Why Martina McBride&x27;s &x27;Concrete Angel&x27; is Considered the Saddest Country Song Ever Effie OrfanidesSat, February 21, 2026 at 2:04 PM UTC 0 (Gregg DeGuire/WireImage) Few songs have the power to stop listeners in their tracks quite like this heartbreaking country ballad. More than two decades after its release, the emotional narrative told by these lyrics continues to leave audiences in tears.
Why Martina McBride's 'Concrete Angel' is Considered the Saddest Country Song Ever
Effie OrfanidesSat, February 21, 2026 at 2:04 PM UTC
0
(Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)
Few songs have the power to stop listeners in their tracks quite like this heartbreaking country ballad. More than two decades after its release, the emotional narrative told by these lyrics continues to leave audiences in tears.
The track's haunting narrative and unforgettable imagery have cemented its place among the most tragic songs in country music history, resonating with fans who still revisit it when they need a good cry.
That song is "Concrete Angel," released in 2002 and performed by Martina McBride. Rolling Stone ranked the track the "saddest country song of all time," in a chart created in September 2019.
"I've certainly had a lot of people tell me when I'm performing at shows what the song means to them," said the song's co-writer Rob Crosby. "The fact that a few kids have seen the music video, which flashes the number for Child Help USA, and have been able to escape a bad situation is a gratifying thing."
The song tells the story of a young girl suffering from severe child abuse.
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"Concrete Angel" is one of McBride's biggest hits—and she almost didn't record it.
"If I remember right, I had heard this song for the previous album. I hesitated to record it because I thought it might be too heavy," she told Billboard in 2021. "But in the end I followed my gut, which was telling me I needed to do it. It has become one of the most streamed and watched songs in my entire catalog. I think, in the end, it's a healing song for many."
If you're looking to round out your sad country songs playlist, Rolling Stone has "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" by Hank Williams and "Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss in its two and three spots.
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This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: February 21, 2026 at 07:45PM on Source: MARIO MAG
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