30 Fiery Country Songs About Divorce, in Order of Ranking
D-I-V-O-R-C-E! Whether you're "Experiencing the Big D" or you have already reclaimed your " … Original Last Name," the heartache of this specific type of separation is guaranteed to leave a lasting impact.
Luckily, there is an abundance of excellent country music that can assist you in getting through difficult times.
Even before divorce became as prevalent and socially acceptable as it is today, country artists have been incorporating this theme into their music. Patsy Cline, for instance, addressed the subject in her very first single released back in 1955.
However, there was still a significant amount of negative perception surrounding this phenomenon, particularly when it came to women. Loretta Lynn, who became the first woman to win CMA Entertainer of the Year, addressed this stigma through her song "Rated X," which was released during the same year.
In recent years, divorce has remained a significant subject in the realm of country music, particularly for female artists. Starting from 2020, Carly Pearce, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, and Kelly Clarkson have individually released albums that draw direct inspiration from their experiences with divorce. These albums have made a significant impact on their careers, breaking barriers and earning nominations for prestigious awards such as the Grammys, CMAs, ACMs, and more.
It is evident that when country music artists openly express genuine and specific emotional pain, their audience responds strongly.
When discussing songs that tackle the topic of divorce from a male point of view, the subjects and emotions explored vary significantly. Themes such as heartbreak, anger, and concern for the children affected by the separation are frequently addressed. However, a particularly prevalent theme is the financial impact that many of these men endure as a result of their ex-partners' actions, which deeply affects them.
Continue reading to discover a detailed compilation of the most notable divorce songs in the history of country music. An interesting fact to note is that the artists ranked at number one and number two on this list were previously married to each other!
Here are 30 powerful country songs about divorce, carefully ranked. Credit for the gallery goes to Carena Liptak.
The list of the top 50 breakup songs in country music can be found here. For more content related to country music, visit Taste of Country.