15 Times Country Artists Proved They Could Cover Other Genres Like Nobody’s Business

It’s always cool to see your favorite artists covering classic country songs, but sometimes it’s even more special when they cover songs from a different genre.

Johnny Cash’s cover of the Nine Inch Nails song “Hurt” is probably one of the most popular examples of this, so much so that Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor said the song “wasn’t even mine anymore,” but there are plenty of other incredible genre-crossing covers out there as well.

Of course, there have been dozens and dozens throughout the years, but here are 15 of my favorites from recent memory.

Cody Jinks – “Wish You Were Here” (Pink Floyd)

Jinks released this cover of the classic Pink Floyd song and title track from their 1975 album Wish You Were Here as a single on Spotify in 2017.

Luke Combs – “Fast Car” (Tracy Chapman)

Luke Combs has had some of the best quarantine live streams of anybody over the past six or so months, and his rendition of Tracy Chapman’s 1988 hit was spot on. So much so that fans begged and begged for it to make a record, and Luke finally obliged with his 2023 record Gettin’ Old. He would later team up with Tracy Chapman herself to perform the song live at the Grammy Awards.

Townes Van Zandt – “Dead Flowers” (The Rolling Stones)

Originally recorded by The Rolling Stones for their 1971 album Sticky Fingers, “Dead Flowers” was covered by Townes Van Zandt on his 1994 release Roadsongs. Steve Earle also released a cover of the song in 1996 on Ain’t Ever Satisfied: The Steve Earle Collection.

Tennessee Jet – “She Talks To Angels” (The Black Crowes)

Tennessee Jet included this cover as one of the tracks on his 2020 album The Country. The Black Crowes originally released the song on their debut album Shake Your Money Maker in 1990.

Nolan Taylor – “Bubbly” (Colbie Caillat)

Originally starting off as more of a joke, Nolan was covering Colby Caillat’s 2007 debut single and mega hit “Bubbly,” at the live show, and fans loved it so much that he just had to record a version for release.

Trampled by Turtles – “Wildflowers” (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers)

Trampled by Turtles released a bluegrass cover of “Wildflowers” as a single in 2018. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers originally released the song in 1994 on their album by the same name.

Dixie Chicks – “Landslide” (Fleetwood Mac)

Arguably one of the most prominent country crossover covers of all time, the Dixie Chicks cover of “Landslide” went on to become one of the biggest hits of their entire career.

Billy Strings with Sierra Hull – “Circles” (Post Malone)

It’s not very often that country artists release covers of rap songs, but Billy Strings and Sierra Hull nailed this popular Post Malone song.

Cody Jinks and Paul Cauthen – “Black Hole Sun” (Soundgarden)

Jinks and Cauthen teamed up for this cover in a tribute to Soundgarden’s late front man Chris Cornell. Cornell wrote the song and it was included on Soundgarden’s 1994 release Superunknown.

Josiah & The Bonnevilles – “Good Luck Babe (Chappell Roan)

Josiah and The Bonnevilles has covered a number of songs from artists all across the spectrum, releasing a full album of covers from Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Creed, Tyler Childers, The 1975, Bon Iver and more. But for my money, his cover of Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck Babe” is phenomenal.

Tenille Townes – “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen)

Tenille released a cover of Leonard Cohen’s 1984 hit “Hallelujah.” It’s been covered by everybody from Eric Church to Brandi Carlile and Keith Urban, not to mention other musical legends like Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson.

Sturgill Simpson – “In Bloom” (Nirvana)

Simpson included this cover on A Sailor’s Guide To Earth, which he released in 2016. Before Sturgill, though, Kurt Cobain wrote this song and released it on Nirvana’s 1991 breakout album Nevermind.

Charles Wesley Godwin – “Sundown” (Gordon Lightfoot)

A cover of Canadian artist Gordon Lightfoot’s hit “Sundown,” Godwin initially released his rendition of the tune in an Amazon music exclusive, before sending it to all platforms. The biggest hit of his career, “Sundown” was originally released in 1974 as the title track to his ninth studio record Sundown. The song is believed to be inspired by his relationship with the well-known background singer and groupie Cathy Smith (the same woman who served jail time for providing John Belushi with the speedball that resulted in his fatal overdose in 1982).

Whitey Morgan – “I’m On Fire” (Bruce Springsteen)

A cut from Whitey Morgan and the 78’s debut album Honky Tonks and Cheap Motels, this might be one of the best Springsteen covers ever performed.

Tyler Childers – “Time” (Pink Floyd)

It’s impossible to find a bad song Tyler Childers has ever put out, and this is no exception. He kills this cover of Pink Floyd’s “Time” from their iconic 1973 The Dark Side of the Moon album.

The post 15 Times Country Artists Proved They Could Cover Other Genres Like Nobody’s Business first appeared on Whiskey Riff.