Year in Review: The 20 Best Country and Americana Songs of 2020

For many of us, 2020 was a year of soul-searching and contemplation, of confronting sins and flaws, and of expressing gratitude for what we have. Songwriters in the country and Americana sphere tapped into all of that in their work, delivering songs that both reflected and inspired. Artists like Mickey Guyton, Tré Burt, and Jimmie Allen probed racial inequality or police violence; Hailey Whitters and John Prine petitioned us to savor every moment; and Swamp Dogg asked for one more trip around the sun. Other songs, like Margo Price’s “I’d Die for You,” were notable for the emotion with which they were performed. These are the 20 best of the year.