The ’90s brought us some of the biggest hit country songs in the history of the genre. Today, countless fans overlook releases by modern artists and go back to nostalgic releases from the likes of George Strait and Alan Jackson. Somewhere between the authentic songwriting and neotraditional country instrumentation, these artists found a formula to reliably create enduring tracks that dominated the charts and the airwaves.
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Today, we’re looking back at four country songs that were massive hits in the ’90s but haven’t lost their sheen in the intervening years. From stone cold country to crossover hits, these songs are still bangers three decades later.
[RELATED: 4 Country Songs From the 1990s That Became Classics Despite Zero Radio Play]
1. “Love Without End, Amen” by George Strait (1990)
No conversation about hit songs from the ’90s would be complete without mention of George Strait. He had several massive hits throughout the decade after stacking 18 No. 1 singles in the ’80s. He kicked off the decade with “Love Without End, Amen,” the lead single from the album Livin’ It Up. The track went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and stayed there for five weeks, giving Strait his first multi-week No. 1. It was the publication’s No. 4 country song of the year.
“Love Without End, Amen” still hits as hard today as it did when Strait released it in April 1990. While many love songs focus on romantic partnerships, this enduring banger is about the love shared between a father and son. As long as dads listen to country music, it’ll remain one of King George’s most popular cuts.
2. “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” by Alan Jackson (1991)
Alan Jackson found his first No. 1 with “I’d Love You All Over Again,” the final single from his debut album Here in the Real World. It kicked off a string of big hit songs on the Billboard country chart that lasted until the end of the ’90s.
While Here in the Real World remains a standout album from the era, Jackson’s sophomore record Don’t Rock the Jukebox proved that he was a force to be reckoned with. The title track and lead single went to the top of the country chart and stayed there for three weeks. It was also the Billboard’s No. 1 country song of the year for 1991.
With it’s hard country instrumentation, heartbroken honky tonk themes, and lyrical nods to George Jones, this song was destined to be an immortal banger.
3. “I Swear” by John Michael Montgomery (1993)
“I Swear” was all but inescapable in 1994. John Micheal Montgomery released it in November 1993 and a few short months later, it was one of the biggest country hits of the ’90s. It spent four weeks at No. 1 and was the top country song of the year. However, Montgomery’s wasn’t the only version on the radio that year. The R&B group All-4-One had a massive hit with their version of the song. As a result, those who listened to pop or country radio in 1994 could count on hearing this track at least once a day.
Country music has a long history of love songs and “I Swear” might be among the best. Much like true love, this heartfelt track will never go out of style.
4. “Like the Rain” by Clint Black (1996)
Clint Black was a member of the famed Class of ’89 who helped push country music back to its traditional roots. He had a No. 1 hit with his debut single “A Better Man” and wouldn’t miss the top 10 until nearly a decade later when he released “Still Holding On” in 1997. By the time he released “Like the Rain” as the lead single from his Greatest Hits collection, he had notched more than 20 hits with nine of those going to No. 1.
“Like the Rain” topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart and stayed there for three weeks. Black captures the transformative power of love in this banger of a ballad. That lyrical theme combined with his timeless vocal delivery ensure that this song will continue to be dedicated to country fans’ lovers for years to come.
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