The Best Summer Country Songs

Carrie Underwood - 'Southbound'

You don’t have to go far to find the party when you’re with Carrie Underwood. Just pop down to the marina and she’ll be unwinding with all her gal pals drinking two-for-one Redneck Margaritas and messing about on the rope swing.

It’s spring break every weekend down there. Like Carrie always says, “Long as it floats we'll rock the boat”. Eek, watch out for Katie though. She is absolutely wasted!

Where’s she going? The marina.

What’s she drinking? Redneck Margaritas - Mountain Dew and Tequila

How hot is it out? Tan lines, cheap sunglasses and Summer “dripping” off them. So definitely warm.

Joe Nichols - 'Sunny and 75'

If you can’t get to the beach, let the beach come to you. All Joe Nichols has to do is look into his girlfriend’s eyes and he’s right back there on a beach chair, toes in the sand and breathing in the salty sea air. One swing of her pony tail and he’s got that far away look in his eyes again.

Of course, we should remember that seemingly harmless daydreaming like this could also be a symptom of a pathological lying disorder, in which a person can no longer differentiate between their fantasies and the real world. You all good, Joe?

Where’s he going? Somewhere sunny, but actually nowhere

What’s he drinking? Apparently nothing, but he might’ve taken something.

How hot is it out? Sunny. Possibly

Tracy Lawrence – 'Watermelon Crawl'

Tracy Lawrence is driving through Georgia one afternoon in late July when he sees a sign for a Watermelon Festival. Being a naturally curious guy with apparently all the time in the world to get to wherever he was going, he turns off the road and follows the signs.

When he gets there it’s like the sacrifice scene from the end of Apocalypse Now, except instead of a water buffalo it’s a water melon they’re dancing wildly around. The horror indeed.

Where’s he going? The Rhine County Watermelon Festival

What’s he drinking? A hundred gallons of sweet red wine

How hot is it out? Hot enough to make the devil sigh

Luke Bryan – 'Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset'

Poor Luke, he has to spend most of the summer of his sophomore year painting some random guy’s lake house instead of having fun with all the other college kids. Lucky for him though, the lake house guy has a daughter and when she rolls up in her little red Honda wearing a tank top and cut off jeans, Luke thinks all his prayers have been answered.

For the next couple of weeks it’s just sunrise, sunburn, sunset on repeat. During the day he paints the lake house while she sunbathes, and then in the evenings he grabs the guitar and heads down to the dock with his buddies to meet her and her friends.

In a moment of love-struck cuteness he paints the shutters of the lake house the same colour as her eyes. I hope her dad doesn’t clock it, put two and two together and work out where Luke’s been sticking his paint brush every night after work.

Where’s he going? Some random guy’s lake house

What’s he drinking? A jar of something

How hot is it out? Hot enough to get sunburnt.

Merle Haggard – 'The Seashores of old Mexico'

It’s not really a holiday as such, but Merle Haggard is definitely getting away for a while. He’s skipping bail in Tucson and escaping down to the Manzanillos to lie low while it all blows over.

Along the way, he loses all his money to an unscrupulous woman, before he gets picked up by a couple of Mexican farmers who offer him a lift on the back of a flatbed truck half-loaded with hay all the way down to the coast.

Once there, he promptly falls asleep on the beach in the middle of the afternoon and wakes up to find a hottie from Sonora standing over him. He learns from the little English she speaks that she is on the run too - from her Mexican husband – and she takes a fancy to old Hag and a holiday romance ensues.

Where’s he going? The seashores of old Mexico

What’s he drinking? No time for drinking! He’s on the run.

How hot is it out? Sunny, once he gets to Mexico

Florida Georgia Line - 'Cruise'

Those Florida Georgia Line boys are always looking for a good time, and one afternoon they’re just cruising around down by the lake in their Chevy when they see a woman they like the look of getting out of the water; she’s wearing a bikini, and boy do they like bikinis.

They park up and just sit there with their tongues hanging out for a bit until one of them plucks up the courage to deliver the clumsiest pick up line in history: “Baby you're a song, you make me want to roll my windows down and cruise down a back road blowing stop signs through the middle of every little farm town with you in this brand new Chevy with a lift kit”.

Not exactly “Is that a ladder in your tights?”, but anyway. Weirdly it works and she hops up into the truck with them; as yet blissfully unaware that they’ve brought their acoustic guitars with them. We’re praying for you, dear.

