- Original Artist: Jim Reeves (1957)
- Cover Artist: Ronnie Milsap (1981)
Ronnie Milsap's rendition of "Am I Losing You" became a major hit when it soared to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1982. His version of the song resonated deeply with listeners, earning it the coveted #1 spot and solidifying its place in country music history. Jim Reeves originally covered the song in 1957. It spend two weeks at #3 on the country singles charts but couldn't breakthrough to #1 back then.
- Original Artist: George Jones (1972)
- Cover Artist: Lorrie Morgan (1991)
Lorrie Morgan's rendition of "A Picture of Me (Without You)" became a significant hit in 1992, climbing to #9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Nearly twenty years earlier, the same song was a major hit for George Jones in 1972 when it rose to #5 on the same Hot Country Songs chart.
- Original Artist: Duane Dee (1968)
- Cover Artist: Freddy Fender (1974)
"Before The Next Teardrop Falls" had been recorded over two dozen times by various artists, including Dueane Dee in 1968 (the first original recording), Linda Martell in 1970, and Jerry Lee Lewis in 1969. However, it was Freddy Fender's rendition in 1975 that truly struck a chord with listeners, topping both the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Billboard Hot 100 charts.
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- Original Artist: Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (1968)
- Cover Artist: Dolly Parton (1981)
Dolly Parton's rendition of "But You Know I Love You" became a hit when it was featured on her duet album Once Upon a Christmas in 1984. This version brought a fresh take to the song, showcasing Parton's unique vocal style and adding a new layer of emotion to the already beloved track originally recorded by one of her best freinds in the business, Kenny Rogers. Rogers's rendition peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also charted on the Adult Comtemporary chart in 1969. Parton's country version topped the Hot Country Songs chart and appeared on both the Hot 100 "pop" chart as well as the Adult Contemporary music chart.
- Original Artist: Oak Ridge Boys (1989)
- Cover Artist: Garth Brooks (1993)
"Callin' Baton Rouge" has an interesting journey through the music world. Originally recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys on their 1978 album Room Service, it was later picked up by Billie Jo Spears for her 1980 album Standing Tall. However, it was Garth Brooks's rendition on his 1993 album In Pieces that truly made waves, propelling the song to #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1994.
- Original Artist: Bobbie Gentry (1969)
- Cover Artist: Reba McEntire (1991)
Reba McEntire's rendition of "Fancy" became a significant hit when it peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1991. Her powerful performance of the song also earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, solidifying its success and her talent as a country music artist. It remains one of her signature songs during concert performances to this day. While McEntire's version eventually supplanted the original, the Bobbie Gentry version was actually quite popular in its day between 1969 and 1970. It was a crossover hit that charted on country charts, adult contemporary charts, and pop charts. (Just not as high as Reba's version.)
- Original Artist: Tracy Chapman (1988)
- Cover Artist: Luke Combs (2023)
"Fast Car" has seen several notable covers over the years, with artists like Justin Bieber and Sam Smith putting their own spin on the classic. One standout rendition came from Luke Combs, whose version was a certified smash hit. It topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart and sat for multiple weeks at #2 on the Hot 100 in 2023. This eclipsed the popularity of Tracy Chapman's original version in 1988 that reached #6 on the Hot 100. In 2023, when the song won the CMA Award for Song of the Year, Chapman became the first Black songwriter (man or woman) to win a CMA Award.
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- Original Artist: Conway Twitty (1988)
- Cover Artist: Blake Shelton (2004)
Blake Shelton's rendition of "Goodbye Time" was featured on his third album in 2005. It was a top 10 hit on the country charts and crossed over onto the Hot 100, as well. It even ended the year in the top 50 of the most popular country songs. While Shelton's rendition reached a newer and younger country audience, Conway Twitty's original recording of the song in 1988 actually charted higher on the Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at #7.
