A shocking list.
When it comes to art, numbers and awards aren’t everything. Famously, some of the best and most influential artists and bands of all time, ranging from Turnpike Troubadours and Sturgill Simpson to legends such as Jerry Jeff Walker and Guy Clark, never scored a #1 hit on any major country chart.
Diving deeper into the concept, there have been some popular tracks from some of the biggest artists in country music history that have shockingly never gone #1. As we all know at this point, tracks like “Amarillo By Morning” somehow never went #1; however, there is a laundry list of other massive country songs that never found their way to the top of the charts throughout the years.
This, of course, is due to a plethora of different reasons. From songs not gaining popularity until well after their initial release to other massive songs blocking their rise to the top, the songs present on this list had a multitude of different factors preventing them from reaching #1 status.
From Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss’ “Whiskey Lullaby” to Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” here are 20 of the most surprising country songs to never go #1 on either of Billboard’s country charts, Hot Country and Country Airplay:
“Amarillo By Morning” – George Strait
It’s no stretch to say that “Amarillo By Morning” is one of the most iconic country songs of all time. Despite its legacy, it’s not one of the King’s record 60 #1 hits here in the United States. Though it did hit #1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart, it peaked at #4 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in April of 1983.
“Crazy” – Patsy Cline
“Crazy,” which was famously penned by Willie Nelson, has not only become Patsy Cline’s signature song but also one of the most iconic songs in the genre’s history. Often being referred to as an era-defining song for Cline, “Crazy” shockingly never went #1, peaking at #2 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and #9 on the all-genre Billboard 100.
“Crazy’s” rise to the top of the country charts was blocked by Leroy Van Dyke’s massive 19-week #1 stint with “Walk On By,” which would remain the longest-running #1 country song in the chart’s history for over fifty years until 2013 when Florida Georgia Line broke it with the success of “Cruise.”
“Whiskey Lullaby” – Brad Paisley feat. Alison Krauss
It’s widely recognized that “Whiskey Lullaby” is the best song in Brad Paisley’s deep, underrated discography, being regarded as one of the saddest country songs of all time. Though it’s certified 2x platinum, it never went #1, peaking at #3. It was ultimately blocked from going #1 by Tim McGraw’s four-week #1 run with “Live Like You Were Dying.”
“Round Here Buzz” – Eric Church
For all intents and purposes, “Round Here Buzz” has been one of Church’s most popular songs to date, having over 130 million streams on Spotify alone, a 2x platinum certification from the RIAA and constant placement on his setlist night in and night out. Despite this, it fell just short of going #1, peaking at #2 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.
In case you were wondering what blocked it, it was Russell Dickerson’s “Yours” (out of all the songs…)
“Whiskey River” – Willie Nelson
Willie’s cover of Johnny Bush’s “Whiskey River” has become a staple in seemingly endless discography, being played live by the 92-year-old singer as a concert-opener ’til today. Though it has remained one of his most popular tracks, it wasn’t even a Top 10 hit for the living legend. Nelson’s cover would peak at #12 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in February 1979.
“Man! I Feel Like a Woman” – Shania Twain
One would think that a song with over 803 million streams on Spotify alone, which is good for the Top 30 most in the genre, would have gone #1 at some point in its history. That is not the case with “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” however. Despite charting in over a dozen countries, it never officially reached the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It did hit #1 in New Zealand, however.
“Heads Carolina, Tails California” – Jo Dee Messina
As one of the most iconic nineties country songs, it might come as a surprise to many that “Heads Carolina, Tails California” never went #1. It was blocked by Brooks & Dunn’s equally iconic hit, “My Maria,” in May of 1996.
“In Color” – Jamey Johnson
Jamey Johnson’s signature hit is undoubtedly one of the most well-recognizable songs of the 2000s. Despite its powerful nature and long-lasting legacy, the song failed to even reach the Top 5, peaking at #9 on January 10, 2009. In “In Color’s” case, it seems as if it’s one of those tracks that took some time for fans and listeners to truly appreciate the magnitude of. It would later receive a 5x platinum certification from the RIAA back in October 2024.
“Callin’ Baton Rouge” – Garth Brooks
Similar to “Amarillo By Morning,” “Callin’ Baton Rouge” is another signature hit that would reach #1 in Canada but not in the United States. Despite the song being one of Brooks’ biggest hits of the ’90s, the song was blocked from going #1 by Brooks & Dunn’s three-week stay at the top of the charts with “She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind,” followed by Alan Jackson’s four-week run with “Livin’ on Love” immediately after.
