Rock ‘n’ roll and country music go hand in hand, swapping styles, subject matter, and guitar licks by way of honky tonk, outlaw country, and southern rock. Artists within these respective styles have borrowed from each other for decades, whether due to personal taste or popular trends. Countless country artists have inspired some of the biggest rock stars of all time.
The opposite is certainly true, too. Some of our favorite country artists have been heavily influenced by rock songs, some of which are underrated deep cuts. Here are four of the best.
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Chris Stapleton: “I Should Have Known It” by Tom Petty
Country soul singer Chris Stapleton has long been outspoken about his love of Florida rocker Tom Petty. Stapleton cites Petty’s 1994 album Wildflowers as one of his favorites of all time. However, when it comes to the “Tennessee Whiskey” singer’s favorite song, his go-to pick would be a 2010 deep cut from Petty’s 12th studio album, Mojo, “I Should Have Known It.” Stapleton spoke about his decision to cover the track for the 2024 Tom Petty tribute album, Petty Country, during an interview with CBS Sunday Mornings.
“It’s very guitar-based. Very heavy-handed in that way and lots of fun riffs to play. It was quite a lot to learn. ‘Cause it’s not, like, an easily orchestrated thing, necessarily. I felt like maybe it wasn’t as popular as some other songs, but it’s really, really cool.” Stapleton’s version of “I Should Have Known It” opens Petty Country, followed by Thomas Rhett’s version of “Wildflowers.”
Zach Bryan: “State Trooper” by Bruce Springsteen
As a storytelling country rocker and New Jersey native, it would almost seem sacrilege if Zach Bryan wasn’t a massive Bruce Springsteen fan. Luckily, the heartland rock stars aligned the way they should, and the nods to Springsteen in Bryan’s music are evident. Bryan has a particular affinity for Springsteen’s pared-back, shadowy Nebraska era, opting for sparse arrangements and a heavy emphasis on the story of the song.
One of Bryan’s favorites off Springsteen’s 1982 album is “State Trooper,” a tense, pulsing song that conjures images of a lone car speeding down the New Jersey Turnpike. Bryan has a lyric from “State Trooper” tattooed on his arm (deliver me from nowhere) and name-drops the song in his 2024 title track to The Great American Bar Scene. “There was a quote somewhere about the writing on Nebraska that really resonated with me a lot,” Bryan told Springsteen in a 2024 Rolling Stone feature. “‘I was interested in making myself as invisible as possible. That’s my favorite record ever written.”
Vince Gill: “Ol’ 55” by the Eagles
Vince Gill and the Eagles might be co-working contemporaries now, but there was a time when the California rock band was at the height of their stardom while Gill was finishing up high school. The country icon was 15 when the Eagles released their eponymous debut. And as most music lovers can attest, what you fixate on in high school tends to stay with you, even if only for nostalgia’s sake. Fortunately for Gill, the Eagles have an incredible catalogue that stands on its own with or without fond memories of youth.
Still, there are a few of those, too. In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, Gill listed “Ol’ 55” as one of his favorite Eagles songs. Originally written and performed by Tom Waits, the Eagles included their cover on their 1974 album On the Border. “It’s a sentimental favorite,” he said. “I may put a note in the hopper asking if I can sing it.” (Gill had just signed on to perform with the band as Glenn Frey’s replacement at the time.)
Darius Rucker: “So. Central Rain” by R.E.M.
If there were ever a spokesperson for the crossover potential of country, rock, and a little bit of pop, it would be Darius Rucker. The former lead vocalist for Hootie & the Blowfish has since gone on to become a prominent country star. But his rock roots have never left him. Speaking to Rolling Stone in 2018, Rucker listed “So. Central Rain” by R.E.M. as one of his all-time favorites. “I first heard this around the time that MTV had just started,” Rucker recalled. “It was the first time I heard R.E.M. It was like the sun came up for me.”
“When you get to the chorus, and he’s singing I’m sorry, you can feel the pain in his voice,” Rucker continued. “That was when I really, really, really knew that I wanted to be a rock singer. It was really a moment for me. I’d never heard anything like it before. I never heard anyone sound like that or anything even remotely close to that.”
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