Country Artists Celebrate The 50 States In Their Songs
Country artists come from all 50 states. So, it only makes sense that each U.S. state is represented in at least one country song.
Some states naturally have more songs written about them than others, such as Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Oklahoma. As we go through this list, we’ll be sure to highlight some “honorable mentions” for such states.
Whether you’re from Alabama or Wyoming, there’s a song in this list for you! Head below to see which country song we chose to represent your home state.
Keep Scrolling To See Country Songs Representing Each Of The 50 States
Alabama – “Midnight In Montgomery” By Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson is a Georgia native, but is well-known for singing a chilling song about Alabama.
Jackson co-wrote “Midnight in Montgomery” with Don Sampson about the death of country music legend Hank Williams. Williams was buried in Montgomery following his tragic death on January 1, 1953, at the age of 29.
In “Midnight in Montgomery,” Jackson visits the country icon’s grave and encounters Williams’ ghost. Williams thanks Jackson for honoring and remembering him before he disappears, and Jackson ends the song by singing, “Hank’s always singing there.”
Honorable mention goes to Cowboy Copas’ “Albam,” John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery,” and Hank Williams’ own “Alabama Waltz.” Even though it’s not a country song, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” also deserves a shout-out!
Alaska – “North To Alaska” By Johnny Horton
Johnny Horton released “North To Alaska” in August 1960. The song was featured during the opening credits of the John Wayne film of the same name.
Sadly, Horton didn’t get the chance to hear the song in the movie, because he was killed in a car accident just two days before its release.
“North to Alaska” tells the story of Wayne’s character, Sam McCord, and his partner George Pratt (played by Stewart Granger). The duo discovers gold “just a little southeast of Nome,” and they know “the rush is on.”
Arizona – “There Is No Arizona” By Jamie O’Neal
Jamie O’Neal co-wrote her #1 hit “There Is No Arizona” with Lisa Drew and Shaye Smith. The song follows a hopeful narrator who waits for her lover in Arizona to send for her to join him.
But as time passes, and the man doesn’t reach out, the woman realizes “there is no Arizona,” and no hope of ever joining her lover there. As she sings, “If there was a Grand Canyon, she could fill it up with the lies he’s told her.”
O’Neal mentions several other iconic Arizona landmarks in the track, including Tombstone and the Painted Desert.
Honorable mention goes to Glen Campbell’s “By The Time I Get To Phoenix,” Marty Robbins’ “Big Iron,” and George Strait’s tongue-in-cheek tune “Ocean Front Property.”
Arkansas – “A Little Past Little Rock” By Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack released “A Little Past Little Rock” in 1998. The song, written by Brett Jones, Tony Lane, and Jess Brown, follows the narrator as she leaves her “life in Dallas” to escape a bad relationship.
The narrator sings about her travels across the country, and how she feels uncertain about her decision. But she also knows it’s too late to turn back. She reveals she’s made some decent progress on her trip but still has a lot of work to do to get over the man she loved.
As Womack sings, “I’m a little past Little Rock, but a long way from over you.”
California – “Streets Of Bakersfield” By Buck Owens & Dwight Yoakam
Buck Owens released his first version of the Homer Joy-penned “Streets of Bakersfield” in 1973. But that initial recording didn’t take off.
15 years later, Owen reimagined the song as a duet with Dwight Yoakam. Their collaboration was a smash success, and claimed the #1 spot on the Hot Country Songs chart.
The song follows the narrator’s journey to Bakersfield and, later, his arrest in San Francisco. As Owens and Yoakam sing, “But how many of you that sit and judge me, ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?”
Honorable mention goes to Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers Band’s “All the Gold in California,” and Jo Dee Messina’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California.”
Colorado – “Denver” By Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson’s “Denver” is the shortest song on this list. Although it’s only 53 seconds long, it serves as a beautiful ode to the “Mile-High City.”
Nelson served as the sole songwriter behind the track, which he featured on his 1975 album Red Headed Stranger.
