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The 25 best country songs of all time (+video)

While it's experienced a recent surge in popularity, country music has been beloved by music lovers all over the US for decades. Fans will debate endlessly what qualifies as "real" country and what makes one singer better than another, but Country Music Television created a list of the Top 100 songs in the country genre. Check out their top 25 picks.

Mark Tucker/Wynn Las Vegas/PRNewsFoto
A song by artist Garth Brooks (pictured) was one of those selected by the Country Music Television channel as one of the best 25 country songs ever.

1. 'Coal Miner's Daughter,' by Loretta Lynn

  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

"Daughter" was written and sung by Lynn, who released the song in 1970. The song was autobiographical and, of course, later became the title for the biopic about Lynn, which was in turn named after the singer's autobiography. Actress Sissy Spacek won a Best Actress Oscar for portraying Lynn in the 1980 movie.

According to Rolling Stone, Lynn was rehearsing one day when the phrase "Well, I was born a coal miner's daughter" came to her. "'And I went on from there,' [Lynn said.] 'I made up the melody at the same time, line by line, like I always do.' Lynn had written strong verses for herself but never anything quite as directly personal before. This Number One country hit concerning hardscrabble life in Kentucky mining country would go on to share its title with a book and a film about the singer; her signature tune and life story, all wrapped tight in one prideful song."

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Mark Sappenfield
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