LIST: 26 Sensational Country Songs Turning 26 In 2026
on Jan 05, 2026
Country Songs That Controlled The Charts In 2000 Are Turning 26 Years Old In 2026
The hit songs that took country music by storm in 2000 are turning 26 in 2026! Those songs include sensational solos from artists such as Keith Urban and Lee Ann Womack.
Country fans were also treated to some unforgettable duets in 2000. Singers such as Tim McGraw/Faith Hill and Alan Jackson/George Strait brought us collaborations that have long been considered “classics.”
As we celebrate the arrival of a new year, let’s take a trip back in time to revisit the many marvelous country songs turning 26 in 2026. See the list below!
“What About Now” By Lonestar
The country music group Lonestar released “What About Now” in April 2000 as the 4th single from their album Lonely Grill.
The upbeat song about chasing dreams with the one you love reached the #1 spot on the Hot Country Songs chart. It landed at #3 on Billboard‘s year-end ranking for the same chart.
Additionally, “What About Now” ranked at the 30th spot on the all-genre Hot 100 chart.
“Your Everything” By Keith Urban
Keith Urban released “Your Everything” in May 2000. The swoon-worthy song was the second single he shared from his debut American country album.
“Your Everything” reached #4 on the Hot Country Songs chart and #51 on the Hot 100. It came in 15th place on the Hot Country Songs chart’s year-end ranking for 2000.
“The Best Day” By George Strait
“The King of Country,” George Strait, kicked off the New Year in 2000 with the release of a new song. He dropped “The Best Day” in January 2000, and it served as the lead single from his compilation album Latest Greatest Straitest Hits.
“The Best Day” climbed to #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart and #31 on the Hot 100. Billboard ranked it at #6 on the year-end Hot Country Songs chart.
“The Way You Love Me” By Faith Hill
Faith Hill has more than one hit country song that’s turning 26 in 2006, but here’s her first appearance on our list!
In February 2000, Hill released “The Way You Love Me” as the second single from her album Breathe. The bubbly track spent four weeks at the #1 spot on the Hot Country Songs chart. It also became a crossover success, peaking at #6 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart.
“The Way You Love Me” came in fifth place on Billboard‘s year-end Hot Country Songs chart.
“I Hope You Dance” By Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack released one of her most beloved songs in 2000, “I Hope You Dance.” The track, which featured Sons of the Desert, was the first single she released from her album of the same title in March 2000.
“I Hope You Dance” reached #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart and #14 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Billboard ranked it as the 7th best-performing country song of the year.
In addition to its chart success, “I Hope You Dance” was one of the most awarded country songs released in 2000. It won the CMA Award for Single of the Year, the ACM Award for Song of the Year, and the Grammy Award for Best Country Song.
“Kiss This” By Aaron Tippin
Another of the many hit country songs turning 26 in 2026 is Aaron Tippin‘s “Kiss This.”
Tippin released the feisty track in May 2000 as the lead single off his album People Like Us. It claimed the #1 spot on the Hot Country Songs chart and secured the 25th spot on the year-end chart. Plus, it peaked at #42 on the Hot 100.
“Just Another Day In Paradise” By Phil Vassar
Phil Vassar released “Just Another Day in Paradise” in June 2000. The song was the second single he shared from his debut, self-titled album.
“Just Another Day in Paradise” put Vassar on the map. It became his first song to reach #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. It also reached the 43rd spot on the year-end chart.
To top it off, “Just Another Day in Paradise” peaked at the 35th slot on the all-genre Hot 100 chart. It remains Vassar’s most successful crossover song to date.
“We Danced” By Brad Paisley
In June 2000, Brad Paisley released “We Danced” as the fourth single from his debut album, Who Needs Pictures.
The romantic track reached #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, becoming the second chart-topping single of Paisley’s career. It also experienced crossover success, peaking at #29 on the Hot 100 chart.
As 2000 came to a close, “We Danced” ranked at the 46th spot on the year-end Hot Country Songs chart.
“Best Of Intentions” By Travis Tritt
Travis Tritt dropped “Best of Intentions” in June 2000. The song served as the lead single from his seventh studio album, Down the Road I Go.
