The Best Country & Americana Albums
Steel guitar and storytelling, from outlaw country to alt-country.
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1Mama TriedMerle Haggard
Mama Tried
A landmark of Bakersfield country, plain-spoken and powerful. Direct and beloved. His signature record.
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2Coal Miner's DaughterLoretta Lynn
Coal Miner's Daughter
A plain-spoken, autobiographical country classic of working-class pride. Honest and beloved. Her signature album.
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3Van Lear RoseLoretta Lynn
Van Lear Rose
A raw, Jack White-produced late-career triumph that introduced her to a new audience. Vital and acclaimed. A remarkable comeback.
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4Coat of Many ColorsDolly Parton
Coat of Many Colors
A tender, autobiographical country peak of plain-spoken warmth. Beautiful and beloved. A signature record.
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5JoleneDolly Parton
Jolene
Built around one of country's most enduring songs, plus the autobiographical 'I Will Always Love You'. Plain-spoken and beautifully sung. Essential Dolly.
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6Honky Tonk HeroesWaylon Jennings
Honky Tonk Heroes
A landmark of outlaw country, rough and rebellious, mostly written by Billy Joe Shaver. Loose and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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7Wichita LinemanGlen Campbell
Wichita Lineman
A lush, melancholic countrypolitan landmark built on a perfect Jimmy Webb song. Beautiful and beloved. A genre classic.
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8The GamblerKenny Rogers
The Gambler
A blockbuster of narrative country-pop, home to its iconic title song. Tuneful and huge. A crossover landmark.
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9Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.Dwight Yoakam
Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.
A sharp Bakersfield-revival debut of honky-tonk fire. Tuneful and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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10Storms of LifeRandy Travis
Storms of Life
A neo-traditionalist debut that revived classic country. Warm and acclaimed. A landmark.
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11Guitar TownSteve Earle
Guitar Town
A sharp, rootsy debut of new-traditionalist country. Tough and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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12Copperhead RoadSteve Earle
Copperhead Road
A rootsy, rock-edged peak, home to its title song. Tough and beloved. A high point.
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13No FencesGarth Brooks
No Fences
A massive blockbuster that took country to the mainstream, home to 'Friends in Low Places'. Tuneful and enormous. A landmark.
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14Ropin' the WindGarth Brooks
Ropin' the Wind
A blockbuster that cemented Brooks as country's biggest star. Tuneful and enormous. A commercial peak.
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15Come On OverShania Twain
Come On Over
The best-selling country album ever, a glossy pop-country blockbuster. Polished and huge. A crossover landmark.
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16Wide Open SpacesThe Chicks
Wide Open Spaces
A bright, harmony-rich blockbuster that revived mainstream country. Tuneful and huge. A breakthrough.
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17FlyThe Chicks
Fly
A hit-stuffed peak, home to 'Goodbye Earl'. Tuneful and huge. A commercial high.
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18HomeThe Chicks
Home
A bluegrass-leaning, acoustic peak of harmony and craft. Beautiful and acclaimed. A creative high.
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19Car Wheels on a Gravel RoadLucinda Williams
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
A weathered Americana masterpiece of vivid Southern detail and hard-won emotion. Beautifully written. Her defining record.
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20No DepressionUncle Tupelo
No Depression
The debut that helped name alt-country, fusing punk energy with country roots. Raw and influential. A scene-defining record.
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21TraceSon Volt
Trace
A weathered alt-country debut of road-worn beauty. Raw and acclaimed. A genre cornerstone.
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22Hollywood Town HallThe Jayhawks
Hollywood Town Hall
A harmony-rich alt-country peak. Warm and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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23Strangers AlmanacWhiskeytown
Strangers Almanac
A polished alt-country peak of Ryan Adams's early songwriting. Tuneful and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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24HeartbreakerRyan Adams
Heartbreaker
A raw, affecting alt-country solo debut of break-up songs and easy melody. Honest and beloved. His finest record.
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25GoldRyan Adams
Gold
A sprawling, classic-rock-leaning solo peak. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.
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26Southern Rock OperaDrive-By Truckers
Southern Rock Opera
An ambitious double-album meditation on the American South. Bold and acclaimed. Their masterpiece.
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27Decoration DayDrive-By Truckers
Decoration Day
A sharp, storytelling Southern-rock peak. Raw and acclaimed. A high point.
