The WORST “Country” Songs of 2024
We’ve run down the Song of the Year nominees, the Single of the Year nominees, as well as the Album of the Year nominees for 2024. Now it’s time to give the WORST offerings in “country” music their fair due. And no, we’re not holding back our feelings at all. We’re rearing back and letting ’em have it.
WARNING: This exercise isn’t for the faint of heart. But don’t forget, we’re just having fun at the expense of very bad songs.
Brian Kelley – “Kiss My Boots”
Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley should be glad he’s not cleaning bidets at Mar-a-Lago for a living. He hung on to the nut sack of Tyler Hubbard to stardom, standing there making millions as his entirely disposable harmony vocals were run through an Auto-Tuner before being buried imperceptibly in the mix. Brian Kelley was a prop so the outfit could qualify for “Duo of the Year” trophies and because Tyler Hubbard looked like he was still eating glue in the 8th grade.
Brian Kelley’s “Kiss My Boots” is apparently a send off to his former bandmate. Gone are they days when these two were rubbing their taints together, and writing terrible tractor rap songs with seven other assholes that would get stuck at the top of the country charts for 17 weeks. These dudes are the reason people now think it’s okay to call Beyonce “country.”
Kiss his boots? Instead, Brian Kelley sticks his foot in his mouth. He’s supposed to be calling out Tyler Hubbard, but instead Kelley enacts a spectacular self-own from how shitty this song is. Don’t get me wrong, I do find a little sadistic pleasure in Beavis and Butt-Head bloodying each other up in a public manner. It’s not like Tyler Hubbard is worth defending. But this dog don’t hunt. It takes a big dump on the kitchen floor, and lays there licking its privates while you have to clean it up. (read full rant)
Alli Walker – “Nashville”
Do they make rape kits for ears? Because if they do, kindly swab the deep abrasions inflicted by the violent and unwanted trespasses upon the inner tympanic canal by this audio abomination to verify the culprits, and then deploy any and all resources to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law. The public broadcast of this song should constitute crimes against humanity under the articles of the Geneva Conventions. The Gaza Strip is a more hospitable place at this moment than being anywhere within a single decibel’s range of this “song.”
“Nashville” is the lowest form of pandering to the stereotypical Lower Broadway tourist lured into the entertainment corridor by flashing lights, bottomless nachos, and the offhand chance of a Morgan Wallen sighting. And it’s all co-written by the King of Nashville Grift, Mr. Applebee’s himself, Walker Hayes.
I thought we were supposed to look beyond the doltish lyricism of Walker Hayes songs to recognize his strong Christian values and dedication to his family. Meanwhile, here he is co-signing his name to a song that has ladies smacking their asses, grabbing their “goodie goodies” (tits), and drops a straight-up f-bomb in the middle of the song, and right before name dropping the sainted Dolly Parton no less. (read full rant)
Jelly Roll and MGK – “Lonely Road”
Thank God John Denver is dead so he’s spared from having to experience this monstrosity constructed from his iconic ode to West Virginia. For the rest of us poor souls, we’re subject to getting assaulted by this while innocently walking through a supermarket like a 2nd shifter on the New York subway. This thing churns the stomach harder than the chopped onions of a McDonald’s quarter pounder. MGK can eat no fat, and Jelly Roll can eat no lean. These two pieces of human refuse are Example #1 and #1A of failing upwards in America.
Is there even one of these assholes who can actually compose an original song anymore, or is it all just all a perpetual ripoff? Jelly Roll helped crown the 2023 version of this Worst Songs list by bastardizing Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away” with Dustin Lynch.
Every time you see Jelly Roll, this quote comes to mind:
“Villains who twirl their mustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well camouflaged.” –Jean-Luc Picard
Sam Hunt – “Locked Up”
What in the mothertrucker is this, Sam Hunt? You think you’ve got the mustard to fill the shoes of Johnny “caught at the Mexican border with 1,100 pills” Cash? If The Man in Black were here today, he’d put his size 13 Red Wing straight up your keister and break it off for this abomination.
