31 Tim McGraw Love Songs to Dance to At Your Wedding

Let country music superstar Tim McGraw's catalog of hits set the soundtrack for your special day.
31 Tim McGraw Love Songs to Dance to With Your Best Friend
Photo: Debby Wong | Shutterstock
Taylor Carson - The Knot Contributor.
by
Taylor Carson
Taylor Carson - The Knot Contributor.
Taylor Carson
The Knot Contributor
  • Taylor writes wedding venue roundups for The Knot.
  • Taylor was formerly the Assistant Managing Editor at Philadelphia magazine, and she continues to freelance for Philadelphia’s lifestyle and wedding verticals.
  • She received her degree in journalism, with a minor in English, from Temple University.
Updated Nov 15, 2024

When it comes to the music for your big day, country icon Tim McGraw's love songs should not be overlooked. The hit-maker's catalog features three decades' worth of beloved hits and under-the-radar tunes you and your spouse-to-be can browse ahead of your big day. And you don't need to love country music to enjoy what McGraw has to offer. The stories he shares about love and life through his music are universal and will have everyone feeling sentimental—so make sure to ask your wedding DJ to add these to the queue (or hire a wedding band to play 'em live!).

To make the task of selecting songs a bit easier on you, we've narrowed down 21 of Tim McGraw's best wedding songs for your celebration—from your recessional to your first dance to your sendoff—below. We've even highlighted a few of Mcgraw's best lyrics, so you can get a feel for the song's message even before you press play. Composed of country classics and hidden gems, you might just find exactly what you're looking for.

Bonus: Listen to our picks with The Knot's list of Tim McGraw Love Songs playlist on Spotify.

1. "It's Your Love" (feat. Faith Hill), Everywhere

Lyrics you'll love: "Better than I was/More than I am/And all of this happened/By taking your hand/And who I am now/Is who I wanted to be/And now that we're together/I'm stronger than ever, I'm happy and free"

Starting our roundup are three lovely love songs by McGraw and his wife, fellow country music star Faith Hill. First up is 1997's "It's Your Love." The song broke the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it remains a mainstream hit and a classic first dance song.

2. "I Need You" (feat. Faith Hill), Let It Go

Lyrics you'll love: "So, I need you like a needle needs a vein/Like my uncle Joe in Oklahoma needs a rain/And I need you like a lighthouse on the coast/Like the father and the son need the Holy Ghost/I need you"

McGraw and Hill brought another magical duet to the world in 2007 with "I Need You." In the ballad, the singers share how much they need one another via lyrics that ring true for many couples. Send this beautiful song over to your wedding band for an effortless-yet-emotional first dance.

3. "The Rest of Our Life" (feat. Faith Hill), The Rest of Our Life

Lyrics you'll love: "Oh, I'll be fine/If my gray hair shows, I'll be fine/If my waistline grows, I'll be fine/Even when time takes its toll/I'll stay young for the rest of my life/With you, I'll stay young for the rest of my life"

Two decades after "It's Your Love" and a decade after "I Need You," in 2017, McGraw and Hill released "The Rest of Our Life." The ballad, with its meaningful message about the security of love, is another strong contender for country first dances.

4. "Humble and Kind," Damn Country Music

Lyrics you'll love: "Don't take for granted the love this life gives you/When you get where you're going don't forget turn back around/And help the next one in line/Always stay humble and kind"

With more than 200 million plays on Spotify, McGraw's Grammy-winning hit, "Humble and Kind," left its mark on music. The song was dreamed up by songwriter Lori McKenna, who wrote it based on the principles she wanted her children to live by. It's a quintessential wedding song for any parent dance.

5. "My Best Friend," A Place In The Sun

Lyrics you'll love: "You're more than a lover/There could never be another to make me feel the way you do/Oh, we just get closer/I fall in love all over every time I look at you/I don't know where I'd be without you here with me/Life with you makes perfect sense/You're my best friend"

It's hard to resist the lyrics of "My Best Friend," from McGraw's fifth studio album, A Place In The Sun. The love song can be the perfect soundtrack to your first dance and it's sure to have all your guests smiling along with you—so make sure to tell your wedding DJ to add it to the playlist.

6. "My Little Girl," Reflected: Greatest Hits Vol. 2

Lyrics you'll love: "Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again/Go on, take on this whole world but to me, you know you'll always be/My little girl"

As you might expect from its title, McGraw's "My Little Girl" is the type of father-daughter dance song that will steal your heart. Throughout the ballad, McGraw narrates a father telling his daughter that, no matter how old she gets, she'll always be his little girl. If you use it for your father-daughter dance, there surely won't be a dry eye at the reception.

7. "Meanwhile Back At Mama's" (feat. Faith Hill), Sundown Heaven Town

Lyrics you'll love: "Meanwhile back at Mama's/The porch lights on, come on in if you wanna/Suppers on the stove and beer's in the fridge/Red sun sinking out low on the ridge/Games on the tube and daddy smoked cigarettes/Whiskey keeps his whistle wet/Funny the things you thought you'd never miss/In a world gone crazy as this"

McGraw has options for mothers and sons, too, like 2014's "Meanwhile Back At Mama's." The laid-back track tells of the comforts of a simple life back home and its slow pace and sweet lyrics make it a wonderful option for the groom and his mother.