Where are they going? South Georgia

What are they drinking? Southern Comfort

How hot is it out? Hot. It’s the heart of summer. Cooler in the evenings. Bring a jacket.

Dierks Bentley – 'Somewhere On A Beach'

Dierks Bentley doesn’t mess about when it comes to break ups. He knows the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else, and where better to look for some rebound lovin' than the beach?

So, while his ex-girlfriend’s frantically ringing around his parents and all Dierks’ friends, he’s miles away. Too busy down at the beach, drinking all day and partying all night to be worrying what she’s doing; he’s way too drunk to even think about her now.

He’s found a new squeeze and she’s “got a body and she's naughty” and she totally gets Dierks too, like she actually gets him. “I'm getting sun, getting some, and I ain't slept in a week”, he drunkenly declares. I worry this isn’t going to end well.

Where even is he? On a beach towel with his shades on somewhere. Definitely a beach.

What is he sipping? Something strong

How hot is it out? Difficult to say, but the sun's definitely out

Billy Currington – 'Good Directions'

It’s just another slow weekday afternoon for Billy Currington and his roadside turnip selling business, when out of nowhere a woman with Californian licence plates pulls up asking for directions.

He tells her to drive up the road a bit to a little country store with an old Coke sign outside, and that if she takes a left it’ll take her to the interstate, but if she takes a right she’ll just end up back where she started. He also casually mentions the homemade sweet tea they sell in the country store. Local businesses often recommend other local businesses, nothing strange about that.

The woman drives off and does indeed stop for some of that sweet tea, and lord knows what they put in it but the next thing you know she’s on her way back to Billy and his turnips again.

Where is she going? The interstate

What is she sipping? Some of Miss Bell’s sweet tea

How hot is it out? It’s so hot, Billy worries he might be hallucinating. He might be.

Rascal Flatts – 'Summer Nights'

They’ve been cooped up in school all winter long and now the summer is finally here and everyone is just itching to get outside and have some fun. Luckily Rascal Flatts know the perfect spot. You guessed it: the beach!

They grab their cool boxes and head on down to enjoy the sunset with their buddies. Nothing too surprising happens when they get there. Everybody's obviously “feeling sexy” and Rascal Flatts keep on checking everyone is okay and “with” them, which is understandable. It can be a lot of pressure being a host at a party sometimes.

“Holler if you're ready for some summer nights”, they yell. Oh we’re ready, Rascal Flatts, we’re absolutely ready. Just relax.

Where are they going? Daytona

What are they drinking? Cold beers

How hot is it out? Getting a little bit cooler in the evenings

Little Big Town - 'Pontoon'

It’s party time down at the pontoon! Little Big Town are down there and they’re having a barbecue and generally messing about in the water; jumping in backwards and using the slide.

Very much billed as a “Party in slow motion out here in the open”, Little Big Town are always careful to stay within the five-miles-an-hour speed limit when they’re out on the water though.

I don’t care what Daryle Singletary says, there is such a thing as having too much fun, you know. Oh god, Carrie's friend Katie is here and she's an absolute liability.

Where are they going? To the pontoon

What are they drinking? Blue Mountain Beer

How hot is it out? Hot enough to be “catchin' rays up on the roof”

Clint Blank - Summer's Comin'

Nothing says summer’s on its way like this mid-90s country banger, as Clint Black takes the day off work to hit the beach in a muscle vest and cycling shorts, while somehow still managing to style it out with a cowboy hat.

The video guest stars Jay Leno, David Hasselhoff and a glittering array of TV celebrities, as St Elsewhere star Howie Mandel weaves his way around the beach trying his luck with all the women sunbathing, only to discover they’re all in fact men when they turn around.

It ends with Clint’s real-life wife Lisa Hartman Black running past Mandel and into the arms of her husband, all before Joey Lawrence from the hit TV show Blossom makes another star turn to deliver his famous TV catchphrase “Woah!”.

Probably the most mid-90s country video ever made.

Where’s he going? Er, the beach.

What’s he drinking? Actually nothing, but I’m not sure how you’d explain that outfit if you were sober.

How hot is it out? Well, there’s a “heat wave comin”, so presumably it’s going to get pretty damn hot. Also, he’s wearing cycling shorts!

Kenny Chesney - No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems

This laid back country shuffler takes it nice and breezy, as Kenny takes off his top and lays out his life philosophy for you.

