There are so many songs out there that we associate with a certain singer. But sometimes, that song is not an original; it’s a cover! A lot of the time, the cover is a bigger hit than the original, or there are a lot of fans don’t even know that someone else recorded it before.
Below is a list of country songs you may not have known were covers! Did you know any of them?
1. “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys”
We know the song as a legendary duet between Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings in 1978, but Ed Bruce first released it three years earlier. Listen to Willie and Waylon’s version above, and Bruce’s version below.
2. “Elvira”
In December 1965, singer-songwriter Dallas Frazier released “Elvira,” which he wrote about about a woman, but used the street name “Elvira” as the woman’s name in the song. While it wasn’t a huge hit, peaking at 72 on the Hot 100 chart, it had lots of success for other artists.
Kenny Rogers recorded a version in 1970, while Rodney Crowell’s cover was released in 1978. In 1981, the Oak Ridge Boys recorded “Elvira” for their album Fancy Free.
It quickly climbed the charts and became the band’s fourth No. 1 hit on the country chart. Additionally, the song peaked at No. 5 on the Hot 100.
It is now widely considered their signature song.
3. “Choices”
We know the song “Choices” as a George Jones song, but The Possum was not the first to record it! Billy Yates and Mike Curtis wrote the song, and Yates released it in 1997.
Jones released his version in 1999, and it won him his second-ever Grammy Award. He took home the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, nearly 20 years after his one and only win, which was for “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
4. “Ring Of Fire”
When you think of the iconic song “Ring Of Fire,” you think of Johnny Cash. But what if we told you he was not the first person to record it?
June Carter and Merle Kilgore wrote the song and June’s sister, Anita Carter, recorded it for her 1962 album, Folk Songs Old and New.
Of course, we know that Johnny Cash popularized the song just one year later when he included it on his compilation album Ring Of Fire: The Best Of Johnny Cash. “Ring Of Fire” was one of Cash’s biggest hits, staying No. 1 on the country chart for seven weeks. It is known as one of the best country songs of all time, and was even inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame
5. “Ol’ Red”
In 1990, George Jones included the James “Bo” Bohon, Don Goodman, and Mark Sherrill-written track “Ol’ Red” on his album You Oughta Be Here with Me.
Kenny Rogers included it on his album If Only My Heart Had a Voice three years later.
The most popular version of the song wasn’t released until March 2002. It was newcomer Blake Shelton’s third single off his debut album. It peaked at No. 14 on the Hot Country chart and is certified 2x Platinum, selling over two million units.
We can tell Shelton loves the song because he named his restaurant/bar franchise, Ole Red, after it! Watch him sing it very early in his career, below.
6. “My Maria”
“My Maria” went No. 1 for Brooks & Dunn in 1996, but did you know they didn’t write it or even record it first? B.W. Stevenson released it in 1973 after co-writing the song with Daniel Moore, who wrote songs for The Everly Brothers, Three Dog Night, Kenny Rogers, Bonnie Raitt, and Waylon Jennings, ust to name a few!
Stevenson took “My Maria” to the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 9, and stayed in the Top 40 for 12 weeks. The song went No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Brooks & Dunn took their version of “My Maria” to the top of the country chart for the week of May 18, 1996. Kix and Ronnie won a Grammy Award for Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1997.
7. “Blue Bayou”
In 1963, Roy Orbison released “Blue Bayou,” a song he wrote with Joe Melson. This was one of their many successful collaborations, along with “Only the Lonely” and “Crying.” Orbison took “Blue Bayou” to No. 1 in Australia and Ireland, and it was also a hit in New Zealand, Canada, Belgium, Norway, the United Kingdom, and of course, the USA.
In 1977, Linda Ronstadt released her cover version, which peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100, No. 2 on the Country chart, and No. 3 on the Easy Listening chart. Her version was nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and became her signature song.
8. “Shameless”
Depending on which genre of music you prefer, the artist with the more popular version could go either way! Billy Joel released “Shameless” in 1989 on his album Storm Front. It peaked at No. 40 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks.
