Sometimes, a song’s success isn’t determined by the artist or the record label – it’s driven by the fans. This phenomenon is particularly common in country music, where listeners often embrace every track on an album, leading to unexpected hits. Here are three country songs that found success in a way no one anticipated, becoming fan favorites despite not being chosen as singles.
(Related: On this day in 1974, Dolly Parton released a phenomenal song that topped the country charts twice and became one of the best-selling songs of all time)
“Tennessee Whiskey” – Chris Stapleton
“Tennessee Whiskey” catapulted Chris Stapleton to stardom, and that’s undeniable. What makes the song particularly interesting is that Stapleton himself didn’t initially select it as a radio single. Despite this, the song gained widespread airplay and solidified Stapleton’s place as one of the genre’s most powerful voices.
Stapleton chose several other tracks from his acclaimed album, Traveller, to be singles. Yet, he performed “Tennessee Whisky” around the same time at the CMA Awards, and that performance was enough to send the song soaring up the charts – no promotion needed. The song remains a signature tune for Stapleton, fully embraced by his audience.
“Love Your Memory” – Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert’s “Love Your Memory” is considered one of her most poignant songs to date. The track evokes classic country ballads of decades past, showcasing Lambert’s heartfelt vocals and establishing her reputation as a top-tier singer, and songwriter.
“Love Your Memory” was never intended to be a single, yet it gained popularity almost by accident. Although it may not be Lambert’s most well-known song, it’s frequently played more than any other album cut. Had it been released as a single, it likely would have quickly climbed the charts.
“Blue Collar Boys” – Luke Combs
Luke Combs didn’t initially choose “Blue Collar Boys” as a single from his album, What You See Is What You Get. Nevertheless, the song became a fan favorite over time, resonating with audiences at concerts across the country. The relatable theme clearly helped the song thrive as an album track.
“We raise a glass to the ones who work / From Carolina to California to Illinois / Yeah, there’s men like us / Blue collar boys,” Combs sings, bridging regional divides. The song’s universality makes it a standout track, even though Combs ultimately decided to exclude it from the album’s single releases.
(Image by Jason Kempin / Getty Images)
