This absolute gem has been on both of my previous years lists. My Favorites From 40 Years, 2023 (#15) and 50 Most Important Songs 1980 to Today, 2024 (#27) . Fact is, this is one of the best country songs in the past 25 years, sung by a supreme vocalist that made us all believers that he was country. I remember the first time I heard this big #1 song, I knew it was going to be one of my all-time favs. It’s just that good. It was a million seller, and even Rolling Stone, whose forte’ is not country – rated it in their Top 200 Country Songs Ever at #174 – This is about perfect – in every way. This is everything that’s good about country.
