Jackson Dean comes across as a deep well of country and rock music and emotion, but his personal playlist couldn't be brighter.

The "Heavens to Betsy" singer is one of two guests on this week's Taste of Country Nights, on Demand podcast. Host Evan Paul wrapped an insightful interview with something a bit more playful.

"I like obscure things," he said.

Specifically, Dean says he's really into a female-led soul band out of Brooklyn called Say She She.

"They’re doing doo-wop and it’s incredible," he gushes.

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Maybe we're guilty of judging a book by its cover, but Jackson Dean doesn't seem like a doo-wop kind of guy. However, when pressed further he explains his love of harmonies — especially in country music — and suddenly it fits.

"We all sing five-part harmony in my band, which is a really heavy thing," he says. "Harmonies throughout country music have been so crucial. Think of any duet that you ever heard in the country genre. You’re like, these are two laser beams coming to make one."

"Heavens to Betsy" is close to becoming Dean's first No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. The song's 60-week run on the radio chart has allowed him time to process the emotions of hearing someone else's story.

"People come up to me all the time and are like, 'Man I'm pretty sure my dad's spirit was in the room when you wrote this. Hearing that as a 25-year-old is a lot to handle," he says.

"Sometimes you just gotta be there and listen and look them in the eye and tell them, 'It's okay.'"

"Heavens to Betsy" is from Dean's On the Back of My Dreams album (2024). He says he hopes to have a new album ready in 2026.

The Top 26 Country Songs of 2025, Ranked

The Top 25 Country Songs of 2025 list is not a roll out of the biggest radio hits of the year. Original duets, Christian cross-overs, meaningful deep cuts and breakout independent artists also help shape the year's best.

The Top 5 songs on this list rely on meaningful lyrics and an original arrangement. A great hook and popular presentation just isn't going to get it done any longer and a few artists (Zach Top, Jelly Roll, Ella Langley) have figured that out X2.

Airplay charts, sales data and streaming numbers helped make this list of country music's Top 25 songs of 2025, but staff and Taste of Country reader opinion were also influential.

Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes

40 Most-Played Country Songs of 2025

These are the 40 most-played country songs of 2025, per Billboard, a music industry service that monitors airplay in over 150 markets.

Leading the way is Jelly Roll and Morgan Wallen with three songs each in the Top 40. Post Malone, Shaboozey and Jordan Davis have two each.

This list was updated to reflect the year-end 2025 chart.

Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes

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