Everyone Raise A Frosty Cold One To These Top Tailgate Tunes!

Country music has long celebrated the spoils of life, love, and friendship, making it the perfect genre to blast at any party—especially if said soirée happens to take place before your favorite sporting event.

But with so many songs at your disposal, it can be hard to even know where to start when putting together the perfect tailgating playlist. Fear not! We've done all the work for you, so strap on your boots, crack open a cold one, turn the living room—or stadium parking lot—into your own personal country western saloon, and let the line-dancing begin!

For even more songs that inspire the best of times, watch the 51st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday, April 3 at 8/7c. 

Photo: © Debby Wong/Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: Who wouldn't want to have Luke Bryan at their bash? (The answer: no one.) Better yet, who wouldn't want to have this Entertainer Of The Year nominee serenading them and 15 of their closest friends before The Big Game? (Again, the answer: no one.)

For those reasons alone, "Drunk On You" is the perfect song to listen to while kicking back and watching your home team kick butt. 

Photo: © Debby Wong/Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: Miracles happen, but chances are slim that we'll get to party alongside Sam Hunt. Thankfully, blasting "House Party" at remarkably high volumes, closing our eyes, and envisioning the handsome former football player is standing next to us qualifies as a close second.

Photo: © Daniel DeSlover/ZUMA Press/Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: Where our Redneck Romeos at? After you've worked all week, there's no better song to help you cut loose and indulge in some Saturday night festivities than Jason Aldean's "My Kinda Party." 

Photo: © Tim Mosenfelder/Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: When the coed gang gathers to watch the big fight, big game, or whatever other big sporting event that happens to be in season, it wouldn't be unusual to find the guys glued to the TV. But some ladies might be less interested in first downs and more excited to have a private powwow in the kitchen. If so, then Shania Twain's no-nonsense anthem is the perfect tune to kick up your heels away from the fellas—or potentially in the end zone!

Photo: © Photos: © Retna Ltd./Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: At its core, Zac Brown Band's "Chicken Fried" reminds us that, sometimes, the best things in life are the simple ones—like a cold beer, a pair of jeans that fit perfectly, and a bucket overflowing with deep-battered poultry. Someone pass the napkins.

Photo: © Chris Schwegler/Retna Ltd./Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: Got a friend who's nursing a broken heart, but you can't find the right words to make him—or her—feel better? Let Eric Church sing all the things you wish you could say, mainly that there's nothing a 12-pack of frosty cold ones can't fix. With those wise words, your friend won't be blue for long. Trust.

Photo: © Debby Wong/Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: According to Little Big Town, nighttime isn't always the right time! That's why "Day Drinking" is the perfect song to kick off a sunlit shindig, whether you're partaking in pre-game tailgates, family barbecues, or just taking a quick dip in the community pool. Just make sure you find out what kind of open-container laws exist in your city before taking the tune too literally.

Photo: © GDP Photos/ MediaPunch/Mediapunch/Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: What peanut butter is to jelly, "Boot Scootin' Boogie" is to line-dancing. In other words, this Brooks & Dunn classic is synonymous with having a good ol' time, especially if the celebration involves a Bartender's Stomp or Cowboy Charleston.

Photo: © James Palmer./Retna Ltd./Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: Unlike some food establishments that have a strict "no shirt, no shoes, no service" policy, Jake Owen's "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" bucks those kind of apparel constrictions and encourages people to kick back in a lawn chair, toss off whatever footgear confines you, and celebrate all the carefree things summer has to offer. 

© Debby Wong/Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: When it comes to the best blowouts, sometimes it's about the journey, not the destination—and that's why this Lee Brice song holds a special place in our tailgate-loving hearts. 

Photo: © Amy Harris/Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: Even if you're a self-proclaimed wallflower, it's hard not to gravitate toward the spotlight when this Florida Georgia Line feel-good anthem starts blasting on the stereo. After all, once you get your "shine on," it's hard to stop rocking all night long.

Photo: © Scott Moore/Retna Ltd./Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: If you're in a long-term relationship and looking for new ways to spice things up, press "play" on this flirty Tim McGraw jam before heading out for date night, and prepare to fall in love all over again. After all, sometimes the best parties only need two people to RSVP, if you know what we mean.

Photo: © Michael Hurcomb/Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: Gretchen Wilson’s feisty and fun-loving spirit paired with her powerful vocals make this gutsy jam the perfect companion for any girls' night out. Bonus points if you last the entire evening without getting thrown out of a bar.

Photo: © Chris Schwegler/Retna Ltd./Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: Dierks Bentley definitely knows how to pump up a crowd, which is probably why he was chosen to co-host the 2016 ACMs. You, too, can be the life of the party. All you've gotta do is rally your crew, cue "Tip It On Back," and and wait for the good times to roll.

Photo: © BandBox Creative/The Photo Access/The World Access/Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: No matter if the pre-game party starts off in the backwoods, around the campfire, or at the local watering hole, Brantley Gilbert's epic collaboration with labelmate Justin Moore and 2016 Album Of The Year nominee Thomas Rhett is sure to get the blood—and fists!—pumping.

Photo: © Suzanne Cordeiro/Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: When the work week ends at 5 PM on a Friday, there’s no better song to get you in a whoop-it-up weekend mood than Alan Jackson’s honky-tonk classic "Good Time." We dare you to worry about the inevitable Monday morning paperwork when your heels can't stop kicking up.

Photo: © Manuel Nauta/NurPhoto/NurPhoto/Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: It can be easy to let life's daily struggles put a damper on your big evening out, so follow Blake Shelton's musical advice and try harder to live in the moment. After all, there will always be more bills, but great nights—and even better parties—only come around once in a while.

Photo: © Samantha Shrader/Retna Ltd./Retna Ltd./Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: What better way to feel those summer vibes all-year long than to partake in some quality libations and equally awesome company? Thankfully, Cole Swindell's laid-back anthem is the perfect soundtrack for an afternoon kick-back with beers and bros. 

Photo: © Debby Wong/Corbis

Why It Gets The Party Started: A killer party song that also encourages a positive body image? Yes, please! We’re pretty sure Trace Adkins was some kind of country genius with this classic because whether your tush is large, small, or somewhere in between, embrace what your mama gave you and back things up to the dance floor. 

Photo: © Debby Wong/Corbis

 

Why It Gets The Party Started: Red plastic cups were merely everyday beverage containers before Toby Keith immortalized the object as a party essential in his 2011 hit. Ever since then, raising a glass plastic cup never looked so colorful—or durable!

You'll find plenty of reasons to clink cups when you watch the 51st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3 at 8/7c. Plus, the event will be streamed on CBS.com and CBS All Access.

Photo: © Chris Schwegler/Retna Ltd./Corbis