In this strangest and most transformative of years, it's no surprise that country music saw some massive changes. Budding superstars like Sam Hunt and Kelsea Ballerini delivered new albums, while younger artists like Mickey Guyton and Luke Combs announced themselves as essential members of the genre's new guard. The infamously male-dominated genre saw artists like Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Ashley McBryde, and Tenille Townes ascend its ranks. Morgan Wallen may have been the embodiment of this year's spirit, showing that inventive cross-genre collaboration—as he did this year with Diplo on “Heartless”—is key to country's evolution. Listen back to the artists and the songs that made this year special, despite the circumstances.