“Best of Intentions” claimed the #1 spot on the Hot Country Songs chart and crossed over to claim the 27th spot on the all-genre Hot 100 chart.
The track ranked at #40 on the year-end Hot Country Songs chart for 2000.
“My Next Thirty Years” By Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw was looking forward to his next three decades of life in his 2000 single “My Next Thirty Years.” Those 30 years have nearly passed by now!
“My Next Thirty Years” was released in July 2000 as the fifth single from McGraw’s album A Place in the Sun. It reached the #1 spot on the Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at #27 on the Hot 100.
McGraw and “My Next Thirty Years” landed at the 64th spot on the year-end Hot Country Songs chart.
“That’s The Way” By Jo Dee Messina
Speaking of Tim McGraw, he produced Jo Dee Messina‘s hit single “That’s the Way.” Messina released the track in May 2000 as the lead single from her third studio album, Burn.
“That’s the Way” reached the #1 spot on the Hot Country Songs chart. It also peaked at #25 on the Hot 100 chart, making it the most successful crossover hit of Messina’s career so far.
The song became one of the Top 10 country singles released in 2000, ranking at #9 on the year-end Hot Country Songs chart.
“Prayin’ for Daylight” By Rascal Flatts
Country trio Rascal Flatts made quite the splash when they released their debut single, “Prayin’ for Daylight,” in February 2000.
“Prayin’ for Daylight” reached #4 on the Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at #38 on the Hot 100 chart. It ranked at the 14th position on the year-end country chart.
Quite impressive for a group’s first single!
“You’ll Always Be Loved By Me” By Brooks & Dunn
Country fans fell head over heels for Brooks & Dunn‘s “You’ll Always Be Loved by Me.” They released the track in March 2000 as the third single from their sixth studio album, “Tight Rope.”
“You’ll Always Be Loved by Me” climbed to #5 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Its success helped it land at the 34th spot on the year-end chart.
“I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow” By The Soggy Bottom Boys
“Man of Constant Sorrow” was first published by fiddle player Dick Burnett in 1913. Although the original song turns 113 in 2026, its most recognizable rendition turns 26 this year!
The fictional country music group The Soggy Bottom Boys (with Union Station’s Dan Tyminski on lead vocals) recorded “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow” for the O Brother, Where Art Thou? movie soundtrack.
That recording, released in December 2000, became one of the biggest country songs of the year (and the next two).
On top of reaching the 35th spot on the Hot Country Songs chart, “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow” won the CMA Award for Single of the Year and the Grammy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals.
“Murder On Music Row” By Alan Jackson & George Strait
The bluegrass group Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time released the first recorded rendition of “Murder on Music Row.” Then, Alan Jackson and George Strait collaborated to release their version in March 2000.
The song’s release followed Jackson and Strait’s duet performance of it at the 1999 CMA Awards. Despite not being an official single, “Murder on Music Row” reached the 38th spot on the Hot Country Songs chart.
“Murder on Music Row” won two CMA Awards. First, it took home the trophy for Vocal Event of the Year in 2000. Then, in 2001, it was named the CMA Song of the Year.
“Goodbye Earl” By The Chicks
Another country song turning 26 in 2026 is The Chicks‘ “Goodbye Earl.” Known as one of the trio’s most recognizable (and controversial) songs, “Goodbye Earl” was released as a single in February 2000.
The Chicks took “Goodbye Earl” to the 13th spot on the Hot Country Songs chart and the 19th spot on the Hot 100. It has since been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Additionally, Rolling Stone ranked it at #23 on its list of the 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time.
“Let’s Make Love” By Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
Country music power couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill released “Let’s Make Love” in June 2000. The steamy and sensual duet reached the 6th spot on the Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at #54 on the Hot 100 chart.
“Let’s Make Love” ranked at #37 on the year-end Hot Country Songs chart, making it one of the most successful collaborations released in 2000. The following year (2001), the track won the Grammy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals.
“One More Day” By Diamond Rio
Country group Diamond Rio released “One More Day” in October 2000 as a single from their album of the same title.
