When it comes to country music, there's no place more legendary than the Grand Ole Opry. For 100 years, the Opry stage has been home to the biggest names in the genre—everyone from Hank Williams to Dolly Parton to Garth Brooks. Now, in honor of its centennial celebration, the Opry has unveiled something truly special: its official list of the 100 greatest country songs of all time.
The Grand Ole Opry rallied fans to crown the best of the best, spanning the 1930s through the 2010s. It's a carefully crafted love letter to the songs that made country music, spanning decades of heartfelt ballads, boot-stomping anthems, and storytelling classics that define the genre. These are the tracks that have stood the test of time, brought audiences to their feet, and even inspired new generations of country artists.
From timeless staples like "Crazy" by Patsy Cline and "Jolene" by Dolly Parton to more modern icons like "Neon Moon" by Brooks & Dunn and "Tennessee Whiskey" by Chris Stapleton, every song included helped shape the Opry stage and, in turn, American music history. And of course, legends like George Strait, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and Willie Nelson all make appearances on the list.
Since listing all 100 would be… well, longer than a country mile, here's a toe-tappin' selection of highlights—handpicked from each era. You can view the full list here, complete with insights from Opry team members.
1930s–1960s:
- "Your Cheatin' Heart" – Hank Williams
- "Crazy" – Patsy Cline
- "Ring of Fire" – Johnny Cash
- "Stand By Your Man" – Tammy Wynette
- "El Paso" – Marty Robbins
1970s:
- "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" – Charlie Daniels Band
- "Jolene" – Dolly Parton
- "Kiss An Angel Good Morning" – Charley Pride
- "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" – Crystal Gayle
- "Coal Miner's Daughter" – Loretta Lynn
1980s:
- "Forever and Ever, Amen" – Randy Travis
- "Elvira" – The Oak Ridge Boys
- "He Stopped Loving Her Today" – George Jones
- "On The Road Again" – Willie Nelson
- "Smoky Mountain Rain" – Ronnie Milsap
1990s:
- "Strawberry Wine" – Deana Carter
- "Should've Been a Cowboy" – Toby Keith
- "Boot Scootin' Boogie" – Brooks & Dunn
- "Fancy" – Reba McEntire
- "Friends in Low Places" – Garth Brooks
2000s:
- "Remember When" – Alan Jackson
- "I Hope You Dance" – Lee Ann Womack
- "Live Like You Were Dying" – Tim McGraw
- "Need You Now" – Lady A
- "Before He Cheats" – Carrie Underwood
2010s:
- "The House That Built Me" – Miranda Lambert
- "Springsteen" – Eric Church
- "Wagon Wheel" – Darius Rucker
- "Tennessee Whiskey" – Chris Stapleton
- "You Look Like You Love Me" – Ella Langley and Riley Green
Macie Reynolds is the assistant editor of E-Commerce and SEO for The Pioneer Woman.