4 Rock Covers by Country Artists That Are (Arguably) as Good as the Original

Country music and rock songs are more alike than you may think. When it comes to country singers covering rock, there are certain similarities that make it all work—mainly, the storytelling. Country music is known for telling a story, and so is rock; it only makes sense that bluegrass, country, and Americana singers would cover rock songs. Here are four artists who made rock and roll their own.

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Molly Tuttle — “Olympia, WA” (Rancid)

Bluegrass and folk guitarist Molly Tuttle recorded a cover of Rancid’s “Olympia, WA” in 2020 that showcases her delightful vocals and expert guitar playing. The original track comes from Rancid’s third studio album, …And Out Come the Wolves from 1995, and features the band’s classic ska punk sound. Tuttle’s take on this rock song transforms it into an acoustic folk delight, and fans in the comments of the music video agree. One fan wrote, “As an avid fan of Rancid, you made every fan and the band themselves proud!” Her mastery of the guitar solo near the end of the song shows just how good she is at what she does.

Emmylou Harris — “Racing in the Street” (Bruce Springsteen)

In 1984, Emmylou Harris performed a live cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Racing in the Street” from his 1978 album Darkness on the Edge of Town. She transformed the solemn rock song into a folksy display with her acoustic guitar, keeping it simple but making it her own. Her high, warbling vocals gave the song something inherently feminine and sweet, elevating the longing of the original track.

Speaking about the song in 1984, Harris stated that “if you listen to the lyrics of the Springsteen songs I’ve done, especially ‘Racing in the Streets’ … they’re country; they’re simple, they tell a story. Sometimes you have to look outside, sometimes you get too close to something, so maybe the country people who are supposed to be writing country are too locked into it … so you go out to somebody who’s a rock writer and get something and just do it in your own style.”

Sierra Ferrell — “Me and Bobby McGee” (Janis Joplin)

Sierra Ferrell is a queen of taking a song and making it Americana. She did that this year with a cover of Janis Joplin’s most-known rock song, “Me and Bobby McGee.” During a stop on her Trail of Flowers Tour, Ferrell took a stab at the famous Joplin tune. The original, of course, features Joplin’s distinct vocals. But, Ferrell has her own recognizable style that stands up well to Joplin’s. Ferrell starts out low and smooth, and her signature vocals transform the song into an Americana dream. As Emmylou Harris said in 1984, these rock songs tell a story. This allows them to bleed into country stylization and work well in the hands of country artists. Sierra Ferrell has also performed a cover of The Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down” that she made completely her own.

The Dead South — “Chop Suey” (System of a Down)

The Dead South’s cover of System of a Down’s “Chop Suey” is as brilliant as it is unexpected. Banjo and mandolin in place of hardcore guitar on a rock song doesn’t seem like it would work. But, the band is surprisingly faithful to the original. There’s not much that can be said about this cover, overall. Its genius is simply something that needs to be experienced firsthand.

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