Sam Hunt thought he would try to exploit his arrest for drunk driving now five years ago through a song. Then to add the mother of all insults to injury, for the video for the new song, Sam Hunt casts himself in the role of Johnny Cash from the iconic San Quentin prison performance from 1969. What hubris.
If Sam Hunt actually showed up to a prison to perform this song, a riot would ensue and he’d get shanked in the neck with a sharpened toothbrush handle. Besides, subjecting prisoners to Sam Hunt’s music would most certainly be ruled as a form of cruel and unusual punishment and stayed by the Supreme Court. Most would rather get raped in a mop closet by a prison gang or face lethal injection as opposed to being forcibly placed in a Sam Hunt audience. (read full rant)
Walker Hayes – The Zach Bryan “Diss Track”
Perhaps there’s never been an individual inhabiting the Earth that has felt more safe and happy in the enveloping arms of corporate America while suckling off the industry teat of high fructose corn syrup than Walker Hayes. This f–ker has purposely allowed himself to become synonymous with Applebee’s, a.k.a. the Destroyer of Worlds when it comes to locally owned eateries. Forget having no shame. Walker Hayes actively leans into being a corporate shill.
After Tyler Childers had his first ever appearance in the country radio Top 50, Zach Bryan tweeted, “‘First ever’ is fuckn insane, one of the best songwriters to ever do it.” And then later, “Imagine being radio (whoever the hell that is), hearing Shake the Frost and being like ‘no no let’s go with the Applebees song’.”
In response, Walker Hays recorded a supposed “diss track.” If nothing else, you’ve got to give Walker Hayes credit for being on brand. Some music outlets were quick to characterize the song as a “scratch track” to an upcoming song. No, this is the kind of shit Walker Hayes releases as actual music—slapdashed lyricism over the most simplistic electronically-generated MIDI beats.
When Dave Portnoy destroys you in the diss track game, you know you’re bad. (read full rant)
Kane Brown and Marshmello – “Miles On It”
Perhaps it’s appropriate that at Halloween time in 2024, and the performer with the #1 song on country radio was a buffoonish, goofy-headed cartoonist-like doofus that’s an unequivocal embarrassment to the country music genre.
…and even worse, Kane Brown paired up with a dude with a marshmallow on his head to record it.
After a 30-second taste, I determined I’d rather ingest an Almond Joy laced with a razor blade, or put out a flaming bag of poo on my front porch in a brand new pair of $1,800 Lucchese boots than be subjected to a nanosecond more of this monstrous abomination oozing out of the hind quarters of the Music Row sausage factory like a wicked shit, only to be animated similar to Frankenstein to terrorize unsuspecting country music fans on the public airwaves.
Marty Stuart, David Allan Coe, and Alison Krauss never had a #1 song in country, but now this marshmallow asshole does. Country music has come a long way in the last couple of years. But apparently it’s still capable to serving up this kind of vapid, meaningless dribble, and taking it all the way to #1. (read full rant)
PeterT
December 12, 2024 @ 9:53 am
I love Paul Cauthen, his ceiling is as high as anyones, and I’d put his best 20 tracks up against any in the Alt-country/Americana scene. He was No.4 on my spotify wrapped and was one of my favorite shows I saw last year, with that said can we nominate:
My sweetheart from a trailer park
Its not just that its bad (it really is), its that we know he is capable of so much better.
Banjo
December 12, 2024 @ 10:26 am
I agree 100%. Love Paul’s “My Gospel” and “Room 41”, but this new stuff is just plumb horrible. I could also nominate that “Black on Black” or whatever that song is. “The line about sweat from my neck from being the shit” or whatever…so bad.
Trig – I know its a year end tradition for Best and Worst lists – have you ever done a “Disappointing” list. Albums or bands that you had high hopes for and were let down. Paul Cauthen would definitely be on my “disappointing” list.