Garth Brooks released his version two years later on his Ropin ‘ The Wind album. He took it to No. 1 on the country chart, making it the seventh of his career.
In 2008, Brooks joined Joel on stage at his concert at Shea Stadium in New York to perform “Shameless” together!
9. “Fancy”
“Fancy” is arguably Reba McEntire’s most beloved song. She ends nearly every live show with a show-stopping version of the song. But she wasn’t the first person to record it, Bobbie Gentry was!
Gentry, who also wrote the song, released it in 1969 and it reached the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Fancy” also reached the Top 30 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
Reba McEntire wanted to cover “Fancy” in 1984, but her producer didn’t think it was a good idea. Luckily she changed producers and finally recorded it in 1990! Her version reach No. 8 on the Hot Country Songs chart and is considered one of the 200 Greatest Country Songs of all time by Rolling Stone.
10. “Amarillo By Morning”
Terry Stafford wrote “Amarillo By Morning” with fellow songwriter Paul Fraser. Stafford released it in 1973 and it peaked at No. 37 on the country chart.
It became a huge hit in 1983 when George Strait released his version. It is widely considered his best song, so it’s hard to believe that he wasn’t the original singer!
11. “Tennessee Whiskey”
Before Chris Stapleton took the world by storm with his soulful version of “Tennessee Whiskey,” it was recorded by David Allan Coe in 1981 and peaked at No. 77 in the country chart.
Written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove, the song was also recorded by George Jones in 1983, reaching No. 2 on the country chart.
Over 30 years after its original release, Chris Stapleton recorded it for his album Traveller and performed it at the 2015 CMA Awards with Justin Timberlake. Their performance went insanely viral and helped catapult Stapleton’s career into what it is today.
12. “Bless The Broken Road”
“Bless The Broken Road” was written by Marcus Hummon, Bobby Boyd, and Jeff Hanna and first released by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, of which Hanna was a member, in 1994.
Hummon released a solo version a year later.
In 2004, Rascal Flatts released their version, which is the most popular version of the song, and it spent five weeks at the top of the country chart. The song also won the band a Grammy Award for Best Country Song and earned a platinum certification.
13. “Wagon Wheel”
Bob Dylan and Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor wrote the song “Wagon Wheel” together over the span of 25 years. Dylan wrote the chorus in 1973 and Secor added verses in 1998. They didn’t actually release the song until 2004, though.
Darius Rucker, who was crossing over to country after fronting the rock band Hootie and the Blowfish, recorded a cover of “Wagon Wheel” in 2013. It shot straight to No. 1 on the Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs chart, and is currently certified 11x Platinum.
Fun fact: Lady A sang backup vocals!
14. “Landslide”
“Landslide” is an iconic Fleetwood Mac song that they released in 1975.
While it was an incredible song, it soared to new heights when The Chicks, formerly The Dixie Chicks, released a cover version.
15. “Life Is A Highway”
Canadian musician Tom Cochrane released “Life Is A Highway” on his album Mad, Mad World in 1991. It peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Rascal Flatts recorded a cover version in 2005 for the Disney movie Cars, and it became a massive hit! The band has since released it on four albums, including two greatest hits compilations.
16. “Blue”
Many might only know the song “Blue” as LeAnn Rimes’ breakout hit from when she was 11 years old. But, it was actually first recorded by Bill Mack in 1958. There has been a years-long rumor floating around that Mack wrote “Blue” for Patsy Cline, or at least had her in mind when writing it. That is actually false! He wrote and recorded it for himself in the late 50s and years later, a friend suggested he send it to Cline to see if she’d record it, but she passed away in 1963 before she could record it.
Rimes released her version in 1996 and it shot her to superstardom, winning her ACM, CMA, and Grammy Awards. Due to winning in categories that award the songwriter, Bill Mack won a Grammy and an ACM Award.
Did we miss any cover songs? Let us know in the comments!