The 5 Best Duets In Country Rock History

Country rock, as a genre, is at its best when we can hear the gritty, raw emotion of a song's architect or architects, and this effect can be heightened when two artists are giving one song their all. These duets bring together some of country and classic rock 'n' roll music's most talented artists, who blend their differing styles in unforgettable tracks and moments. A duet can bring an electric energy to a song, even one that was first intended to be recorded solo, and it's thanks to these accomplished collaborators that these songs are incredibly full of life.

Though country rock's best era or eras are debatable, these songs center on the 1970s, with some peeks back into the '60s as well as forward into the '80s. We'll hear from one-of-a-kind artists like Bob Dylan, who revisited an earlier song with a legendary collaborator, as well as rock 'n' roll mainstays like Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty. These five songs make country rock feel as electric as ever, blending the soul and the spirit of rock 'n' roll with the heart of country. Thanks to standout vocals and iconic lyrics, these songs have cemented their place as the best duets in the history of country rock.

This memorable duo released a collaborative album in January of 1978, but the lead single was instantly iconic. "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" was a pure and classic take on country from the likes of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, showcasing the legends' ease of hitmaking in this anthemic song. It wasn't a breakaway hit on the Billboard Hot 100, but it still reached a respectable No. 42 in the spring of '78 during a 10-week chart stint, though it became a country staple in the years that followed.

"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" finds Nelson and Jennings in a carefree blend of easy listening and thought-provoking, and though the song feels at times silly, it leaves an interesting taste of the artists' takes on their careers. The two singers, blending their complementary warm and more nasal tones, belt together a feel-good sounding chorus that captures a unique sentiment: "Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys / Don't let 'em pick guitars or drive them old trucks / Let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such / Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys / 'Cause they'll never stay home and they're always alone / Even with someone they love." Musically, it's as excellent as any country rock hit, and leaves a depth that many listens can unravel.

Two singers from essential classic rock bands, Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, collide on this uptempo country-rock jam that stands as one of the best tracks of its era. "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" brings the latter band with it, including singer Tom Petty, in collaboration with a solo-performing Stevie Nicks. The song was Nicks' biggest ever as a solo act, reaching the No. 3 spot on the U.S. charts for six weeks in the early fall of 1981 during 21 total weeks of top 100 placement.

"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" allows both singers to shine, taking on an almost sultry sound over a slow-rocking groove. The back-and-forth of Nicks' vocals and Petty's pre-choruses adds a sizzling charm to the building story, which culminates in its hook. With the pair's vocals combining in the song's chorus (which does change after its first repetition), there's a memorable bow on top of the performance: "Baby, you could never look me in the eye / Yeah, you buckle with the weight of the word / Stop draggin' my, stop draggin' my / Stop draggin' my heart around." It's a fun and easy listen — and even more of a boon that these two rock legends came together for such a song.

Not every country rock duet has to be a good and upbeat time, and this soft ballad stands out as perhaps the most heartfelt song on this list. "Love Hurts" brings together the influential Gram Parsons with the mesmerizing Emmylou Harris, who brings further explosiveness to the timeless genre in their sweet serenades on this cover song. Though the song did not feature on any major chart upon its 1974 release on Parsons' album "Grievous Angel," it's a deep cut with an unavoidable energy and has since become the most popular song of Parsons' discography on Spotify.

"Love Hurts" is simple in its title, but the two singers flesh out the depth of the melancholic statement through cutthroat lyrics and moving vocals. Harris and Parsons' voices pair effortlessly together, and their delivery of each line and section feels live and raw: "Some fools think of happiness / Blissfulness, togetherness / Some fools fool themselves, I guess / But they're not fooling me / I know it isn't true / Know it isn't true / Love is just a lie / Made to make you blue / Love hurts / Mmm, mmm, love hurts." There's a strength lying in the almost hopeless wailing, and there would be no better duo to deliver this track than Parsons and Harris. It's an extremely impressive duet, even put against any competition, and certainly is the cream of the crop in country rock.

This iconic song was first made famous as a solo record by its original artist in the early '60s, but a new album, a new style, and a new collaborator gave the record a second life that may have even surpassed its original edition. "Girl from the North Country" is one of Bob Dylan's finest works as a lyricist, bringing to life a timeless longing for a person and a place that are no more. Johnny Cash and his tender, masculine voice are a perfect complement to Dylan's 1969 crooning, making for a duet that's as sweet as any song either artist ever put out.

Though the song did not chart on its own, it was a major supporter in the album, "Nashville Skyline," reaching No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in May of '69. "Girl from the North Country" features an enduring beauty that is enhanced exponentially by the combined efforts of Cash and Dylan, who pair together flawlessly as they go back and forth on the song's verses.

The opening verse in particular is especially enhanced with the addition of Cash, whose vocal warmth takes center stage: "If you're travelin' in the north country fair / Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline / Please say hello (Remember me) to the one who lives there / For she once was a true love of mine." "Girl from the North Country" is a standout song of the '60s, and absolutely stands at the very top of any duet ever bridging country and rock 'n' roll music.

Carly Simon, best known for her breakout early '70s hit "You're So Vain," brought together a romantic collaborator for this 1974 track, which partially reinvents an older song. "Mockingbird" carried special significance for Simon and James Taylor, who were expecting a child, and soared into a major success, peaking at No. 5 in the spring of 1974 during 16 total weeks on the charts. The upbeat song brought an almost goofy but certainly genuine energy to a complicated relationship, with its honky tonk and rock roots finding a unique and compelling sound.

Taylor and Simon both sing the majority of "Mockingbird," though sometimes taking on different lyrics simultaneously, which culminates in its memorable chorus: "Everybody have you heard / He's gonna buy me a mockingbird / And if that mockingbird won't sing / He's gonna buy me a diamond ring / And if that diamond ring won't shine / He's gonna surely break this heart of mine / And that's why I keep on tellin' everybody." "Mockingbird" doesn't delve into the complex emotions and heartbreak of some of the other songs on this list, but it shows off perhaps the best of carefree country rock across its four-minute runtime, and is a song absolutely worth revisiting from country rock's '70s heyday.