The lyrics include, “The bright lights of Denver are shinin’ like diamonds, like ten thousand jewels in the sky.”
Honorable mentions go to Townes Van Zandt’s “Colorado Girl,” Jimmy Buffett’s “A Mile High in Denver,” and Dierks Bentley’s “Goodbye in Telluride.”
Connecticut – “Yankee Doodle Dixie” By Chet Atkins
As the third-smallest state in the U.S., there aren’t many songs about Connecticut. But there’s still a country music connection through the Connecticut state song, “Yankee Doodle.”
Country musician Chet Atkins was known for his song “Yankee Doodle Dixie,” which featured a mashup of the songs “Yankee Doodle” and “Dixie.” He showcased his extraordinary talent by playing the two songs simultaneously on the same guitar.
Delaware – “I’m From Delaware” By Todd Chappelle
As the second smallest state, Delaware also isn’t the subject of many songs. But one of the best comes from the comedic singer Todd Chappelle, who is known for his parody songs.
According to his website, Chappelle currently lives in Pennsylvania but previously lived in Delaware. So it seems fitting that he recorded a song called “I’m From Delaware.”
The track parodies the song “I’ve Been Everywhere,” which was popularized by Johnny Cash in 1996.
Florida – “Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season” By Jimmy Buffett
With Florida being the late Jimmy Buffett’s adopted home, it only made sense to choose one of his songs to represent “The Sunshine State.” Though the chosen song references hurricanes, the other type of weather Florida is well-known for experiencing.
Buffett featured “Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season” on his 1974 country album A1A. The album was named after Florida State Road A1A, which runs through many of the state’s beachside towns.
Buffett re-recorded the song with Kenny Chesney for his 2018 album Songs for the Saints. Proceeds from the album were donated to help with Hurricane Irma relief efforts.
Honorable mentions go to John Anderson’s “Seminole Wind,” Waylon Jennings’ “The Everglades,” and Chesney’s own “Flora-Bama.”
Georgia – “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” By The Charlie Daniels Band
The Charlie Daniels Band released “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” in 1979. The song tells the tale of the Devil’s trip to Georgia, where he encounters a young fiddle player named Johnny.
The Devil challenges Johnny to a fiddle duel. If Johnny wins, he gets a fiddle made of gold. But if he loses, the Devil gets to steal his soul. Johnny emerges victorious in the end, and the Devil leaves Georgia in defeat.
“The Devil Went Down to Georgia” hit #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.
We’re listing a few extra honorable mentions for Georgia, including “Georgia on My Mind” by Ray Charles or Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood’s “Georgia Rain,” Reba McEntire’s “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee,” Lauren Alaina’s “Georgia Peaches,” and Kane Brown’s “Bury Me in Georgia.”
Hawaii – “Hawaii” By Old Dominion
Old Dominion featured the song “Hawaii” as the second track on their 2021 album Time, Tequila & Therapy.
The wistful song has Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey singing about how he was “swept up in the blue” and “happy as a ukulele” with the woman he loved when they visited “The Aloha State.” Now that they’ve left the tropical paradise behind, he longs to return.
As he sings, “Back on the mainland, things ain’t the same, man. Wish we could go back to island time…”
Idaho – “Idaho Cowboy” By Reckless Kelly
Idaho-native country-rock band Reckless Kelly released “Idaho Cowboy” in 2010. The song was featured as the eighth track on their sixth studio album, Somewhere in Time.
“Idaho Cowboy” follows a wild Idaho cowboy who can’t seem to stay in one place for long. As the chorus goes:
“Because he`s an idaho cowboy, no tennessee plow-boy. He’s wild as the Rockies he rides. The cougar in the canyon, the Devil’s old companion, riding with a fire in his eyes.“
Illinois – “Illinois” By Brett Eldredge
Brett Eldredge was born in Paris, Illinois, 165 miles south of Chicago. His second studio album, appropriately titled Illinois, paid tribute to his home state.