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28Metamodern Sounds in Country MusicSturgill Simpson
Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
A trippy, traditional-yet-psychedelic record that reframed what modern country could be. Bold and soulful. A genre highlight.
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29TravellerChris Stapleton
Traveller
A soulful, gravel-voiced album that revived outlaw spirit for the mainstream. Warm and assured. A modern country breakthrough.
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30Midwest Farmer's DaughterMargo Price
Midwest Farmer's Daughter
A sharp, traditional-leaning debut of hard-won storytelling. Honest and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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31PurgatoryTyler Childers
Purgatory
A vivid, traditional-leaning Appalachian country breakthrough. Raw and acclaimed. A modern highlight.
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32Same Trailer Different ParkKacey Musgraves
Same Trailer Different Park
A witty, sharp country debut. Tuneful and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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33American HeartbreakZach Bryan
American Heartbreak
A sprawling, raw heartland-country breakthrough. Honest and huge. A high point.
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34Zach BryanZach Bryan
Zach Bryan
A raw, prolific singer-songwriter's mainstream peak of heartland country. Honest and huge. A breakthrough.
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35Gunfighter Ballads and Trail SongsMarty Robbins
Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs
A cinematic Western-country landmark, home to 'El Paso'. Vivid and beloved. A genre classic.
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36I've Got a Tiger by the TailBuck Owens
I've Got a Tiger by the Tail
A peak of bright Bakersfield honky-tonk. Tuneful and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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37Branded ManMerle Haggard
Branded Man
An early peak of plain-spoken Bakersfield country. Warm and beloved. A high point.
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38Okie from MuskogeeMerle Haggard
Okie from Muskogee
A live peak built around its famous, much-debated title song. Tuneful and iconic. A genre landmark.
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39Stand by Your ManTammy Wynette
Stand by Your Man
A peak of classic country balladry, home to its iconic title song. Powerful and beloved. A landmark.
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40I Am What I AmGeorge Jones
I Am What I Am
A peak of classic country balladry, home to 'He Stopped Loving Her Today'. Devastating and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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41Shotgun WillieWillie Nelson
Shotgun Willie
The loose, liberated record where Willie found his outlaw voice. Warm and acclaimed. A turning point.
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42Phases and StagesWillie Nelson
Phases and Stages
A concept album of divorce told from both sides. Beautiful and acclaimed. A creative high.
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43Dreaming My DreamsWaylon Jennings
Dreaming My Dreams
A relaxed, outlaw-country peak of warm craft. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.
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44My Tennessee Mountain HomeDolly Parton
My Tennessee Mountain Home
A warm, autobiographical concept peak. Tender and beloved. A high point.
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45Pieces of the SkyEmmylou Harris
Pieces of the Sky
A graceful country peak of pristine voice. Warm and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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46Too Far to CareOld 97's
Too Far to Care
A rowdy alt-country peak of twangy energy. Fun and beloved. A genre highlight.
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47Raising SandRobert Plant and Alison Krauss
Raising Sand
A hushed, atmospheric Americana collaboration that swept the Grammys. Beautiful and acclaimed. A late-career landmark.
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48A Sailor's Guide to EarthSturgill Simpson
A Sailor's Guide to Earth
A genre-bending, soul-and-strings country peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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49Colter WallColter Wall
Colter Wall
A weathered, deep-voiced traditional-country debut. Raw and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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50Country SquireTyler Childers
Country Squire
A vivid, traditional-leaning peak of Appalachian storytelling. Warm and acclaimed. A standout.
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51Golden HourKacey Musgraves
Golden Hour
A dreamy, crossover country-pop record of warmth and craft, blending disco shimmer and steel guitar. Beloved and acclaimed. Her masterpiece.
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52Star-CrossedKacey Musgraves
Star-Crossed
A reflective, divorce-themed pop-country record. Polished and acclaimed. A mature follow-up to Golden Hour.
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53This One's for YouLuke Combs
This One's for You
A blockbuster mainstream-country debut of huge hits. Tuneful and enormous. A breakthrough.
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54Dangerous: The Double AlbumMorgan Wallen
Dangerous: The Double Album
A sprawling, chart-dominating country-pop blockbuster. Tuneful and enormous. A commercial landmark.