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8. "I Like It, I Love It," All I Want

Lyrics you'll love: "But I like it, I love it, I want some more of it/I try so hard, I can't rise above it/Don't know what it is 'bout that little girl's lovin'/But I like it, I love it, I want some more of it"

"I Like It, I Love It" was the first single from McGraw's 1995 album, All I Want and it would become his third number one single on the country charts. The upbeat chart-topper is a great addition to reception playlists—especially if your guest list loves country. The catchy lyrics known to many will help to get the party started.

9. "Just to See You Smile," Everywhere

Lyrics you'll love: "Just to see you smile/I'd do anything that you wanted me to/When all is said and done/I'd never count the cost, it's worth all that's lost/Just to see you smile"

When "Just to See You Smile" came out in 1997, it stayed on the charts for 42 weeks—becoming Billboard's number one country single of the year and the longest charting country single of the 1990s. While the hit would make for a great faster-paced first dance track, we think it would be even greater for your last dance song or send off.

10. "Live Like You Were Dying," Live Like You Were Dying

Lyrics you'll love: "'And I loved deeper/And I spoke sweeter/And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying'/And he said/'Someday I hope you get the chance/To live like you were dying'"

When it came out in 2004, "Live Like You Were Dying" became an instant classic, winning—in addition to several other awards—the Grammy for Best Country Song. Play this on your big day and there aren't many who won't be belting out the lyrics along with you. Plus, the tune's universal message of living life like your time is precious resonates perfectly with one of life's most special events. Whether you use it for a parent dance or to cap off your reception, it's a stellar song for your playlist.

11. "Shotgun Rider," Sundown Heaven Town

Lyrics you'll love: "I don't ever want to wake up/Lookin' into someone else's eyes/Another voice calling me baby/On the other end of the phone/A new girl puttin' on her makeup/Before dinner on Friday night/No I don't ever wanna know, Oh Oh/No other shotgun rider, beside me, singin' to the radio"

From 2014's Sundown Heaven Town, "Shotgun Rider" is the type of feel-good country music you can't help but to enjoy. It's also a versatile wedding song: Sway to it during your first dance, or let it be the background noise during your send off. (If you're exiting in a getaway car, it'll be even more spectacular.)

12. "I Called Mama," Here On Earth

Lyrics you'll love: "I thought of home, grabbed my phone from my pocket/And I called mama/Well it rang a couple times and she picked up/I can always hear her smile when I call/I just called to tell you that I loved you"

A more recent release from McGraw's catalog, "I Called Mama" debuted as the singer's lead single off his 2020 album, Here On Earth. The sentimental anthem about not putting off the important things, like calling your mother, is a lovely consideration for a mother-son dance.

13. "Something Like That," A Place in the Sun

Lyrics you'll love: "Like an old photograph/Time can make a feeling fade/But the memory of a first love/Never fades away"

Not only did 1999's "Something Like That" top the country charts, it also crossed over into the mainstream—peaking at number 28 on Billboard's Hot 100. The happy song about first love can bring good vibes to an al fresco cocktail hour or a reception during warm seasons.

14. "Where the Green Grass Grows," Everywhere

Lyrics you'll love: "I'm gonna live where the green grass grows/Watch my corn pop up in rows/Every night be tucked in close to you/Raise our kids where the good Lord's blessed/Point our rocking chairs toward the West/And plant our dreams where the peaceful river flows"

Country couples likely know 1998's "Where the Green Grass Grows." And while the song tells the story of a man leaving the hustle and bustle and heading back to the solitude of the country, McGraw's romantic nods throughout the chorus make it an under-the-radar, above-average first dance song.

15. "One of Those Nights," Two Lanes of Freedom

Lyrics you'll love: "You hold her close and you'll never forget how her heartbeat feels/No you never will/Cause someday when you're looking back on your life/At the memories, this is gonna be one of those nights"

"One of Those Nights" may not be the first McGraw song you think of when considering his catalog for your wedding, but its lyrics and melody make it a truly perfect option—especially for your first dance as newlyweds or for the final song of the evening. Like the song highlights, "someday when you're looking back on your life at the memories," your wedding is going to be one of those nights.

16. "Highway Don't Care" (feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban), Two Lanes of Freedom

Lyrics you'll love: "The highway won't hold you tonight/The highway don't know you're alive/The highway don't care if you're all alone/But I do, I do/The highway won't dry your tears/The highway don't need you here/The highway don't care if you're coming home/But I do, I do"

Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban are a legendary trio and their 2013 hit, "Highway Don't Care," is a legendary song. On the Two Lanes of Freedom track, McGraw and Swift handle the vocals while Urban plays the guitar. It's an irresistible song that will have your wedding guests singing along at any hour.

