PopMatters' 15 Best Country Albums of 2023

This year's best country albums spring from hard-country bands to traditional true believers and from alternative country renegades to pop-country superstars.

Source

# 1

Strays by Margo Price

Album • Jan 13 / 2023 Contemporary Country Heartland Rock

# 2

Higher by Chris Stapleton

Album • Nov 10 / 2023 Contemporary Country

# 3

1988 by Lori McKenna

Album • Jul 21 / 2023 Singer-Songwriter Americana

# 4

I'm In Love by Hailey Whitters

EP • Jul 28 / 2023 Contemporary Country Country Pop

# 5

Rustin In The Rain by Tyler Childers

Album • Sep 08 / 2023 Country

# 6

Sweet Memories: The Music Of Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys by Vince Gill + Paul Franklin

Album • Aug 04 / 2023

# 7

Workin' on a World by Iris DeMent

Album • Feb 24 / 2023 Americana Country

# 8

The Rainbow Wheel of Death by Dougie Poole

Album • Feb 24 / 2023 Progressive Country Alt-Country

# 9

The Long And Lonesome Letting Go by Jim Lauderdale + Del McCoury + The Po' Ramblin' Boys

Album • Sep 15 / 2023 Bluegrass

# 10

I'm Not Crying, You're Crying by Whitehorse

Album • Jan 13 / 2023 Neo-Traditionalist Country

# 11

Loving You by Amanda Shires + Bobbie Nelson

Album • Jun 23 / 2023

# 12

The Golden Crystal Kingdom by Vincent Neil Emerson

Album • Nov 10 / 2023 Neo-Traditionalist Country Singer-Songwriter

# 14

Stand in the Joy by William Prince

Album • Apr 14 / 2023 Country Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 15

Southern Star by Brent Cobb

Album • Sep 22 / 2023 Country Soul