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Chapter 276: Chicken Fried

Modern country

Modern country music is largely about executing a well-worn formula; these country standouts don’t mess with the formula so much as demonstrate why it’s still powerful. “You’re Gonna Miss This” is weapons-grade nostalgia, with a textbook new-country chorus that changes meaning with every repetition. Eric Church builds allusions to a cross-genre musical hero into the reverent “Springsteen.” There’s room for a little innovation around the edges, too; Dierks Bentley builds “Burning Man” on a dance-rock foundation, and The Highwomen find new resonance in a country standard.
1. Zac Brown Band

Chicken Fried

2. Brad Paisley

Mud on the Tires

3. Miranda Lambert

The House That Built Me

4. Carrie Underwood

Before He Cheats

5. Dierks Bentley

Burning Man (ft. Brothers Osborne)

6. Eric Church

Springsteen

7. Blake Shelton

God's Country

8. Trace Adkins

You're Gonna Miss This

9. The Highwomen

Highwomen

10. Chris Stapleton

Tennessee Whiskey