All Country News' Top 10 Country Albums Of 2025

Country music in 2025 has been unstoppable, bold, emotional, and bigger than ever. From gut-punch ballads to boundary-breaking anthems that took over our playlists, this year proved that country is not just thriving… it’s evolving.

Out of all the unforgettable releases, these 10 standout albums rose to the top, defining the sound of 2025 and reminding us why storytelling is at the heart of this genre.

Whether they made us reflect, heal, or hit repeat a hundred times, these projects set the tone for country music this year, and we’re still not done talking about them.

1. Carter Faith - Cherry Valley

   
   

   

   
   

   Cherry Valley, The album glides effortlessly between moods: the tongue-in-cheek swagger of “Betty” delivers a wink and a sting all at once, while the solo-penned “So I Sing” reveals Faith’s soul in its purest form, stripped back, steady, and sure of itself. Together, they showcase the duality that’s quickly becoming her calling card: equal parts fire and feeling. Faith’s storytelling recalls the bold charm of early Kacey Musgraves and the poetic edge of Taylor Swift’s Red-era writing, but it’s her distinctive perspective, clever, cutting, and irresistibly Southern that makes Cherry Valley feel like its own fresh chapter in modern country. This isn’t just a promising debut; it’s a statement. With Cherry Valley, Carter Faith isn’t knocking on country music’s front door, she’s already inside, making herself right at home.

   
   

2. Parker McCollum - Parker McCollum

   
   

   

   
   

   With a sound that pays homage to the storytelling tradition of classic country while embracing modern appeal, McCollum describes this project as his most genuine work yet. "It is the best thing I’ve ever done. This record is honest, this record is raw, this record is one thousand percent authentic, Parker, and it feels really good to get back to writing and recording songs like I always wanted to," he shares. The album captures the spirit of McCollum’s Texas roots, from the restless energy of his youth to the weight of expectations that come with success. It’s a project that sees him revisiting the emotions of his "wild years," the lessons learned from some bad decisions, and the blessings that have shaped his journey. McCollum had a hand in writing nearly every track, calling on an all-star lineup of songwriters, including Monty Criswell, Natalie Hemby, Randy Montana, Lori McKenna, Jon Randall, Randy Rogers, and Liz Rose. With the depth of storytelling and sonic richness fans have come to expect, the album promises to be a full-circle moment for the artist.

3. Zach Top - Ain't For My Health

   
   

Top’s first album earned critical acclaim, but it was more a statement of potential than a declaration of intent. With Ain’t In It For My Health, he had the chance to define himself, not just as a songwriter but as an artist with a distinct voice and vision. "This album has been years in the making," he says. “Some songs were demoed long before they made it to the studio. We wanted every track to feel intentional, like part of a bigger story.” The album’s title, suggested by producer Carson Chamberlain, is deceptively simple but profoundly resonant. Ain’t In It For My Health is a nod to authenticity and perseverance. It signals Top’s refusal to chase trends or succumb to the fleeting whims of the industry. Each track on the album reflects a different aspect of Top’s musical identity. Tightrope balances humor with heart, showcasing Top’s clever lyricism and narrative instincts. Songs like Guitar are pure homage to the craft itself, marrying technical prowess with melodic accessibility. "I wanted listeners to feel like they were in the room with me," Top says. “Every note, every lyric, it’s meant to tell a story, and I wanted the album to feel cohesive, like a conversation rather than just a collection of songs.” Chamberlain, known for his work with Alan Jackson and George Strait, pushed Top to explore emotional depth without sacrificing musicality. The result is an album that’s both reflective and engaging, a modern country statement rooted in tradition.

4. Riley Green - Don't Mind If I Do (Deluxe)

   
   

The expanded release introduces six new songs, giving fans even more of Green’s signature blend of storytelling, southern authenticity, and unflinching heart.  Leading the charge is “Make It Rain,” a track Green has been teasing on his international Damn Country Music Tour. It’s full of the emotional punch his fans love, paired with a dose of heartfelt storytelling that makes Riley one of country music’s most in-demand songwriters. Other new songs bring fun, heart, and just the right amount of grit: “Cowboy As It Gets” with Randy Houser adds a little rural swagger, while the tender duet “I Just Need You” with rising star Hannah McFarland is pure sweetness. Green also explores heartbreak on “What Am I Supposed To Do Now,” celebrates the outdoors on “Bet They’re Biting,” and tips his hat to the legends in “One To Willie.”

