The Big Beeker Smackdown — the Top 12 Songs of 2023

It really all began way back when I was in a high school listening to a local radio station count down the top songs of each year a unique way.

They would play songs in groups of three. Then the audience would vote for their favorite song, and the winner would advance into the next round. And that was our inspiration for the Big Beeker Smackdown which began in 2011 with Blake Shelton's "God Gave Me You" reigning supreme.

Well, times have changed, and songs aren't released with the same high volume as they were back then. So the Smackdown is now a 64-song event--like the NCAA Tournament--and these are the 12 songs that got the most votes during Friday's day-long Big Beeker Smackdown:

12. Rock and a Hard Place - Bailey Zimmerman

11. Watermelon Moonshine - Lainey Wilson

10. Fast Car - Luke Combs

9. Try That in a Small Town - Jason Aldean

8. Next Thing You Know - Jordan Davis

7. Thank God - Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown

6. Need a Favor - Jelly Roll

5. Wait in the Truck - Hardy feat. Lainey Wilson

4. Heart Like a Truck - Lainey Wilson

3. Last Night - Morgan Wallen

2. Thought You Should Know - Morgan Wallen

1. Save Me - Jelly Roll feat. Lainey Wilson

There you have it. And, by the way, a tip of the cap to Lainey Wilson who becomes the first artist to place FOUR songs in the year-end top 12. Then again, she's had a mind-boggling year, just like her other countdown colleagues who also had multiple entries.

Thank you for all of your votes and have a Happy New Year.