20+ Best Country Funeral Songs
Country music has a way of telling a unique story that can resonate with anyone who is listening. When it comes to picking funeral songs, a country funeral song can be the best way to honor a loved one’s favorite music or simply embody what a community may be feeling.
Whether you’re looking for something from a prominent male singer like Garth Brooks, a prominent female singer like Carrie Underwood, or a timeless singer like Martina McBride or Faith Hill, there are countless of country funeral songs that can be used to help commemorate a loved one.
As with every other aspect of the funeral services, it’s best to find a funeral song that is personal to the bereaved, friends, and family or perhaps a country song by a country singer that was a particular favorite of the loved one. That being said, when it comes to country music funeral songs, there are many to choose from that can make for the right mood for a funeral service.
If you're unsure about which country songs to use for a funeral, consider creating a list of potential songs and sharing it with close family members. Ask them which songs remind them most of the deceased or which songs help them feel better. Country music can be a power factor in processing grief.
You may also want to consider creating a memorial website to easily share funeral information with friends and family for free:
Here are 25 of the most popular country funeral songs that you can use for a memorial service for a loved one.
25. "Why Me" by Kris Kristofferson
Why me Lord, what have I ever done / To deserve even one / Of the pleasures I've known / Tell me Lord, what did I ever do / That was worth loving you / Or the kindness you've shown. / Lord help me Jesus, I've wasted it so / Help me Jesus I know what I am / Now that I know that I've need you so / Help me Jesus, my soul's in your hand."
24. "How Do I Live" by LeAnn Rimes
How do I, get through a night without you / If I had to live without you / What kind of life would that be Oh, I, I need you in my arms, need you to hold / You're my world, my heart, my soul and if you ever leave / Baby you would take away everything good in my life / And tell me now"
23. "One More Day" by Diamond Rio
Last night I had a crazy dream / A wish was granted just for me It could be for anything / I didn't ask for money / Or a mansion in Malibu / I simply wished for one more day with you / One more day, one more time / One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied / But then again, I know what it would do / Leave me wishing still for one more day with you / One more day"
22. "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton
While Dolly Parton didn't intend for this to be a funeral song, the lyrics are still appropriate for expressing a deep love for someone in your life.
21. "He Stopped Loving Her Today" by George Jones
George Jones wrote, "He said "I'll love you till I die" / She told him "You'll forget in time" / As the years went slowly by / She still preyed upon his mind / He kept her picture on his wall / Went half-crazy now and then / He still loved her through it all / Hoping she'd come back again"
20. “Go Rest High On That Mountain” by Vince Gill
Vince Gill started writing "Go Rest High On That Mountain" after the death of country music star Keith Whitley in 1989. He also performed it with Patty Loveless at the funeral of country star George Jones in 2013. The song speaks directly to the person who passed, letting them know that they can rest now. In the chorus, he sings, "Go rest high on that mountain / Son, your work on earth is done / Go to heaven a shoutin' / Love for the Father and Son."
19. “Over You” by Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert wrote "Over You" with her ex-husband Blake Shelton about the death of Blake's older brother at the age of 24. The song speaks to the raw emotion and anger that many people feel after losing someone. In the chorus, she sings, "You went away / How dare you? / I miss you / They say I’ll be okay / But I’m not going to ever get over you."
18. “Believe” by Brooks & Dunn
"Believe" is a country song about believing in Heaven and knowing that you'll see your loved ones again. The song tells the story of old man who had a hard life, losing both his wife and his child. He tells a young neighbor, "Lord, I raise my hands / Bow my head / Oh, I'm findin' more and more truth / In the words written in red / They tell me that there's more to this / Than just what I can see, I believe"
17. “Remember When” by Alan Jackson
In "Remember When," Alan Jackson sings about his relationship with his wife, through ups and downs and into old age. The last lines of the song help make it a common choice for a funeral for someone who lived a great life: "We won't be sad, we'll be glad / For all the life we've had / And we'll remember when."
16. “Temporary Home” by Carrie Underwood
The song, "Temporary Home," tells the story of several people who are just passing through, including and older man on his death bed, who also shares, "This was just a stop on the way to where I'm going / I'm not afraid because I know / This was my temporary home." Many people find comfort in the acceptance of the fact that everything is temporary.
15. “How Can I Help You Say Goodbye” by Patty Loveless
"How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" focuses on accepting that things change, while also acknowledging the pain of losing people. In the song, the singers mother teaches her about handling loss after moving away from friends and separating from her husband. In the last verse, her mother is on her deathbed, and share the same message about pain and acceptance. The chorus sings, "Time will ease your pain / Life's about changin' nothing ever stays the same / And she said, how can I help you to say goodbye / It's OK to hurt and it's OK to cry come let me hold you / And I will try / How can I help you to say goodbye."
14. “Three Wooden Crosses” by Randy Travis
Three Wooden Crosses" is a country song that tells the stories of four people on a bus that's involved in crash. When three of them die in the crash, Randy Travis sings about the impact that each left on the world. The fourth, a prostitute who survives, goes on to spread the word of Jesus and raises her son to be a preacher. The chorus reminds us, "It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you / It's what you leave behind you when you go." Many people like to use this as a country funeral song to help them focus on the impact that their loved one had on the world.
