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[2026] A Guide to Country Music: From the Latest Hits to Classic Favorites

Active club DJkento
Active club DJ. With over five years on the front lines of the club scene, they freely cross over from dance music to US hip-hop and Japanese rap. Blending in their own edits with assured mixing, they craft a unique groove that captivates the floor.
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

What kind of image comes to mind when you hear “country music”? In fact, country music—which has influenced pop, hip-hop, and more—remains an enormously popular genre today, especially in its home base of the United States.

Taylor Swift, one of the most famous Western artists in Japan, actually first rose to fame as a young country singer.

To explore the appeal of country music, this article will introduce the latest country songs in the first half and classic standards in the second half.

We hope this piece helps you discover great country songs that are not so well known in Japan!

[2026] Recommended Country Music: A Collection of the Latest Hits and Timeless Classics (31–40)

Cloud 9Megan Moroney

Megan Moroney – Cloud 9 (Official Lyric Video)

Cloud 9Megan Moroney

Singer-songwriter Megan Moroney, a native of Georgia and a rising star in the country scene, is drawing significant attention.

Fresh off her New Female Artist win at the ACM Awards, she continues to steadily expand her fan base with down-to-earth lyrics and approachable melodies.

Her song released in February 2026 is Cloud 9.

Opening her third album, also titled Cloud 9, which drops on the 20th of the same month, this track is a blissful country-pop number where even everyday frustrations seem to vanish under the spell of love.

Produced by Kristian Bush, its dreamy sound is sure to resonate with anyone in love.

It’s a warm track that hints at the coming of spring—be sure to check it out.

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Nobody’s NobodyBrothers Osborne

Brothers Osborne – Nobody’s Nobody (Official Music Video)

Nobody's NobodyBrothers Osborne

Brothers Osborne’s “Nobody’s Nobody” blends a laid-back rhythm with a soothing melody, evoking the warm hues of a sunset.

With Mike Elizondo at the production helm, the track unfolds a fresh sound that broadens their musical range.

The brothers’ message reminds us that even the small, everyday moments carry meaning.

Assertive yet tinged with nostalgia, the song’s tone gently nestles into the listener’s heart and leaves a cozy, contented feeling.

While they’re still relatively unknown in Japan, anyone who listens will surely discover a new appeal in country music.

You won’t want to take your eyes off a country scene that just keeps evolving!

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Somebody Like YouKeith Urban

Keith Urban – Somebody Like You (Official Music Video)

Somebody Like YouKeith Urban

This is a single released from Australian country rocker Keith Urban’s 2002 album Golden Road.

The song, which expresses a desire to fall in love, was also remixed for the 2003 film How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

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Eyes On YouChase Rice

Chase Rice – Eyes On You

Eyes On YouChase Rice

Chase Rice is a country musician from North Carolina.

He also has an athletic side: he played linebacker for the University of North Carolina football team and worked on the pit crew for Hendrick Motorsports in NASCAR.

No wonder he’s incredibly muscular.

His song “Eyes On You” is one of his hits, released in 2018.

It’s a love song that portrays a couple spending a special night together.

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Beer Never Broke My HeartLuke Combs

Luke Combs – Beer Never Broke My Heart (Official Video)

Beer Never Broke My HeartLuke Combs

Luke Combs is an American country music singer-songwriter born in 1990.

He excels at heavyweight country songs featuring a generous, larger-than-life voice and a tough, hard & loud sound.

He’s also a big guy with a chubby, teddy bear-like cuteness.

Recommended for fans of bands like ZZ Top.

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[2026] A Guide to Country Music: From the Latest Hits to Classic Favorites (41–50)

One Man BandOld Dominion

Old Dominion – One Man Band (Official Video)

One Man BandOld Dominion

Old Dominion is a powerhouse country music band formed by five members who have worked on songs for famous country musicians such as Blake Shelton and the band The Band Perry.

They cover a wide range of material, from traditional country to country music that blends modern pop.

Their song “One Man Band” is one of their signature hits and has won awards such as the Academy of Country Music Awards and Song of the Year.

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Try That In A Small TownJason Aldean

Jason Aldean – Try That In A Small Town (Official Music Video)

Try That In A Small TownJason Aldean

Jason Aldean’s new country music “bible,” Try That In A Small Town.

Woven with sounds and words that reflect the toughness and tight-knit bonds of the community he grew up in, this work has impressively reached No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sparked social debate.

It carries a candid message about rural versus urban life.

While controversial in parts, it prompts reflection on the importance of what we choose to protect.

Other musicians have responded as well, and the song deserves attention as a work that opens new horizons in country music.

It’s undoubtedly a memorable track that conveys Aldean’s true intentions.

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