"Earl Had to Die: The 20 Greatest Country Songs Depicting Killing Your Partner"
Although murder ballads are not as common in modern country music as they were in the past, they still hold a significant place in the genre. These ballads often portray men killing their female romantic partners. However, there are also a fair number of songs where women take on the role of the killer, and we have compiled a list of the best ones in country music.
To narrow down the list, we set some parameters that disqualified certain contenders. We made sure to only include one song per artist, which means that popular country stars Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert, who have multiple songs about murder in their repertoire, were only given one slot each. While songs like "Before He Cheats," "Church Bells," "White Liar," and "Kerosene" are all excellent revenge anthems, they were ultimately replaced by even more popular songs in the final selection.
The criteria for this list was quite specific, requiring that the murder songs included have at least one male victim. As a result, Ashley McBryde's "Martha Divine," which is considered one of the best modern murder songs in the genre, was excluded. Additionally, notable mentions should be given to Willie Nelson's "Red Headed Stranger" and The SteelDrivers' "If It Hadn't Been for Love," although they also did not make it onto this list.
What remains is an incredibly impressive and sinister collection of the top songs in country music that inspire thoughts of harming someone. Take a look at the gallery below to discover our choices for the most impactful revenge songs and lesser-known tracks that center around the theme of murder. These songs specifically revolve around the idea of killing the man in one's life or persuading someone else to do it for them. Keep reading, and don't forget to share in the comments if we overlooked your favorite song about eliminating your significant other.
Earl's Demise: Top 20 Country Songs Depicting Elimination of Your Partner
Credit for Gallery: Carena Liptak
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