From Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban to Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan, here are some of our favorite country duets of all time. Some of these tunes might be totally new to you!
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1. "Never Wanted To Be That Girl" - Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
Originally a song off of Pearce's album, 29, "Never Wanted To Be That Girl" was a commercial hit, even winning a Grammy later that year. What takes the cake, however, is Ashley McBryde's feature on this song, where she sings the role of the "other woman" next to Carly Pearce as the "woman." This entry on our list of duets explores typical themes found in country music but offers an empathetic perspective that sets it apart from other songs with similar tropes.
2. "Cowboys Cry Too" - Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan
Although a collaboration between Ballerini and Kahan isn't something either of their fans might have predicted, "Cowboys Cry Too" made waves with its release in 2024 and shed light on the societal expectations that people, especially men, often face when it comes to being vulnerable with their emotions. Ballerini initially wrote the first verse of the song, not thinking of Kahan, then realized she needed a male voice to help further bring the subject matter to life. After meeting backstage at the Grammys, both Kahan and Ballerini expressed admiration for each other's writing, and from there, they found a way to blend their genres with "Cowboys Cry Too".
3. "The Fighter" - Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood
This example of pop-country duets emerged with the release of Urban's album Ripcord, hinting at the struggles within both Urban's and Underwood's relationships. Urban admitted that the song was mainly inspired by the early days of his marriage to Nicole Kidman, and was meant to be a song with an encouraging mantra. Not only did the song go Triple Platinum in the US, but it was also performed by both Urban and Underwood at the 2017 Grammys.
4. "I Remember Everything" - Zach Bryan and Kasey Musgraves
Being the first song to top the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts, it's evident that "I Remember Everything" had range from the beginning. However, what's even more impressive about the song is that it proves an artist like Zach Bryan can achieve commercial success even without significant radio success. This song primarily relied on streaming numbers, as well as support from Musgraves and Bryan's fanbases, and ended up taking home the Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
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