Released in 2015, Illinois also contained a song named after the state. Eldredge co-wrote the track with Brad Crisler and Tom Douglas.
In “Illinois,” Eldredge reflects on his years growing up in “The Prairie State.” He fondly remembers those times and the beauty of the place he calls home.
As he sings, “…when I get lost in the noise, like a whisper, I hear the voice of a boy. Oh, from Illinois.”
Indiana – “Why Indiana” By Parker McCollum
Parker McCollum released “Why Indiana” on his 2021 studio album Gold Chain Cowboy. McCollum co-wrote the track with Randy Montana and Erik Dylan.
“Why Indiana” is a heartbreak song. In it, McCollum mourns the end of a relationship after his girlfriend calls him on the phone to break things off.
She called while he was in Indiana, leaving him wishing she’d called while he was somewhere like Las Vegas or Memphis so he could keep busy and do something to forget his heartache. But instead, she called him while he was “...way out here, without a d— thing to do.”
Iowa – “It Sure Can Get Cold In Des Moines” By Tom T. Hall
“It Sure Can Get Cold in Des Moines” was the fifth track on Tom T. Hall’s 1971 album, In Search of a Song.
Hall, who was actually born in Kentucky, wrote “It Sure Can Get Cold in Des Moines” entirely on his own. As the narrator, Hall sings about visiting Iowa’s capital city when it’s freezing cold outside. He finds himself in the hotel lounge, where he notices a girl who’s crying and seems down on her luck.
The encounter leaves Hall singing, “Without even asking, I knew why she cried. Life is just like that sometimes.”
Kansas – “Witchita Lineman” By Glen Campbell
Jimmy Webb felt inspired to write “Witchita Lineman” after driving by a lineman speaking into a handset. He imagined the lineman was speaking to his girlfriend and wrote a song based on that concept.
While Webb passed this inspirational lineman in Oklahoma, he opted to set his song in Kansas. Glen Campbell recorded the track and released it in 1968. The song reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Campbell takes on the role of the lonely lineman, singing, “And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time. And the Wichita lineman is still on the line.”
Kentucky – “Coal Miner’s Daughter” By Loretta Lynn
Born in Kentucky’s Butcher Hollow (otherwise known as “Butcher Holler”), Loretta Lynn wrote “Coal Miner’s Daughter” about her childhood. Her father, Melvin Theodore “Ted” Webb, worked in the Van Lear coal mines, and “he’d shovel coal to make a poor man’s dollar.”
Despite her poor upbringing, Lynn was always proud of where she came from. As she sang, “We were poor, but we had love.” She always proclaimed she was “proud to be a coal miner’s daughter.”
Honorable mentions go to “Blue Moon of Kentucky” by Bill Monroe, “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” by Darrell Scott or Patty Loveless, and Johnny Cash’s version of “My Old Kentucky Home.”
Louisiana – “Callin’ Baton Rouge” By Garth Brooks
“Callin’ Baton Rouge” has roots that go deep into country music history. The fast-paced song inspired by Louisana’s capital city was originally recorded by the Oak Ridge Boys for their 1978 album Room Service.
Garth Brooks’ 1990 version of the song is most well-known, and it reached the #2 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. His recording is often used by LSU athletic teams to this day.
Honorable mentions go to “Louisana Woman, Mississippi Man” by Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, “Louisana Saturday Night” by Mel McDaniel, and “Louisiana” by Tim McGraw.
Maine – “King Of The Road” By Roger Miller
Roger Miller nods to Maine’s third-most populous city in his Grammy-winning song, “King of the Road.” Released in 1965, “King of the Road” follows a man who wanders across the country without end.
While he doesn’t have much money and no real place to call home, the man feels free as can be. Miller, who wrote the tune, lists the man’s next destination as “Bangor, Maine.”
