This Top 10 Josh Turner Songs list serves as a showcase for some of the best Josh Turner songs like “Long Black Train,” “Your Man” and many more. While growing up in a South Carolina church, Josh Turner formed a gospel quartet, Thankful Hearts, where he and his fellow singers entertained the Christian audience until 1996. At nineteen years old, Turner was temporarily sidelined from singing after sustaining a throat-related medical issue that required his baritone vocal cord to heal. During the year he rested he learned how to better control his singing voice as a means to avoid future issues that could hinder his potential career as a singer.
Once recovered, Turner relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, in hopes of further pursuing his music career. While there, he attended Belmont University, meeting Jennifer Ford as a fellow student who became his wife as of 2003. She has performed and toured with him as a backup singer and keyboardist. She has been instrumental in Josh Turner’s development as a singer-songwriter, as well as a fellow Christian, as the two have grown together while he struggled to earn a name for himself in the music industry as soon as he graduated from college.
After College
With college now behind him, Josh Turner earned his first big break in the music industry after making his debut on the Grand Old Opry during the Christmas season of 2001. Less than two years later, he debuted his first studio album through MCA Nashville Records, titled Long Black Train. It became his first certified platinum recording with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). That album produced three hit singles, including the title track which also became certified platinum, and placed Turner on the country music radar as a world-class recording artist full of promise.
In 2006, his follow-up album, Your Man, earned Turner a double-platinum certification, proving to the music industry he was more than just some one-hit-wonder. Everything Is Fine was his third album, which was released in 2007, then followed by Haywire in 2010. Both albums became certified gold by the RIAA. Since then, five more studio albums have been recorded, which brings the total to nine overall. The ninth studio album, King Sized Manger, is Josh Turner’s first Christmas album, which was released on October 8, 2021. Each of them has been with the label, MCA Nashville Records, as well as his RIAA-certified gold compilation album, Icon.
Live at the Ryman and Live Across America, are two live albums recorded by Josh Turner that were released exclusively through the Cracker Barrel chain of restaurants and gift stores. This is the same Cracker Barrel known for the production of grocery store products and its close association with an impressive roster of country music artists, as well as its conservative values.
More About Josh Turner
Although Josh Turner makes it no secret he is a Christian, questions have come about why he has chosen a career as a recording artist for the country music industry instead of catering to the gospel genre. His explanation is the path he feels God wants him to be on is the one he is on now. Gospel singers already cater to an audience that follows Jesus Christ as it is. Fans of country music, and sometimes rock music, are broader-based between believers and non-believers where Turner can lyrically deliver his message across without sounding preachy. Many country artists delivered messages of all faiths like Garth Brooks, Martina McBride, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and so on. The fact that Josh Turner has been able to produce crossover hits since the beginning of his career in 2003 seems to suggest the path he is on has been the correct one all this time.
Top 10 Josh Turner Songs
#10 – Everything Is Fine
The self-reflective single, “Everything Is Fine” was Josh Turner’s thoughtful narration of a man going through the motions as he balances between his personal and professional life experiences. From the album of the same name, “Everything Is Fine” peaked at number twenty on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 2008. The acoustic beauty of this amazing song, combined with Turner’s baritone vocals, simply laid out the tale of life in the country and how much it is appreciated as he embraces all the gifts the Lord has bestowed upon him.
#9 – Firecracker
According to Josh Turner, he sees his love interest as a “Firecracker” due to her explosive personality. On the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, it was a number two hit and peaked as high as number fifty on the US Billboard Hot 100 as one of many singles performed by Turner which became a crossover success. On the RPM Canadian Country Tracks chart, it climbed as high as number eight and it was the first of Turner’s singles to also appear on the Canadian Hot 100 as it peaked at number seventy-eight. “Firecracker” also became certified gold by the RIAA and was the first of three hit singles from his third studio album, Everything Is Fine. “Firecracker” is one of those awesome songs to cause a listener to light up and perhaps kick it up on the dance floor.
#8 -Time Is Love
“Time Is Love” was a song featuring Josh Turner preferring to stay at home with his love interest rather than work at a job that keeps him away from her. On the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and on the US Billboard Country Airplay chart, it was a number two hit. On the RPM Canadian Country Tracks chart, it peaked as high as number fourteen and was a crossover hit with the US Billboard Hot 100 at number forty-four and on the Canadian Hot 100 at number ninety-two.
“Time Is Love” was a contemporary country performance that saw Turner’s baritone vocals continue to impress as it became yet another RIAA-certified platinum seller for the recording artist who certainly mastered his craft as someone who loves what he does. It was the first of two singles from the album, Punching Bag, which was released in 2012 just shy of the summer season. “Time Is Love,” as well as the album as a whole, featured material that focused on a person’s daily struggle to contend with the world’s expectations in order to make ends meet while still trying to make enough time to stay close to who and what matters most.
#7 – Hometown Girl
In 2016, “Hometown Girl” became a number two hit for Josh Turner on the US Billboard Country Airplay chart and a number five hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. On the RPM Canadian Country Tracks chart it peaked as high as number five and was, so far, the final crossover hit into the US Billboard Hot 100 at number fifty-six. “Hometown Girl” also became Turner’s sixth RIAA-certified platinum seller and is featured on his sixth studio album, Deep South.
“Hometown Girl” was a fantastic portrayal of a narrator appreciating his love interest who lives in the same community as he does and sharing the same down-to-earth values as he does. For a man who wishes to express to his high school sweetheart how much she means to him, this would be it.
#6 – All Over Me
From 2012’s Punching Bag album was Josh Turner’s number one hit single, “All Over Me.” Not only did it top the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart but on the US Billboard Country Airplay chart as well. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it also peaked at number fifty-nine and was a number fifteen hit on the RPM Canadian Country Tracks chart. Rich with playful banjo, guitar, and piano fun, “All Over Me” is one of those cool summer tunes to play and take in this easy-listening favorite while Turner performs with his distinguishable baritone.
#5 – Would You Go with Me
“Would You Go with Me” became the second number one hit in Josh Turner’s career as a recording artist on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It also became a number forty-three hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and a number five hit on the RPM Canadian Country Tracks chart. It also made an appearance on New Zealand’s Heatseekers chart at number six. Since then, “Would You Go with Me” also became certified platinum by the RIAA twice over.
It was the second of three hit singles from Turner’s best-selling album to date, Your Man, and remains one of the all-time favorites among country music fans who also happen to be romantics at heart, just like Turner himself. However, if you’re looking for a slow dance song, “Would You Go with Me” isn’t it. This is a kick it up and arm swing around classic that can also serve as an awesome proposal song for somebody looking to pop that one question to that special someone in hopes of a marital union that will last a lifetime.
#4 – Why Don’t We Just Dance
On the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and the RPM Canadian Country Tracks chart, “Why Don’t We Just Dance” became another number one hit single for Josh Turner. It was also a number thirty-five hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 as well as second occasion one of his hit singles became a double-certified platinum seller with the RIAA. The acoustic and lyrical invite by Turner to simply dance the troubles away together is too irresistible to turn down. Catchy and entertaining, “Why Don’t We Just Dance” was the first of three hit singles from Turner’s album, Haywire, and is certainly a better alternative than just sitting and watching television.
#3 – Your Man
“Your Man” was the first number one hit single in Josh Turner’s career on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and became certified platinum three times by the RIAA after it was released in 2005. It also became a number thirty-eight hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and a number two hit on the RPM Canadian Country Tracks chart.
This beautiful love song was a huge favorite among country music fans as it was often picked by newlyweds as their first dance together as man and wife before their wedding guests. Although “Your Man” was released as a single in 2005, it is already a timeless classic which has also won an American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) award and a Broadcast Music Industry (BMI) award.
#2 – Me and God (featuring Ralph Stanley)
“Me and God” was among Josh Turner’s most impressionable hits throughout the music industry, especially in the genres of country and gospel. Performed as a duet with Ralph Stanley, the Inspirational Country Music Awards chose “Me and God” as Song of the Year, as well as earning Turner’s second win as Songwriter of the Year and Mainstream Country Artist. Among Christian fans, this is a song they can relate to should they follow the exact same path as Turner.
“Me and God” remains one of the most inspirational songs, especially among listeners who may have personal struggles that seem like deliberate attacks against them by a cruel and relentless world. On the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, “Me and God” peaked at number sixteen and also made an appearance on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number ninety-eight.
#1 – Long Black Train
On the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, “Long Black Train” became a number thirteen hit and was also a seventy-two hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. This country gospel song was a lyrical work of beauty as Josh Turner, which was an inspiration after he personally experienced a vision revolving around a long black train that was treading down a lonely track that showed no sign of urban development. In the vision, there were people standing on opposite sides of the track, watching what he referenced as a train of temptation speed by.
“Long Black Train” is a prophetic-style song that beautifully mixed a classic country vibe with a clear message that easily grabs the attention of Christian believers and perhaps wins over a few non-believers who may not have given the gospel much thought until now. In 2004, “Long Black Train” earned three wins for Turner from the Inspirational Country Music Awards, namely for Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Mainstream Country Artist.
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