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10 Best Trisha Yearwood Songs
Did your favorite Trisha Yearwood tracks make the cut?
Trisha Yearwood; Photo by Russ Harrington
Trisha Yearwood is one of the greatest female vocalists in the history of country music.
Since bursting onto the country music scene in 1991, Yearwood has gone on to create a long-standing career and earn multiple Grammy Awards, ACM Awards and CMA Awards. Not only is the Georgia native a member of the Grand Ole Opry, she’s also a proud member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
Her career spans across two decades and to this day, many of her earliest hits continue to resonate with country music fans far and wide.
Here, we take a look back at Yearwood’s impressive catalog to select ten of his best songs.
10. “I Would’ve Loved You Anyway”
Written by Mary Danna and Troy Verges from Inside Out (2001)
“I Would’ve Loved You Anyway” is a reflective ballad that finds the narrator looking back on a broken relationship. Throughout the heartfelt song, she confesses that even if she could have predicted what was to come, and all the heartache she would eventually face, she would have still loved her ex. The song climbed to No.4 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and is her most recent top 10 to date.
9. “Thinkin’ About You”
Written by Tom Shapiro and Bob Regan from Thinkin’ About You (1995)
“Thinkin’ About You” is Yearwood’s third chart-topping single and title track of her 1995 album. Throughout the song, the Yearwood confesses that no matter what she does, she can’t seem to get her lover off her mind. Reflecting on his eyes, his smile and the sound of his voice, she questions, “Do you call it love/ Well if you don’t then what?.”
8. “Georgia Rain”
Written by Ed Hill and Karyn Rochelle from Jasper County (2005)
After a few years away from the spotlight, Yearwood returned to country radio with “Georgia Rain,” a nostalgia-filled ballad paying homage to her Georgia roots. The lyrics, which are filled with vivid imagery, tell the story of a teenage couple whose secret romance is interrupted by a thunderstorm. Near the end of the song, the narrator reveals she’s returned to her hometown to find that her teenage boyfriend has built a nice life without her. The song climbed to No.15 on the charts and served as the lead single from Yearwood’s Jasper County album.
7. “XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl)”
Written by Matraca Berg and Alice Randall from Thinkin’ About You (1995)
“XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl)” quickly became an anthem for any woman struggling to balance her life, love, family and career. With its upbeat arrangement and Yearwood’s quick-fire delivery, the song is a stand out among Yearwood’s catalogue. It was her second chart-topping single and first since her 1991 debut, “She’s In Love with the Boy.”
6. “The Song Remembers When”
Written by Hugh Prestwood from The Song Remembers When (1993)
As the title suggests, “The Song Remembers When” explains how a song can take someone back to a specific moment in time. The narrator finds herself reminiscing about a past romance after hearing a certain song. “For even if the whole world has forgotten/ The song remembers when,” she sings. Yearwood knows her way around a heartfelt ballad, and this song is a true example of that.
7. “Wrong Side of Memphis”
Written by Gary Harrison and Matraca Berg from Hearts in Armor (1992)
Yearwood proved her staying power with the release of “Wrong Side of Memphis” in 1992. The lead single from her sophomore album, this upbeat number showed fans a different, more edgy side of the Georgia native. Putting her soulful vocals on full display, the song is about an aspiring singer who decides to chase her dreams of becoming a singer by making the move to Nashville. Fun fact: “Wrong Side of Memphis” was originally recorded by country singer John Berry for his Saddle the Wind album in 1990.
4. “Walkaway Joe”
Written by Vince Melamed and Greg Barnhill from Hearts in Armor (1992)
A quintessential Trisha Yearwood song, “Walkaway Joe” tells the classic story of a teenage girl who falls in love with a bad boy. Despite a warning from her mother, the young girl takes off with the boy and ends up heartbroken. Don Henley of the Eagles provides background vocals on the ballad, which peaked at No.2 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Fun fact: now-famous actor Matthew McConaughey appears as the male lead in the music video.
3. “In Another’s Eyes” (with Garth Brooks)
Written by Garth Brooks, Bobby Wood and John Peppard from (Songbook) A Collection of Hits (1997)
Though Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks were each married to other people at the time they recorded “In Another’s Eyes,” their chemistry was undeniable. The song was the pair’s first major collaboration and helped fuel rumors of a possible romance between them. The Grammy-winning duet is a fan favorite to this day.
2. “How Do I Live”
Written by Diane Warren from (Songbook) A Collection of Hits (1997)
The story behind “How Do I Live” is an interesting one. The song was originally recorded by LeAnn Rimes for the movie Con Air. After the film’s producers decided Rimes, who was 14-years-old at the time, was too young to be singing a song with this kind of subject matter. According to reports, they also felt that her recording featured too much of a pop influence. They then turned to Yearwood to record the song, hoping she would add a bit more country flair to the track. Yearwood’s recording was featured in the movie and both songs were released to radio on the same day in 1997. Rimes’ version became a hit at pop radio, while Yearwood’s cut made its way to No.2 at country radio. Both versions of the song were nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance at the Grammy awards that year, with Yearwood ultimately taking home the win.
1. “She’s in Love with the Boy”
Written by Jon Ims from Trisha Yearwood (1991)
“She’s in Love with the Boy” is, with a doubt, Yearwood’s signature song. Released as her debut single in 1991, the track put the young singer on the map. A true story song, “She’s in Love with the Boy” follows Katie and Tommy, who fall in love while growing up together in a small town. After returning home from a date, Katie’s father confronts Tommy about their relationship. That’s when Katie’s mother interrupts to remind him that their relationship was once very similar to Katie and Tommy’s, telling him “My daddy said you wasn’t worth a lick/ When it came to brains you got the short of the stick/ But he was wrong and honey you are too/ Katie looks at Tommy like I still look at you.” The song was an instant hit, climbing all the way to No.1.
Written by
Lauren Jo Black
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.