25 Best Country Songs of 2016
From Margo Price and Brandy Clark to Jon Pardi and Dierks Bentley

Jon Pardi, Brandy Clark and Dierks Bentley recorded some of the best songs of 2016.
Rick Diamond/Getty (2), John Shearer/Getty
The song has always been the cornerstone of country music, but in recent years some have felt as sturdy as a straw house. That changed in 2016, with mainstream artists in particular sidestepping the formulaic to find or write songs with real weight behind them. Jon Pardi reinvented the country-boy love song; Chris Janson praised his wife and kids; and Kelsea Ballerini called out guys who have failed to launch into adulthood. Here are the best songs of the year.