Maryland – “The Streets Of Baltimore” By Bobby Bare
Tompall Glaser and Harlan Howard co-wrote “The Streets of Baltimore” in 1966. While Tompall Glaser & The Glaser Brothers eventually recorded the song themselves, the first recording was released by Bobby Bare in June 1966.
As the narrator, Bare sings about selling his Tennessee farmer and taking his lady to Baltimore, Maryland, the place she longs to be. The move leaves the woman feeling overjoyed, and she remarks, “The prettiest place on Earth is Baltimore at night.”
While the man initially likes Baltimore, he soon grows tired of city life. He ends up taking a train back home, as he learns that his lady loves Baltimore far more than she loves him.
“The Streets of Baltimore” has been covered by many other artists over the years, including Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, and John Prine.
Massachusetts – “Whoever’s In New England” By Reba McEntire
Kendal Franceschi and Quentin Powers wrote Reba McEntire’s heartbreaking single from 1986, “Whoever’s in New England.” The song’s narrator is a woman who fears her husband is having an affair, as she sings:
“You spend an awful lot of time in Massachusetts, seems like every other week you’ve got a meeting waiting there.”
Despite the pain she feels, the woman reminds her husband that she will always be waiting for him at home. She sings:
“But when whoever’s in New England’s through with you. And Boston finds better things to do. You know it’s not too late, ’cause you’ll always have a place to come back to. When whoever’s in New England’s through with you.”
Michigan – “All Summer Long” By Kid Rock
Born and raised in Romeo, Michigan, Kid Rock gave his home state a shout-out in his smash hit “All Summer Long.” The track reached the #4 spot on the Hot Country Songs chart following its release in 2008.
The song has Kid Rock reflecting on his youth spent by the lake with the girl that he once loved. He shares how “it was summertime in northern Michigan” when he made all of these unforgettable memories.
Minnesota – “On A Bus To St. Cloud” By Trisha Yearwood
Gretchen Peters wrote the song “On a Bus to St. Cloud” after noticing the city of St. Cloud, Minnesota, on a map. Trisha Yearwood recorded the track and released it in 1995.
As the narrator, Yearwood shares her grief over the death of her former lover, who died by suicide. She sees his face everywhere she goes, including St. Cloud.
She sings, “On a bus to St. Cloud, Minnesota, I thought I saw you there. With the snow falling down around you, like a silent prayer.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, text “TALK ” to 741-741, or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
Mississippi – “Louisana Woman, Mississippi Man” By Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn
We gave this song an honorable mention for Louisana, but it deserved to be featured for at least one of the states in its title! So we’re placing it here to represent “The Magnolia State.”
In “Louisana Woman, Mississippi Man,” Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn pretend to be two lovers who live on opposite sides of the Mississippi River. Despite the distance between them, they sing, “The Mississippi River can’t keep us apart. There’s too much love in this Mississippi heart. Too much love in this Louisiana heart.”
Honorable mentions go to Faith Hill’s “Mississippi Girl,” Bobbie Gentry’s “Ode to Billie Joe,” and Ray Stevens’ “Mississippi Squirrel Revival.”
Missouri – “Missouri Waltz” By Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash’s version of “Missouri Waltz” was released posthumously in 2006. The song includes lyrics such as, “Way down in Missouri when I heard this lullaby. While the stars were blinking and the moon was shining high.”
But “Missouri Waltz” is much older than Cash’s recording. The song’s original lyrics were penned by James Royce Shannon in 1914, with music by Lee Edgar Settle and arranged by Frederic Knight Logan.
“Missouri Waltz” was named the official state song of Missouri in 1949. In addition to Cash, other artists who’ve recorded the tune include Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, and The Fontane Sisters.
Montana – “Meet Me In Montana” By Dan Seals & Marie Osmond
Dan Seals and Marie Osmond released their duet “Meet Me in Montana” in 1985. They portray two young lovers who’ve been apart while chasing their respective dreams in Nashville and Los Angeles.
