@Abigail Cole

In the ‘10s, country hit an intriguing divide. On one side of the fence, there was the full flowering of hip-hop and R&B influences; on the other were the mavericks stirring things up by combining old-school roots and a kind of neo-outlaw stance. If Luke Bryan's stomping "That's My Kind of Night" and Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise" represent the club bangers, then Kacey Musgraves' gently subversive "Follow Your Arrow" and Chris Stapleton's burly "Tennessee Whiskey" exemplify the other side. And with such 20-somethings as Kelsea Ballerini and octogenarian Willie Nelson alike earning attention in the era, ’10s country had something for everybody.

Few things can turn heartache into humor like a good country song. With a little tough love and a lot of wisdom, these songs are calibrated to help shake your blues and get you back on your feet—because it isn't about the hits, it's about how you take them. Our editors regularly update this playlist. If you like a song, add it to your library.

We can't cook but we make a mean playlist.

With her distinctive take on blues, Americana, and acoustic folk, Melissa Etheridge's catalog reads like a guide on how to rock across all genres. Her powerful vocals and rebellious nature run through her work like a beacon, whether she's dabbling in fervent balladry, as on “Breathe,” riffing on the pop anthem with “Take My Number,” or getting festive on “Christmas In America.”