- Original Artist: Nine Inch Nails (1994)
- Cover Artist: Johnny Cash (2002)
Johnny Cash's rendition of "Hurt" was released in 2002. Despite being a cover, it made a significant impact, reaching #33 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Not only did this cover gain widespread acclaim, the music video for the song was also highly lauded. Music and cultural critics routinely cite Cash's interpretation as one of, if not the, greatest cover of a song of all time. The critical success of the country interpretation is perhaps due to the surprising genre of the original recording. Nine Inch Nails, an industrial rock band fronted by Trent Reznor, were the original artists. They saw success with the song on rock and alternative charts. In subsequent interviews, Reznor has conceded that Cash may have done a better job interpreting the lyrics than even he (the writer) could have!
- Original Artist: Rodney Crowell (1978)
- Cover Artist: The Oak Ridge Boys (1979)
"Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight" is a song that found success through multiple renditions. Emmylou Harris covered it in 1978, but it was The Oak Ridge Boys who turned it into a hit. Their version, released in 1979, climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, reaching #1 in 1981.
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- Original Artist: Tom Cochrane (1991)
- Cover Artist: Rascal Flatts (2006)
Rascal Flatts' rendition of "Life is a Highway" gained significant popularity when it was featured on the soundtrack of the 2006 movie Cars. This cover version resonated with audiences and climbed to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is certified 6x Platinum in sales. Not only was it a country hit, but it was also a certified crossover pop hit. Funnily enough, the original recording by Tom Cochrane was just as popular when it was released in 1991. It climbed to #6 on the Hot 100 and was a #1 hit in Canada. Even though the genre of the song is country-tinged rock, it didn't rank on country charts during its original run.
- Original Artist: B.W. Stevenson (1973)
- Cover Artist: Brooks & Dunn (1996)
Brooks & Dunn's rendition of "My Maria" soared to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1996, securing the number one spot. It also crossed over onto the Hot 100 charts and was the track that won Brooks & Dunn a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Vocal Group or Duo. The original version of the song was recorded by B.W. Stevenson, who also co-wrote the song, in 1973. Back then, it was a top 10 pop hit, reaching #9 on the Hot 100 chart. Interestingly, the song was a #1 hit on the Easy Listening charts, in the "Adult Contemporary" category but didn't chart on any country music charts.
- Original Artist: George Jones (1990)
- Cover Artist: Blake Shelton (2002)
"Ol' Red" is a song that found its way to fame through multiple renditions. The song was first recorded by country music legend George Jones and featured on his album You Oughta Be Here With Me in 1990. Kenny Rogers then covered the song for his 1993 album If Only My Heart Had a Voice. Neither of these versions charted on singles music charts, however. It wasn't until Blake Shelton recorded a version of the song in 2001 for his self-titled debut album that the song became a certified hit. Shelton's version peaked at #14 on the Hot Country Songs Billboard chart in 2002. It was Shelton's 3rd-ever single and has gone on to sell over 2,000,000 copies.
- Original Artist: Jim Ed Brown (1967)
- Cover Artist: Alan Jackson (1999)
Alan Jackson's rendition of "Pop a Top" became a significant hit when it climbed to the #6 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1999. It also crossed over to be a top 50 pop hit, ranking #42 on the Hot 100. The original recording of the song was by Jim Ed Brown in 1967. It was a country hit, charting higher than Jackson's version. Brown's peaked at #3; however, it didn't have the crossover appeal of Jackson's rendition.
- Original Artist: Dave Dudley (1963)
- Cover Artist: Sawyer Brown (1997)
"Six Days on the Road" has seen several notable covers over the years. It was first recorded by an artist named Paul Davis in 1961. Both that artist nor the song really went anywhere. "Six Days..." first found a wide audience after Dave Dudley recorded a version two years later in 1963. He took the song all the way to #2 on the Hot Country Songs chart. It was also a top 50 hit on the Hot 100 and a top 20 hit on the Adult Contemporary charts. Thirty-four years later, Sawyer Brown included a version of the song on their album titled after the song. This cover brought the song to a whole new generation of country fans as it reached #13 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1997.
