From Portugal to Hawaii to Nashville, pedal steel guitar has made its mark on music. Here are some of our favorite country songs featuring the famed instrument.
Merrie Melodies & Looney Tunes
The famous opening themes from the classic Warner Bros cartoon series
“Blue Hawaii” (1958)
The Outriggers, with Freddie Tavares
“Steel Guitar Rag” (1981)
Buddy Emmons
“Honky Tonkin” (1947)
Hank Williams, with Dale “Smokey” Lohman on pedal steel
“The Night Hank Williams Came to Town” (1987)
“Half a Mind to Leave You” (1958)
Ernest Tubb, featuring George Jones, with Buddy Emmons on pedal steel
“Slowly” (1954)
The first No. 1 song on Billboard Country Chart with pedal steel, by Webb Pierce
Faron Young Medley Hits (1964)
Faron Young, with Webb Pierce on pedal steel
“Crazy Out of My Mind” (1970)
Loretta Lynn, with Hal Rugg on pedal steel
“If I Talk to Him” (1966)
Connie Smith, with Lloyd Green on pedal steel
“Rainy Day Woman” (Live from Austin, TX, 1989)
“When Did You Stop Loving Me” (2017)
George Strait, with Chris Stapleton
“Willin’” (1976)
Linda Ronstadt
“Send Down an Angel” (2000)
Allison Moorer
“Hot Burrito #1” (1969)
The Flying Burrito Brothers, with Sneaky Pete Kleinow on pedal steel
More Great Pedal Steel Country Music
- Top Ten Songs Featuring a Pedal Steel Guitar
- The Five Greatest Steel Guitar Solos in Country Music History
- 12 Best Country Songs With Steel Guitar: Country Hits to Love
Click here and read about the history of the pedal steel guitar.
HEADER IMAGE: Courtesy Britannica
