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.
THE JOHNNY CASH SHOW – "History of Country Music" – Airdate: January 21, 1971. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) MERLE HAGGARD
Kate Bush – Peter's Pop Show – 1985 – Kate Bush performt in der ZDF Sendung "Peter's Pop Show" am 30.11.1985 Ihren Song "Running up that Hill". (Photo by kpa/United Archives via Getty Images)
ATLANTA – MARCH 8: Country singer and wife of Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter leaves her footprints at an in-store appearance at Peaches Records on March 8, 1976 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 07: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Blake Shelton performs during CMA Fest 2025 at the main stage at Nissan Stadium on June 07, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)
