Alan Jackson continues his streak as one of the most consistent, classy songwriters in country music with Angels and Alcohol, which brings together rowdy honky-tonk and thoughtful ballads. Jackson wrote or co-wrote all but three of these tunes, including the heartbreaking title track and the sing-along single “Jim and Jack and Hank.” But our favorite is “You Never Know,” where Jackson smirks his way through a tale of falling head-over-heels for a “chicken-legged gal with freckles on her face, stringy blonde hair and a 20-inch waist.”
- George Strait
- Brad Paisley
- Blake Shelton
- Toby Keith