Trigger
December 12, 2024 @ 4:01 pm
Definitely considered a Paul Cauthen track or two here. I honestly didn’t think any of them rose (or fell) to this level. I reviewed his album and said my peace there.
Probably wouldn not do a “disappointing” list. This might be a weird place to express this, but I honestly try to keep the negativity to a minimum. If I’m disappointed in an album, that usually comes across in the review.
Tony R.
December 12, 2024 @ 10:01 am
I’m trying to think of other songs that are as bad or worse….and I just can’t.
trarmer
December 12, 2024 @ 10:47 am
Sorting through which pile of dog shit tastes worse is not time well spent. I’ve no opinion on this list. I won’t listen nor waste the synaptic responses to discern.
Hank Charles
December 12, 2024 @ 10:52 am
Dishonorable mention, HARDY should be arrested for that cover of “Gin & Juice”.
Tom
December 12, 2024 @ 11:46 am
And everything else.
jt
December 12, 2024 @ 10:58 am
Holy crap, Trigger, I can’t imagine the swamp you must have had to Wade through to find these gems. Appreciate you taking one for the team. The sad part is that people think of songs like these when I tell them I like country music.
Vinnie Morana
December 12, 2024 @ 11:55 am
I was going to say the same thing!
Strait
December 12, 2024 @ 2:02 pm
I don’t understand why ‘Miles On It’ is here and not the Shaboozey song. Both are equally bad.
CK
December 12, 2024 @ 2:42 pm
Haha so true. Thanks for taking one for the team trigger and listening to all this horseshit. The comments here are hilarious 🙂
Jack Mehoff
December 12, 2024 @ 11:04 am
Hell yeah. This is the shit I started coming here for. Fuck the Fla Ga boyz
Jack Mehoff
December 12, 2024 @ 11:08 am
Add a couple from that fat slob Jelly Roll and mouth breather Zimmerman
Rusty
December 12, 2024 @ 11:37 am
Zimmerman isnt too bad
Jack Mehoff
December 12, 2024 @ 1:12 pm
Yeah he’s not that bad prancing around on stage at the CMAs looking like a total dipshit. Just another buttrocker
Rusty
December 12, 2024 @ 2:33 pm
Watching the CMAs isnt something you should admit to
Jack Mehoff
December 12, 2024 @ 4:17 pm
Nor is liking Bailey Zimmerman
rano
December 12, 2024 @ 11:42 am
What did Zimmerman do wrong?
To be fair, Zimmerman is only in country because pop, which is now a DEI industry, doesn’t sign people like him anymore.
Jack Mehoff
December 12, 2024 @ 4:15 pm
He’s not country and he sucks. Very low IQ too. He’ll go down in the likes of the Fla Ga boyz and Nickelback with somehow even less talent.
Pretty awesome to see the mime from FGL make this list in 2024 I may add.
rano
December 13, 2024 @ 1:47 pm
I just wish that male pop and rock music still existed so that guys like him and Post Malone could have respectable career paths in professional music instead of being mediocre hip-hop/R&B and country artists (Post Malone in both cases).
Jack Mehoff
December 13, 2024 @ 4:08 pm
It does and Post Malone has had a respectable career. The quality of his “country” album is debatable, but he’ll never go in history as some clownass fake country buttrocker like Hardy and Zimmerman, on a list that includes FGL and Nickelback.
M-A
December 15, 2024 @ 8:04 am
For sub-Nickelback crap, I think we can add Nate Smith to the list.
Harris
December 12, 2024 @ 11:10 am
I think the HARDY song on the post Malone album may have been worse than any of these
kross
December 12, 2024 @ 11:49 am
I’m proud to say I didn’t know any of these even existed until right now.
Nadia Lockheart
December 12, 2024 @ 1:34 pm
I’m surprised Post Malone and HARDY’s “Hide My Gun” isn’t here. I’d argue that’s even worse than the majority of this list with the exception of Alli Walker’s single.