With its release falling later in the year, “One More Day” didn’t top the Hot Country Songs chart until March 2001. Additionally, it reached the 29th spot on the Hot 100.
The song’s rise up the charts came following the death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt on February 18, 2001. Fans mourning Dale’s death found themselves turning to “One More Day,” since the song centers on wishing for more time with someone who’s no longer here.
“Born To Fly” By Sara Evans
In June 2000, Sara Evans released “Born to Fly” as the first single from her album of the same name. The dreamy tune soared to #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, becoming the second chart-topping hit of Evans’ career. It also reached the 34th spot on the Hot 100.
As 2000 came to a close, “Born to Fly” ranked at #55 on the year-end Hot Country Songs chart. It remained popular in 2001, when it ranked at #39 on that year’s chart.
“There Is No Arizona” By Jamie O’Neal
“There Is No Arizona” was Jamie O’Neal‘s debut single. Released in July 2000, the song catapulted O’Neal’s career, as it reached #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. It also reached the 29th spot on the Hot 100.
You could say 2000 was a big year for O’Neal and “There Is No Arizona.” The single ranked at the 29th spot on the year-end Hot Country Songs chart.
“It Must Be Love” By Alan Jackson
“It Must Be Love” wasn’t a brand-new song in 2000. Country music’s “Gentle Giant,” Don Williams, released his recording in 1979, and it was a #1 hit.
Over two decades later, Alan Jackson covered “It Must Be Love” and released his version as a single in April 2000. Like Williams before him, Jackson took the track to the #1 spot on the Hot Country Songs chart. It also reached the 37th spot on the Hot 100 chart.
Additionally, Jackson’s version of “It Must Be Love” ranked at #11 on the year-end Hot Country Songs chart for 2000.
“She’s More” By Andy Griggs
One of the first country songs released in 2000 was Andy Griggs’ “She’s More.” The track dropped in January as the third single from Griggs’ debut album, You Won’t Ever Be Lonely.
Griggs took “She’s More” to #2 on the Hot Country Songs chart and #37 on the Hot 100. It ranked 12th on the year-end Hot Country Songs chart for 2000.
“But For The Grace Of God” By Keith Urban
Keith Urban makes a second appearance in this list of hit country songs that are turning 26 in 2026!
Urban released “But for the Grace of God” in November 2000 as the third single from his debut American album (the same one that featured “Your Everything”).
“But for the Grace of God” became Urban’s first #1 single when it topped the Hot Country Songs chart in February 2001. The track peaked at #37 on the all-genre Hot 100 chart.
Since “But for the Grace of God” debuted later in 2000, it didn’t make the year-end chart. However, it did appear on the chart for 2001, ranking at #16.
“The Little Girl” By John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery released “The Little Girl” in August 2000 as the first single from his album Brand New Me.
“The Little Girl” topped the Hot Country Songs chart, making it the 7th chart-topping hit of Montgomery’s career. It also reached the 35th spot on the Hot 100.
Montgomery’s “The Little Girl” landed at the 44th position on the year-end Hot Country Songs chart for 2000.
“I Lost It” By Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney released a Greatest Hits compilation album in 2000, and “I Lost It” was the album’s first single. The song, which dropped in August of that year, featured the legendary Pam Tillis on backing vocals.
“I Lost It” peaked at #3 on the Hot Country Songs chart. It also crossed over to claim the 34th spot on the Hot 100 chart.
The track reached the 62nd spot on the year-end Hot Country Songs chart for 2000. Its popularity grew the following year, when it reached #49 on the year-end chart for 2001.
“You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This” By Toby Keith
Toby Keith released “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This” in October 2000 as the fourth single from his album How Do You Like Me Now?!
With its later release date, the passionate track didn’t top the Hot Country Songs chart until 2001. In total, it spent three non-consecutive weeks at #1. It also crossed over to claim the 32nd spot on the Hot 100.
Although “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This” didn’t appear on the year-end chart for 2000 (due to its newness), it made the year-end chart for 2001, ranking at #4.
There you have it, folks! That’s a list of 26 country songs turning 26 in 2026. Which ones do you still have on repeat?
