2000s country radio hits you forgot

Forgotten country radio hits

Many country radio hits from the 21st century were once very popular. They climbed high on the charts and played on the radio a lot. Some helped new singers become stars.

Others were the last big hits for older artists. But times changed, and new stars took over. These songs slowly stopped playing on the radio.

Today, people don’t talk about them much. Even though they were big before, they are now forgotten. This list looks at those songs that once mattered but are now lost in country music history.

“I Don’t Have to Be Me ’Til Monday” – Steve Azar (2001)

“I Don’t Have To Be Me (‘Til Monday)” is a song by Steve Azar. It came out in 2001 and was also part of his album with the same name. The song was sold as a 7″ vinyl and as a digital download.

It stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for over four months in 2001 and 2002. A “Single Version” of the song is on Spotify too. Even though this song was a big hit, Steve Azar never had another song that was as popular on the radio.

“Sweet Southern Comfort” – Buddy Jewell (2003)

“Sweet Southern Comfort” is a country song by Buddy Jewell. It was written by Rodney Clawson and Brad Crisler and came out in October 2003 as the second single from his first album.

The song talks about life in small Southern towns, with mentions of Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama. The music video was filmed in San Antonio, Texas, using sepia tones to show a simple Southern feel.

“Just Got Started Lovin’ You” – James Otto (2008)

“Just Got Started Lovin’ You” is a country song by James Otto. It came out in 2008 as the first single from his album “Sunset Man.”

The song became Otto’s first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in May 2008. It was also named the number-one country song of the whole year on the Billboard Year-End charts. This was his biggest and only number-one hit.

“Break Down Here” – Julie Roberts (2004)

“Break Down Here” is Julie Roberts’ first single. It came out on February 23, 2004, and was the lead song from her self-titled debut album. The song was written by Jess Brown and Patrick Jason Matthews and produced by Brent Rowan.

Trace Adkins had recorded the song in 2003, but his version was never released as a single. Julie’s version reached number 18 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was her only top-forty hit.

“Leave the Pieces” – The Wreckers (2006)

“Leave the Pieces” is a song by The Wreckers, a duo made up of Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp. It came out in 2006 and was part of their album Stand Still, Look Pretty.

The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country chart and even got a Grammy nomination. It played a lot on the radio and helped the duo become known in country music.

“One Voice” – Billy Gilman (2000)

“One Voice” is Billy Gilman’s first album. It came out on June 20, 2000, from Epic Nashville. The title track, “One Voice,” became a top 40 hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts.

The album also had songs like “Oklahoma” and “There’s a Hero.” It was a big success and went double platinum in the U.S.

Gilman was the youngest singer to reach number one on the Billboard Top Country Album chart. He got a Grammy nomination too.

“I Loved Her First” – Heartland (2006)

“I Loved Her First” is a country album by Heartland. It came out in 2006 from Lofton Creek Records. The title track, “I Loved Her First,” reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

The album also had songs like “Built to Last,” “Let’s Get Dirty,” and a cover of Ronnie Milsap’s “There’s No Gettin’ Over Me.” It peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Both the album and single went platinum.

“I Should Be Sleeping” – Emerson Drive (2002)

“I Should Be Sleeping” is a country song by the Canadian band Emerson Drive. It was their first American single and came out in November 2001.

The song was written by Shaye Smith and Lisa Drew. It was part of their self-titled album, released in May 2002. The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 2002. It helped make the band popular.

“Beautiful Mess” – Diamond Rio (2002)

“Beautiful Mess” is a country song by Diamond Rio. It came out in 2002 as the first single from their album Completely.

The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was written by Sonny LeMaire, Clay Mills, and Shane Minor.

This was Diamond Rio’s fourth number-one hit, along with “Meet in the Middle,” “How Your Love Makes Me Feel,” and “One More Day.”

“In Color” – Jamey Johnson (2008)

“In Color” is a country song by Jamey Johnson. It was released in March 2008 as the first single from his album That Lonesome Song, which came out in August 2008.

The song was written by Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, and James Otto. It reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

The song won Song of the Year at the 2009 ACM and CMA Awards. It was inspired by old black-and-white photos of Miller’s grandfather.

“She’s Not Just a Pretty Face” – Shania Twain (2003)

“She’s Not Just a Pretty Face” is a song by Shania Twain. It was released on October 6, 2003, as the sixth single from her fourth studio album, Up!.

Shania co-wrote the song with her then-husband, Robert John “Mutt” Lange, who also produced it. It was the fourth single sent to country radio from the album. The song talked about strong, smart women and was a solid charting hit. But over time, it slowly faded away.

“Boondocks” – Little Big Town (2005)

“Boondocks” is a song by Little Big Town, released in June 2005. It was the third single from their album The Road to Here. The song reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in January 2006.

The album was released on October 4, 2005, and went Platinum. Both the album and the song were nominated for Grammy Awards.

The album was nominated for Best Country Album, and “Boondocks” was nominated for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.

“Redneck Woman” – Gretchen Wilson (2004)

“Redneck Woman” by Gretchen Wilson came out in March 2004 and became a huge hit. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and made Wilson the first female artist to top that chart in two years.

The song was the lead single from her debut album, Here for the Party, which went five times platinum. Wilson wrote the song with John Rich, and it was inspired by her life in rural Illinois.

“Austin” – Blake Shelton (2001)

“Austin” is Blake Shelton’s debut single, released in April 2001. It became a big hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for five weeks.

The song was the lead single from his first album, Blake Shelton. It was written by David Kent and Kirsti Manna and tells the story of a man who thinks his girlfriend went to Austin, but she’s calling him from the same city.

Shelton’s success with this song helped him become a rising star, contributing to Blake Shelton’s No. 1 hits over the years. Though it was a huge hit, “Austin” is now mostly forgotten by newer country fans.

“Three Wooden Crosses” – Randy Travis (2002)

“Three Wooden Crosses,” written by Kim Williams and Doug Johnson, was recorded by Randy Travis and released in 2002. It was the lead single from his album Rise and Shine.

The song became his sixteenth and final number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It also reached number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In other news, Josh Ross hit a Country Radio milestone as Morgan Wallen ruled the charts.

Which forgotten country hit still plays in your memory? Drop it in the comments!

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.