17 Country Music Hits That Surprisingly Never Went #1

After we took a look at some downright shocking George Strait songs that never went #1 earlier in the week, it got me thinking of more surprising country songs that never graced the top of the charts despite their popularity. As we all know at this point, tracks like “Amarillo By Morning” somehow never went #1; however, there is a laundry list of other massive country songs that never found their way to the top of the charts that are downright shocking.

This, of course, is due to a plethora of different reasons. From songs not gaining popularity until well after their initial release to other massive songs blocking their rise to the top, the songs present on this list had a multitude of different factors preventing them from reaching #1 status.

From Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss’ “Whiskey Lullaby” to Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” here are 17 of the most surprising country songs to never go #1:

“Amarillo By Morning” – George Strait

Arguably the most iconic country song of all time, up there with the likes of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” and Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again,” “Amarillo By Morning” is, without a doubt, George Strait’s signature song. Despite Strait having 60 #1 hits, which is the most for any artist in history, the song is not one of them.

Though it did reach #1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart upon its release, “Amarillo By Morning” only peaked at #4 in the U.S. on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in April of 1983.

“In Color” – Jamey Johnson

Jamey Johnson’s signature hit is undoubtedly one of the most well-recognizable songs of the 2000s. Despite its powerful nature and long-lasting legacy, the song failed to even reach the Top 5, peaking at #9 on January 10, 2009. In “In Color’s” case, it seems as if it’s one of those tracks that took some time for fans and listeners to truly appreciate the magnitude of. It would later receive a 5x platinum certification from the RIAA back in October 2024.

“Callin’ Baton Rouge” – Garth Brooks

Similar to “Amarillo By Morning,” “Callin’ Baton Rouge” is another signature hit that would reach #1 in Canada but not in the United States. Despite the song being one of Brooks’ biggest hits of the ’90s, the song was blocked from going #1 by Brooks & Dunn’s three-week stay at the top of the charts with “She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind,” followed by Alan Jackson’s four-week run with “Livin’ on Love” immediately after.

“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” – Hank Williams

It’s hard to believe that one of country music’s earliest and most iconic hit songs never reached #1, but that’s the case with Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” This is thanks in part to it actually being released as a B-side to “My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It,” which peaked at #2. Though it would end up peaking at #4 despite being a B-side track, it’s hard to imagine a song with a more impactful legacy despite not reaching #1.

“Fancy” – Reba McEntire

Reba’s cover of the 1969 Bobbie Gentry track has undoubtedly become her signature song since its release back in 1991. Though it is certified 2x platinum and remains Reba’s most-streamed song to date, with over 145 million listens on Spotify alone, it failed to reach the Top 5. “Fancy” shockingly only peaked at #8 in April of 1991.

“Whiskey Lullaby” – Brad Paisley feat. Allison Krauss

There’s not much to be said about “Whiskey Lullaby” that hasn’t been said already. Being one of the saddest country songs ever written and undoubtedly one of the most iconic of the 2000s, the track’s legacy has carried a heavy weight in the genre since its release. Despite winning Song of the Year at the 2005 CMA Awards, it failed to reach #1 and only peaked at #3 in August 2004. This is thanks in part to Tim McGraw’s 5-week run at #1 with “Live Like You Were Dying.”

“Man! I Feel Like A Woman” – Shania Twain

Despite being one of the highest-streamed country songs of all time, with over 700 million streams on Spotify alone and being on one of the best-selling country albums of all time, the 2x diamond-certified Come On Over, “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” failed to reach #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart upon its release in 1999. It did, however, chart in well over a dozen countries worldwide, even going #1 all-genre in New Zealand.

“Crazy” – Patsy Cline

“Crazy,” which was famously penned by Willie Nelson, has not only become Patsy Cline’s signature song but also one of the most iconic songs in the genre’s history. Often being referred to as an era-defining song for Cline, “Crazy” shockingly never went #1, peaking at #2 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and #9 on the all-genre Billboard 100.

