Absolute Radio Country are launching The Ultimate Collection album
The 63-track, 3-CD compilation is on sale now
Last updated 18th Feb 2022
An essential country music compilation from Absolute Radio Country, featuring 63 of the genre’s hit songs, is on sale from Friday 18th February.
Absolute Radio Country Presents… The Ultimate Collection, a 3-CD box set of country music’s most well-loved stars that feature on the playlists at Absolute Radio Country.
Hand-selected from across Absolute Radio Country playlists from Baylen Leonard’s Front Porch to Matt Spracklen’s Brits' Hits, this is the ultimate guide to country music, for those new to the genre and those who were raised on it.
For the traditionalists out there, don’t worry, Dolly Parton, Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash’s iconic tracks have made the cut.
And it wouldn’t be an ultimate country collection without some 90s country, now would it? Listen to the ladies of the 90s; Reba, Shania and Martina.
Contemporary hitmakers Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood and Kacey Musgraves who have taken the genre into the 21st century, also feature.
How to buy Absolute Radio Country Presents… The Ultimate Collection:
The Absolute Radio Country Presents… The Ultimate Collection CD is available to purchase now RIGHT HERE.
BUY: Available Now (Absolute Radio Country... The Ultimate Collection: Amazon.co.uk: CDs & Vinyl)
Absolute Radio Country: The Ultimate Collection Tracklist:
CD 1
- Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - Islands In The Stream
- Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman
- Luke Combs - Beautiful Crazy
- Chris Stapleton - Starting Over
- Shania Twain - You're Still The One
- Trisha Yearwood - How Do I Live
- Mark Chesnutt - I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
- Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson - Because Of You
- Lady A - Need You Now
- Little Big Town - Pontoon
- The Shires - Guilty
- Maren Morris - My Church
- Kacey Musgraves - Follow Your Arrow
- Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel
- Eric Church - Springsteen
- Sam Hunt - Break Up In A Small Town
- Gary Allan - Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)
- Brooks & Dunn - Neon Moon
- Miranda Lambert - The House That Built Me
- Juice Newton - Angel Of The Morning
- Crystal Gayle - Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
CD 2
- John Denver - Take Me Home Country Roads
- Dr. Hook - When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman
- Kenny Rogers - The Gambler
- Lonestar - Amazed (Captain Mix)
- Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats
- Lady Antebellum - Bartender
- Jon Pardi - Dirt On My Boots
- Jordan Davis - Singles You Up
- Travis Denning - After A Few
- Dierks Bentley - Drunk On A Plane
- Brad Paisley - Alcohol
- Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffett - It's Five O' Clock Somewhere
- Charley Pride - Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'
- Kellie Pickler - Best Days Of Your Life
- Love and Theft - Angel Eyes
- LANCO - Greatest Love Story
- Mickey Guyton - Better Than You Left Me
- Old Dominion - One Man Band
- Charlie Rich - The Most Beautiful Girl
- Tammy Wynette - Stand By Your Man
- Patsy Cline - Crazy
CD 3
- Glen Campbell - Rhinestone Cowboy
- The Charlie Daniels Band - The Devil Went Down To Georgia
- Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
- Billy Ray Cyrus - Achy Breaky Heart
- Jake Owen - Barefoot Blue Jean Night
- Kip Moore - Somethin' 'Bout A Truck
- Brothers Osborne - It Ain't My Fault
- Gretchen Wilson - Redneck Woman
- The Mavericks - Dance The Night Away
- Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville
- Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line
- Cleve Francis - Love Light
- Martina McBride - Blessed
- Chris Young - The Man I Want To Be
- Maddie & Tae - Die From A Broken Heart
- Ward Thomas - Guilty Flowers
- Sugarland - Stuck Like Glue
- The Pointer Sisters - Fairytale
- Bobbie Gentry - Ode To Billie Joe
- Nanci Griffith - From A Distance
- Willie Nelson - Always On My Mind
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Read now: The most awarded country music stars of all time
16) Morgan Wallen
After competing in the 2014 series of The Voice, Morgan Wallen has gone on to do great things. He dropped his first country album four years later in 2018, which went straight to the top of the country album chart. He's also had a stack of Number 1 singles, including 'Last Night' and 'Love Somebody.'
Country Music Association Awards: 2
Academy of Country Music Awards: 1
American Music Awards: 2
Billboard Music Awards: 14
Guinness World Records: 2
Total: 21 Awards, Honours and Accolades
15) Luke Combs
Known for chart-topping hits 'Hurricane' and 'Beautiful Crazy', Luke Combs has risen to fame in the last decade. He holds two Guinness World Records, having become the first country artist to have two songs surpass a billion streams on Spotify, and after bagging FOUR Diamond-certified singles.
