Emma McIntyre, Getty Images<\/span><\/p> This is a hypothetical question and \u2014 as you’ll soon see \u2014 this\u00a0question says more about\u00a0ones\u00a0listening habits than the genre or these artists’ body of work.<\/p>\n For more than a decade, I’ve created a Snubs and Surprises list on award show nomination day. Since about 2021, Parmalee<\/a> has been as reliable of a snub as LBT was a nominee. Over and over again I’ve mentioned that they’re the only country group with No. 1 hits (still true in 2026) etc … It’s still silly to me that they can’t find a nomination but I’m laying down that sword.<\/p>\n In certain categories, streaming numbers are now king. Radio airplay and all the mainstream tent poles that used to decide nominees are slowly being challenged across the board but in the Duo and Group of the Year categories, they’ve been replaced.<\/p>\n Red Clay Strays<\/a> epitomize this. They’re not signed to a Nashville record label and their highest charting songs have been on AAA and Rock radio, and yet they won the CMA for Group of the Year in 2025 and are arguably a favorite to repeat at the ACMs.<\/p>\n Take a look at each nominee’s monthly listeners on Spotify:<\/p>\n Rascal Flatts – 11.1M My boys Parmalee benefit\u00a0from an influential record label but they have just 1.3M monthly listeners. Little Big Town checks in at 3.6M but neither group (nor Rascal Flatts) is trending up as quickly as RCS and Flatland Cavalry.<\/p>\n There’s a similar trend in the Duo of the Year category. LoCash<\/a> and Maddie & Tae<\/a> are two artists who seemingly have a gripe this morning. Preston Brust and Chris Lucas are kind of the Parmalee of the Duo category in that they’ve got No. 1 radio hits recently (none of the five nominees can say that) but a relatively paltry 828K monthly listeners on Spotify.<\/p>\n Jason Kempin, Getty Images<\/span><\/p> Muscadine Bloodline<\/a> and Thelma & James are the surprises here, but at least one can be explained with this same formula. Take a look:<\/p>\n Brooks & Dunn – 12.4M Please don’t think I’m using metrics to diminish the quality of music for any nominee. Muscadine Bloodline and Red Clay Strays have a unique sound that should be celebrated. Their strong streaming numbers are evidence that fans are hearing one song and seeking out more. Playlists can only get you so many streams. It takes loyal fans to pass 3M, 5M and 10M each month.<\/p>\n The same is probably true for Brooks & Dunn. I could not figure out why they\u00a0kept winning Duo of the Year awards at age 72 (Ronnie Dunn) and 70 (Kix Brooks) but now I understand. There’s a new generation finding them for the first time. Those Reboot<\/em> albums they made are paying off handsomely!<\/p>\n For some reason, streaming numbers aren’t as important in other categories. Take Entertainer of the Year for example:<\/p>\n Luke Combs – 27.9M That’s eight very strong Spotify artists but missing is Ella Langley w<\/a>ho\u00a0gets an eye-popping 23.8M\u00a0listeners on the platform monthly. Where is her EOY nomination?<\/p>\n My untrained\u00a0sociological explanation is that it’s easier to fan a solo artist than it is a group. We can quickly learn who an artist like Cody Johnson is and what he stands for but it takes work to figure out the names of all the members of Red Clay Strays.<\/p>\n The music simply matters more in duo\/group categories.<\/p>\n Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Top 25 Country Songs of 2025 list is not a roll out of the biggest radio hits of the year. Original duets, Christian cross-overs, meaningful deep cuts and breakout independent artists also help shape the year’s best.<\/p>\n Airplay charts, sales data and streaming numbers helped make this list of country music’s Top 25 songs of 2025, but staff and Taste of Country reader opinion were also influential.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWho Is 49 Winchester, Muscadine Bloodline and Red Clay Strays?<\/h3>\n
Red Clay Strays – 8.9M
Old Dominion – 4.5M
Flatland Cavalry – 3.2M
49 Winchester – 1.8M<\/p>\n2026 ACM Awards Snubs and Surprises<\/h3>\n
Dan + Shay – 7.7M
Muscadine Bloodline – 3.3M
Brothers Osborne – 2.2M
Thelma & James – 414K<\/p>\n2026 ACM Awards \u2014 Entertainer of the Year Snub<\/h3>\n
Jelly Roll – 22.4M
Cody Johnson – 11.8M
Megan Moroney – 9.5M
Chris Stapleton – 26.4M
Morgan Wallen – 32.9M
Lainey Wilson – 10.5<\/p>\n2026 ACM Awards: Snubs and Surprises<\/h2>\n
The Top 26 Country Songs of 2025, Ranked<\/h2>\n