5 Country Acts Who Deserve a Comeback

Making it big in the country music industry isn’t easy, and many artists and bands managed to sustain brief careers before falling into relative obscurity in the years that followed. While many of the musicians on this list peaked in the 1990s to the early 2000s and went on to have pretty solid careers in the years since, they haven’t produced new music in a few years. We think these five country acts deserve a comeback!

1. The Wreckers

Unfortunately, this short-lived country act from the early 2000s will likely never have a comeback. This country duo was formed in 2004 and showcased the notable talents of Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp. The two singer/songwriters had decent solo careers before they formed, which they both ended up returning to when The Wreckers disbanded in 2007 after releasing only one album. Neither artist has said (at least in recent years) that they plan on getting back together.

2. Mary Chapin Carpenter

Mary Chapin Carpenter scored her only no. hit with the 1994 track “Shut Up And Kiss Me”. It even earned her a Grammy award. She released quite a few albums in the years since, all of which are fantastic pieces of work. Unfortunately, Carpenter never scored a hit as popular as “Shut Up And Kiss Me”, and her last studio album was 2020’s The Dirt And The Stars. It would be great to see her tour and produce new music again!

3. Heartland

“I Loved Her First” was Heartland’s debut single in 2006, and it quickly hit no. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart that year. The band was set up for massive success. Unfortunately, they never scored a hit that successful again with the singles and albums that followed. The band’s members circulated for a bit before the original lineup disbanded entirely in 2012.

Luckily, a comeback could possibly happen soon. Heartland reunited in 2023, albeit with a very different lineup. A new album is allegedly in the works as well.

4. Cyndi Thomson

Cyndi Thomson is another one-hit wonder on this list in the country-pop genre. “What I Really Meant To Say” topped the charts when it was released along with My World in 2001. Unfortunately, Thomson left the music industry behind in 2002 after the release of her only album.

Thomson returned to music a few years later, followed by another period of inactivity. She did drop the single “The Georgia In Me” earlier in 2024, so a comeback could very much be on the way. 

5. Trick Pony

Trick Pony’s “Pour Me” only made it to no. 12 on the Hot Country Songs chart, but its overall popularity was even larger than its charting success. They released a few more Top 20 hits, including “On A Night Like This” and “Just What I Do”.

The band broke up in 2008 after its members started to pursue solo careers. They reunited in 2013, only to break up again three years later. As of 2024, the band members don’t seem particularly interested in producing new music or touring.

Photo by Slaven Vlasic

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