With The List, American Songwriter details the best, the brightest, the most enduring, the worst, the most hated, and the most surprising songs ever–among many other qualifiers. If you’re looking for our definitive rankings on music, you’ll find them below.
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 15: Miranda Lambert preforms onstage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Don Felder, Joe Walsh, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, and Glenn Frey of the rock band "Eagles" pose for a portrait in circa 1977 / Photo of FLEETWOOD MAC; L-R. Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood – onstage, group shot (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)
Honoree Jon Bon Jovi performs onstage during the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year Honoring Jon Bon Jovi during the 66th GRAMMY Awards on February 02, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees performs during Lollapalooza at Winnebago County Fairgrounds on June 30, 1996 in Rockford, Illinois. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 19: EDITORIAL USE ONLY Luke Combs performs onstage during the 59th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 19, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage)
American Rock musician Bob Weir, of the group Grateful Dead, plays an electric guitar as he performs onstage at Nassau Coliseum (later Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum), Uniondale, New York, November 1, 1979. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
