The 2020s have proven to be a heyday for country music. This genre has experienced a boom like never before. With that boom comes an onslaught of country songs, running the gamut from joyous to downright heartbreaking. We’d like to focus on the latter today. Sad country songs offer an emotional release for listeners. We all need sad songs from time to time. Check out four of the saddest country songs from the 2020s, below.
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“Penthouse” (Kelsea Ballerini)
The first stop on our list of sad country songs is a heartbreak ballad. Kelsea Ballerini created an EP’s worth of crushing breakup songs, but this one has proven to be a clear standout among fans. “Penthouse” effectively marks the end of Ballerini’s marriage. She sings about faking her way through it, long before it was actually over. From the outside looking in, you’d be forgiven for thinking Ballerini was living the high life. Despite taking up residence at the top of the world, her personal life was crashing down.
We played the part five nights
But we were never there on the weekends, baby
We got along real nice
But when I left town, did you hate me?
One day, the curtain started coming down
I changed the second we were moving out
I guess wrong can look alright
When you’re playing home in a penthouse, baby
“Maggie’s Song” (Chris Stapleton)
There are many country songs about grief, but few capture the unique grief of losing a pet. Chris Stapleton’s “Maggie’s Song” is a tribute to man’s best friend–a heartbreakingly honest one at that. Stapleton takes the listener through his dog’s life, from taking her home to burying her. It’s hard to keep a dry eye when Stapleton sings: And I thought to myself / As we buried her on the hill / I never knew me a better dog /And I guess I never will.
Let me tell you a story
About an old friend of mine
Somebody left her in a shopping cart
In a parking lot for us to find
Just a fuzzy black pup
She was hungry and feeling alone
We put her in the back seat
And told her we were takin’ her home
“Seven Minutes in Heaven” (Reba McEntire)
“Seven Minutes in Heaven” sees Reba McEntire daydream about speaking to a lost loved one again. She dreams of taking a trip to heaven to reconnect with those she’s missed, skipping questions about the universe or running into fellow country legends. It’s likely a familiar wish for anyone who has experienced this kind of grief. Though this song is upbeat, the deep emotions behind it are palpable.
If I had seven minutes in Heaven
I know just what I’d do
Take a walk down those golden streets
And find a quiet corner booth
I wouldn’t spend all my seconds asking God questions
‘Cause He knows I’d be back soon
If I had seven minutes in Heaven
I’d spend them all with you
“Son of a Sinner” (Jelly Roll)
We can all be our own worst critic. If you have regrets in your life, that critical voice can become impossibly loud. Jelly Roll let his inner-critic take the wheel in “Son of a Sinner.” He sings about his short-comings and problems with addiction, hoping to get back on the right path again. In many ways, this song is a call to action for the country singer. Those that have similar regrets in life will find this song affecting.
I’m just a long-haired son of a sinner
Searching for new ways I can get gone
I’m a pedal to the highway
If you ever wonder why we write these songs
‘Cause I’m only one drink away from the devil
I’m only one call away from home
Yeah, I’m somewhere in the middle
I guess I’m just a little right and wrong
(Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images)
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