Country music experienced a year of highs and lows in 2003, with remarkable achievements and contentious events. From chart-topping hits to award-winning albums, from legendary artists to rising stars, from heartfelt ballads to upbeat anthems, the genre showcased its diversity and vitality. Here are the 100 best country songs from 2003 that you need to hear!
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Top 10 Country Songs 2003
- 19 Somethin’ – Mark Wills
- My Front Porch Looking In – Lonestar
- Beer For My Horses – Toby Keith
- Brokenheartsville – Joe Nichols
- I Believe – Diamond Rio
- It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere – Alan Jackson And Jimmy Buffett
- Red Dirt Road – Brooks & Dunn
- Big Star – Kenny Chesney
- Have You Forgotten – Darryl Worley
- I Just Wanna Be Mad – Terri Clark
2003 in Country Music
Johnny Cash, one of the most influential figures in country music history, died on September 12, 2003, at the age of 71.
His music transcended genres and generations, touching the hearts and souls of millions of fans around the world. His legacy lives on through his songs, which remain popular and relevant today.
In addition, there was also the Rise of Female Voices in Country Music. 2003 was a year that showcased the talent and diversity of women in country music.
From veterans like Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris to newcomers like Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood, and let’s not forget Shania Twain!
Female artists delivered some of the most memorable and acclaimed albums and songs of the year, as you can see from our list.
Number One Country song of 2003
Mark Wills released a single in 2003 called “19 Somethin'”. It is a song about teenage love and coming of age. The song is a nostalgic look back at a time of innocence and excitement.
The song is set in the 1970s, and the singer is reminiscing about his first love. He remembers how he and his girlfriend would hang out at the skating rink, watch MTV all afternoon, and take stickers off of their Rubik’s Cubes.
The song is both sweet and funny, and it captures the feeling of being young and in love.
“19 Somethin'” was a hit for Mark Wills, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Song. The song is a classic of the country genre, and it is sure to be enjoyed for years to come.
List of 100 Top Country songs of 2003
| # | Title - Artist |
|---|---|
| 1 | 19 Somethin' - Mark Wills |
| 2 | My Front Porch Looking In - Lonestar |
| 3 | Beer For My Horses - Toby Keith |
| 4 | Brokenheartsville - Joe Nichols |
| 5 | I Believe - Diamond Rio |
| 6 | It's Five O'Clock Somewhere - Alan Jackson And Jimmy Buffett |
| 7 | Red Dirt Road - Brooks & Dunn |
| 8 | Big Star - Kenny Chesney |
| 9 | Have You Forgotten - Darryl Worley |
| 10 | I Just Wanna Be Mad - Terri Clark |
| 11 | Three Wooden Crosses - Randy Travis |
| 12 | What Was I Thinkin' - Dierks Bentley |
| 13 | Man To Man - Gary Allan |
| 14 | Love You Out Loud - Rascal Flatts |
| 15 | Celebrity - Brad Paisley |
| 16 | That'd Be Alright - Alan Jackson |
| 17 | These Days - Rascal Flatts |
| 18 | Somebody Like You - Keith Urban |
| 19 | Raining On Sunday - Keith Urban |
| 20 | She's My Kind Of Rain - Tim McGraw |
| 21 | No Shoes, No Shirt, No... - Kenny Chesney |
| 22 | Real Good Man - Tim McGraw |
| 23 | Stay Gone - Jimmy Wayne |
| 24 | Who's Your Daddy? - Toby Keith |
| 25 | What A Beautiful Day - Chris Cagle |
| 26 | Forever And For Always - Shania Twain |
| 27 | Fall Into Me - Emerson Drive |
| 28 | The Baby - Blake Shelton |
| 29 | Speed - Montgomery Gentry |
| 30 | Concrete Angel - Martina McBride |
| 31 | She'll Leave You With A Smile - George Strait |
| 32 | The Love Song - Jeff Bates |
