Best Country Albums of 2009

Unstoppable is Rascal Flatts’ most accessible, enjoyable and accomplished album to date. Their trademark harmonies remain wonderful, yet it’s their prodigious ability to craft hit songs that has reached a new high. Every song here would probably chart high if given the chance.

Release Date: April 7, 2009

Label: Lyric Street

Best Tracks:

• “Here Comes Goodbye”
• “Summer Nights”
• “Why”

In addition to co-producing, Dierks Bentley wrote or co-wrote all but two of the songs on his stellar fourth album, Feel That Fire. With a healthy mix of hard-driving country and beautiful heartfelt ballads, Feel That Fire shows Bentley firing on all cylinders.

Release Date: February 3, 2009

Label: Capitol Nashville

Best Tracks:

• “Sideways”
• “I Want to Make Your Eyes Close”
• “Feel that Fire”

Sugarland’s first live album is a wonderful showcase for Jennifer Nettles’ amazing voice, which has the strength of Carrie Underwood’s with the twang of Loretta Lynn’s. One of the best live country albums in the last five years.

Release Date: August 4, 2009

Label: Mercury Nashville

Best Tracks:

• “Stay”
• “Love”
• “Irreplaceable”

With Twang, George Strait has busted out of his dependable comfort zone and delivered a remarkably varied and robust album. Sure, the smooth country ballads are here, but so is the funky Zydeco. Why, King George even sings in Spanish!

Release Date: August 11, 2009

Label: MCA Nashville

Best Tracks:

• “Living for the Night”
• “Twang”
• “Same Kind of Crazy”

On Revolution, Miranda Lambert’s third album, she has finally broken through the angry bluster of her first two albums. Her songwriting, which has always been good, is more mature and thought-provoking. She’s digging deeper to understand her emotions instead of simply expressing them.

Release Date: September 29, 2009

Label: Columbia Nashville

Best Tracks:

• “White Liar”
• “Dead Flowers”
• “Love Song”

On Old New Things, Joe Nichols has gracefully redeemed himself from his well-documented troubles of the past few years. His rugged voice has never sounded better. “An Old Friend of Mine” is an especially poignant and beautiful song that touches on his past problems and his new sobriety.

Release Date: October 27, 2009

Label: Universal South

Best Tracks:

• “Believers”
• “We All Go Home”
• “An Old Friend of Mine”

Holly Williams is the granddaughter of Hank Williams and the daughter of Hank Jr., so the pedigree is there. But far from exploiting that legacy, she seems very comfortable in her own skin. The vulnerability displayed throughout Here With Me cuts to the quick.

Release Date: June 16, 2009

Label: Mercury Nashville

Best Tracks:

• “Without Jesus Here with Me”
• “Mama”
• “Keep the Change”

With twenty-nine albums under her belt, it’s hard to call this a comeback for Reba McEntire. But after six years between albums, the queen of contemporary country music returns with what ranks as one of her all-time best efforts.

Release Date: August 18, 2009

Label: Valory

Best Tracks:

• “Strange”
• “Consider Me Gone”
• “Maggie Creek Road”

Keith Urban’s fifth studio album, Defying Gravity, is an engaging collection of songs full of hope, love and undying optimism. With fresh production and very catchy hooks, Urban continues to blaze new trails in modern country-pop.

Release Date: March 31, 2009

Label: Capitol Nashville

Best Tracks:

• “Sweet Thing”
• “Kiss a Girl”
• “Only You Can Love Me this Way”

The excellent American Saturday Night shows that Brad Paisley’s ability as a songwriter is quickly catching up to his wizardry on the guitar. There isn’t a dud in sight on this wonderfully diverse and introspective album.

Release Date: June 30, 2009

Label: Arista Nashville

Best Tracks:

• “I Hope That’s Me”
• “Then”
• “Welcome to the Future”