Emotion is at the heart of country music, and it's what makes the genre such a godsend for difficult times. Let these country songs about funerals and losing loved ones speak your grieving words for you. When you don't have the words to say, these mournful country songs can do all the talking.
5 Classic Country Songs to Play at a Funeral
Country music has a long tradition of mourning through song. Embrace your grief through these classic country songs.
Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver
Written in 1970 by Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert, and John Denver, this iconic song isn't about death or dying but rather going home. Take Me Home, Country Roads could easily be interpreted as going home to heaven or whatever peace you envision our souls reach at the end.
I Will Always Love You by Dolly Parton
Country legend Dolly Parton's 1974 hit single is an extremely powerful song. While I Will Always Love You wasn't written about death, her charmed lyrics express the deep love that wells up when you have to say goodbye to someone.
He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones
First released in 1980, George Jones' song He Stopped Loving Her Today tells the tale of a man who never stopped loving a woman until the day he died. Its sentiments are perfect for representing a life full of love.
Go Rest High on That Mountain by Vince Gill
Vince Gill's Grammy-winning song Go Rest High on That Mountain was written after his brother's death and released in 1994. The song acknowledges grief but gives hope for a peaceful afterlife for the deceased.
Go Rest High on That Mountain continues to be a funeral and memorial service staple.
The Dance by Garth Brooks
In the 1990s, Garth Brooks was the king of country, and his hit songs like The Dance still resonate today. This one's sure to hit a soft spot as it talks about having one last dance or moment with the one you loved before they died. The Dance memorializes a life lived to the fullest and is a perfect accompaniment for a celebration of life.
4 Gospel Country Songs to Find Comfort In
Country music is often deeply spiritual, borrowing from gospel tradition and touching on religious themes. If you're grieving a loved one, these spiritually-inspired country songs may give you great comfort.
Just a Closer Walk With Thee by Patsy Cline
Just a Closer Walk With Thee was initially written as a hymn, and country royalty Patsy Cline put her own country-western spin on it. The song touches on the spiritual nature of death and promises an afterlife spent with God.
Angels Among Us by Alabama
Angels Among Us by country crooner band Alabama was released in 1993. The song calls up sweet images of people on Earth being angels sent from Heaven and returning to that place when their time is finished.
You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban
This Josh Groban hit is a new-age country song released in 2002. You Raise Me Up is a powerful ballad that's perfect for honoring the people who've been pillars of strength in your life.
Why Me by Kris Kristofferson
While the song isn't about death on the surface, Kris Kristofferson's song Why Me does conjure up connections to the experience. Lyrics like, "Help me, Jesus, my soul's in your hand," could be the call you need to hear while you mourn.
4 Country & Pop Crossovers for Modern Funeral Services
If there's one thing a country music star loves to do, it's make a pop crossover hit. These crossover songs are ideal for a more modern funeral service.
How Do I Live Without You by LeAnn Rimes
Originally released by country singer LeAnn Rimes and Trisha Yearwood in 1997, How Do I Live reminisces about a person's life with the one they loved. Although it's a love song, it can also reach people who are wondering how they're going to move through their grief.
One More Day by Diamond Rio
Made popular by Diamond Rio in 2000, One More Day is about what you'd do if you had more time with a lost loved one. The song has been used in a variety of memorial services, such as one for racecar driver Dale Earnhardt and at a few 9/11 tributes.
I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack's I Hope You Dance transcends musical genres. It celebrates embracing all that life has to offer through the heart-aching imagery of choosing to dance instead of sitting out on the chance.
Believe by Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn's hit Believe swept the 2006 CMAs, winning Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Video of the Year. The song tells a story about an old neighbor who provided some wise words about life that were best understood after he died.
8 Contemporary Country Songs That Capture Your Feelings
Country music classics have stood the test of time, but these contemporary hits are legends in the making. See your emotions reflected back at you through their haunting lyrics and powerful performances.
Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood puts her faith on full display in the 2009 song Temporary Home, which stresses the importance of remembering that life on Earth is temporary. It's a great choice for someone wanting to highlight the comforting idea of an afterlife.
Go On Without Me by Brett Eldredge
Released in 2013, Brett Eldredge's Go On Without Me serves as a great reminder that your lost loved ones would want you to continue living life to the fullest and that they're still with you every step of the way.
Broken Halos by Chris Stapleton
Broken Halos is a 2017 song by Chris Stapleton about people who died too soon. While the song admits that you can't ever reason with the tragedy, these lost souls come down from their resting place to help others after they've passed.
Drink a Beer by Luke Bryan
Though the title sounds like it'd be a rip-roaring country tune, Luke Bryan's song Drink a Beer is a very touching ballad about coping with an unexpected death. Drink a Beer came out in 2013 and is a great song for funerals or memorial services for friends who have died.
When I Get Where I'm Going by Brad Paisley ft. Dolly Parton
When I Get Where I'm Going by country powerhouses Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton is a lovely song from 2005 about the promise of a joyful afterlife. It's a good song if you want to lean into a hopeful message in your grief.