“Crazy’s” rise to the top of the country charts was blocked by Leroy Van Dyke’s massive 19-week #1 stint with “Walk On By,” which would remain the longest-running #1 country song in the chart’s history for over fifty years until 2013 when Florida Georgia Line broke it with the success of “Cruise.”

“Heads Carolina, Tails California” – Jo Dee Messina

A ’90s standard, “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” remains one of the most iconic hits of the decade. Despite its lasting success til today and a platinum certification from the RIAA, it failed to reach the top of the charts. It would peak at #2 in May of 1996, being blocked by Brooks & Dunn’s “My Maria.”

“Midnight in Montgomery” – Alan Jackson

Jackson’s haunting, fictional encounter with Hank Williams’ ghost has remained one of the best and most unique in the “Chattahoochee” singer’s discography. Though it’s often regarded as one of his best, it is not among his 26 #1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It would peak at #3 in July 1992 behind the likes of Billy Ray Cyrus’ now infamous “Achy Breaky Heart” and Wynonna’s cover of “I Saw the Light.”

“Red Solo Cup” – Toby Keith

As one of the last major hits of the late, great Toby Keith, “Red Solo Cup” has become a staple of sorts for dumb, fun party songs. Though it has earned a 3x platinum certification from the RIAA, the track did not receive much love on the country charts. It would barely reach the Top 10, peaking at #9 in February 2012.

“‘Ol Red” – Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton’s cover of George Jones’ 1990 single has remained his self-proclaimed “signature song” since its release on his self-titled debut album back in 2001, even becoming the name of his restaurant chain, which has six different locations around the country. Despite the song being used so heavily by Shelton both on-stage and in marketing, the song was shockingly not even a Top 10 hit for the “Austin” singer, peaking at #14 in August 2002.

“Whiskey River” – Willie Nelson

Willie’s cover of Johnny Bush’s “Whiskey River” has become a staple in seemingly endless discography, being played live by the 92-year-old singer as a concert-opener ’til today. Though it has remained one of his most popular tracks, it wasn’t even a Top 10 hit for the living legend. Nelson’s cover would peak at #12 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in February 1979.

“Delta Dawn” – Tanya Tucker

Though “Delta Dawn” had already been recorded by the likes of Bette Midler and had even experienced more chart success upon Helen Reddy’s 1973 release (#1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and Easy Listening chart), the then-13-year-old Tanya Tucker’s 1972 recording of the song has remained the definitive version over the following decades. Despite its notoriety in country music over the years, Tucker’s cover of “Delta Dawn” failed to reach the Top 5 upon its release. It would peak at #6 in August 1972.

“Life Is a Highway” – Rascal Flatts

Say what you will about the song itself and Rascal Flatts as a group, there’s absolutely no denying how big a hit “Life Is a Highway” is. As a cover of Tom Cochrane’s 1991 single released for Disney’s first Cars film, the song had a massive crossover. Despite being one of the most-streamed country songs of all time, with over 871 million listens on Spotify alone and an 8x platinum certification from the RIAA, it would only peak at #18 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. This was due mainly to the fact that their current single on country radio at the time, “My Wish,” was also receiving heavy play on its way to a #1 spot.

“Love Like Crazy” – Lee Brice

“Love Like Crazy” holds the unique title of being the first song ever to finish as Billboard’s #1 country song of the year (2010) without reaching #1 on the Hot Country Song chart at any point. This is thanks in part to the fact that it broke the record of longest-running entry on the Hot Country Songs chart at the time, with a staggering 55 weeks throughout 2009 and 2010.

With that being said, “Love Like Crazy” peaked at #3 in September 2010, being blocked by the likes of Billy Currington’s “Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer” and Lady A’s “Our Kind of Love.”

“Go Rest High On That Mountain” – Vince Gill

Largely recognized as one of the greatest country-gospel songs ever recorded, “Go Rest High On That Mountain” has remained one of the most important songs in Vince Gill’s discography. Inspired by the death of both Keith Whitley and his brother, Bob, the song was years in the making for the legendary guitarist and songwriter. Though it has remained one of the most powerful tracks in country history, “Go Rest High On That Mountain” only peaked at #14 in December 1995.

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