90 Underrated Songs of the 90s

The ‘90s were a period of country music like no other. You have the class of 1989 hat acts, bar bands, teenage stars, crossover queens, and more that were responsible for taking country music into new territory. In this episode, I’m bringing you 90 underrated country songs from the ‘90s. 

There was an influx of new material that completely changed the radio format. Hundreds of songs were released, some becoming staples of country music. Others are enjoyable for that nostalgia factor, and hundreds faded away like a B-side on a cassette single. So why do some songs go on to be multi-week hits, and others don't even see the top 40? 

Strategies, time, and money are all invested by record labels. It could be timing, lack of listener feedback, or perhaps, no reason at all.  

And whether it's a lyric, a melodic structure, or just a song that I recall hearing on the airwaves through my radio in the kitchen growing up, the songs featured on this list all have something that struck me as a listener.  

The ‘90s melded a lot of styles that I appreciated - those folksy singer-songwriter moments coming from Mary Chapin Carpenter and people like Suzy Bogguss. And then we had a more progressive sound that was introduced by musicians like the Kentucky Headhunters or the Gibson Miller Band. But regardless of their style, or which path of country music they veered down, the simplicity of three chords and the truth emerged from a multitude of artists. As this list progresses, you're going to hear a lot of stone-cold country, featuring some of the best vocalists and top-tier songwriters in country music in the 1990s.