The 2022 Big BKR Smackdown Top Ten

One thing that has been jumping out to me throughout 2022 is relatively enormous number of new artists who broke through this year.

A YEAR OF CHANGE IN COUNTRY MUSIC

Bailey Zimmerman, Jackson Dean, Jelly Roll, and Nate Smith are among a class of new hitmakers that have really sent a bolt of electricity through the country music charts. Gritty and rootsy, their music sounds like a new movement in country, and I am here for it.

It was also fairly evident that change seems to be on the horizon when Erin Grant and I counted down the top 64 songs of the year. You voted, and the results kind of overwhelmingly back up what I've been seeing.

THE BIG BKR SMACKDOWN TOP TEN

And even though they've had hits before 2022, I'd still call it a watershed year for folks like Hardy, Cody Johnson, and Cole Swindell--the veteran AND the longest-tenured (for lack of a better term) artist who finished in the top then of this year's Big BKR Smackdown. In fact, Cole shows up twice.

10. WASTED ON YOU - MORGAN WALLEN

9. THE KIND OF LOVE WE MAKE - LUKE COMBS

8. NEVER SAY NEVER - COLE SWINDELL & LAINEY WILSON

7. LIKE I LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC - KANE BROWN

6. SHE HAD ME AT HEADS CAROLINA - COLE SWINDELL

5. YOU PROOF - MORGAN WALLEN

4. FLOWER SHOPS - ERNEST FEAT. MORGAN WALLEN

3. SON OF A SINNER - JELLY ROLL

2. GIVE HEAVEN SOME HELL - HARDY

1. TIL YOU CAN'T - CODY JOHNSON

Thanks again for all your votes. I can't wait to see what 2023 brings the country music industry. It feels like it will be very exciting based on 2022.

Happy New Year!

10 Country Artists Who Won 2022

We know who won the 2022 ACM and CMA Awards, and we know which country artists won country radio and streaming airplay battles. Who won 2022?

That's a fairly big question, but when we asked our friends on social media, a few names came back consistently. These 10 artists elevated their careers to new heights in 2022, so while our No. 1 winner didn't spend the most weeks at No. 1 or dominate sales charts, her career took off like a rocket. Scroll down to see the full list.

Best Country Albums of 2022 - Critic's Picks

This list of country music's best albums from 2022 separates artists who aim to make great albums from those simply looking to record great songs. Only one artist found below notched a solo No. 1 country airplay hit this year. Popularity doesn't always equal quality.

It’s not that albums from country music’s most notable hitmakers aren’t any good. Count Luke Combs and Thomas Rhett as strong honorable mentions for this list but both were edged out by a group that in some ways didn’t have to worry about the confines of commercial success. Randy Houser and Muscadine Bloodline are independant artists. American Aquarium is too and Ashley McBryde released the sort of album you’d expect from an indy act.

The lesson is country fans need to look deeper for the most daring, creative music of 2022.

50 Best Party Songs In Country Music

Have party, need music? This country party songs playlist includes the best party jams from the 2000s, plus many from the '90s, '80s and beyond.

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