As he explains in the prologue to the video, the notion of “no shoes, no shirt, no problems” is more than just a song title, it’s a whole way of life for Kenny; “no boss, no clock, no stress and no dress code”.

It came out in 2003 and was only kept off the top spot in the Billboard Country Charts by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett’s boozy classic ‘It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere’. What a summer?!

Where’s he going? Mexico.

What’s he drinking? Bottomless drinks.

How hot is it out? No shirt and no shoes? Oh, it’s hot alright. Although you get the feeling it doesn’t take much for Kenny to go topless.

Zac Brown Band - Toes

Like Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band were very much taking their musical tips from Jimmy Buffett in this lilting summery smash, their “toes in the water, ass in the sand”. The gang take four days off work and make their way from Georgia down to Mexico for a boozy mini-break of “pretty senoritas” and “muchachas”.

Eventually, Zac runs out of money and has to return home, but once he’s back home, he grabs a beer and settles back in a lawn chair, dipping his toes in the Georgia red clay. You know what it’s like when you’ve been away for a few days - It’s difficult to get out of holiday mode.

Where’s he going? Mexico. Probably bump into Kenny Chesney.

What’s he drinking? What isn’t he drinking?! A cold beer, tequila, rum, PBR, Jägermeister and he rolls out a “big fat one”.

How hot is it out? I doubt anyone remembers after all that.

Jake Owen - Beachin'

It’s summertime in Florida, and Jake Owen is off to Daytona Beach with his girlfriend to enjoy happy hour at a margarita bar and watch a reggae band!

The sun’s up and the tide’s out - it's time to take it easy, be a little less strict with your grammar and all those other things that grind you down on a daily basis. You’re on holiday, who cares if you drop a letter or two?

Jake Owen’s got no time for the letter “G” in this perky summer hit. He’s “Strollin’, chillin', breezin', sippin', singin’”, doing a “little drinkin’’ and a “little palm tree leanin’”, and of course, he’s “whoa-oh-oh Beachin'”. Absolutely amazin’.

Where’s he going? Daytona Beach in Florida.

What’s he drinking? A cold beer and a margarita.

How hot is it out? 92 degrees, but 103 if you take into account the heat of passion between Jake and his girlfriend.

Faith Hill - Sunshine and Summertime

Faith Hill doesn’t need the beach to enjoy the summer! She can have fun and soak up the sun wherever she is. Whether she’s out on the street, in her back garden or just hanging out with all the other “hard bodies” and “hotties” in the, er… car park.

It’s always straw hat and bikini weather for Faith. By the time it gets to the middle-eight, you start to wonder if all that ice-cold beer and sunshine might have got to her though, as she starts berating everyone else at the party, telling them all to stop being so lame and have fun.

"Hey everybody, can't you feel the rhythm now? / Hey everybody, don't you wanna party?” she belts at the top of her lungs, like your friend from out of town who started drinking way earlier than everybody else and is now stumbling around the party telling everyone they’re “boooring”, rolling their eyes and trying to start a conga.

“Hey that's the way we like it! Good times, sunshine and summertime”, she slurs as she clinks the air with the glass of rosé she just found on the side. Don’t worry, she’ll probably be asleep by nine.

Where’s she going? Pretty much nowhere by the sounds of it.

What’s she drinking? Corona. I know, but it was 2005. No one was freaked out by that word back then.

How hot is it out? It might not even be sunny.

Thomas Rhett - Vacation

I think we can all just be thankful that Faith Hill and Thomas Rhett weren’t at the same summer party. They’re absolute liabilities! Thomas likes to get away though, so he’s splashed out on a no-expense-spared, all-inclusive trip for him and the wife to a Motel 6 in good old Decatur, Illinois; just 140 miles away from the nearest beach.

Don’t worry though, Thomas is planning to drink so much it wouldn’t matter where he is, because he probably won’t remember anyway. He’s constructed some sort of boombox from a Red Solo Cup and he’s sitting out in the motel parking lot in a Walgreens beach chair drinking Busch Light while the other half sunbathes.

“Hey, let's party like we on vacation”, he keeps singing at the top of his voice - the keyword here being “like”. This isn’t a holiday for anyone except Thomas. Absolute washout. Next year we’re going to Faith Hill’s car park party.

