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 Highwaymen, who released one of the greatest country songs of 1985
Canadian Rock Group Loverboy
(Original Caption) : 1981- The rock and roll group Loverboy are shown in this studio portrait. (Photo by Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – DECEMBER 01: Photo of AEROSMITH; Steven Tyler and Joe Perry (playing Gibson Les Paul guitar) performing live onstage (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 06: EDITORIAL USE ONLY. Zach Top performs on stage during day three of the 2026 CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium on June 06, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – Singer Willie Nelson sings during funeral services at the Ray Charles Funeral service held at the First AME Church Los Angeles on June 18, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Genaro Molina-Pool/Getty Images)
English singer-songwriter Paul McCartney rehearsing with his band Wings before their British Tour, 7th April 1973. (Photo by Jack Kay/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