But the two realize they will never be as happy as they are in each other’s arms. They beg to reunite in “Big Sky Country,” singing, “Won’t you meet me in Montana? I want to see the mountains in your eyes…I’ve had all of this life I can handle. Meet me underneath that big Montana sky.”
Nebraska – “Omaha” By Waylon Jennings
Billy Joe Shaver and Hillman Hall co-wrote “Ohama,” which Waylon Jennings recorded for his 1973 album Honky Tonk Heroes.
As the narrator, Jennings sings about how he left his home in Ohama because he “always thought [he] was the roamin’ kind.” But after spending some time in San Francisco, he yearns to return to Omaha.
“Omaha you’ve been weighing heavy on my mind,” Jennings sings. “I guess I never really left at all.”
Nevada – “Old Nevada Moon” By Patsy Montana
While there are plenty of songs about Las Vegas, there’s so much more to Nevada than bright city lights and casinos. Patsy Montana’s classic track, “Old Nevada Moon,” perfectly illustrates the natural beauty of “The Silver State.”
As she sings:
“‘I’m going back home where I see the hills kiss the sky, and the sun’s a bright balloon. Sprinkle me with desert stardust and let me lie, ‘neath that old Nevada moon.”
Honorable mentions go to “Let’s Go to Vegas” by Faith Hill, “Stop in Nevada” by John Anderson, and “Ooh Las Vegas” by Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris. Even though it’s not a country song, Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas” deserves a nod too!
New Hampshire – “New Hampshire Naturally” By The Shaw Brothers
We’re bending the rules here just a bit, because the late Shaw Brothers were technically folk artists, not country singers. However, folk and country are closely related, and the Shaw Brothers played too big of a role in the New Hampshire (and New England) music scene to ignore.
The twin brothers’ song “New Hampshire Naturally” became one of New Hampshire’s state songs in 1983.
The Shaw Brothers’ lyrics describe all of the stunning sights in the state, from the bright purple lilacs that grow in the spring to the snow-capped mountains that reach into the sky. As they sing, “New Hampshire is where I want to be. Oh, New Hampshire. I love New Hampshire naturally.”
New Jersey – “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” By Bon Jovi & Jennifer Nettles
As a New Jersey native, Jon Bon Jovi often creates songs about “The Garden State.” He joined Sugaland’s Jennifer Nettles for a country version of one such song in 2006.
Titled, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” the song has Bon Jovi reflecting on how he desperately wanted to get away from “the only thing [he’d] ever known.” But as he wandered the world, he realized he couldn’t replace New Jersey in his heart. Now, it’s the only place he wants to be.
As he and Nettles sing in the chorus, “I’ve been all around the world, and as a matter of fact, there’s only one place left I want to go. Who says you can’t go home?”
New Mexico – “Land Of Enchantment” By Michael Martin Murphey
Grammy-nominated cowboy singer Michael Martin Murphey demonstrated why New Mexico is called the “Land of Enchantment” in his 1989 song, which he co-wrote with Don Cook and Chick Rains. In it, Murphey sings about a woman he met during his “drifting days” who had him “under [her] spell.”
When they eventually part ways, the woman begs him to return one day. Her words still play in the narrator’s mind long after he leaves. “Come back, amigo, no matter where you go, to the land of enchantment, New Mexico.”
New Mexico named “Land of Enchantment” its official state ballad in 1989.
New York – “New York At Night” By Old Dominion
Old Dominion released “New York At Night” as the ninth track on their 2017 album, Happy Endings.
The song is about a woman with an “electric energy” that reminds the narrator of the always-lively New York City. Being around her makes him feel “Empire high,” as he sings:
“New York at night, Empire high.That uptown something. It’s got me coming alive. Baby you’re like, New York at night.”
North Carolina – “Carolina Moon” By Scotty McCreery & Alison Krauss
North Carolina native Scotty McCreery released an ode to his home state on his 2013 album “See You Tonight.” The song, “Carolina Moon,” also features Alison Krauss.
