Kelsea Ballerini and HARDY songs featured in 'Rolling Stone''s list of top 100 songs of 2025

Kelsea Ballerini's heartfelt performance of "I Sit in Parks" at the 59th Annual CMA Awards left a lasting impression, and now the song has earned a spot on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2025, ranking at #90. As one of the few country entries on the list, the track has been praised for its raw honesty. Rolling Stone highlighted the song as a "just over two-minute diary entry" capturing the personal sacrifices Ballerini has made in her pursuit of a music career, calling it essential listening for anyone balancing ambition and personal life.

Interestingly, the song even references Rolling Stone in its lyrics, adding an extra layer of connection to the accolade.

HARDY also makes an appearance on the list with "Luckiest Man Alive" from his Country! Country! album, coming in at #87. Although not released as a single, Rolling Stone commends it as a "feel-good sing-along pop country song" and describes it as a "three-minute earworm" filled with classic country imagery like trucks, SEC football, and nods to Hank Williams Jr.

Another notable country entry is Hailey Whitters' "High on the Hog," which ranks at #64. The publication praises it as a "fiddle-heavy travelogue" depicting the struggles of an aspiring heartland country artist, with a "throwback earworm arrangement" reminiscent of legends like Miranda Lambert and Alan Jackson.

At the very top of Rolling Stone's list, Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra" claims the #1 spot for 2025.

Author: Aiden Foster