Four country hits released in 1997 remain familiar touchstones for listeners who grew up in the 1990s:

– Martina McBride’s “A Broken Wing”, from Evolution, is highlighted for its empowering portrayal of a woman leaving a dysfunctional relationship.
– Garth Brooks’s “Longneck Bottle”, from Sevens and written by Steve Wariner and Rick Carnes, is presented as a lively drinking-song anthem.
– Clay Walker’s “Rumor Has It”, co-written with M. Jason Greene, became a number-one single and was Walker’s final chart-topper.
– George Strait’s “One Night At A Time”, from Carrying Your Love With Me, was one of his 60 number-one singles; the album produced two further chart leaders.