| 33 | Help Pour Out The Rain... - Buddy Jewell |
| 34 | Almost Home - Craig Morgan |
| 35 | Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me - Keith Urban |
| 36 | This One's For The Girls - Martina McBride |
| 37 | You Can't Hide Beautiful - Aaron Lines |
| 38 | Then They Do - Trace Adkins |
| 39 | Tough Little Boys - Gary Allan |
| 40 | 99.9% Sure (Never...) - Brian McComas |
| 41 | A Few Questions - Clay Walker |
| 42 | I Melt - Rascal Flatts |
| 43 | Wave On Wave - Pat Green |
| 44 | I Love This Bar - Toby Keith |
| 45 | Travelin' Soldier - Dixie Chicks |
| 46 | The Truth About Men - Tracy Byrd |
| 47 | Red Ragtop - Tim McGraw |
| 48 | Walk A Little Straighter - Billy Currington |
| 49 | A Lot Of Things Different - Kenny Chesney |
| 50 | Backseat Of A Greyhound Bus - Sara Evans |
| 51 | I Wish You'd Stay - Brad Paisley |
| 52 | Landslide - Dixie Chicks |
| 53 | Tell Me Something Bad About... - George Strait |
| 54 | Cowboys Like Us - George Strait |
| 55 | Chicks Dig It - Chris Cagle |
| 56 | Chrome - Trace Adkins |
| 57 | Picture - Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow |
| 58 | Up! - Shania Twain |
| 59 | What The World Needs - Wynonna |
| 60 | I Can't Be Your Friend - Rushlow |
| 61 | There's No Limit - Deana Carter |
| 62 | Hell Yeah - Montgomery Gentry |
| 63 | There's More To Me Than You - Jessica Andrews |
| 64 | Beautiful Goodbye - Jennifer Hanson |
| 65 | She Only Smokes When She... - Joe Nichols |
| 66 | Was That My Life - Jo Dee Messina |
| 67 | Honesty (Write Me A List) - Rodney Atkins |
| 68 | Streets Of Heaven - Sherrie' Austin |
| 69 | Rock You Baby - Toby Keith |
| 70 | Next Big Thing - Vince Gill |
| 71 | Walking In Memphis - Lonestar |
| 72 | Lovin' All Night - Patty Loveless |
| 73 | Unusually Unusual - Lonestar |
| 74 | This Is God - Phil Vassar |
| 75 | I'm Gonna Take That Mountain - Reba McEntire |
| 76 | Days Like This - Rachel Proctor |
| 77 | Drinkin' Bone - Tracy Byrd |
| 78 | Only God - Emerson Drive |
| 79 | When The Lights Go Down - Faith Hill |
| 80 | I'm Gonna Getcha Good! - Shania Twain |
| 81 | Country Ain't Country - Travis Tritt |
| 82 | Strong Enough To Be Your Man - Travis Tritt |
| 83 | I Wish - Jo Dee Messina |
| 84 | You Can't Take The Honky... - Brooks & Dunn |
| 85 | Playboys Of The Southwestern... - Blake Shelton |
| 86 | Wrinkles - Diamond Rio |
| 87 | One Last Time - Dusty Drake |
| 88 | At The End Of The Day - Kellie Coffey |
| 89 | On A Mission - Trick Pony |
| 90 | Long Black Train - Josh Turner |
| 91 | I Can't Take You Anywhere - Scotty Emerick |
| 92 | When You Think Of Me - Mark Wills |
| 93 | Why Ain't I Running - Garth Brooks |
| 94 | There Goes My Life - Kenny Chesney |
| 95 | Love's Got An Attitude (It...) - Amy Dalley |
| 96 | I Wanna Do It All - Terri Clark |
| 97 | Every River - Brooks & Dunn |
| 98 | I Love You This Much - Jimmy Wayne |
| 99 | Tennessee River Run - Darryl Worley |
| 100 | I Want My Money Back - Sammy Kershaw |
Spotify Playlist
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Country Music Video’s 2003
Final Thoughts
2003 was a year of both continuity and change for country music. The genre mourned the loss of a legend while embracing new sounds and voices.
The Dixie Chicks’ protest highlighted the political and social impact of country music, while Kenny Chesney’s dominance showed that traditional country values were still strong.
The revival of bluegrass and the rise of female artists showed the genre’s ability to adapt and evolve.
Finally, the CMT Music Awards’ shift towards pop-country reflected the blurring of genre lines in popular music.
Overall, 2003 was a year of change and transition for country music, paving the way for the genre’s future development.
