[2026] Popular Breakup Songs in the U.S.: From the Latest Hits to Timeless Classics
The pain of heartbreak is so deep it defies words.
In those moments, songs that capture the same feelings can quietly stay by your side.
The American music scene has produced countless popular breakup songs that gently embrace your wounded heart.
From ballads that express sorrow straightforwardly to pop numbers that give you the strength to move forward, the expressions are truly diverse.
In this article, we’ve picked a wide range—from timeless classics loved across generations to recent buzzworthy tracks.
You’re sure to find the one song that perfectly matches how you feel right now.
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[2026] Popular Breakup Songs in the U.S.: From the Latest Hits to Timeless Classics (1–10)
I Fall ApartNEW!Post Malone

If you’re looking for a heartbreak song that feels like your chest is going to burst, I recommend this ballad.
It’s a classic included on Post Malone’s album “Stoney.” The mellow beat feels soothing at first, but it actually depicts a deep sorrow, like your heart is falling apart.
From Post Malone’s trembling vocals, you can feel an ineffable pain radiating through.
Although it was released in December 2016, it was reevaluated after live footage spread, and it became a long-running hit, even earning Diamond certification in April 2023.
If your heartbreak hasn’t healed and you want a good cry at night, this piece might be the perfect companion.
Kill BillNEW!SZA

As a leading figure in the contemporary R&B scene, SZA is drawing intense attention from around the world.
Her masterpiece SOS, released in December 2022, set historic records, including dominating the U.S.
album chart at No.
1 for about two months.
Among the tracks on the album, this standout song has earned overwhelming support; it was inspired by a famous revenge film directed by Quentin Tarantino and expresses the shocking urge to do away with an ex-lover.
While it portrays a complex feminine psyche where lingering attachment and murderous intent intertwine, the sound remains smooth and sophisticated, and that contrast is addictive.
If you listen when you want to blow away the haze of heartbreak, the extreme fantasies might just lighten your mood.
Be sure to check it out.
All Too Well (10 Minute Version)NEW!Taylor Swift

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift enjoys worldwide popularity and is known for her wide-ranging musical style, spanning country, pop, and rock.
This work is her reconstruction of a track from the 2012 classic album Red into a 10-minute-13-second extended version on the 2021 album Red (Taylor’s Version).
It became a major talking point as the longest song ever to reach No.
1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.
Its lyrics vividly depict the pain of heartbreak, making it perfect for listening closely on long, chilly autumn nights.
She also directed the short film All Too Well: The Short Film, which lets you immerse yourself even more deeply in the world of the song through its visuals.
[2026] Popular Breakup Songs in America: From the Latest Hits to Timeless Classics (11–20)
You Oughta KnowNEW!Alanis Morissette

Alanis Morissette, the Canadian singer-songwriter hailed as the queen of alternative rock who dominated the music scene of the ’90s.
Featured on her 1995 masterpiece Jagged Little Pill and winner of the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song, this track is renowned as a historic breakup anthem.
Set to an aggressive sound that features members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, she lays bare her searing anger and biting sarcasm toward an ex-lover.
Few songs capture the tangled mix of longing and hatred this vividly.
It’s the perfect track for when tears alone won’t cut it and you need to vent your frustrations and feel cleansed.
Be sure to check it out.
Thank U, NextNEW!Ariana Grande

Pop icon Ariana Grande, who continues to captivate the world with her overwhelming vocal prowess and cute looks.
The song she sings is a groundbreaking breakup anthem themed around gratitude toward exes and self-love.
Rather than simply lamenting past relationships, it carries a positive message of accepting them as fuel for growth.
Released as a single in November 2018, it achieved the remarkable feat of debuting at No.
1 on the U.S.
Billboard chart.
It also serves as the title track of the album “Thank U, Next,” and drew attention for its music video, which pays homage to iconic scenes from films like Mean Girls.
Highly recommended for anyone looking to overcome heartbreak and take a new step forward.
It will surely teach you the importance of loving yourself, carried by a light, buoyant rhythm.
Before He CheatsNEW!Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood, the artist who has reigned as the queen of country music since her victory on American Idol.
Though she’s known for her classic, pristine vocals, this track delivers a shockingly powerful impact that overturns that image.
It tells a striking tale of revenge in which she unleashes her fury at a cheating boyfriend by utterly destroying his beloved car, and when it was released as a single in 2006, it became a massive hit.
Featured on the album Some Hearts, the song received high acclaim, including winning the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in February 2007, and it’s often heard as background music at sporting events.
If you’d rather vent your anger and feel cathartic release than dwell in the murky sadness of heartbreak, this is the perfect track for you.
We Belong TogetherNEW!Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey, the American diva who continues to captivate the world with her overwhelming vocal prowess and whistle register, enjoys immense popularity in Japan as well.
Today’s feature is a sublime R&B ballad from her 2005 album “The Emancipation of Mimi.” This song expresses the aching feelings of longing for a departed lover, sung over a minimal beat and piano.
When the key changes in the latter half and the emotion suddenly overflows, it’s impossible to listen without tears.
It held the No.
1 spot on the U.S.
charts for a total of 14 weeks and boasts a legendary record of exceeding 200 million weekly radio listeners at the time.
What incredible popularity.
It’s a song that feels like it stays close to the pain of heartbreak, so why not listen to it alone on a quiet night?