Where’s he going? Decatur, Illinois, baby.

What’s he drinking? That we know of, Busch Light. But you might want to smell the coconut water before you drink it.

How hot is it out? His girlfriend’s wearing a “Billabong bikini” and asking him to rub sunscreen on her, so presumably, the sun is actually shining, but it’s unlikely to be that hot.

Blake Shelton - Some Beach

It seems like no one’s getting away anywhere this year. Poor old Blake Shelton barely even gets out of his car in this no-hoper jukebox country classic. He’s just sat in a traffic jam on the interstate singing along to Jimmy Buffett, on his way to the dentist.

When he eventually gets there, he has an absolute bloody nightmare trying to park, and then the dentist starts drilling before the anaesthetic has kicked in. FML!

Luckily, Blake has an enduringly sunny disposition and a wonderful imagination, thus taking himself away to a sunny beach simply by picturing himself there. He imagines the beautiful sunset, the music, the dancing and the “lovers romancing in the salty evening air” and he forgets all the pain and frustration of his day.

No need for mind-altering drugs or some virtual reality headset, he just uses his own imagination, that’s all. Kids these days don’t know they’re born.

Where’s he going? The dentist.

What’s he drinking? That weird pink mouthwash.

How hot is it out? He doesn’t really get out as such.

Kane Brown - Short Skirt Weather

In this 90s throwback cut from his 2018 album Experiment, Kane Brown reveals just why he loves summer so much; for one reason and one reason only. His girlfriend wears shorter skirts. In fact, he finds it incredibly frustrating when it isn’t summer and she insists on wearing longer skirts, possibly even trousers.

There is nothing Kane likes more than to walk down the street with his girlfriend when she’s wearing one of her short skirts – whether it’s her yellow polka dot one or a leather one or perhaps even a denim one – and have other men ogle her and their girlfriends get understandably annoyed.

Nothing more enjoyable than that. Must be a lovely day out for all the women in the song. I think we really need to unpack the relationship power dynamics at play here.

Where’s he going? Really not far. He definitely has a long way to go.

What’s he drinking? Nothing. Just going for a walk with his girlfriend while she’s wearing a skirt.

How hot is it out? 100 degrees.

Craig Morgan – Redneck Yacht Club

In this mid-00s boat party banger, Craig Morgan manages to make a bunch of fishing boats and motorboats roped together on a lake sound like a line of luxury super-yachts berthed in Port De Saint Tropez.

Morgan and his friends getaway for the summer down to the local lake, where “Bass Trackers, Bayliners and a party barge” are all “strung together like a floating trailer park”. They’re all just “Regular Joes rockin' the boat” it seems, and it sounds like an incredible summer holiday.

They all seem to be having the holiday of a lifetime, just sitting on lawn chairs on their astroturfed houseboat porches. I want to get a boat now!! I want us to all get boats and tie them together and spend all summer down by the lake! It sounds amazing. Let me see how much money there is on the Holler company credit card.

Where’s he going? Party Cove, down by the lake.

What’s he drinking? Beer by the sounds of it. Nothing much popping but tops.

How hot is it out? Not sure, but hot enough to swim.

Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville

You can’t have a best summer country songs list and not include Jimmy Buffett. I think there actually might be something about it in the Constitution.

Along with his Coral Reefer Band, he mixed calypso, folk, reggae and country and came swimming back up with what became known as “Tropical Rock”. An intoxicating island holiday fusion of country and folk music with steel drums, congas, marimbas, vibraphones and steel guitars, it immediately appealed to amateur cocktail drinkers and dads on long drives across America everywhere.

Written one night in 1977 after Buffett discovered the cocktail that would change his life in Lung's Cocina del Sur restaurant in Austin, Texas, ‘Margaritaville’ became Buffett’s signature song.

When he opened his chain of restaurants in the mid-80s, he named them after it, and it entered into American folklore, featuring in Jurassic Park and an episode of South Park.

The song itself is classic Jimmy Buffett. He nibbles on sponge cake, loses a salt shaker, finds a tattoo of a Mexican woman he doesn’t remember getting and sits around on his porch strumming his guitar and boiling shrimp.

Maybe we should all try and be a bit more like Jimmy Buffett this summer. Hang on, I wonder if Baylen’s got a boat?

Where’s he going? Margaritaville.

What’s he drinking? Frozen margaritas.

How hot is it out? Baking hot.