This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Chatham chapter.

All opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own.

I found myself switching stations a lot more than I usually do (instead of just staying tuned to Y108), because “Cruise,” “Hey Girl” and the sheer horror of Jake Owen trying to rap came through my car speakers. The sadness from the loss of George Jones made it even harder sometimes to continue listening, while all the while thinking “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes?”

Even so, 2013 was actually an even better year than 2012 for country music. Not only did great newcomers (such as winner of The Voice Danielle Bradbery and Tyler Farr) step on the scene, but this momentum was capped off this winter by the long-awaited return of Garth Brooks. So, in honor of the past year and in hopes of even better music in 2014, here are the thirteen best country songs of 2013!

13. “Highway Don’t Care” by Tim McGraw ft. Keith Urban and Taylor Swift