Jon Randall and Ronnie Stewart co-wrote the track. As the narrator, McCreery sings about how much he misses his North Carolina home and its beauty.
“Oh, how I miss those mountains when the laurels are in bloom,” he sings. “And the southern stars are dancin’ ’round a North Carolina moon.”
As the song nears its end, McCreery asks his buddies to make sure he’s buried in North Carolina when he dies.
Honorable mentions go to “Carolina Can” by Chase Rice, “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” by Jo Dee Messina, “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show or Darius Rucker, and the bluegrass staple “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.”
North Dakota – “North Dakota” By Lyle Lovett & Rickie Lee Jones
Lyle Lovett and Willis Alan Ramsey co-wrote “North Dakota.” The song was included on Lovett’s 1999 album Live in Texas.
“North Dakota” features Rickie Lee Jones as Lovett’s duet partner.
The song opens with Lovett comparing “the boys from North Dakota” and “the cowboys down in Texas.” While those in North Dakota “drink whiskey for their fun,” the Texas cowboys “look across the border to learn the ways of love.”
Ohio – “Oh Ohio” By Luke Grimes
Luke Grimes is most well-known for playing Kayce Dutton on Yellowstone. But did you know he’s also a country artist?
Grimes, who was born in Dayton, Ohio, sings about his home state in the song “Oh Ohio.”
The song is almost mournful as Grimes remarks how “The Buckeye State” has lost its spark. But he does acknowledge that maybe Ohio has always been “cold,” and he just never noticed in his youth. Now, he recognizes that maybe it’s he who’s changed.
Oklahoma – “Okie From Muskogee” By Merle Haggard
Mele Haggard was born in California, but his parents were from Oklahoma. He was proud of his background, as he made clear in his 1969 single “Okie from Muskogee.”
In “Okie from Muskogee,” Haggard dismisses draft dodgers and members of the counterculture movement. He sings of how proud he is to be from Muskogee, where people are patriotic and respectful.
During a 2010 interview with American Songwriter, Haggard shared how his attitude toward the song changed over time.
“It was the photograph that I took of the way things looked through the eyes of a fool… and most of America was under the same assumptions I was. As it’s stayed around now for 40 years, I sing the song now with a different attitude onstage… I’ve become educated… I play it now with a different projection. It’s a different song now. I’m different now.”
Honorable mentions go to Don Williams’ “Tulsa Time,” David Frizzell and Shelly West’s “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma,” and Vince Gill’s “Oklahoma Borderline.”
Oregon – “Eugene Oregon” By Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton’s “Eugene Oregon” is a sweet “thank you” letter to Oregon’s second-most populous city.
Legend has it that Parton felt incredibly homesick when she performed in Eugene in the 1970s. The crowd made her feel welcomed and loved, and she wanted to thank them for their kindness. So she did what she does best…she wrote a song.
She sings, “Eugene, Oregon I’ll remember you for the rest of my life. I won’t forget how good you were to me. No and I won’t be forgettin’ all the kindness that you show. To a homesick country girl a long, long way from Tennessee.”
Pennsylvania – “Camptown Races” By Johnny Cash
Historians believe that Stephen Foster wrote “Camptown Races” after traveling through the village of Camptown, Pennslyvania, where there was a horse racetrack. The song’s lyrics have been updated since its original publication in 1850.
Many artists have performed “Camptown Races” over the years, including Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, Bing Crosby, and Julie London. Johnny Cash also performed the song live, as seen in the clip above.
Rhode Island – “Rhode Island’s It For Me” By Rick Pickren
As the smallest U.S. state, Rhode Island isn’t often mentioned in songs. But like many states, it has an official state song, “Rhode Island’s It for Me.”
Singer-songwriter Rick Pickren has shared the stage with country stars such as Dolly Parton, George Strait, and The Judds. A few years ago, he released a four-volume collection of the 50 U.S. State songs, including “Rhode Island’s It for Me.”