Quavo’s new one with Luke Bryan, “Georgia Ways”, is sure something too. =X
Nadia Lockheart
December 12, 2024 @ 1:36 pm
Oh, and Chase Matthew’s “Darlin'”. For whatever reason, that atrocity is getting some serious early airplay………….. =X
Strait
December 12, 2024 @ 2:00 pm
Jelly Roll and MGK – Lonely Road gets my vote for the worst song of 2024. It’s just bad, lazy, and dumb.
Jelly Roll and MGK make music for people who abuse pain pills, have pit bulls, and peaked in high school.
Guilty of Music Row
December 14, 2024 @ 9:57 am
All of the songs on this list are horrible. But every time I hear Lonely Road fell like I have been mugged. Jelly Roll comes in and steals a beautiful memory, and I end up have to clean up in a portapody that hasn’t been serviced in a month.
RJ
December 12, 2024 @ 2:04 pm
I am confused. These are the worst rap songs of 2024
Frances M
December 12, 2024 @ 2:24 pm
Zach Bryan on social media is a mess and and a half, but I do like how he goes all in for Tyler and Turnpike. He’s 100% right and it’s hilarious how Walker Hayes responded to criticism about how bad his song with another pitifully bad song. Not an ounce of self reflection or introspection.
MJ
December 12, 2024 @ 2:59 pm
Some alternative awards…
Best cover song – Charley Crockett ‘Crystal Chandeliers and Burgundy’
Nicest surprise – Johnny Cash ‘Songwriter’ and Sturgill Simpson ‘Passage du Desir
Biggest disappointment – Willie Nelson ‘Last Leaf on the Tree’
Best live album – Red Clay Strays ‘Live at the Ryman’
David:The Duke of Everything
December 12, 2024 @ 4:30 pm
Some good awards there. Def agree with best cover song as well as nicest surprise far as johnny cash. That album is really good.
Nick
December 12, 2024 @ 3:06 pm
Wow, these are wretched cuts. I initially thought that I’d see Paul Cauthen on this list, but these songs actually make Black on Black sound half good. I kinda actually like him a bit more knowing how bad things could be.
Nadia Lockheart
December 12, 2024 @ 3:51 pm
I respect Cauthen for doing his own thing. It’s not my personal taste, but one definitely can’t accuse him of being a stooge or puppet to the industry (at least to this point of his career). He at the very least is calling his own shots and thus that makes me respect him as an artist in a way I can’t likewise for some of the names listed here.
Bro Country is Horrible
December 12, 2024 @ 3:40 pm
I am here for the laughs.
Jeff
December 12, 2024 @ 4:37 pm
The stupid Chevrolet song by Jelly Roll and Dustin Lynch is an honorable mention here. Somehow destroyed a classic song by making it a bro-country pop cocktail of shit
Trigger
December 12, 2024 @ 5:06 pm
Would have included it here since 2024 was when it hit its commercial peak. But I included it on last year’s list since officially it was released in 2023.
Matsfan/Jatsfan
December 12, 2024 @ 6:45 pm
This. Is. Fantastic. Writing. Some great one-liners here, Trig.
Beerad
December 12, 2024 @ 7:07 pm
I can proudly say I’ve never heard of one of these songs before now. And I can now say I wish I had never heard any of them. Holy crap they were horrible. I didn’t make it through more than 30 seconds of any of them. What is this trash classified as? Sure ain’t country.
Rich
December 12, 2024 @ 7:14 pm
I come here for the reviews. But i stay for the rants……. God bless ya Trigger, these are legend.
Blackwater
December 12, 2024 @ 8:12 pm
I vote for every song on the Johnny Blue Skies album.
Bentone
December 13, 2024 @ 12:30 am
I’m near wishing I was hearing Blake Shelton and Rascal Flats again.
Tom
December 13, 2024 @ 6:01 am
…collab or solo?
Kay
December 13, 2024 @ 12:55 am
BRAVO !!!!
Sher
December 13, 2024 @ 5:20 am
Who writes this crap!