- Original Artist: Pointer Sisters (1981)
- Cover Artist: Conway Twitty (1982)
When "Slow Hand" was originally recorded the first time, it was a a Soul/R&B mega-hit for The Pointer Sisters in 1981. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 (held off from the top spot for multiple weeks by Dianna Ross & Lionel Richie's "Endless Love"). It was also a top 10 hit on both the Adult Contemporary and R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. Somewhat surprisingly, Conway Twitty's recorded a country rendition of "Slow Hand" in 1982. It soared to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, but it wasn't the only country cover of the song. Del Reeves recorded an interpretation, as well. However, Twitty's version remains the most popular country-tinged version of "Slow Hand."
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- Original Artist: Ray Stevens (1969)
- Cover Artist: Kris Kristofferson (1970), Johnny Cash (1970)
The song was famously performed by Johnny Cash in 1970, whose rendition won the Country Music Association (CMA) Award for Song of the Year. What many people may not know was that the song was written by Kris Kristofferson. Kristofferson would go on to join Cash and Waylon Jennings in forming the country supergroup The Highwaymen in 1985. He recorded his own version of the song for his 1970 album Kristofferson. But it was Ray Stevens who recorded the first version in 1969. It was mildly successful, though Stevens later became more famous for his comedic novelty songs.
- Original Artist: Johnny Cash (1961)
- Cover Artist: Rosanne Cash (1987)
Rosanne Cash's rendition of "Tennessee Flat Top Box" was featured on her 1987 album King's Record Shop. This cover version found its way onto the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in from 1987-1988, where it reached a peak position of #1. Her cover added additional meaning to the song since her dad recorded the original 1961 version of the song. Funnily enough, his version only reached as high as #11 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
- Original Artists: David Allan Coe (1981) & George Jones (1983)
- Cover Artist: Chris Stapleton (2015)
"Tennessee Whiskey" has had an interesting history throughout the song's lifespan. It was originall written by Dean Dillion and Linda Hargrove in 1981 and given to David Allen Coe. He recorded it for his album of the same name, and the song was a moderate country success. Two years later in 1983, George Jones recorded a version that became a major hit for him, reaching #2 on the Hot Country Songs chart. However, the song took on a new life of its own when Chris Stapleton performed a cover of the song in 2015. His version was never released as a radio single, but promotional CD singles were created following a lauded performance of the song at the 49th Country Music Association Awards. After the performance, the song hit #1 on the Hot Country Songs charts. More impressively it charted for 3 consecutive years in the United States, from 2015-2017. The song again charted on global charts from 2020-2021. Then, the song amazingly found new life in Australia in 2024, becoming a moderate hit down under!
- Original Artist: Exile (1980)
- Cover Artist: Alabama (1983)
Alabama's rendition of "The Closer You Get" soared to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1983, where it held the #1 spot for an impressive four weeks. However, that was the fourth version of the song. Original writers, Exile released a version of the song in 1980 that found little attention. Don King then recorded a version in 1981 that was a top 40 hit on the Hot Country Songs chart. Rita Coolidge also recorded a version that year that was a moderate pop hit.
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- Original Artist: Vicki Lawrence (1972)
- Cover Artist: Reba McEntire (1991)
"The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" has seen multiple successful covers over the years. Tanya Tucker gave the song her own spin in 1981. However, it was Reba McEntire's 1991 rendition that truly soared. Reba's version not only resonated with fans but also climbed all the way to #12 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and certified Gold (500,000+) in sales. Many people don't remember that Vicki Lawrence, yes—the Vicki Lawrence of The Carol Burnett Show, recorded the original version in 1972 and scored a #1 pop hit with it!