5. Alexandra Kay - Second Wind

   
   

   

The title Second Wind came about, fittingly, in a moment of creative restlessness. Kay recalls sitting in a writers’ room with Rocco, Kevin Thrasher, and Shianna Bell, a familiar crew who’d helped her shape her last chapter. “We’d been writing for hours, and it just wasn’t hitting me,” she admits. “Then Shianna threw out the title Second Wind, and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, not only is that an incredible song title, but that’s an album title.’” That flash of recognition hit deeper than just the music. “I got my second wind when I decided to get on the medication I needed, to heal my brain,” she shares. “My divorce broke me, my brain was broken. I couldn’t leave my house. I was having panic attacks just trying to get to my car.” It’s an admission that cuts through the industry gloss and hits the marrow of what Second Wind represents, a raw, unvarnished truth from a woman who rebuilt her life from the ground up. “One day I woke up and said, ‘Today is the last day I cry. The last day I let anxiety control my life,’” she recalls. “That was the day I decided to take my life back.” The album isn’t just personal redemption, it’s professional resurrection. After years of grinding independently and navigating label deals that didn’t always serve her artistry, Kay has found her stride with what she calls “the best record label in town.”“This is my redeemable moment,” she says with a smile. “I’m not the independent girl scratching and clawing for an opportunity anymore. I’m supposed to have these opportunities. I’ve worked really hard to be here. And now I’m ready to take every blessing that comes my way, without the imposter syndrome.” That confidence pulses through Second Wind. The record sounds like freedom, a blend of strength and serenity that mirrors the woman behind it. It’s not a comeback; it’s a continuation.

6. Margo Price - Hard Headed Women

   
   

   

Margo Price’s Hard Headed Woman is an album that feels bold, grounded, and completely unafraid to speak its mind. Throughout the record, Price leans into her signature mix of sharp storytelling and raw emotional honesty, delivering songs that feel both personal and universally relatable. The album highlights her ability to blend classic country textures with modern edge, giving each track a timeless yet refreshing energy. Lyrically, she doesn’t shy away from tough topics, love, independence, resilience, and the realities of carving your own path. Her vocals are confident and full of character, bringing each lyric to life with grit and warmth. The production keeps things organic, letting real instruments and lived-in emotion take center stage. Several songs show Price at her most reflective, while others showcase a fiery attitude that proves she has no interest in softening who she is. What ties the project together is her commitment to honesty, whether she’s singing about heartbreak, identity, or the weight of expectations. Hard Headed Woman feels like a statement album, one that embraces strength without hiding vulnerability. It’s a reminder of why Margo Price remains one of the most compelling voices in Americana and country music today. The album stands as both a personal declaration and a powerful entry in her ever-evolving artistry.

7. Jake Owen - Dreams to Dream

   
   

   

   
   

   Jake Owen has always had a knack for crafting songs that hit the sweet spot between heartfelt reflection and infectious energy, but with his eagerly anticipated new album Dreams To Dream, the Florida-born singer-songwriter steps into uncharted territory: his most personal and honest work yet. Co-produced with genre-bending icon Shooter Jennings at the legendary Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, the project marks Owen’s first fully independent release and it’s clear from the first note that he’s thriving in creative freedom. Confident and reflective, Dreams To Dream finds Owen exploring the road not taken. On the standout track “Wouldn’t Be Gone,” he imagines a life lived differently: one rooted in simplicity, family, and the quiet joys of home. From the irrepressible humor of “Middle Age Crazy” to the tender romance of “Long Time Lovin’ You,” and the introspective title track Dreams To Dream, the collection balances levity and depth with ease. A highlight is Owen’s reimagining of Waylon Jennings’ classic “Them Old Love Songs,” featuring the soulful voice of Savannah Conley. Under Shooter Jennings’ deft production, the song feels both reverent and fresh, a bridge between Owen’s influences and his own evolving voice.

