The Changing Landscape Of Country Music Bans: A Look At Controversial Songs

The modern day country music fan is quite a bit more tolerant of edgy or controversial songs than fans were 30 or 40 years ago, and as a result, there are fewer banned country songs today. This evolution in taste can be attributed to a variety of factors, including a broader range of musical influences and changing societal norms. As listeners become more accepting of diverse themes and messages, the barriers that once led to the blacklisting of certain songs are slowly fading away.

Blame it on looser morals — or blame it on a wider variety of options — should a song that agitates come on the radio. This doesn't mean big-time artists like Rascal Flatts and Kacey Musgraves have escaped outright bans, however. Some songs have faced backlash not solely for their content but for the artists' actions or statements outside of music, showing that the landscape of country music continues to be influenced by the personalities behind the songs.

Most of the banned songs on this list were blacklisted due to lyrical or video content, but a few of them — as is the case for tracks by Carrie Underwood and Morgan Wallen — got the outs from country radio for reasons totally unrelated to the music itself. Some of the bans seem silly, outdated or prim by today’s standards, while others were banned for reasons that still hold water for many listeners. This dynamic creates a conversation about how music, culture, and public perception are intertwined in the realm of country music.

A couple of artists took a career hit when their songs were banned. Garth Brooks' ban even resulted in a single of his missing the Top 10 for the first time ever in his career. However, most of these banned songs went on to become huge hits, despite or even because of their outlaw status at country radio. For the most part, this list proves that there’s no better press than having a song blacklisted by the industry.

Flip through the gallery below to see 20 of the biggest country radio bans. Sound off in the comments to let us know which artists you think deserved it — and which big controversial songs we missed.