"Earl Had to Die: The 20 Greatest Country Songs Depicting the Act of Killing Your Partner"
Murder-themed ballads have always been a significant part of traditional country music. Although they may not be as common in today's country music scene, there is still a rich collection of exceptional songs that explore the theme of men killing their female lovers. On the other hand, songs that reverse the roles are less frequently found. However, country music also offers a substantial number of songs that delve into the topic of women who commit murder, and we have compiled a list of these songs to showcase their presence.
We eliminated certain options for this list based on a few criteria. Our main focus was to include only one song per artist, which meant that popular country singers Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert, who have multiple murder-themed songs in their repertoire, were only allowed one spot each. Although songs like "Before He Cheats," "Church Bells," "White Liar," and "Kerosene" are all fantastic revenge anthems, they were ultimately overshadowed by even more popular songs and didn't make the final selection.
The topic was defined in a way that made it more specific. In order for a murder song to be included in this list, it had to involve at least one male victim. Therefore, even though Ashley McBryde's "Martha Divine" is considered one of the best modern murder songs in the genre, it didn't meet the criteria and couldn't be included. Other notable mentions include Willie Nelson's "Red Headed Stranger" and The SteelDrivers' "If It Hadn't Been for Love," but they also didn't make it onto this list.
Presented here is a remarkable and wicked compilation of the most powerful songs in country music that express the desire to harm or kill a man. Take a look at the list below to discover our top choices for revenge-filled hits and lesser-known gems centered around the theme of murder, particularly aimed at eliminating the man in your life (or persuading someone else to do it on your behalf). Keep reading, and feel free to share in the comments if we overlooked your preferred song about getting rid of your man.
"Earl Had to Die: The 20 Greatest Country Songs About Getting Rid of Your Partner" curated by Carena Liptak.
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