Favorite Country Albums

Adeem the Artist

Anniversary

Producer Butch Walker helps move the acclaimed Americana singer/songwriter into the country mainstream.

Beyoncé

Cowboy Carter

The country-influenced second act in the reclamation trilogy brings history, famous friends, and family legacy together for an impressive statement.

Carly Pearce

Hummingbird

The sharp country singer/songwriter emphasizes her traditional roots.

Charley Crockett

$10 Cowboy

The Texas troubadour slides into a soulful groove on this exceptional sequel to his breakthrough The Man from Waco.

Cody Jinks

Change the Game

The outlaw singer sobers up on this weighty record.

Connie Smith

Love, Prison, Wisdom and Heartaches

One of country's greatest vocalists pays homage to her friends and peers on her 55th album.

Dwight Yoakam

Brighter Days

A bang-up set of 21st century honky tonk and heartfelt love songs, including a solid duet with Post Malone.

Jamey Johnson

Midnight Gasoline

After a 14-year break from recording, the country songwriter returns with a collection at once poignant, wry, and sometimes stomping.

Johnny Blue Skies

Passage du Désir

Sturgill Simpson adopts a new persona on this uncommonly sunny and soulful record.

Johnny Cash

Songwriter

The Man in Black's 1993 demos are augmented 30 years on by a John Carter Cash-approved ensemble to create an unexpected gem.

Kasey Chambers

Backbone

The brilliant Australian singer/songwriter boldly demonstrates why she's been a giant of roots music for a quarter-century.

Kay Adams

Little Pink Mack

Excellent collection of vintage honky tonk tunes from one of the best female singers on the 1960s Bakersfield scene.

Keith Urban

HIGH

The Aussie-American star delivers a punchy and emotional set of country-rockers and ballads that play to all of his strengths.

Kenny Chesney

Born

The country veteran plays to his beachy strengths on this satisfying album.

Lainey Wilson

Whirlwind

Fresh off a Grammy win, the country star keeps the momentum going on her energetic fifth LP.

Luke Combs

Fathers & Sons

A sweet and sincere record about fatherhood.

Maggie Rose

No One Gets Out Alive

The singer's fourth album showcases her vintage-inspired country-soul vibe.

Megan Moroney

Am I Okay?

The Savannah native cements her country star status on this strong sophomore set.

Sarah Jarosz

Polaroid Lovers

The Nashville transplant makes a confident stab at modern countrypolitan on her glossy seventh LP.

Scotty McCreery

Rise & Fall

A throwback to '90s country that doesn't feel nostalgic or overly sentimental.

Shaboozey

Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going

The Virginia country-hip-hop innovator puts all the pieces together on his third record.

Silverada

A lively, nuanced -- and slyly polished -- spin on classic Texas barroom country.

Swamp Dogg

Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St.

The great eccentric soul man hires some first-class acoustic pickers and makes a smart, occasionally strange bluegrass album.

The Mavericks

Moon & Stars

Flashes of their retro-pop past and Latin-infused present mix on a great album from these roots country veterans.

Tyler Hubbard

Strong

The Florida Georgia Line singer finds a way to mature with ease on this finely crafted mainstream country-pop album.

Various Artists

My Black Country: The Songs of Alice Randall

One of the handful of Black women writing songs in Nashville in the 1990s and beyond gets a tribute from Black women country and Americana artists.

The AllMusic 2024

Year InReview

Veteran and freshly-arrived country stars alike delivered standout albums in 2024. Genre-busting records from Beyoncé, Shaboozey, and Swamp Dogg rode the airwaves alongside more comfortable albums from Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, and Connie Smith.

Various Artists

Various Artists

Year In
Review