Rock and pop music videos are well-known for being expensive, imaginative, and sometimes controversial. But country music videos are just as imaginative, often humorous, and at times, controversial. Here’s my list of 20 top country music videos from over the years.
The Dance – Garth Brooks. A beautiful song set to moving memories – Martin Luther King, Jr., JFK, Lane Frost, Keith Whitley, John Wayne, the Columbia astronauts.
Forever And Ever, Amen – Randy Travis. Travis plays brother of the bride in this light-hearted, sepia-toned look at unconditional love.
Honky Tonk Truth – Brooks & Dunn. The resemblance between Kix Brooks and the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. was uncanny; this video showed a humorous side of the somewhat stoic NASCAR champion.
The Thunder Rolls – Garth Brooks. The infidelity, the violence, the murder – oh, the controversy Brooks set forth with this video.
There’s A Tear In My Beer – Hank Williams Sr. and Hank Williams Jr. Through the miracles of modern technology, father and son sang together on screen for the first time.
Who’s Cheatin Who – Alan Jackson. More NASCAR fun – Dale Jarrett, Ernie Irvan, Bill Elliott, Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace, and Jeremy Mayfield join Jackson for poker and racing.
Does He Love You – Reba McEntire and Linda Davis. A cameo by Rob Reiner and an “explosive” ending lends an air of comedy to this powerful duet.
My Baby’s Gone – Sawyer Brown. I will never be able to forget the image of Mark Miller stomping out those light bulbs at the end of the video. Never.
Love Story – Taylor Swift. Swift combines youthful beauty, a great story, and great cinematography for this video fantasy that makes me want to meet her hair stylist.
Country Boy – Ricky Skaggs. Skaggs’ style of bluegrass country music set in an airport with the legendary Ralph Stanley. Now that’s country!
Born To Fly – Sara Evans. A modern-day Wizard of Oz-type fairy tale.
Independence Day – Martina McBride. A powerful song matched with McBride’s powerful voice, and images of a woman fed up with domestic violence.
Alcohol – Brad Paisley. Little Jimmy Dickens in a lampshade. It’s all about that.
Just A Dream – Carrie Underwood. From would-be bride to military widow, Underwood’s emotional portrayal brought tears to my eyes the first time I saw it.
That Don’t Impress Me Much – Shania Twain. I, for one, hope to someday look like Shania in that leopard-print catsuit.
More Than A Memory – Garth Brooks. More amazing visions from Brooks, who must have filmed the entire video soaking wet,
Fancy – Reba McEntire. A mini-movie following a young girl from poverty to her life as a courtesan.
Young Coutnry – Hank Williams Jr. Bocephus hosts a party for some of the new country stars of the early 1990s.
Who’s Bed Have Your Boots Been Under? – Shania Twain. Pretty funny how all those guys can act like Shania’s not there.
Workin’ For A Livin’ – Garth Brooks and Huey Lewis. Filmed at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a distinct NASCAR presence, Brooks covered this Huey Lewis and The News classic for his Ultimate Hits package, and got a little help from Lewis himself.
