Best Country Albums of 2026 So Far<\/a><\/strong>. Now it\u2019s time to consider the best songs and singles. What we\u2019re looking for with \u201csongs\u201d are legitimate Song of the Year contenders. This means were not searching for the catchy ditties and toe tappers. We\u2019re looking for songs that elicit a deep emotional response. These are songs that can change a life, change the world, or change someone\u2019s perspective.<\/p>With \u201csingles,\u201d you still want them to be well-written. But it\u2019s more about unlocking the sheer joy in music, and more about the performance than the writing necessarily. <\/p>
Opinions on songs (and singles) are always more varied than even with albums. But the point of this exercise is to help inform the public about a song they might have missed. Feel free to leave your list of favorite songs and singles below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBEST SONGS OF 2026 SO FAR:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ashley McBryde \u2013 \u201cBottle Tells Me So\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s no subtle deliveries that paint in nuanced colors when it comes to Ashley McBryde. If she isn\u2019t blowing out your speakers with flamethrowing chainsaw guitar, she\u2019s drowning you in a torrential downpour of waterworks with a power ballad. Even the more hushed moments come with a smoldering intensity.<\/p>
Co-written with Shelly Fairchild and Terri Jo Box, \u201cBottle Tells Me So\u201d is from Ashley McBryde\u2019s new album Wild<\/em>. Even though the arrangement is rather contemporary, the way the writing and hook of the song works is totally classic country. Blending \u201cbottle\u201d with \u201cBible\u201d is an overused trope in country songs. But as Ashley McBryde proves, there was one angle that had yet to be explored. Being able to take a country clich\u00e9 and turn it into something genius is what great country music is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n