Country Music Association Awards: 9
Academy of Country Music Awards: 4
CMT Music Awards: 1
Billboard Music Awards: 6
Guinness World Records: 2
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 23 Awards, Honours and Accolades
14) Lainey Wilson
Having released her debut album in 2014, country star Lainey Wilson has gone on to record huge hit singles, including 'Watermelon Moonshine' and 'Things a Man Oughta Know', which both topped the US country chart. She's received many awards in the last decade, including the Country Music Association's prestigious Entertainer of the Year.
Grammys: 1
Country Music Association Awards: 9
Academy of Country Music Awards: 16
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 27 Awards, Honours and Accolades
13) Alabama
This country and Southern rock trio comprising of three cousins gave us 'Dixieland Delight', but their impressive award collection proves they're no one hit wonder.
Grammys: 2
Country Music Association Awards: 7
Academy of Country Music Awards: 15
American Music Awards: 18
Billboard Music Awards: 1
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 46 Awards, Honours and Accolades
12) TIED: Alan Jackson
The Chattahoochee singer reigned supreme in the 1990s, but he's got more under his hat than line-dancing songs. Jackson, who pens most of his own songs, is one of the best-selling music artists of all-time, having sold over 75 million records worldwide.
Grammys: 2
Country Music Association Awards: 16
Academy of Country Music Awards: 20
CMT Music Awards: 1
American Music Awards: 2
Billboard Music Awards: 3
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Songwriter Hall of Fame: Inducted
Grand Ole Opry Member
Academy of Country Music Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025
Total: 48 Awards, Honours and Accolades
12) TIED: Chris Stapleton
As well as co-writing hits for huge stars like Adele, Taylor Swift and Dierks Bentley, Chris Stapleton is also a hugely successful recording artist in his own right. All five of his albums have topped the US country chart, and he's had singles like 'Starting Over' and 'You Should Probably Leave' reach Number 1 on the country singles chart too.
Grammys: 11
Country Music Association Awards: 16
Academy of Country Music Awards: 14
CMT Music Awards: 2
Billboard Music Awards: 5
Total: 48 Awards, Honours and Accolades
11) Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss, the bluegrass singer with the voice of angel, was the most awarded woman at the Grammys until 2021, when Beyoncé inched ahead.
Grammys: 27
Country Music Association Awards: 8
Academy of Country Music Awards: 2
CMT Music Awards: 2
Canadian Country Music Awards: 2
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Special Musical Achievement Honor
Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music
National Medal of Arts
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 49 Awards, Honours and Accolades
10) TIED: Reba McEntire
Being known by just your first name means you've got some serious cred. Reba 'The Queen of Country Music' has been on the scene since the 1970s and is still getting nominated for Grammys, most recently in 2023 for single 'Does He Love You' (revisited) with Dolly Parton.
Grammys: 3
Country Music Association Awards: 7
Academy of Country Music Awards: 19
American Music Awards: 14
Billboard Music Awards: 3
Kennedy Center Honours
Golden Globes: 1 nomination
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Hollywood Walk of Fame: Inducted
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 50 Awards, Honours and Accolades
10) TIED: The Chicks
With 33 million certified albums sold, The Chicks are the best-selling female band and best-selling country group in the U.S. during the Nielsen SoundScan era (1991–present). And considering they were ousted from the country music scene in 2003 for commenting on the Iraq war and took a 14-year hiatus - it's even more impressive.
Grammys: 13
Country Music Association Awards: 10
Academy of Country Music Awards: 8
CMT Music Awards: 5
American Music Awards: 4
Billboard Music Awards: 7
Canadian Country Music Awards: 3
Total: 50 Awards, Honours and Accolades
9) Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw's Soul2Soul II Tour, in partnership with his wife Faith Hill is one of the highest-grossing tours in country music history, and he has sold more than 80 million records worldwide. He has also ventured into acting, including a supporting role in the Academy Award winning film, The Blind Side.
Grammy Awards: 3
Country Music Association Awards: 11
Academy of Country Music Awards: 14
CMT Music Awards: 5
American Music Awards: 10
Billboard Music Awards: 8
Total: 51 Awards, Honours and Accolades
8) George Strait
They don't call George Strait 'The King of Country' for nothing! A pioneer of neo-traditional country music, he has a whopping 60 Number 1 singles under his belt. He set a new record for largest indoor concert in North America in 2014, with 104,793 attendees. Plus, he is the 11th best selling album artist in the United States.
Grammys: 1
Country Music Association Awards: 22
Academy of Country Music Awards: 19
CMT Music Awards: 6
American Music Awards: 4
Billboard Music Awards: 1
Country Music Hall of Fame Inducted
Honorary Doctoral Degree Texas State University–San Marcos
Hollywood Walk of Fame Inducted
Country Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award
Total: 57 Awards, Honours and Accolades
7) Lady A
In 2009, Lady A exploded onto the country music scene with their smash hit, 'Need You Now', which helped them sweep the country music Grammys in 2011. They've gone on to rack up 11 No. 1 hits while selling over 18 million album units.
