I never thought I’d say this, but here I am — a country music convert. I even have, gasp, a Spotify playlist my kids aptly titled “Mom – Country.”Before becoming a mom, my playlists were filled with hip hop, R&B, and ’90s throwbacks. Country music? I thought it was all trucks, beer, and heartbreak. Cheesy, monotonous, and definitely not for me. Enter the “then, I had kids” plot twist.
Suddenly, those emotional country song lyrics started to feel — dare I say — relatable?
There’s a simplicity in the way country music tells a story. It’s not trying to be clever or cryptic; it just says what it means. This used to annoy me, but when you’re in the thick of motherhood — sleep-deprived, heart open, and trying to find your footing — that kind of honesty can strike a chord.
I remember hearing a song one morning during a 5 a.m. feeding. It was about a parent watching their child grow up too fast, and before I knew it, I was rocking my newborn in tears. The intensity of this season — the exhaustion, the love, the fear, the joy — had been put into words. And it didn’t stop there. I started relating to the stories about small towns, strong women, messy families, and ordinary moments made sacred.
Country music doesn’t gloss over emotion. It lives in it. And for a new mom navigating the highs and lows of raising a human, that felt like both a comfort and a lifeline.
Now, in addition to my hip hop/R&B favorites, my car rides are filled with the voices of Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, and Zach Bryan. Let’s be honest: motherhood is basically one long country song. There’s laughter, tears, probably some wine, and somebody’s always waking up in a different bed.
