Get to know more about the women who changed the face of rock 'n' roll
'Mary Queen of Arkansas' was one of four songs Bruce Springsteen played during his audition with CBS Records producer John Hammond on May 22, 1972. And to this day it's definitely still the best song about Arkansas.
'North to Alaska' was Johnny Horton's biggest hit, but sadly the country star didn't live to see its success. The song hit no. 1 on the Billboard Country charts just days after he was killed in a car accident in 1960.
Kings of Leon's 'Arizona' is the perfect road trip song, which, despite the title, fails to actually mention Arizona...
Though originally from Florida, Lynyrd Skynyrd became icons all over the South after 'Sweet Home Alabama.' Released in 1974, it's impossible not to sing along!
Symbols of California, The Beach Boys had huge success with the 1965 hit song 'California Girls.'
Townes Van Zandt's folk tune 'Colorado Girl' is all about going out to Denver to find "that lovin' Colorado girl of mine."
George Thorogood has been the First State's chief ambassador of blues rock since the '70s, and 'Delaware Slide' is a true anthem.
'Midnight Train to Georgia' by Gladys Knight and the Pips is a tale from 1973 of a man who finds LA too much and heads back home to Georgia.
You would think that Aerosmith's 'I Live in Connecticut' is somewhat true, but none of the band members live actually there!
Vic Chesnutt's 1991 'Florida' is a tribute that goes: "Florida, Florida, there's no more perfect place to retire from life."
'Blue Hawaii' by Elvis Presley appears in his 1961 movie of the same name, and it promises that "dreams come true in blue Hawaii."
The B-52's scored big with 'Private Idaho.' The love affair between the band and Idaho hasn't died down since the song's 1980 release.
'Iowa (Traveling, Pt. 3)' by Dar Williams made her the beloved of residents of the Hawkeye State. She has also stated that the state occupies a piece of her heart, too.
Originally composed in 1917, '(Back Home Again in) Indiana' went on to become a jazz standard. For many years, Louis Armstrong opened his shows with the track.
Little Willie Littlefield made everyone swing to 'Kansas City' in 1952. It was later rerecorded by Wilbert Harrison in 1959.
The King of Rock ascended his throne after recording his version of Bill Monroe's 'Blue Moon of Kentucky' in 1954.
Brett Eldredge brings in some home state pride with his anthem 'Illinois.' The track was inspired by the rural farming communities near his hometown.
If you're ever going to the easternmost state in the New England region, then it's practically obligatory to listen to 'Going to Main' by the Mountain Goats.
'Maryland' by Vonda Shepard is a melancholic track that's all about coming home... to Maryland.
Released in 1980, 'Louisiana Saturday Night' was one of many country hits by Mel McDaniel.
Featured in their 2006 'Stadium Arcadium' album, 'Especially in Michigan' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers is all about the home state of front man Anthony Kiedis.
Released in 1967, 'Massachusetts' is one of the earlier tracks by the Bee Gees. It later appeared on their 1968 album, 'Horizontal.'
A native of Ridgeland, Mississippi, Faith Hill puts her Magnolia pride front and center on her track 'Mississippi Girl.'
While indie rock band Low is in fact from Duluth, Minnesota, they do have a song called 'Missouri.'
'Nebraska' is the title song of Bruce Springsteen's 1982 solo album. Accompanied only by acoustic guitar and harmonica, the song is sung as the narrative of Charles Starkweather, who along with his girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate murdered 11 people in 1958.
Featured in Billy Joel's second album, 'Piano Man' (1973), 'Stop in Nevada' is all about a woman leaving her man. She heads out west to California, but will first make a "stop in Nevada."
In Frank Zappa's 'Montana,' he claimed, "I might be movin' to Montana soon." But he never did.
Tom Waits is famous for his raspy voice and musical experimentation that mixes vaudeville, blues, and jazz. His 'Jersey Girl' is about the sweet joy of being in love with a girl from New Jersey.
In Johnny Cash's 'New Mexico,' a cow puncher kindly invites him to spend the summer in New Mexico, only to encounter a troublesome time with hail storms, thistles, and Indians.
According to Sonic Youth's 'New Hampshire,' "B.B. King just turns on The New Hampshire boys."
Frank Sinatra redefined music history with his iconic recording of '(Theme From) New York, New York.' It's simply a classic!
James Taylor was born in Boston, but spent much of his childhood in North Carolina. He was on a vacation in Ibiza, Spain, when he said he kept getting homesick. He then wrote 'Carolina in My Mind' in 1968.
Lyle Lovett is a Texan, but he's beloved in the Roughrider State for his 1992 track 'North Dakota.'
'Pennsylvania Polka' is a polka song written by Lester Lee and Zeke Manners in 1942. However, it was Frankie Yankovic who made it successful.
About a road trip though the state, 'Ohio' by Modest Mouse declares, "this place is flatter than it seems."
Released by rapper Lil Yachty in 2016, 'Minnesota' will let you know that things can get "cold like Minnesota."
Loretta Lynn's 'Portland, Oregon' is a sweet country duet with Jack White about the oh-so-hip city.
Miranda Lambert is a hero in her home state of Oklahoma, and her song 'Oklahoma Sky' is obviously a local anthem.
Penned by composer Arthur Schwartz and lyricist Howard Dietz, Blossom Dearie's rendition of 'Rhode Island is Famous for You' is truly charming.
Recorded by General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board in 1980, 'Carolina Girls' has become part of both the South Carolina and North Carolina culture.
Yelawolf was raised by a bartending single mom in Alabama and moved throughout Tennessee as a kid. The rapper's 'Tennessee Love' is a tribute to his background.
Another state song by the Bee Gees, 'South Dakota Morning' consists of sunshine, rain, and eagles.
Camper Van Beethoven's 'History of Utah' shows that the California band not all that in the know about the history of the 45th state. At least it's a nice rock jam!
Waylon Jennings and his longtime collaborator Willie Nelson made an instant anthem with the release of 'Luckenbach, Texas' in 1977. And Texans still love it!
Another state song in Frank Sinatra's repertoire, 'Moonlight in Vermont' was a big hit for him in 1958. But it was introduced by Margaret Whiting in 1944 and was popular with American troops serving in World War II, as it depicted a classic American scene.
Jazz singer Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. sings a heartfelt tribute to his home state of West Virginia in 'Come Home to West Virginia.'
John Denver's 'Song of Wyoming' is about a homesick man who hears the coyote and the canyon cottonwood singing.
See also: Sun-drenched songs about California
'Virginia Moon' by the Foo Fighters is a love anthem to the state, and front man Dave Grohl truly loves it. Not only did the rock icon grow up in Springfield, Virginia, but Virginia is also his mother's name.
Originally from the Badger State, indie rock band Bon Iver jams about their home state in the 2007 song 'Wisconsin.'
Known for his blend of folk and rock, Matt Nathanson's 'Washington State Fight Song' isn't your usual state tribute.
From east to west, and north to south, the US has produced some of the best songs in the world. And many of these tunes have been written about the nation itself. Or, more specifically, about the different states. With artists singing about their birthplaces and songwriters telling wild tales about cowboys, these songs will allow you to travel around the whole country.
Click on to discover 50 tracks that capture the spirit of America like nothing else.
The best songs for each US state
Songs as varied and colorful as the country’s culture!
MUSIC Tunes
From east to west, and north to south, the US has produced some of the best songs in the world. And many of these tunes have been written about the nation itself. Or, more specifically, about the different states. With artists singing about their birthplaces and songwriters telling wild tales about cowboys, these songs will allow you to travel around the whole country.
Click on to discover 50 tracks that capture the spirit of America like nothing else.