13. “Angels Among Us” by Alabama
The popular 80's country rock band, Alabama, wrote the country song, "Angels Among Us," describing the ways that angels continue to help guide us through difficult times. Lyrics like, "Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us / Sent down to us from somewhere up above / They come to you and me in our darkest hours / To show us how to live / To teach us how to give / To guide us with a light of love." Many country music fans feel comfort in the idea that their deceased loved ones will continue to be there to help guide them through life.
12. “When I Get Where I’m Going” by Brad Paisley
Country music star, Brad Paisley, sings "When I Get Where I'm Going" about what Heaven will be like. His descriptions of what Heaven will be like can bring comfort during a funeral: "When I get where I'm going / There'll be only happy tears / I will shed the sins and struggles / I have carried all these years / And I'll leave my heart wide open / I will love and have no fear / Yeah, when I get where I'm going / Don't cry for me down here."
11. “I’m Already There” by Lonestar
While "I'm Already There" tells the story of the relationship of a man and his family, who is thousands of miles away from him, the message of being together even when apart can also be applied to funeral, making it a popular country funeral song. Many people take comfort in lines like, "I'm the beat in your heart / I'm the moonlight shining down / I'm the whisper in the wind / And I'll be there until the end / Can you feel the love that we share?"
10. “God’s Will” by Martina McBride
On Martina McBrides 2013 album, Martina, God's Will tells the story of a young boy who was dealt a bad hand, but continued to look out for everyone else. In the last verse of the song, she sings, "Before they moved to California / His mother said, they didn't think he'd live / And she said each day that I have him / Well, it's just another gift / And I never got to tell her / That the boy showed me the truth / In crayon red, on notebook paper, he'd written / Me and God love you." The song can have a powerful impact, especially at the funeral of a child. Instead of focusing on the loss, it encourages listeners to focus on the beauty of the time they had with their loved one.
9. “You Should Be Here” by Cole Swindell
"You Should Be Here" was written as a tribute to Cole Swindell's father. In it, Cole sings about the great times that he's having but also shares how sad he is that his father is missing them. He sings, "It's one of those moments / That's got your name written all over it / And you know that if I had just one wish / It'd be that you didn't have to miss this / Aw, you should be here." Many people find that the song makes a particularly good song for a celebration of life
8. “You’re Gonna Miss This” by Trace Adkins
While not specifically a country funeral song, "You're Gonna Miss This" is sung from the perspective of a father talking to his daughter. He talks about several phases of life, when people tend to be eager to grow up and move on to the next step, and explains that she'll look back and miss it. Many people find it to be a good funeral song, because it focuses on appreciating the life that you have when you have it: "You're gonna want this back / You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast / These are some good times / So take a good look around / You may not know it now / But you're gonna miss this."
7. “Don’t Blink” by Kenny Chesney
"Don't Blink" is another song that focuses on appreciating each moment of your life while you have it. In the song, Kenny Chesney is watching an old man give life advice, and he talks about how biglife events can pass in the blink of an eye. In the second verse, he says, "Best start putting first things first / Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand You can't flip over and start again / Take every breathe God gives you for what it's worth."
6. “If Heaven” by Andy Griggs
The song, "If Heaven" by Andy Griggs focuses on the beauty of Heaven. After lines like "If heaven was an hour, it would be twilight / When the fireflies start their dancin on the lawn / And suppers on the stove, and mammas laughin / And everybody's workin day is done," he sings "If that's what heavens made of / You know what I ain't afraid to die."
5. “The Dance” by Garth Brooks
"The Dance" is one of the most famous country songs and used in many different contexts, including funerals. The song begins by talking about a dance he shared during which everything seemed perfect. The listener soon learns that he lost that person, and in the chorus he sings, "And now, I'm glad I didn't know / The way it all would end, the way it all would go / Our lives are better left to chance / I could have missed the pain, but I'da had to miss the dance." This message can be helpful to remind people that, even though their hurting now, the pain is worth it for the good times they were able to spend with the person they lost.
4. “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” by Justin Moore
In "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" Justin Moore sings about all the things he would do with his deceased loved ones if he could visit them in Heaven. The song ends with, "Losing them wouldn't be so hard to take / If heaven wasn't so far away."
3. “There You’ll Be” by Faith Hill
"There You'll Be" was featured on the Pearl Harbor soundtrack and is a beautiful song about keeping someone with you. In the chorus, she sings, "In my dreams, I'll always see you soar above the sky / In my heart, there will always be a place for you, for all my life / I'll keep a part of you with me / And everywhere I am, there you'll be." This messaging can be a comforting reminder to funeral attendees that they can always keep their loved ones with them in some form.
2. “Drink A Beer” by Luke Bryan
Country singer Luke Bryan was motivated to record "Drink A Beer" after experiencing the loss of two siblings. In the song, he's upset and confused about losing someone, and comforts himself by drinking a beer at the end of the pier, which he used to do with the person he lost. He sings, "Sometimes the greater plan / Is kinda hard to understand / Right now it don't make sense / I can't make it all make sense / So I'm gonna sit right here / On the edge of this pier / Watch the sunset disappear / And drink a beer."
1. “Broken Halos” by Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton wrote "Broken Halos" with Mike Henderson on the same day that he lost a childhood friend to cancer. The song won a Grammy for Best Country Song in 2018. The first chorus gives many people a feeling of comfort, focusing on how their loved ones have moved on to help others: "Angels come down from the heavens / Just to help us on our way / Come to teach us, then they leave us / And they find some other soul to save."
If you want to easily share funeral information with friends and family, consider creating a free memorial website:
