Year in review: The 18 biggest country hits of 2021

Rising star Gabby Barrett notched a massive hit with "The Good Ones." Even though it was technically released in 2020, the song stayed on the charts in 2021 thanks to TikTok trends and widespread country radio airplay. 

Luke Combs is a one-man hit factory, and "Forever After All" is just further proof. It hit #1 in June 2021, propelled in large part by the ridiculously charming music video, which features footage from Combs's own wedding. 

Whether you love it or hate it, there's no denying that "Fancy Like" is the biggest country song of 2021. Officially released in August, the song was a crossover hit for Hayes, notching top-ten positions on charts in the United States and beyond. 

Yet another bright breakout star in 2021, the raw, emotive lyrics in Lainey Wilson's "Things A Man Oughta Know" really resonated with audiences. 

Parker McCollum kicked off the New Year with a bang, releasing his hit single "To Be Loved By You" on January 1. Since then, the song's racked up nearly 19 million listens on Spotify. 

Co-written by Jack Ingram and appearing on Lambert's stripped-down album "The Marfa Tapes," "In His Arms" is a stunning showcase of Miranda Lambert's voice. This song may have been snubbed by country radio, but it's still one of the year's finest country tunes. 

Bringing together rising star Jordan Davis and country juggernaut Luke Bryan, "Buy Dirt" was one of the year's biggest duets. 

Folk-rock star Elle King and Miranda Lambert make for a raucous duo on "Drunk And I Don't Wanna Go Home," a seriously fun party anthem. It was also a successful crossover hit, appearing on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts after its release in February. 

This inspiring anthem about resilience and making sure to be good to the ones that you love from Texan Cody Johnson felt especially appropriate for the pandemic era. If you've got a chance, take it while you've got a chance," he sings. "If you're gonna love somebody, hold 'em as long and strong and as close as you can." 

Pairing up the hottest couple in country music, "Chasing After You" is a showcase of the smoldering chemistry between Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd. It's easy to see that these two are in love, and that makes for one heck of a compelling song. 

When two of country music's biggest stars pair up, you know it's going to be epic. "If I Didn't Love You," which brings together Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, was an instant smash in both the United States and Canada and should be a major contender at next year's awards shows. 

2021 brought a ton of great duets to mainstream country, and "Famous Friends" is no exception. It's fun and catchy, and totally relatable for anyone that is — or knows — a bunch of small-town heroes. 

Tackling systemic racism and sexism in the world of country music, Mickey Guyton's "What Are You Gonna Tell Her" is a powerful, poignant statement. It's also a demand for the industry to do better by its female artists, something the establishment needs to hear a whole lot more of. 

Via her debut album "Reckless," Morgan Wade recalls '90s country queens like Shania Twain, Faith Hill, and Martina McBride. That's especially true on "Wilder Days," a nostalgia-fueled tune that scored Wade major country airplay in 2021. 

A song devoted to getting back to his rural roots, "Country Again" is the kind of song that will resonate with anyone who's left their hometown for the bright lights of the big city. 

On her acclaimed album "29," Carly Pearce digs deep into her own post-divorce heartbreak. The album's title track is arguably its most compelling, a seriously emotional ballad that had to have played a key role in Pearce's Album of the Year award nod at the 2021 CMA Awards. 

It's safe to say that Miranda Lambert is doing some of her best work right now, and beautifully written tunes like "If I Was A Cowboy" are proof. It's got a simple melody and catchy lyrics, and plenty of that down-home Lambert charm that makes her one of country's most prolific hitmakers. 

Taylor Swift made a triumphant return to the country charts in 2021 as she recorded her own versions of previously recorded songs that are now owned by her former record label. The most successful of these, at least in a country sense, is "All Too Well," a favorite among Swifties.