Rolling Stone's 40 Best Country Albums of 2016

Miranda Lambert, Sturgill Simpson, Margo Price and more of the year's best.

Published: December 07, 2016 14:07 Source

# 1

Hero (Deluxe Edition) by Maren Morris

Album • Jun 03 / 2016

# 2

The Weight of These Wings by Miranda Lambert

Album • Nov 18 / 2016 Contemporary Country

# 3

Midwest Farmers Daughter by Margo Price

Album • Mar 25 / 2016 Country

# 4

American Band by Drive-By Truckers

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Alt-Country Southern Rock

# 5

A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson

Album • Apr 15 / 2016 Country Soul Alt-Country Progressive Country

# 6

Big Day in a Small Town by Brandy Clark

Album • Jun 10 / 2016 Contemporary Country Country Pop

# 7

Pawn Shop by Brothers Osborne

Album • Jan 15 / 2016 Contemporary Country

# 8

The Bird & the Rifle by Lori McKenna

Album • Jul 29 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Americana

# 9

Full Circle by Loretta Lynn

Album • Mar 04 / 2016 Country

# 10

California Sunrise by Jon Pardi

Album • May 13 / 2016 Contemporary Country

# 11

Shine On Rainy Day by Brent Cobb

Album • Oct 07 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Americana Country

# 12

Real by Lydia Loveless

Album • Aug 19 / 2016 Alt-Country Pop Rock

# 13

New City Blues by Aubrie Sellers

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Country Rock

# 14

Sweet Creep by Jonny Fritz

Album • Oct 14 / 2016 Alt-Country

# 15

Upland Stories by Robbie Fulks

Album • Apr 01 / 2016 Americana

# 16

Lovers and Leavers by Hayes Carll

Album • Apr 08 / 2016 Americana

# 17

Vinyl by William Michael Morgan

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Contemporary Country

# 18

Down to My Last Bad Habit by Vince Gill

Album • Feb 12 / 2016 Contemporary Country

# 19

Ripcord by Keith Urban

Album • May 06 / 2016 Pop Rock Bro-Country Country Pop

# 20

Lola by Carrie Rodriguez

Album • Feb 19 / 2016 Americana

# 21

The Ghosts of Highway 20 by Lucinda Williams

Album • Feb 05 / 2016 Americana Singer-Songwriter Country Rock

# 22

Little Seeds by Shovels & Rope

Album • Oct 07 / 2016 Alt-Country

# 23

My Gospel by Paul Cauthen

Album • Oct 14 / 2016 Country Soul Alt-Country Honky Tonk

# 24

Gotta Be Me by Cody Johnson

Album • Aug 05 / 2016 Contemporary Country

# 25

Nothing Shines Like Neon by Randy Rogers Band

Album • Jan 15 / 2016 Country

# 26

case/lang/veirs by case/lang/veirs

Album • Jun 17 / 2016

# 27

Beulah by John Paul White

Album • Aug 19 / 2016 Folk Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 28

Robert Ellis by Robert Ellis

Album • Jun 03 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter

# 29

Couchville Sessions by Darrell Scott

Album • May 13 / 2016 Americana Singer-Songwriter

# 30

Give It Back To You by The Record Company

Album • Jan 01 / 2016 Blues Rock

# 31

Heart Like a Levee by Hiss Golden Messenger

Album • Oct 07 / 2016 Americana Folk Rock

# 32

The Very Last Day by Parker Millsap

Album • Mar 25 / 2016 Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter Americana

# 33

For the Good Times: A Tribute to Ray Price by Willie Nelson

Album • Sep 16 / 2016 Honky Tonk Country Countrypolitan

# 34

I'm Not the Devil by Cody Jinks

Album • Aug 12 / 2016 Outlaw Country Country Rock

# 35

Bury Me in My Boots by The Cadillac Three

Album • Aug 05 / 2016 Bro-Country Southern Rock Country Rock

# 36

Honest Life by Courtney Marie Andrews

Album • May 19 / 2017 Singer-Songwriter Americana

# 37

Modern Country by William Tyler

Album • Jun 03 / 2016 American Primitivism

# 38

Blindfaller by Watchhouse

Album • Sep 30 / 2016

# 39

Pure & Simple by Dolly Parton

Album • Aug 19 / 2016 Country Pop

# 40

Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars… by Dwight Yoakam

Album • Oct 07 / 2016 Bluegrass Country