J3amacker
December 13, 2024 @ 5:24 am
Best one-liner of the year on worst song – “Though many of these Lower Broadway dupes like to pretend they’re still in their promiscuous twenties, the average attendee is a 47-year-old pre-diabetic divorcee with a Karen haircut in town for a bachelorette pedal tavern reservation on a Tuesday.”
Tom
December 13, 2024 @ 6:21 am
…what part of “one-liner” did he not understand, karen might wonder.
Tom
December 13, 2024 @ 5:59 am
…kinda dig that countryfied “blair witch project” vibe in the brian kelley clip.
kross
December 13, 2024 @ 7:38 am
I think you forgot about that terrible Shaboozi song as well.
CountryKnight
December 13, 2024 @ 11:53 am
Alli Walker’s answer song to “Sand in my Boots” was good.
That is her only redeeming feature.
Paper Rosie
December 13, 2024 @ 1:53 pm
On a related note, I just listened to Blake Shelton’s new song ‘Texas’ for the first time.
Sam
December 13, 2024 @ 5:12 pm
Good for you. it’s catchy and he sounds great on it. But it’s the norm to dump on Shelton here. However, Robert Oermann, respected music critic, author and historian stated “He’s such a superb country singer. With a song this cool, he’s unstoppable….some interesting rhythmic corners and clever lyrics. Plus you get a “Greek Chorus “ talking to him”. You know it just gets tiresome to see nothing but negativity on this site. It’s so much worse now. So best wishes Trig. It’s must feel like Bedlam to you at times.
Jack
December 14, 2024 @ 6:00 pm
I remember seeing that Sam Hunt music video when it came out and it didn’t seem bad. The duet “You Look Like You Love Me” is far worse.
Fourth Blessed Gorge
December 13, 2024 @ 4:12 pm
This category is always fun. IMO, goofing on Jelly Roll is never not funny.
ChrisP
December 13, 2024 @ 7:20 pm
If “corporate sellout” had an encyclopedia entry, the picture next to it would be that of Walker Hayes. That diss track is awful. It’s petty, ridiculous, and, most importantly, it just sounds stupid.
But, hey, what else would we expect from a dude who has made his career synonymous with Applebee’s, the vanilla ice cream of restaurants?
Zach
December 13, 2024 @ 11:53 pm
When the strobe lights started going in the “Miles On It” video, I actually hoped I’d have a seizure. And Walker Hayes is basically just a parody of himself on that “Diss Track.” But even those aren’t as bad as “Nashville.” I felt like I caught an STI just watching the video. It made me want to actively avoid Nashville. That was the first time I’ve ever heard of Alli Walker, and if there’s any justice remaining in the world, it will be the last.
Also, a late submission or honorable mention could go to “Cowboy Songs” by George Birge. That thing is pure crap. Still not as bad as “Nashville,” though.
Peter Bogert
December 14, 2024 @ 5:06 am
I’m reading this thinking how much fun you must have had writing it. I don’t listen to country radio nor do I watch award shows, so I only learn of this crap from you, Trigger. I go back to the days when Haggard, Jones, Waylon and WIllie, etc. were always playing, and then to the 90’s with Clint Black, Travis Tritt, Alan Jackson, etc. and it sounds like the stuff they are playing is from some kind of sound track for the apocalypse. A guy named Marshmallow? Wow.
Joe Attaboy
December 14, 2024 @ 7:23 am
These are all terrible.
But I’m waiting for Alli Walker to pull a Beyonce and say “well, my song ain’t really a country music song, you know.” However, I’m approaching 70, the end may be getting closer and I really won’t wish to wait her out.
A truly horrible moment in musical history in that one.
Silver Z
December 14, 2024 @ 9:01 am
The WORST “Country” Songs of 2024.
Exactly what country might they be from?
