Country songs cross over to the pop charts often, especially nowadays. However, it’s pretty rare for a country bop to chart higher on the pop charts over the country charts. And that’s precisely what happened to these four country hits. Let’s take a look!
1. “In America” by The Charlie Daniels Band
Remember “In America” by The Charlie Daniels Band? This 1980 country rock classic was quite a hit for this progressive country band, and we certainly get why. It’s a relatable and surprisingly positive song about what America was like in the late 1970s amid political unrest and unemployment, and Charlie Daniels himself croons about how Americans will stick together no matter what.
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This Southern rock song was a big hit, but it did better on the pop charts than the country charts. “In America” peaked at no. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but only made it to no. 13 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
2. “Cry” by Faith Hill
Faith Hill is one of the original country-pop starlets, and you just can’t beat her 2002 genre-bending album Cry. The title track from that album isn’t exactly a surprising entry on our list of country songs that charted higher on the pop charts.
“Cry” charted well globally. It made it to no. 1 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, even. However, it only made it to no. 12 on the Hot Country Songs chart and no. 10 on the US Country Top 50 chart.
3. “You Needed Me” by Anne Murray
This Randy Goodrum-penned tune was quite a hit for Canadian singer Anne Murray. A pleasant blend of country and soft rock, “You Needed Me” nabbed a Grammy for Murray back in 1978.
“You Needed Me” peaked at no. 1 on the Hot 100 chart and no. 3 on the US Adult Contemporary chart. However, it only made it to no. 4 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
4. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
This is probably the most famous example of country songs that ranked higher on the pop charts over the country charts. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver is one of the greatest country-folk songs to come out of the 1970s.
Interestingly enough, this 1971 cult classic didn’t chart super high on the country charts. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” peaked at no. 2 on the Hot 100 chart, but only made it to no. 50 on the country charts.
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