I Drive Your Truck by Lee Brice
Lee Brices' song I Drive Your Truck chronicles how one man copes with grief by driving a deceased loved one's truck. It's intimate and emotional and can cut right to the heart of someone deep in grief.
If your lost loved one was a member of the military, you may find Tim McGraw's If You're Reading This or Carrie Underwood's Just a Dream particularly resonant.
Don't Blink by Kenny Chesney
Don't Blink by Kenny Chesney was released in 2007 and focuses on how important it is to live every moment to its fullest. Though the message is meant for the living, it's still a powerful song that can speak to those who have gone as well.
If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away by Justin Moore
Justin Moore's If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away is a touching song that speaks to someone's wish to meet with those they've lost. It is a beloved one to play at any funeral or memorial service.
4 Country Funeral Songs to Honor Your Partner
Life may not last forever, but love lives on. Honor your lost spouse, partner, or lover with these achingly beautiful country songs.
Where Do I Put Her Memory by Charley Pride
Charley Pride made an incredible mark on country music history as the first major black male country musician. He captured that crossover magic and launched to superstardom in the 60s and 70s.
His 1978 song, Where Do I Put Her Memory, reflects on the mixed emotions of losing a loved one and struggling to move forward after they've passed. Sure, you can take their things off the bedside table, but you can't scrub their memory from your mind.
If I Die Young by The Band Perry
Released in 2010, this upbeat tune is a nontraditional funeral choice, but it's one that speaks to people all the same. If I Die Young by The Band Perry chronicles the sadness of dying at a young age and can touch the hearts of people who lost someone too soon.
Tell Lorri I Love Her by Keith Whitley
Keith Whitley was an up-and-coming country music star just hitting his stride before his tragic death at 34 years old. But, his country musician widow Lorrie Morgan had his song Tell Lorri I Love Her to soothe the ache from his passing.
This ode to having the love you share for your spouse be the last utterance on your dying breath stands as a powerful testament to the lovers' bond.
In 1994, Lorrie Morgan co-wrote a touching tribute to her experience losing Keith Whitley called If You Came Back From Heaven.
A Picture of Me (Without You) by George Jones
Perfect for anyone feeling the extreme grief that comes with losing a loved one, George Jones's 1972 song A Picture of Me (Without You)speaks to how — even in death — you can't be separated from your loved one's side.
7 Touching Country Funeral Songs for Dad
Losing a parent can be especially difficult. If you've recently lost a father or father figure, these country songs exploring that experience may touch your heart.
Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle
Bob Carlisle's 1997 hit Butterfly Kisses is about a girl's relationship with her father. Because of its storytelling, this song is popular at weddings and funeral services.
Daddy's Hands by Holly Dunn
Holly Dunn's Daddy's Hands is a tribute to all the things dads do for their children and how their love was always felt in their hands. Her song is a sweet tune perfect for commemorating your dad's role in your life.
Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw
Particularly appropriate for a father's funeral, Tim McGraw's 2004 Grammy-winning song Live Like You Were Dying reminds people to enjoy the time they have with the people they love.
You Should Be Here by Cole Swindell
While the song doesn't specifically mention a father, Cole Swindell helped write You Should Be Here after losing his own father. It speaks to the longing and anger that comes with feeling cheated of more time with your loved one.
I'm Already There (Message From Home) by Lonestar
Written from the perspective of a dad who's away from home, I'm Already There by Lonestar reminds spouses and children that the man they love is always with them, even long after he's passed.
He Didn't Have to Be by Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley's He Didn't Have to Be is a great tribute to stepfathers and would be a really personal song for a stepdad's funeral. The song talks about their vital role in making a blended family feel like home.
That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mind by Gene Autry
Unless you grew up on classic country, you probably know Gene Autry best for his smash hit Christmas single Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. While you're probably not in the mood for Christmas tunes at your father's funeral, you might be moved by his 1932 song That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine.
The mournful ballad touches on a feeling we all experience in grief — wanting to "give all I own if I could atone to that silver-haired daddy of mine."
7 Sentimental Country Funeral Songs for Mom
Pay tribute to your mom and the mother figures in your life with these sentimental country songs that treasure that special relationship.
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle by Glenn Campbell
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is a lovely tribute to motherhood. Honor your mother's sacrifices to help you have the best life possible with this charming 80s tune.
I Can't Write That by Jeff Bates
While it's not specifically written for a mother, Jeff Bates' I Can't Write That talks about how hard it is to write a eulogy for a woman you loved who has died. When you can't compress your mom's essence into a few words, let Jeff Bates's song do it for you.
How Can I Help You to Say Goodbye by Patty Loveless
Patty Loveless released How Can I Help You to Say Goodbye in 1993. The tune is about a daughter's life and how her mother helped her overcome obstacles, like saying goodbye to a best friend and a husband. Finally, she teaches her daughter to say goodbye as the mother passes on.
