Dear Non-Bumpkins,

In my mind, I view country music as a deep root, not only in my own history, but in America's as well. It's the perfect soundtrack for when you're stomping around in your cowboy boots, sitting around a fire, or cruising with your friends. Country is home in a song. Yes, it's redneck and mushy sometimes... but please explain how someone tickling the strings of a banjo doesn't make you want to find the closest county fair? Even the "stadium country music," as Bo Burnham calls it, is pretty livening to your ears. I agree with you though, pop country (or Tractor Rap, as my friend's dad, Neil Hatten, calls it) is completely different than what we all picture as "real" country... but it's still good nonetheless. If that's as far as you're allowing yourself to look in the country music world, you're missing out.

Imagine yourself driving down a country road with no traffic, the windows down, and a beautiful sunset in view... and you have to choose one song to complete the moment. I'd choose country every time.

Real, true to its roots, country music is raw emotion and someone's actual story in most cases. For example, Sam Hunt just wrote a new song, called Drinkin' Too Much (8 p.m. version), as an apology to his ex, in which he opened up about his excessive drinking problem and how their breakup wrecked him. In his lyrics, it says, "And I was the one on stage, drunk, Barely holdin' on, on ABC." The song moved me because of its sincere sense of honesty and truthfulness. It's songs like this that tug at my emotions and make me want to just close my eyes and truly hear the song for what it is. Florida Georgia Line told us in one of their recent albums, "music is healing," and they weren't lying.

On the other hand, not all country music is sad or about a devastating heartbreak. To me, country music is like that perfect pair of high-waisted shorts; they fit damn good and go with anything. There is just something about country music that can completely enhance your mood and turn your day around at any given moment.

A country concert is not one of those times when you need to make sure you have a comfortable chair; you won't be using it. You're gonna find yourself dancing and singing along more often than not. I also think that most people find themselves listening to it in the summer, which makes sense because the keywords in a lot of great country songs are summer related: fishing, girls in cutoff shorts, sunshine, the lake, boating, sand, beaches, sweet tea, tan, field, farm, tractors, trucks, and beer.

And even if you're not about being all "down on the farm," it makes wearing a cowboy hat that much more fun... and acceptable. Plus, who wouldn't want to "country girl, shake it" for Luke Bryan, I mean, come on.

For you DIE HARD COUNTRY FANS, let's make way for the people in the back of the concert so they can get a real taste of our Country Gold lifestyle.

This list of new and old songs (all styles of country) is a compilation you can't turn away because you just might "get your shine on." So, add these to your playlist, turn the stereo up, roll your windows down, and take a drive.

Welcome to the Bumpkin club.

Sincerely,

Your Friendly, Neighborhood Country Fanatic

NEWER (2000-present)

1. "Just To See You Smile" - Tim McGraw

2. "The Other Side of the Radio" - Brent Anderson

3. "Lifer" - Keith Urban

4. "Dig Your Roots" & "Grow Old" - Florida Georgia Line (Who am I kidding, this whole album is great. It was hard enough to narrow it down to two.)

5. "Tennessee Whiskey" - Chris Stapleton

6. "Die a Happy Man" - Thomas Rhett

7. "We Got Us" & "Good Kinda Bad" - Canaan Smith

8. "In Case You Didn't Know" - Brett Young

9. "Hometown Girl" - Josh Turner

10. "Drinkin' Problem" - Midland

11."I Could Use A Love Song" - Maren Morris

12. "Big Green Tractor" - Jason Aldean

13. "Thinking of You (And Me)" & "If You Ever Get Lonely" - Love and Theft (Another great album)

14. "Meanwhile Back At Mama's" & "I Need You" - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

15. "Whiskey Lullaby" - Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss

16."19 You + Me" & "From the Ground Up" - Dan + Shay

17. "That's Important To Me" - Joey Fleek

18. "Must Be Doin' Something Right" & "Do I Make You Wanna" - Billy Currington

19. "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" - Joe Nichols

OLDER (Before 2000)

1.. "Jolene" & "Islands in the Stream" & "I Will Always Love You" - Dolly Parton

2. "On the Road Again" - Willie Nelson

3. "Independence Day" - Martina McBride

4. "We Danced" & "He Didn't Have to Be" - Brad Paisley

5. "My Blue Angel" - Aaron Tippin

6. "But for the Grace of God" & "Your Everything" - Keith Urban

7. "It's Your Love" - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

8. "You're Still the One" & "I'm Gonna Getcha Good" - Shania Twain

9. "Strawberry Wine" - Deana Carter

10. "Check Yes or No" & "Write This Down" & "Give It Away" - George Strait

11. " I Walk the Line" - Johnny Cash

12. "Achy Breaky Heart" - Billy Ray Cyrus

13. "She's In Love With the Boy" - Trisha Yearwood

14. "Forever and Ever, Amen" - Randy Travis

15. "Dust On the Bottle" - David Lee Murphy

16. "Meet Me In the Middle" - Diamond Rio

17. "Should've Been A Cowboy" - Toby Keith

18. "How Forever Feels" - Kenny Chesney

19. "Remember When" - Alan Jackson