There are a lucky few who are born with musical genius. And the rest of us? Well, we just have to be satisfied with singing along! Ree Drummond is certainly a karaoke fan—back in 2022, she was spotted on New Year's Eve singing with the kids late into the evening at P-Town. Their silly and sweet renditions of "Take It Easy" by the Eagles and Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" kept the party going. See, the best karaoke songs are always the ones that get people up on their feet singing along even if they're not, ahem, the most skilled vocalist. 😂 But before you even approach the stage, you have to answer that key question: which karaoke song do you sing?
Whether it's at a summer party, a bar, or a 50th birthday party, karaoke lets you pretend to be a rockstar no matter your skill level. For Ree, singing "Don't Stop Me Now" fulfilled a longtime dream. "Somehow, I always sounded a little better in my dream," she wrote alongside an instagram post, "but my daughters were with me, which made for an especially wonderful memory!" Here, you'll find top karaoke songs that help make those special memories. We've included some of Ree's favorites, along with popular hits from today and decades past. There are karaoke songs for women and men, groups and solo acts, duets and power ballads, and everything in between!
"Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen
For Ree, singing "Don't Stop Me Now" on karaoke fulfilled "a longtime dream," and we can see why! Like many Queen songs, the tune invites a dramatic performance.
"Take It Easy" by Eagles
Ree and three of her kids jammed out to the Eagles classic. As the second most popular Eagles song on Spotify, it's a crowd-pleaser for karaoke. You can perform the song solo, but it also works exceedingly well as a group jam.
"Dancing Queen" by ABBA
"You are the dancing queen!" This disco-era classic is instantly recognizable to any karaoke crowd, so you certainly won't be alone singing the chorus. You'll want to dance while you do it!
"Someone Like You" by Adele
Slow things down and turn up the *drama* by belting "Someone Like You" by Adele. This is more of an end-of-the-evening with-the-girls option.
"Wonderwall" by Oasis
Even if you don't know Oasis, you will certainly recognize their mid-90s hit. The song was all over the radio, and the lead singer has an angsty voice that's fun to imitate. Since the song is talk-sung, it's pretty easy for those who aren't skilled vocalists.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
Perhaps the most theatrical Queen song, "Bohemian Rhapsody," is another one that crowds will instantly be able to sing along to. Have fun taking on the different parts with a friend or playing with your own singing tempo.
"Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond
This is an uplifting tune that can get a room up and singing along. This one is the perfect mid-evening tune to take on when things begin to loosen up a bit. Sing it as a duet or solo!
"Happy" by Pharrell Williams
This Pharrell Williams hit is super upbeat—in fact, you might have a hard time keeping up with the song, which is a recipe for laughter. Since the chorus tells you to clap along, you can play around with engaging the audience.
"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
This is the number one most popular Skynyrd song on Spotify, which just goes to show how beloved it is as a karaoke song. It's the perfect start-of-the-night-tune to get everyone's energy up (and it's not difficult at all!).
"Shallow" by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga
Here's a duet for all those fans of the movie A Star is Born! While the tune was written for the movie, it became a popular hit in its own right. The power ballad blends rock, country, and folk-pop, and it invites singers to trade off verses as the song gradually moves to the climactic chorus.
"Mr. Brightside" by The Killers
Get your air guitars ready! Despite being released in 2004, this song is so easy to sing along to it still gets played at karaoke. The catchy lyrics repeat the same verse and chorus!
"Teenage Dirtbag" by Wheatus
Like many a favored karaoke song, "Teenage Dirtbag" is the song that Wheatus is principally known for and has been featured in plenty of TV shows and movies. The song lets you get fully into teenage angst.
"Stay" by Rihanna
If you're looking for a raw ballad, "Stay" is full of longing and speaks to the inability to resist true love. The song features a moderate tempo with a simple piano chord progression accompanied by bass. This one is for showing off your vocal skills!
"Livin’ on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi
Here's another great tune to kick off the karaoke session! Anyone who lived through the '80s (or played the game Guitar Hero as a kid) will know the lyrics. It chronicles the struggles and hope of a working-class couple, Tommy and Gina, and was written in response to the Reagan Era.
"Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash
You don't need to be a baritone to have fun singing a Johnny Cash tune! (However, dads, this one was included for you 😆). Written by Cash's second wife, June Carter Cash, "Ring of Fire" has a relatively simple lyric progression that makes it a smash to sing along to.
"I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston
Turn up the volume because this Whitney Houston hit will get you energized! The best part of throwing this one into the mix is that it's universally beloved. You could be following a rock song, a ballad, or a slow song, and folks will still go crazy for this song.
"Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson
Speaking of crowd pleasers, anyone who has ever gone through a breakup will enjoy rocking out to this pop hit. It's guaranteed to get the room up and jumping around while you show off your vocal skills.
"Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey
If you spend long enough at a karaoke bar, chances are you'll hear "Don't Stop" come on at some point in the evening. It's a super fun group sing-along that also gives room for individuals to take verses solo. Plus, most people will know every word.
"These Boots are Made for Walkin'" by Nancy Sinatra
Queue up this Nancy Sinatra song on a night when you're out wearing a fabulous pair of boots! It's a crowd-pleaser you can use to kick off the karaoke session.
"Africa" by Toto
While this song may start quiet and subtle, it rises into a chorus a whole room can sing along to. While it was a hit of the '80s, it had a resurgence in popularity after being covered by Weezer in 2018 (reaching Billboard Hot 100 again!).
Micaela Bahn is a freelance editorial assistant and recent graduate from Carleton College, where she majored in English literature. She loves running, photography, and cooking the best new recipes.
The Best Country Songs Ever, Picked by the Opry
Lodge Expanded Dolly Parton's Cast Iron Collection
Add These Pump-Up Football Songs to Your Playlist
Here's How to Dress for a Summer Concert