It's this intergenerational lesson-giving that touches so many people today.
There You'll Be by Faith Hill
While it's not written specifically for mothers, Faith Hill's There You'll Be speaks about dearly missing someone who gave you a lot of strength and guidance in your life. You can feel the sentiment that a mother's love always stays with you in the lyrics.
Roses for Mama by C.W. McCall
Roses for Mama is a story about a boy who's lost his mother and an adult reflecting on how to appreciate his living mother more. It's every bit 1970s cheese, opening monologue-style verse and all, and for some, it's just what the doctor ordered.
Can the Circle Be Unbroken by The Carter Family
You can't have a list of country songs without including one hit from the famous Carter Family. Can the Circle Be Unbroken spins a yarn of a mother's funeral and serves up that classic country sound.
Mama Sang a Song by Bill Anderson and The Whites
Mama Sang a Song is a song about a mother who always sang a hymn to her children when things seemed difficult. It's a great tribute to a religious mom and how she helped her family deal with tough times.
5 Country Songs for Your Grandpa's Funeral
Our elders are the ones who shape and mold us, often being the sage ones we go to for advice. These country songs speak to the indelible marks our grandfathers have on our lives.
Grandpa by Justin Moore
If you need a moving song about a grandfather meaning the world to his family, Justin Moore's song Grandpa is just what you need. The song reflects on the role of a grandfather as a mentor and family leader.
I Wish Grandpas Never Died by Riley Green
Riley Green wrote the song I Wish Grandpas Never Died to help him get over his own grandfather's loss. The song recounts all the things he wishes were true in life, especially that grandpas could never leave you — a sentiment most people agree with.
In Color by Jamey Johnson
A great song for a slideshow of a grandfather's life is In Colorby Jamey Johnson. The song chronicles grandfathers showing pictures of their lives to their grandsons. It's a perfect song for playing over a slideshow at a memorial or celebration of life.
He Walked on Water by Randy Travis
Written about a great-grandfather, Randy Travis's He Walked on Water speaks to the sweet sentiment that grandchildren look up to their grandfathers.
Grandpa Told Me So by Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney shares the profound outlook that a grandfather's words are ones to live by even after he's gone in his touching song, Grandpa Told Me So.
5 Country Songs for Your Grandma's Funeral
Grandmothers are the glue that holds families together, and life can feel impossible without them. Cherish their memory with these heartwarming country songs.
My Angel by Kellie Pickler
With lyrics like "My grandmother, my angel," Kellie Pickler pays tribute to the loving nature of her grandmother in My Angel, and you can, too.
Grandma's Hands by Bill Withers
Blues with a country touch, Bill Wither's Grandma's Hands recalls the look of a grandma's hands while also reflecting upon her importance as a role model. After all, there's nothing more powerful than a grandma's hands.
Grandma's Garden by Zac Brown
Zac Brown wrote Grandma's Garden as a tribute to his grandmother. The song notes how grandmas cultivate a family, making it a great choice for a family service.
Love, Me by Collin Raye
Told from the perspective of a grandson and grandfather, Collin Raye's Love, Me is a beautiful song about how grandparents promise to love each other.
Holes in the Floor of Heaven by Steve Wariner
Steve Wariner's song Holes in the Floor of Heaven presents the charming idea that grandmas can look down at you thanks to the holes in heaven's floors. This sweet song also talks about losing a wife and a mother, making it a good choice for many different kinds of funerals.
5 Country Songs for a Lost Sibling or Child
Losing children while they're young or someone as close to you as your sibling can totally rock your world. Help bring it back to center with these heartfelt country songs.
Angels in Waiting by Tammy Cochran
Written for two brothers she lost, Angels in Waiting is a sweet song by Tammy Cochran. She commemorates them with her lyrics, singing that her brothers were angels all along, just waiting for their wings to fly to Heaven.
If Tomorrow Never Comes by Garth Brooks
If Tomorrow Never Comes by Garth Brooks is essentially a love letter from a father to his daughter, revealing just how much he loves her. Many men struggle to express their feelings, and this song can help bridge that gap.
If I Had Only Known by Reba McEntire
While it can also be considered a love song, Reba McEntire's If I Had Only Known talks about a loved one slipping away suddenly. Grappling with a sudden loss is hard on everyone, as Reba attests in her song.
Sissy's Song by Alan Jackson
Sissy's Song by Alan Jackson was written for a woman who was a "daughter, wife, and mother," but the title proves it could be from the perspective of a brother about his sister. It explores how difficult it can be to wrestle with something as unexpected as death.
Clouds by Montgomery Gentry
Montgomery Gentry's song Clouds stands as a tribute to the son and father one of the band members lost. The lyrics talk about imagining your loved ones in the clouds and praying for clouds so you can see them there. It's these small touchstones that we cling to which can bring us the most comfort in grief.
Country Songs Will Bring You Comfort
Whether you're planning a celebration of life or are just looking for solace as you mourn, these country songs will bring you comfort on both your darkest days and your lightest.
