Sometimes, being a classic country fan isn’t easy. Sure, old-school albums and artists are arguably better than what the industry is producing today. However, one can only listen to the same songs so many times before the craving for something new sets in. Luckily, there is a whole world of current country artists who will give discerning listeners what they’re looking for.
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While these albums would fit perfectly with a classic country collection, they’re relatively new. All four of these albums came out between 2020 and 2025, proving that they do indeed still make good country music.
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1. Touch of You: The Lost Songs of Gary Stewart (2020)–Silverada
Silverada is a great Texas country band with all the Telecaster twang, pedal steel, and rock-solid songwriting anyone could ever want. They have a stack of albums available that range from countrypolitan to red-hot honky tonk. However, this album from 2020 will likely grab the ears of classic country fans.
Gary Stewart was one of the few Outlaw Country artists in the 1970s who saw mainstream success. Songs like “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles)” helped put him on the map. This tribute album from Silverada features covers of 10 songs that Stewart recorded but never released. The band handled these songs with care, and the reverence they hold for Stewart and his legacy is evident in every note.
2. Life’s Work: A Retrospective–Doc Watson (2021)
Doc Watson passed away in 2012, but he left a huge legacy behind him. The 2021 collection Life’s Work contains 101 songs recorded by Watson during his long career. The collection features collaborations with Bill Monroe, Alison Krauss, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Chet Atkins, and Doc’s son Merle Watson.
Watson’s music was more old-time than classic country. However, those who are looking for some top-notch acoustic music with deep roots in the Appalachian region can find it here. Unfortunately, the version of the collection available to stream omits a handful of songs for copyright reasons.
3. 10 for Slim: Charley Crockett Sings James Hand–Charley Crockett (2021)
Charley Crockett is one of the most prolific artists in country music today. For a while, he was releasing two albums a year. One would be a collection of original material, and the other would be an album of covers. As a result, it’s not surprising that some of his releases flew under the radar.
Crockett’s sound is deeply rooted in classic country music, taking inspiration from the likes of Hank Williams and Freddy Fender. At the same time, Hand started releasing albums in the late 1990s, but his sound was lifted from decades before. As a result, this album will no doubt fit in the rotation of nearly any classic country fan.
4. Neon Blue–Joshua Hedley (2022)
As time marches on, “classic country” becomes a larger and larger umbrella. To some, the music released in the early 1990s now falls under that label. For those who crave the days when “Chattahoochee,” “Fancy,” and “The Thunder Rolls” dominated the radio waves there’s Neon Blue by Joshua Hedley.
Every song on Neon Blue sounds like it could have been a hit between 1989 and 1995. However, 11 of the album’s 12 songs are original compositions. The Nashville mainstay covered Roger Miller’s “River in the Rain” to close the record.
Those who like their country a little older can check out his 2018 debut album, Mr. Jukebox. That collection sees Hedley diving headfirst into the countrypolitan sound of the 1960s and ’70s.
Featured Image by Steve Galli/Shutterstock
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