“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” – Hank Williams
It’s hard to believe that one of country music’s earliest and most iconic hit songs never reached #1, but that’s the case with Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” This is thanks in part to it actually being released as a B-side to “My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It,” which peaked at #2. Though it would end up peaking at #4 despite being a B-side track, it’s hard to imagine a song with a more impactful legacy despite not reaching #1.
“Fancy” – Reba
Reba’s cover of the 1969 Bobbie Gentry track has undoubtedly become her signature song since its release back in 1991. Though it is certified 2x platinum and remains Reba’s most-streamed song to date, with over 163 million listens on Spotify alone, it failed to reach the Top 5. “Fancy” shockingly only peaked at #8 in April of 1991.
“Delta Dawn” – Tanya Tucker
Though “Delta Dawn” had already been recorded by the likes of Bette Midler and had even experienced more chart success upon Helen Reddy’s 1973 release (#1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and Easy Listening chart), the then-13-year-old Tanya Tucker’s 1972 recording of the song has remained the definitive version over the following decades. Despite its notoriety in country music over the years, Tucker’s cover of “Delta Dawn” failed to reach the Top 5 upon its release. It would peak at #6 in August 1972.
“T-R-O-U-B-L-E” – Travis Tritt
Outside of “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive” and “Here’s a Quarter (Call Somebody Who Cares),” “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” has remained one of Travis Tritt’s biggest hits throughout his career. Though it has a 2x platinum certification and over 76 million streams on Spotify (Tritt’s fourth-most), the track didn’t receive as much love upon its release as you would think.
“T-R-O-U-B-L-E” would fail to crack the Top 10, only peaking at #13 in May of 1993.
“Independence Day” – Martina McBride
Like Reba, Martina McBride’s signature song also surprisingly did not go #1. Despite it being regarded as one of the most powerful, misunderstood country songs of all time, “Independence Day” failed to crack the Top 10, peaking at #12 in 1994.
“Go Rest High On That Mountain” – Vince Gill
Largely recognized as one of the greatest country-gospel songs ever recorded, “Go Rest High On That Mountain” has remained one of the most important songs in Vince Gill’s discography. Inspired by the death of both Keith Whitley and his brother, Bob, the song was years in the making for the legendary guitarist and songwriter. Though it has remained one of the most powerful tracks in country history, “Go Rest High On That Mountain” only peaked at #14 in December 1995.
“Red Solo Cup” – Toby Keith
Arguably one of the most popular party country songs of all time, the 3x platinum track was one of the last hits of the late, great Toby Keith’s legendary career. The song shockingly barely cracked the Top 10, peaking at #9 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in February of 2012, despite being seemingly everywhere at the time of its release and beyond.
“Midnight in Montgomery” – Alan Jackson
Jackson’s haunting, fictional encounter with Hank Williams’ ghost has remained one of the best and most unique in the “Chattahoochee” singer’s discography. Though it’s often regarded as one of his best, it is not among his 26 #1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It would peak at #3 in July 1992 behind the likes of Billy Ray Cyrus’ now infamous “Achy Breaky Heart” and Wynonna’s cover of “I Saw the Light.”
“Love Like Crazy” – Lee Brice
“Love Like Crazy” holds the unique title of being the first song ever to finish as Billboard’s #1 country song of the year (2010) without reaching #1 on the Hot Country Song chart at any point. This is thanks in part to the fact that it broke the record of longest-running entry on the Hot Country Songs chart at the time, with a staggering 55 weeks throughout 2009 and 2010.
With that being said, “Love Like Crazy” peaked at #3 in September 2010, being blocked by the likes of Billy Currington’s “Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer” and Lady A’s “Our Kind of Love.”
“No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” – Kenny Chesney
Recently, Kenny Chesney claimed that he thinks he has the most #2 hits of all time, and he very well might be right. Throughout his career, he’s scored 12 #2 hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, including the likes of “I Go Back,” “Young” and his George Strait collaboration, “Shiftwork.”
The most shocking one, however, is none other than “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems”, which became one of his signature songs and received a 2x platinum certification from the RIAA. Despite this, it would also get stuck at #2 during the height of its popularity. This was thanks to Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett’s megahit, “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere,” which stayed at #1 for a lengthy eight straight weeks.
“Life Is a Highway” – Rascal Flatts
Say what you will about the song itself and Rascal Flatts as a group, there’s absolutely no denying how big a hit “Life Is a Highway” is. As a cover of Tom Cochrane’s 1991 single released for Disney’s first Cars film, the song had a massive crossover. Despite being one of the most-streamed country songs of all time, with over 871 million listens on Spotify alone and an 8x platinum certification from the RIAA, it would only peak at #18 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. This was due mainly to the fact that their current single on country radio at the time, “My Wish,” was also receiving heavy play on its way to a #1 spot.
