We've compiled a list of the top country songs every year from 1975 onward using the Billboard charts archive , and referencing Playback.fm country charts as well. Here's the top country song from the year you were born.
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The most popular country song the year you were born
Whether you're looking for a good love song or something to relax to, there's a country song for pretty much everything. So we decided to seek out the top country song from the year you were born. Because who doesn't get curious about what life was like when they first entered the world?
Tim McGraw Faith Hill
1975: "Rhinestone Cowboy" - Glen Campbell
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No matter how old you are, you've heard this country hit a time or two.
1976: "Convoy" - C.W. McCall
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This song, " a trucker's protest anthem ," held the number one spot for fourweeks on Billboard charts.
1977: Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love)" - Waylon Jennings
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This song, described as " an outlaw fantasy ," held the number one spot on Billboard's country music charts the longest in 1977.
1978: "Mammas Dont Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys - Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
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Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson each have had a couple of songs to top country music charts over the years, but in '78 they did so as a duet.
1979: If I Said You Have A Beautiful Body" - The Bellamy Brothers
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This hit single, titled as a pretty smooth pick-up line , from their fourth album was the top country song of '79.
1980: Lookin For Love" - Johnny Lee
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If you were born in 1980, Johnny Lee's relatable hit, "Lookin' For Love," was the top country song the year you were born. This hit has been deemed the " pinnacle of his career ."
1981: Feels So Right - Alabama
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Alabama held the number one spot on Billboard country charts in '81 and again in '91.
1982: "Always On My Mind" - Willie Nelson
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Country music hall of famer and household name, Willie Nelson shared this hit with the world in '82, and it's still often played today. It's actually playing in the background of a popular ASPCA commercial .
1983: Islands in the Stream" - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
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These household names collaborated to release a country hit that we'll always love.
1984: "To All The Girls Ive Loved Before" - Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
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This crossover duet with Spanish artist Julio Iglesias , rose in popularity in the early '80s and was the top country song of '84.
1985: "Lost In The Fifties Tonight (In The Still)" - Ronnie Milsap
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If you were born in 1985, or during the '80s period, you were basically born into the time of Ronnie Milsap hits.
1986: "Morning Desire" - Kenny Rogers
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This song was on the Billboard charts for 22 weeks in 1986 , topped the charts in early January, and has remained a fan favorite of country songs from the '80s .
1987: "Forever And Ever, Amen" - Randy Travis
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Randy Travis held the spot for top country song two years in a row.
1988: "I Told You So" - Randy Travis
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This iconic ballad was the top country song in 1988, and resurfaced to regain popularity once again as Travis recorded this song as a duet with Carrie Underwood in 2007.
1989: "Im No Stranger To The Rain" - Keith Whitley
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...and we're no stranger to this 1989 chart-topper.
1990: "Love Without End, Amen" - George Strait
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George Strait has had countless songs on the Billboard charts over the years, but this one held the top spot in all of country music in 1990.
1991: "Down Home" - Alabama
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Alabama is a legendary country music group that really dominated the '80s and early '90s.
1992: "Achy Breaky Heart" - Billy Ray Cyrus
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Love it or hate it, you definitely know it.
1993: "Chattahoochee" - Alan Jackson
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If you were born in '93, this feel good Alan Jackson hit was the top country song. If youre curious as to exactly what the Chattahoochee is, it's a pretty popular, historic river in North Georgia .
1994: "I Swear" - John Michael Montgomery
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John Michael Montgomery had the most popular country hit with this love song, giving us major wedding song vibes.
1995: "I Like It, I Love It" - Tim McGraw
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If you've always wanted to go to a Tim McGraw concert, but never been, watch the music video to this 1995 chart-topper.
1996: "My Maria" - Brooks & Dunn
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Easily one the most well-known duos of all time, Brooks & Dunn, held the number one spot the longest on country music charts in 1996 with their hit "My Maria."
1997: "Its Your Love" - Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
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I think we all want to find that someone we can sing this song to (and with).
1998: "Just To See You Smile" - Tim McGraw
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This will forever and always be a song we love.
1999: "Amazed" - Lonestar
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We're going to guess that this ballad was a karaoke anthem back in '99.
2000: "I Hope You Dance" - Lee Ann Womack
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If this song doesn't bring a tear to your eye, you're lying.
2001: "Im Already There" - Lonestar
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This song hits you right in the feels, every single time.
2002: "The Good Stuff" - Kenny Chesney
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This hit from Chesney's multi-platinum album "No Shoes No Shirt No Problems," held the top spot on country music charts for sevenweeks , and is a song that has some true, real life experiences wrapped into it .
2003: "Its Five OClock Somewhere" - Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
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This song describes that Friday afternoon, almost the weekend, time for a drink feeling " to a T ."
2004: "Live Like You Were Dying" - Tim McGraw
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Tim McGraw held the number one spot for top country song in 2004 with this inspiring song.
2005: "As Good As I Once Was" - Toby Keith
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Toby Keith's music tells a story. This story, told with comedic flair, held the top spot in country music the longest in 2005.
2006: "Jesus, Take The Wheel" - Carrie Underwood
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Carrie Underwood won "American Idol" in 2005, and held the spot for top country song the following year.
2007: "Never Wanted Nothing More" - Kenny Chesney
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Kenny Chesney has never had a song that wasn't a hit, but this one in particular topped the charts in 2007.
2008: "Letter To Me" - Brad Paisley
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This song is all about the things that he wishes he could tell his younger self, something we all could probably write to our younger selves, we may just not be able to sing it as well as Brad Paisley does.
2009: "Need You Now" - Lady Antebellum
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Often times country music hits you right in the feels, and this Lady Antebellum hit did so back in 2009.
2010: "Why Dont We Just Dance" - Josh Turner
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Josh Turner's hit just makes you want to dance, or makes you wonder why you're not doing so.
2011: "Honey Bee" - Blake Shelton
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Blake Shelton got it right with this cute love song.
2012: "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Taylor Swift
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Taylor Swift's break up anthem held the number one spot on Billboard charts the longest of all country songs in 2012.
2013: "Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line
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Florida Georgia Line had the top country song again in 2013 with this summertime anthem.
2014: "Burnin It Down" - Jason Aldean
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What's not to love about Jason Aldean's music? This song was one of many hit singles that came off of his sixthth album, " Old Boots New Dirt ."
"Burnin' It Down" - Jason Aldean
2015: "Girl Crush" - Little Big Town
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Little Big Town had several hits on their 2014 album " Pain Killer ," but this hit is the one that really rose in popularity and topped the charts in the following year, 2015.
2016: "H.O.L.Y." - Florida Georgia Line
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This Florida Georgia Line hit held the top spot on Billboard's country music chart for 15 weeks .
2017: "Body Like A Back Road" - Sam Hunt
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You couldn't be in the car for 10 minutes or more without hearing this song on the radio throughout all of 2017.
2018: "Meant To Be" - Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line
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Florida Georgia Line has really nailed the crossover hits, collaborating with artists like Bebe Rexha, Nelly, and The Chainsmokers.
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