His rendition of the Rhode Island state song, among many others, received praise from educators and fans all over the U.S.
South Carolina – “South Carolina Low Country” By Josh Turner
Josh Turner, who was born in Hannah, South Carolina, honors his home state in “South Carolina Low Country.” The song was featured as the 12th and final track on Turner’s 2007 album Everything is Fine.
Turner served as the sole songwriter behind “South Carolina Low Country.” In the song, he sings about how his life and experiences growing up in South Carolina fostered his love for music and singing.
He goes, “Palmetto trees swaying in that Atlantic breeze. Reaching up to touch the crescent moon. South Carolina low country, is the music that comes outta me.”
South Dakota – “South Dakota” By Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton co-wrote “South Dakota” with Dave Cobb, Derek Mixon, and J.T. Cure. He made the song the second track on his 2023 album, Higher.
Stapleton opens the song by singing about waking up with a bad hangover. He realizes that his life isn’t going well, but he also doesn’t see an end to his troubles.
As he sings, “I’m in South Dakota, I keep on stayin’ behind. I’m in South Dakota, trouble ain’t hard to find.”
Tennessee – “My Tennessee Mountain Home” By Dolly Parton
As you would expect, there are many country songs about Tennessee. It only seemed right to feature a song from a Tennessee native, Dolly Parton.
Parton was born in Pittman Center, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Today, you can visit her namesake Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge.
Parton once wrote a musical ode to her home state titled “My Tenessee Mountain Home.” She released the track in 1972, and it inspired her 1973 album of the same name.
In “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” Parton describes the beauty of the area where she grew up. As she sings:
“In my Tennessee mountain home, life is as peaceful as a baby’s sigh. In my Tennessee mountain home, crickets sing in the fields nearby.”
Tennessee deserves several honorable mentions, including The Osborne Brothers’ “Rocky Top,” Ronnie Milsap’s “Smoky Mountain Home,” Chris Stapleton’s version of “Tennessee Whiskey,” Alabama’s “Tennessee River,” Patti Page’s “Tennessee Waltz,” and Lonestar’s version of “Walking in Memphis.”
Texas – “Amarillo By Morning” By George Strait
You don’t have to look too hard to find a good country song about “The Lone Star State.” Of course, it seemed like the right choice to feature a song from “The King of Country” himself, Texas native George Strait.
While Strait has many Texas-based songs in his repertoire, “Amarillo by Morning” stands out in the crowd. Strait recently declared it’s his favorite song he’s ever recorded.
The song has beautiful lyrics, such as, “When that Sun is high in that Texas sky, I’ll be buckin’ at the county fair. Amarillo by mornin’, Amarillo I’ll be there.”
Texas is another state that deserves some extra honorable mentions, including Marty Robbins’ “El Paso,” Little Texas’ “God Blessed Texas,” Glen Campbell’s “Galveston,” Blake Shelton’s “Austin,” Tanya Tucker’s “Texas (When I Die),” Willie Nelson’s “Beautiful Texas,” and of course, Strait’s “All My Ex’s Live in Texas.”
Utah – “The Red Hills Of Utah” By Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins pays tribute to Utah’s natural beauty in his song “The Red Hills of Utah.” The song was featured as the last track on Side B of Robbins’ 1963 album Return of the Gunfighter.
He can feel Utah calling for him, and he wants to visit to see if it’s just as gorgeous as it is in his dreams.
“How green are the valleys? How tall are the trees? How cool are the rivers? How soft is the breeze?” he sings. “If it’s just like my dreams, then I must go and see. For the Red Hills of Utah are calling me.“
Vermont – “Moonlight In Vermont” By Willie Nelson
“Moonlight in Vermont” was the song that led Nelson to create his multi-platinum 1978 album, Stardust. The track had previously been recorded by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Billie Holiday.
A natural-born storyteller, Nelson’s voice perfectly fits the tune. As he sings, he describes the beauty of Vermont at night, during fall, winter, spring, and summer.
