30 Heartrending Country Songs About Divorce, Arranged in Order of Impact
D-I-V-O-R-C-E! Whether you are experiencing the trials of "Going Through the Big D" or you have already reverted back to your maiden name with " … Name Changed Back," the anguish caused by this specific type of separation is bound to deeply affect you for a considerable period of time.
Luckily, there is an abundance of excellent country music that can assist you in getting through difficult times.
Country musicians have been singing about the dissolution of marriages for a long time, even before it became as prevalent and socially accepted as it is today. As early as 1955, Patsy Cline addressed this subject in her first released single.
However, there was still a considerable amount of negative judgment attached to this trend, particularly when it came to women. Loretta Lynn, a prominent star, decided to tackle this stigma head-on with her song "Rated X." Remarkably, she released this song in the same year that she made history as the first woman to win the CMA Entertainer of the Year award.
In recent years, divorce has remained a popular and meaningful subject for female country music artists. Starting from 2020, artists like Carly Pearce, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, and Kelly Clarkson have each released albums that were directly inspired by their personal divorces. These albums have not only broken barriers but also brought significant changes to their careers, earning them nominations for prestigious music awards such as the Grammys, CMAs, ACMs, and more.
It is evident that when country music artists express their genuine and specific personal pain through their songwriting, their audience resonates deeply with it.
When it comes to songs that discuss divorce from a male point of view, the subjects and emotions explored are quite diverse. Themes like heartbreak, anger, and concern for the children affected by the separation are commonly addressed. However, an even more prevalent theme is the financial impact that many of these men experience, as their ex-partners often inflict significant damage to their wallets.
Continue reading to discover a complete compilation of the best divorce songs in country music history. Interestingly, the top two artists on this list are divorced… from one another!
30 Powerful Country Songs about Divorce, Sorted by Ranking
Image Attribution: Carena Liptak
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