Grammys: 7
Country Music Association Awards: 7
Academy of Country Music Awards: 14
American Music Awards: 5
Billboard Music Awards: 6
CMT Music Awards: 16
Canadian Country Music Award: 1
Tony Award: 1 nomination
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 58 Awards, Honours and Accolades
6) TIED: Brooks & Dunn
The Boot Scootin' Boogie duo have 20 Number 1 singles and were an integral part of making 90s country the calibre that it was. After retiring in 2009, the pair have enjoyed a resurgence with their album, 'Reboot', featuring Luke Combs and Kacey Musgraves.
Grammys: 2
Country Music Association Awards: 19
Academy of Country Music Awards: 30
CMT Music Awards: 1
American Music Awards: 5
Billboard Music Awards: 3
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Hollywood Walk of Fame: Inducted
Total: 62 Awards, Honours and Accolades
6) TIED: Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert has been honoured with more Academy of Country Music Awards than any artist in history. In 2018, she won the ACM Award for Female Vocalist of the Year for the ninth consecutive year, surpassing Reba McEntire as the most awarded in the category. Additionally, in 2015 she became the first woman to have won the Country Music Association Awards' Album of the Year twice.
Grammys: 3
Country Music Association Awards: 14
Academy of Country Music Awards: 38
CMT Music Awards: 7
Total: 62 Awards, Honours and Accolades
6) TIED: Vince Gill
Vince Gill has also earned 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other male country music artist and has sold more than 26 million albums. He's a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry, and has previously joined the Eagles tour.
Grammys: 22
Country Music Association Awards: 18
Academy of Country Music Awards: 8
BMI Icon Award
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Grand Ole Opry Member
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame: Inducted
Total: 62 Awards, Honours and Accolades
5) Shania Twain
Shania Twain has sold over 100 million records, making her one of the best-selling female artist in country music history. She is the only female artist in history to have three consecutive albums certified Diamond by the RIAA and is the seventh best-selling female artist in the United States.
Grammys: 5
Country Music Association Awards: 2
Academy of Country Music Awards: 5
American Music Awards: 6
Billboard Music Awards: 11
Canadian Country Music Association Awards: 33
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Grand Ole Opry Member
Officer in the Order of Canada
Hollywood Walk of Fame: Inducted
Total: 66 Awards, Honours and Accolades
4) Dolly Parton
National treasure Dolly Parton is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian. That's a mouthful! She has sold more than a hundred million records worldwide, had 48 career Top 10 country albums, a record for any artist.
Grammys: 11
Country Music Association Awards: 10
Academy of Country Music Awards: 13
CMT Music Awards: 14
American Music Awards: 4
Billboard Music Awards: 4
Guinness World Records: 10
Kennedy Center Honors: 1
Library of Congress, National Recording Registry: 1
Songwriters Hall of Fame: Inducted
Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2 nominations (turned down)
Academy Awards: 2 nominations
Tony Awards: 1 nomination
Emmy Awards: 1 nomination
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Grand Ole Opry Member
Honorary Doctorate of Humane and Musical Letters Degree at the University of Tennessee
Total: 79 Awards, Honours and Accolades
3) Taylor Swift
You might think that Taylor Swift is so high on this list due to her superstardom since moving to pop. But these accolades are solely from her country era. Her impact and success in country music cannot be understated.
Grammys: 7
Country Music Association Awards: 12
Academy of Country Music Awards: 8
CMT Music Awards: 8
American Music Awards: 17
Billboard Music Awards: 14
Canadian Country Music Awards: 5
CMT Artists of the Year: 2
Guinness World Record: 9
Total: 82 Awards, Honours and Accolades
2) Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks is now the only artist in music history to have released nine albums that achieved Diamond status in the United States (surpassing the Beatles' former record of six). Brooks is one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold more than 170 million records.
Grammys: 2
Country Music Association Awards: 18
Academy of Country Music Awards: 23
CMT Music Awards: 2
American Music Awards: 12
Billboard Music Awards: 19
Canadian Country Music Awards: 1
Golden Globes: 1 nomination
Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
Emmy Awards: 2 nominations
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Songwriters Hall of Fame: Inducted
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 84 Awards, Honours and Accolades
1) Carrie Underwood
Coming in at the top is none other than Miss Carrie Underwood - and she's only just getting started. Having sold 85 million records worldwide, she is the highest-certified female country artist of all time on the RIAA's Top Artists (Digital Singles). She is also the female artist with the most Number 1 entries on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, with 16.
Grammys: 8
Country Music Association Awards: 9
Academy of Country Music Awards: 15
CMT Music Awards: 25
CMT Artist of the Year: 5
American Music Awards: 17
Billboard Music Awards: 12
Golden Globes: 1 nomination
Guinness World Record Most Country No. 1s for a Female Artist in the U.S.
Hollywood Walk of Fame: Inducted
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 95 Awards, Honours and Accolades