Some of the lyrics include, “Evening summer breeze, warbling of a meadow lark, moonlight in Vermont.”
Virginia – “My Old Virginia Home” By The Carter Family
The legendary Carter Family originated in Maces Spring, Virginia. It only seemed right to feature their 1935 recording of “My Old Virginia Home” at this spot in the list.
The narrator of “My Old Virginia Home” sings about how he left Virginia behind in search of someplace new. However, time and distance have made him miss his home state, and he vows to return and establish roots there.
As the song goes, “I’m a lad from old Virginia, and I’m coming, coming home. There I’ll settle down forever, in my old Virginia home.”
Washington – “Sunny In Seattle” By Blake Shelton
Jim Beavers, Chris DuBois, and Chris Stapleton co-wrote “Sunny in Seattle,” which Blake Shelton featured as the eighth track on his Grammy-nominated album, Red River Blue.
“Sunny in Seattle” serves as Shelton’s declaration of love to the woman he admires. He lets her know that the day he will stop loving her is the day that it will be sunny in the notoriously rainy Washington city of Seattle.
He draws other comparisons, singing, “When it’s sunny in Seattle, and it’s snowing down in new Orleans. And them boys from Amarillo stop wearing those boots and jeans. When Memphis ain’t got the blues, that’s when I’ll stop loving you.”
West Virginia – “Take Me Home, Country Roads” By John Denver
John Denver’s 1971 single “Take Me Home, Country Roads” opens with the line “Almost heaven, West Virginia.” The song has long been considered a symbol of “The Mountain State” and was named an official state song in 2014. It is also the theme song of West Virginia University.
Following its release, the song reached the 50th spot on the Hot Country Songs chart and claimed the second spot on the all-genre Hot 100 chart.
In 2016, “Take Me Home, Country Roads” was one of three songs sampled in the “Forever Country” mashup created for the CMA Awards‘ 50th anniversary. The other songs included in the medley were Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”
The recording featured 30 country singers and claimed the #1 spot on the Hot Country Songs chart.
Wisconsin – “Milwaukee, Here I Come” By George Jones & Brenda Carter (Or Tammy Wynette)
George Jones recorded “Milwaukee, Here I Come” with Brenda Carter, and their duet was released in 1968. But Strait often performed the song with his then-wife, Tammy Wynette.
Over the years, “Milwaukee, Here I Come” has also been covered by artists such as Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton and John Prine & Melba Montgomery.
The narrators of “Milwaukee, Here I Come” moved to Nashville from Milwaukee. But when the woman becomes enchanted by the various Grand Ole Opry stars, the man vows he’s going to leave her behind and go back home, singing:
“Well, I’m a gonna get on that ol’ turnpike and I’m gonna ride. I’m a gonna leave this town till you decide. Which one you want the most them Opry stars or me. Milwaukee here I come from Nashville, Tennessee.”
Wyoming – “I Can Still Make Cheyenne” By George Strait
We’re closing out this list with another song from “The King of Country.” Aaron Barker and Erv Woolsey co-wrote “I Can Still Make Cheyenne” for Strait’s 1996 album, Blue Clear Sky.
Strait takes on the role of a rodeo cowboy who calls his lover at home. He was going to give up on the rodeo in Cheyenne so he could be home with her for good. However, she reveals that she’s found someone new, having grown tired of his absence.
The cowboy handles the news the best way he knows how, saying, “I’m sorry it’s come down to this. There’s so much about you that I’m gonna miss. But it’s alright baby, if I hurry I can still make Cheyenne.“
Honorable mentions go to Garth Brooks’ “The Beaches of Cheyenne,” Chris LeDoux’s “Take Me Back To Old Wyoming,” LeDoux’s “Paint Me Back Home in Wyoming,” and Aaron Watson’s “July in Cheyenne.”
There you have it, folks, a country song representing all 50 states! Much like Johnny Cash, you can say that you’ve “Been Everywhere” in the United States….through country songs!