8. Jordan Davis - Learn The Hard Way

   
   

   

Jordan Davis has been on a steady climb since his debut, but with Learn the Hard Way, the multi-platinum hitmaker doesn’t just reach a new level, he blows the ceiling off entirely. It’s a record that blends grit and grace, polish and personality, cementing him as one of the most magnetic figures in modern country music. From the very first chord, Learn the Hard Way feels like an artist operating at full command of his craft. Big, bold, and unapologetically hook-driven, the album swings from high-energy anthems to tender, stripped-back confessionals without ever losing its emotional center. “Son of a Gun” bursts out of the speakers with a swagger tailor-made for packed arenas, while “Jesus Wouldn’t Do” slows the pace, offering a quietly powerful meditation on values, choices, and the man Davis wants to be. The contrast isn’t jarring, it’s a masterclass in balance. What makes this record truly remarkable is the way Davis threads authenticity into every corner of it. His storytelling feels lived-in, unafraid to explore the hard lessons that come with love, loss, and self-discovery. Each lyric sounds as if it’s been pulled from a chapter of his own life, and his voice warm, textured, and instantly recognizable, carries those words with a sincerity that can’t be faked. Sonically, Learn the Hard Way is an evolution without abandoning the foundation that’s made Davis a fan favorite. There are nods to traditional country in the steel guitar flourishes, modern edges in the production, and a refreshing willingness to stretch into unexpected territory.

9. Eric Chruch - Evangeline vs. The Machine

   
   

   

   
   

   Eric Church, the ever-evolving maverick of country music, is set to make waves once again with his latest album, Evangeline vs. The Machine, dropping on May 2. Known for his rebellious spirit and fearless storytelling, Church has crafted a project that pushes boundaries while staying true to his roots. Fans can pre-order and pre-save the album now, building anticipation for what promises to be another genre-defying masterpiece. Church has never been one to follow trends. Instead, he continues to champion the art of cohesive storytelling, a hallmark of his career. Evangeline vs. The Machine is no exception. “An album is a snapshot in time that lasts for all time,” Church shares of the creative approach behind the highly-anticipated new project. “I believe in that time-tested tradition of making records that live and breathe as one piece of art, I think it’s important.“I’ve always let creativity be the muse. It’s been a compass for me,” he adds. “The people that I look up to in my career and the kind of musicians I gravitate to never did what I thought they were going to do next – and I love them for it. I never want our fans to get an album and go, ‘Oh, that’s like Chief or that’s like this.’ Painstakingly, I lose sleep at night to try to make sure that whatever we do creatively, they go, ‘Wow, that's not what I thought.’ I think that's my job as an artist.”

10. Dierks Bentley - Broken Branches (Extended)

    
    

    

On Broken Branches, Dierks Bentley cements his legacy as one of the genre’s most reflective storytellers, delivering what might be the most sonically rich and emotionally revealing album of his career. With over two decades of chart-toppers and accolades behind him, Bentley could easily rest on his laurels. Instead, he’s evolving. Again. Broken Branches feels less like a collection of songs and more like a weathered journal, its pages filled with bruised hope, resilience, and a reverence for the path less taken. It’s the work of an artist who, as Bentley puts it, “just loves making country records.”Leaning into raw honesty and vivid songwriting, Bentley surrounds himself with a compelling cross-generational cast of collaborators. From legends like John Anderson to rising stars Riley Green and Stephen Wilson Jr., the lineup mirrors the album’s message: bridging the past, present, and future of country music with grit and heart. “Everyone that’s come to this town,” Bentley shares with All Country News and other outlets, “is doing something probably a little bit different than what their families did before. They’ve come here chasing this crazy honky-tonk country dream... and with that comes faith, brokenness, redemption.” That ethos permeates Broken Branches. At its core, the album is about daring to be different, about embracing the parts of ourselves that don’t fit neatly into expectations. Bentley uses the image of a “broken branch” not as something damaged, but as something unique, something brave enough to grow in a new direction.

ALL COUNTRY NEWS

Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X | TikTok | YouTube | Podcast | Newsletter | Spotify

Country Music News & Entertainment

Country Music Country Music News Country Music Outlet Latest Country News Recent Country News New Country Music Newest Country Music New Country Music Newest Country Music New Country Songs Country Music Out Today Country Songs Out Today Country Music Out Now Country Songs Out Now Nashville News Country Music Industry News Country Music Blog Country Music Podcast Country Music Playlist Country Music Playlists Country Music Social Media Country Stars Country Artists Rising Country Artists Rising Country Artist Country Legend Country Legends Country Music Press Country Music Publicity Country Music Fans Country Music Website