song, and Vocal Event of the Year, received two CMA trophies, and ultimately claimed the Grammy for Country Song of the Year”
‘In Color‘ – Jamey Johnson
Opry historian Craig Shelborne writes, “Jamey Johnson redefined his career with ‘In Color,’ the 2008 hit that won ACM and CMA Song of the Year honors. Prior to that, Johnson had modest success with his debut single, ‘The Dollar,’ but earned much more attention by co-writing George Strait’s ‘Give It Away’ and Trace Adkins’ ‘Ladies Love Country Boys.’ At a number one party for the latter song, songwriter Lee Thomas Miller chatted up Johnson about another industry event that showed black-and-white photos of Nashville artists and songwriters from past generations. Miller remarked that he wished he could ask Bill Anderson who the people in the pictures were. According to Miller, Johnson replied, ‘There’s your idea, Hoss. ‘Think that’s something, you shoulda seen it in color.” Written in about three hours by Johnson, Miller, and James Otto, ‘In Color’ still paints a vivid picture. Fittingly, Bill Anderson surprised Johnson in 2022 with a long-awaited Opry invitation.”
‘Troubadour‘ – George Strait
Opry Vice President & Executive Producer Dan Rogers writes, “Sometimes when you’re stuck, you just need to listen. That’s the advice I once took from Leslie Satcher, who wrote ‘Troubadour’ with Monty Holmes. Satcher confided to a room of music industry professionals including yours truly that she was searching for the next lines they were crafting for a song with George Strait in mind. Then she heard something … somewhere … whisper to her, ‘Troubadour.’ Less than an hour later, the pair finished writing this poignant 2008 hit about a singer’s lifelong dedication to music. Although Strait has won countless ACM and CMA awards, he collected his first Grammy for the album of the same name. Although he’s only played the Opry one time, Strait has multiple entries on the Opry 100 Greatest Songs list, spanning three decades. But listen closely to ‘Troubadour’ for another voice with more than one song in the list. That’s Opry legend Vince Gill on background vocals.”
‘Need You Now‘ – Lady A
Craig Shelborne writes, “A late-night phone call, another shot of whiskey… you know where this is going. The real twist is how effectively Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott could briefly set aside their platonic friendship to bring the desperate characters of ‘Need You Now’ to life. The sultry single (written by the band and Josh Kear) propelled the trio to the pop charts and a shelf full of ACM, CMA and Grammy Awards. There’s a moment where the lavish production catches its breath and the lyrics reveal a surprisingly vulnerable epiphany: ‘I guess I’d rather hurt than feel nothing at all.’ And then it’s back to the bedsheets. The biggest country hit of 2009, ‘Need You Now’ spent five weeks at #1 and set the stage for their next chart-topping hit, ‘American Honey.’” The group tearfully accepted their Grand Ole Opry invitation from Darius Rucker in 2021, with their membership effective immediately.”
Grand Ole Opry Promises Ultimate Country Playlist By End of Summer
That list takes us from the 1930’s through the 2009, bringing us to 86 songs out of the 100 the Opry has promised to release through the summer.
To check out the list of 18 songs from the 1930’s through the 1960’s, click here.
For the 19 songs that made the cut from the 1970’s, click here.
The 18 songs considered the cream of the crop from the 1980’s are all here.
To check out the 17 country songs considered among the greatest of all time from the 1990’s, click here.
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Grand Ole Opry’s Biggest Country Songs of the 2000’s