"Earl Had to Die: The 20 Greatest Country Songs Depicting Murdering Your Partner"
Murder-themed songs have always held a significant place in traditional country music. Although they are not as common nowadays, there is still a collection of exceptional songs that depict men killing their female romantic partners. On the other hand, songs that portray women as the ones committing the act are not as frequent, but don't worry, country music also offers numerous songs in that regard. We have compiled a list of such songs to demonstrate this diversity.
We had to set a few criteria to narrow down the options for this list. Our main rule was to include only one song per artist, which unfortunately meant that popular country artists Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert, who have multiple songs about murder in their discography, were only able to secure one spot each. Songs like "Before He Cheats," "Church Bells," "White Liar," and "Kerosene" are all excellent revenge anthems, but they were ultimately overshadowed by even more impactful songs that made it into the final selection.
The criteria for a murder song to be included in this list were quite specific. It had to involve the killing of a male victim, which unfortunately meant that Ashley McBryde's "Martha Divine" couldn't be included, even though it is considered one of the best modern murder songs in the genre. There were also some other noteworthy mentions like Willie Nelson's "Red Headed Stranger" and The SteelDrivers' "If It Hadn't Been for Love," but they didn't meet the criteria to make it onto this list either.
Presented here is a remarkable and malevolent compilation of the most impactful songs in country music that revolve around the idea of killing a man. Take a look at the selection below to discover our top choices for revengeful hits and lesser-known gems that center around the concept of murder, particularly when it involves the man in your life, or persuading someone else to carry out the act. Keep reading, and don't forget to inform us in the comments if we overlooked your preferred song about eliminating your man.
Earl's Demise: The Top 20 Country Songs Portraying the Act of Eliminating Your Partner
Credit for the Gallery: Carena Liptak
Additional content from Taste of Country
Details
Keep up with us