Every March, as basketball fans across the nation gear up for the NCAA’s March Madness, country music enthusiasts have their own bracket tournament to look forward to: Country Central’s Country Madness. Since its inception, this annual event has engaged followers by pitting the best of country music against one another in a battle for supremacy. In previous years, the tournament focused on artists (with Zach Bryan being the undefeated champion two years running). However, in 2025, Country Central is shaking things up with a fresh twist—64 iconic country albums will face off in a bracket-style competition. Divided into four regions representing the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s, this year’s Country Madness promises to be a nostalgic and competitive battle through country music’s most influential decades. Voting starts today, so hop on our Instagram now to make your voice heard!
The 2025 Country Madness Bracket: A Decade-by-Decade Breakdown
The 2025 Country Madness bracket features 64 albums, with 16 albums representing each of the four decades: the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. Each region showcases a mix of groundbreaking records that have left an indelible mark on country music, from mainstream smashes to grassroots favorites. Let’s take a closer look at the albums in each region and their first-round matchups.
1990s Region
The 1990s were a golden era for country music, marked by the rise of megastars like Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, and Alan Jackson. This region of the bracket is packed with albums that defined the decade’s sound, and all that delicious twang that folks love to reminisce on. The albums in our first-round matchups are:
- 1. Come On Over – Shania Twain vs. 16. Trisha Yearwood – Trisha Yearwood
- 8. Starting Over – Reba McEntire vs. 9. A Lot About Livin’ – Alan Jackson
- 5. Blue Clear Sky – George Strait vs. 12. Alibis – Tracy Lawrence
- 4. Everywhere – Tim McGraw vs. 13. Third Rock From the Sun – Joe Diffie
- 6. Breathe – Faith Hill vs. 11. I Still Believe In You – Vince Gill
- 3. Wide Open Spaces – The Dixie Chicks vs. 14. Full Circle – Randy Travis
- 7. Blue – LeAnn Rimes vs. 10. Brand New Man – Brooks & Dunn
- 2. No Fences – Garth Brooks vs. 15. John Michael Montgomery – John Michael Montgomery
2000s Region
The 2000s saw country music evolve with a mix of traditional sounds and contemporary influences as artists like Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean rose to fame. This region features albums that dominated the charts and cable TV award shows. The matchups include:
- 1. The Foundation – Zac Brown Band vs. 16. The Man I Want to Be – Chris Young
- 8. Your Man – Josh Turner vs. 9. Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
- 5. American IV: The Man Comes Around – Johnny Cash vs. 12. Be Here – Keith Urban
- 4. Unleashed – Toby Keith vs. 13. Revolution – Miranda Lambert
- 6. Me and My Gang – Rascal Flatts vs. 11. Doin’ Something Right – Billy Currington
- 3. Wide Open – Jason Aldean vs. 14. If You’re Going Through Hell – Rodney Atkins
- 7. When the Sun Goes Down – Kenny Chesney vs. 10. Mud On the Tires – Brad Paisley
- 2. Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood vs. 15. Here For the Party – Gretchen Wilson
2010s Region
The 2010s brought a new wave of country artists who pushed the genre’s boundaries, incorporating elements of pop, rock, and folk with the advent of social media. This region highlights albums that defined the decade’s sound. The first-round matchups are:
- 1. This One’s For You – Luke Combs vs. 16. Noise Complaint – Koe Wetzel
- 8. The Band Perry – The Band Perry vs. 9. Purgatory – Tyler Childers
- 5. Crash My Party – Luke Bryan vs. 12. Based On a True Story – Blake Shelton
- 4. Here’s To The Good Times – Florida Georgia Line vs. 13. Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
- 6. Montevallo – Sam Hunt vs. 11. Kane Brown – Kane Brown
- 3. California Sunrise – Jon Pardi vs. 14. True Believers – Darius Rucker
- 7. Tangled Up – Thomas Rhett vs. 10. Chief – Eric Church
- 2. Traveller – Chris Stapleton vs. 15. Riser – Dierks Bentley
2020s Region
The 2020s region features the newest albums in the bracket, showcasing the current state of country music with artists who are redefining the genre right now. The matchups include:
- 1. One Thing At a Time – Morgan Wallen vs. 16. Gold Chain Cowboy – Parker McCollum
- 8. A Rock – HARDY vs. 9. Goldmine – Gabby Barrett
- 5. Bluebird Days – Jordan Davis vs. 12. Lucky – Megan Moroney
- 4. Religiously. The Album. – Bailey Zimmerman vs. 13. Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson
- 6. Good Things – Dan + Shay vs. 11. Livin’ My Best Life – Dylan Scott
- 3. F-1 Trillion – Post Malone vs. 14. Flower Shops – ERNEST
- 7. Hey World – Lee Brice vs. 10. Human – Cody Johnson
- 2. Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan vs. 15. Restless Mind – Sam Barber
How Country Madness Works
The Country Madness tournament follows a single-elimination bracket format, much like March Madness. Each round, fans vote on their favorite album in each matchup via Country Central’s Instagram story. The album with the most votes advances to the next round, while the other is eliminated. The tournament progresses through several stages, with specific dates for each round in 2025:
- March 17th: Bracket announcement and Round 1 (Country Madness Round 1).
- March 19th: Round 1 winners announced, bracket updated, Round 2 announced (Country Madness Round 2).
- March 21nd: Round 2 winners announced, bracket updated, Round 3 (Sweet 16) announced (Country Madness Round 3).
- March 24nd: Round 3 winners announced, bracket updated, Round 4 (Elite Eight) announced (Country Madness Round 4).
- March 26rd: Round 4 winners announced, bracket updated, Round 5 (Final Four) announced (Country Madness Round 5).
- March 28th: Round 5 winners announced, bracket updated, Round 6 (Championship) announced (Country Madness Round 6).
- March 30th: Round 6 winners announced, final bracket revealed, and the 2025 Country Madness champion is crowned.
Whether you’re rooting for a ‘90s classic, a 2000s chart-topper, or a 2020s breakout, your vote can help determine the greatest country album of all time. So starting today, hop on our Instagram and cast your vote; the power is in your hands!