El Billy
December 14, 2024 @ 9:39 am
Crapistan
goldenglamourboybradyblocker71
December 14, 2024 @ 2:59 pm
Thought we were done with Sam Hunt,Brian Kelley and Walker Hayes (where’s ex-Golden Boy Brantley Gilbert when you need [?} him?),but I guess they popped up on this years Worst Country songs list.Billy Currington,and Dustin Lynch must be jealous of those cowboys.
Breann B.
December 14, 2024 @ 6:31 pm
You talk so much crap about Kane Brown only because you’re obviously jealous that he has more talent than you ever could have stfu you have no right to say anything negative about anyone including Kane Brown you better quit that bs asap you know that you need to back off just because he has more talent than you doesn’t mean you can go talking crap about him you don’t know him so stfu already with your negativity.
Sofus
December 18, 2024 @ 1:47 pm
Gee! Talk about blue in the face…
Luckyoldsun
December 14, 2024 @ 6:31 pm
This music is made for the people who buy and listen to it and attend the shows–not for the people who don’t.
I double-clicked on the videos above and watched/listened to them on Youtube, and I saw that the people who comment there say that this music speaks to them and is fabulous.
I don’t feel any need to tell fans of Alli Walker MGC, Kane Browne, etc. that their music sucks and they should junk it and instead listen to an old Gene Watson cassette..
Breann B.
December 14, 2024 @ 6:40 pm
You know what I’m tired of you talking so much crap about Kane Brown you need to stop saying so much bs you not talent hack at least Kane Brown has more talent than you’ll ever in your miserable life have you know what I mean stfu you lowlife loser you’re having so much negativity it’s ridiculous you don’t know anything about Kane Brown you damn fool so stfu already with you dumb articles like this you nothing but a loser back off Kane Brown dude. Smh
William G Weiler
December 15, 2024 @ 7:57 am
It seems that punctuation isn’t a thing for thirteen year old kids.
Luckyoldsun
December 15, 2024 @ 1:51 am
One of the near-legendary sportswriters of the second half of the previous century was a guy named Jim Murray who had a column in the Los Angeles Times for close to 40 years, from around 1961 right up until his death in 1998. One time Murray was covering a World Series and had some downtime on an off-day, so he wrote a column about the host city and just absolutely ragged on it. Went on about how the city is ugly, the restaurants are horrible, there’s no culture, etc. The column got around–Murray was syndicated in a lot of newspapers around the country–and people in the city were outraged and sent letters demanding that Murray be fired, etc.
But the L.A Times left Murray alone and the next year, he did the same thing to another city where he was covering an event: The women look trashy, etc. And the same sort of reaction ensued.
Then Jim Murray kept on doing it, at least once a year, trashing some city where he was covering an event. It became something of a tradition and Murray’s trademark.The residents and local government officials of each town would be outraged but Murray didn’t care. After years of this some people started becoming in on it, and before a football bowl game or other such sporting event, the L.A. Times would get letters from some fraternities or other residents requesting/demanding that Jim Murray show up and do one of his “critiques” on their college or town.
I don’t know if any of these “bro-country” (or whatever it’s now called) acts are sending invitations to Trig, but I think he may be trying to be the genrre’s Jim Murray
goldenglamourboybradyblocker71
December 16, 2024 @ 11:09 pm
At 71,I’m FAR BETTER-LOOKING than Kane Brown and can write better lyrics.(My six-year-old great-great-nephew would know better than to have a duet with a dude with a marshmallow on his head). Breann,are you Kane’s sister or mother ?
Pete Marshall
December 27, 2024 @ 12:40 am
Lonely road by MSK and Jelly Roll is a slap in the face to John Denver and his song Take Me Home, Country Roads. Don’t get me started on the song Chevrolet by Dustin Lynch and Jelly Roll. Miles on it is pure trash.
Pete Marshall
December 27, 2024 @ 12:50 am
Dishonor mentioned
Pretty little poison by Warren Zeiders is not a good song. Morgan Wallen and Moneybagg Whiskey whiskey is not a country song but it hit #6 on hot country song I just don’t get it why the song is country and it’s not country at all.