- Original Artist: George Jones (1964)
- Cover Artist: Sawyer Brown (1989)
"The Race Is On" has seen several notable covers over the years. Jack Jones put his spin on it in 1965. His rendition became a top 20 hit on the pop charts. Dave Edmunds followed suit in 1981. His version was a midly popular hit in the United Kingdom. Sawyer Brown also recorded the song in 1989. Their rendition made waves, becoming a top 5 hit on the country charts. This was the most popular the song had been since its originall recording by George Jones in 1964. His original version rose as high as #3 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
- Original Artist: George Jones (1960)
- Cover Artist: Mickey Gilley (1975)
"The Window Up Above" was originally written and recorded by country music great George Jones in 1960. Many music critics have cited this song as one of Jones's best examples of songwriting. While this version was a hit, it only reached #2 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Mickey Gilley's rendition of "The Window Up Above" soared to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1975. It held the number one spot for two weeks and also became a #1 country hit on Canadian charts as well.
- Original Artist: Vern Gosdin (1982)
- Cover Artist: George Strait (1997)
George Strait's rendition of "Today My World Slipped Away" became a major hit, climbing all the way to #3 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1997. His version of the song, which became the most popular version, wasn't the original recording, however. In 1982, the song was co-written and recorded by Ver Gosdin. It became a top 10 country hit for him between the fall of 1982 and into the start of 1983.
- Original Artist: Keith Whitley (1988)
- Cover Artist: Alison Krauss & Union Station (1995)
"When You Say Nothing At All" is a song that has seen significant success through its various covers. The original version of the song was recorded by Keith Whitely in 1988. He scored a #1 hit with the song on the Hot Country Songs chart. In 1995, the same song became a surprise hit for Alison Krauss & Union Station. Their rendition charted on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Country Songs charts. This was despite never being officially served to radio or officially commercially available. They recorded the version for a Keith Whitley tribue album. Another memorable cover came from Ronan Keating in 1999, who recorded a cover version for the 1999 film Notting Hill. This version became a smash hit in Europe, charting in multiple countries and hitting #1 on Irish, Scottish, and UK pop charts.
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- Original Artist: Charly McClain (1980)
- Cover Artist: Alan Jackson (1997)
Alan Jackson's rendition of "Who's Cheatin' Who" became a major hit when it soared to #2 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1997. It achieved the same position on the Canadian country charts. But Jackson's version wasn't the first. The original version was recorded by Charly McClain in 1980. She scored a #1 hit on the Hot Country Songs chart with the song 17 years before Alan Jackson.
- Original Artist: George Jones (1955)
- Cover Artist: Charlie Pride (1983)
"Why Baby Why" is a song that has seen several successful covers over the years. The song was written and recorded by George Jones in 1955, and he scored a #4 country hit with the song. It was the first charting song of George Jones's career (though the 6th single he released). After Jones, Red Sovine and Webb Pierce popularized the song with their cover version in 1956. Charlie Pride's rendition of the song marked his debut single and became a top 10 hit on the country charts in 1983. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson also covered the song for their 1983 album Take It to the Limit. Palomino Road also found success with the song with their version in 1992.
- Original Artist: Brenda Lee (1972)
- Cover Artist: Willie Nelson (1982)
"You Were Always On My Mind" is a song popular with many artists over the years. The emotional lyrics have drawn many artists to cover the song. Brenda Lee recorded the first version in 1972; however, Gwen McCrae also recorded a version that year and was first to release her version to audiences. The song gained the most significant attention when Elvis Presley realeased his cover in the fall of 1972. That's when it charted as high as #16 on the Hot Country Songs chart. In 1979, John Wesley Ryles also released a popular version of the song. The rendition that truly made waves, however, was Willie Nelson's cover in 1982. His popular version hit #1 on the country charts and crossed over to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop charts. It was also a #2 hit on the Adult Contemporary chart and won Nelson three Grammy Awards. The Pet Shop Boys also put their unique spin on the song in 1987 with a crowd-pleasing synth-pop interpretation.
