The Academy of Country Music published a 17-song list featuring ACM Decade Award winners: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw3kNjkw2MQLh0OBgvxACOhn42pONqOBs
CMT published “Twenty-Two Defining Moments of the Decade in Country Music” http://www.cmt.com/news/1815956/twenty-two-defining-moments-of-the-decade-in-country-music/
Let’s take a look back at Billboard’s Hot Country Songs charts for each year.
2010: https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/hot-country-songs
Lee Brice has the top song, Luke Bryan number two, Josh Turner the number 3 and 4 songs, and Chris Young number 5. Joe Nichols and Clay Walker each have a song in the top ten, also. Chris Stapleton has writing credits on the number 9 and 15 songs. He also released a bluegrass album with the Steeldrivers September 2010 and a southern rock album with the Jompson Brothers November 2010.
2011: https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/hot-country-songs
Eli Young Band, Jake Owen, Rodney Atkins, Chris Young, and The Band Perry have the top five. The Band Perry certainly changed their sound a lot over the decade. George Strait has number 11.
2012: https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/hot-country-songs
Josh Turner, Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer, Dustin Lynch, and Gloriana have the top five. George Strait checks in at number 42 with a Stapleton writing credit.
2013: https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-country-songs
Florida-Georgia Line, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton ft Pistol Annies, Luke Bryan, and Hunter Hayes have the top five. George Strait checks in at number 27.
2014: https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/hot-country-songs
FGL, Jason Aldean, FGL again, Brantley Gilbert, and Luke Bryan have the top five. Stapleton has a writing credit for Luke Bryan at 11.
2015: https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/hot-country-songs
Sam Hunt, Little Big Town, Sam Hunt again, Luke Bryan, and Thomas Rhett (Stapleton writing credit) have the top five. Stapleton checks in at 89 with Tennessee Whiskey, despite no airplay.
2016: https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-country-songs
FGL, Thomas Rhett, Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, and Jon Pardi have the top five. Chris Stapleton checks in at 36, 62, and 63, despite marginal radio support.
2017: https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/hot-country-songs
Sam Hunt, Brett Young, Luke Combs, Kane Brown ft Lauren Alaina, and Dustin Lynch have the top 5. Chris Stapleton checks in at 58, 86, 89, and 98, again without much radio support.
2018: https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/hot-country-songs
Bebe Rexha & FGL, Kane Brown, Dan+Shay, Jason Aldean, and Thomas Rhett have the top five. Chris Stapleton checks in at number 15, as radio grudgingly allowed Broken Halos to limp to the crest of the airplay chart after months of slow play.
2019: https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-country-songs
Morgan Wallen, Dan+Shay, Blake Shelton, and two Luke Combs songs are the top five. Stapleton checks in at number 40.
I’ll close today’s post with Billboard’s decade-end chart for country albums: https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/top-country-albums
Robert's Country Blog 