Earl Had to Die: The 20 Greatest Country Songs Depicting the Act of Killing Your Partner
In the realm of classic country music, murder ballads have always held a significant place. Although they might not be as common in modern times, there still exists a collection of exceptional songs that explore the theme of men murdering their female romantic partners. However, it is less frequent to come across songs that depict women committing similar acts. Nevertheless, the country music genre also offers a substantial number of songs that capture women who engage in killing, and we have compiled a list to showcase them.
We eliminated certain contenders from this list based on a few criteria. Our main focus was to include only one song per artist, which resulted in Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert, both well-known country stars with multiple murder-themed songs, only being represented by one song each. Although songs like "Before He Cheats," "Church Bells," "White Liar," and "Kerosene" are all excellent revenge anthems, they were ultimately excluded from the final selection due to the presence of even more popular songs.
The criteria for this list was quite specific, requiring murders with at least one male victim. As a result, Ashley McBryde's "Martha Divine," despite being a standout modern murder song in the genre, did not qualify. Other notable mentions include Willie Nelson's "Red Headed Stranger" and The SteelDrivers' "If It Hadn't Been for Love," but they also did not meet the requirements to make it onto this list.
Presented here is a remarkable and wicked compilation of the most powerful songs in country music that revolve around killing someone. Take a look at the gallery below to discover our selections for the top revenge tracks and lesser-known gems that focus on the act of murder, particularly when it comes to eliminating the man in your life (or persuading someone else to do it on your behalf). Keep reading and don't forget to share your favorite song about getting rid of your man in the comments section.
Earl's Demise: The Top 20 Country Songs Depicting the Act of Killing Your Partner
Gallery Attribution: Carena Liptak
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