17. "You Just Get Better All the Time," Everywhere

Lyrics you'll love: "You just get sweeter every day/The little things you do and say/If only you could see you through my eyes/You just get better all the time"

"You Just Get Better All the Time" is an underrated love song from McGraw's album Everywhere. Its sound is reminiscent of the era it was released in—the '90s—and the words flawlessly describe true love with the intensity you'll feel for your partner on your wedding day. It's a first dance song that will have you feeling all the feels and your guests swaying in their seats.

18. "Here Tonight" (feat. Gracie McGraw), Damn Country Music

Lyrics you'll love: "No better place than where you stand/Tear up those tomorrow plans/You only get to live one time/So let's live it up right here tonight"

Damn Country Music's "Here Tonight," which features McGraw's daughter, Gracie, reminds listeners there's no better moment than the moment you're in. And in the song's case, the moment is "right here tonight." Let tonight be your wedding night by playing this jam at your special event and let its message be felt by everyone you're celebrating with.

19. "Love Runs," Damn Country Music

Lyrics you'll love: "Love walks you through the calling/The calling up of her old man/Love walks you down the sandy aisle/To put forever on her hand"

Also on Damn Country Music, the uptempo song "Love Runs" highlights the many instances in life that love can carry you through. While it may be too fast-paced for a first dance song, it would amplify the atmosphere during another truly exhilarating big day moment—your recessional.

20. "Top of the World," Damn Country Music

Lyrics you'll love: "Cause when you got love, like we got love/I'm holding on to heaven, holding on to you/When you got one like I got one/Anyway you looking, it's a hell of a view"

"Top of the World" was the lead single off Damn Country Music. It was released in August 2015, a timely date as the song's mellow vibe is perfect for summer. It also fits right in with summer weddings and can make for a nice accompaniment to a cocktail hour near the water or a relaxed, happy first dance.

21. "Watch the Wind Blow By," Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors

Lyrics you'll love: "And all I want to do is let it be/And be with you and watch the wind blow by"

With its laid-back vibe and reflective lyrics, this song is ideal for a relaxed, rustic wedding. Ask your wedding musicians to play it during dinner, cocktail hour or even during a quiet moment at the ceremony.

22. "She's My Kind of Rain," Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors

Lyrics you'll love: "She's my kind of rain/Like love in a drunken sky/She's confetti falling down all night"

This Tim McGraw love song paints a romantic and poetic picture of a beloved, comparing her to rain that nourishes the soul. Its soft melody and heartfelt lyrics make it a great pick for a slow dance or intimate moment together.

23. "Don't Take the Girl," Not a Moment Too Soon

Lyrics you'll love: "Take Jimmy Johnson, take Tommy Thompson/Take my best friend, Bo/Take anybody that you want as/Long as she don't go"

This song is a tearjerker, but in the best way. It tells a love story that lasts through thick and thin. If you've been together for a while, this song will remind everyone at your wedding just how deep your roots go.

24. "Real Good Man," Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors

Lyrics you'll love: "I may be a real bad boy/But baby, I'm a real good man"

Looking for dance floor hits? Here's a fun, slightly rugged but totally dance-worthy pick. It's perfect for showing off that your partner is not just good, but great. Kick up your heels and let everyone know you've got a real good man (or that you are one!).

25. "Felt Good on My Lips," Number One Hits

Lyrics you'll love: "Oh-oh-oh, I wanna go crazy/You can go crazy too/Oh-oh-oh, I wanna go crazy/I wanna go crazy with you"

This one's for a high-energy moment. It's catchy, it's upbeat, and it'll get everyone—young and old—up and dancing. Plus, it's about those spontaneous moments that just feel right, just like saying "I do."

26. "Speak to a Girl" (feat. Faith Hill), The Rest of Our Life

Lyrics you'll love: "You better respect your mama, respect the hell out of her/'Cause that's how you talk to a woman, that's how you speak to a girl"

Another Tim Mcraw wedding song sung with his wife, Faith Hill, this duet is all about respect and love. It's a beautiful reminder of how to treat each other, making it a great addition to any wedding reception playlist.

27. "When the Stars Go Blue," Tim McGraw Reflected: Greatest Hits Vol. 2

Lyrics you'll love: "Dancin' when the stars go blue/Dancin' when the evenin' fell/Dancin' in your wooden shoes/In a wedding gown"

A cover of the Ryan Adams song, here's a melodic and introspective ballad that speaks to finding beauty in moments of sadness—which will add a little depth and thoughtfulness to your wedding playlist.

28. "Down on the Farm," Not a Moment Too Soon

Lyrics you'll love: "Ain't no closing time, ain't no cover charge/Just country boys and girls gettin' down on the farm"

This upbeat Tim McGraw wedding song is perfect for a country-themed celebration—especially if you're planning to tie the know in a rural or outdoor venue.

29. "If You're Reading This," Let It Go

Lyrics you'll love: "I'm laying down my gun/I'm hanging up boots/I'm up here with God and we're both watching over you"

A deeply emotional song written as a tribute to fallen soldiers, this Tim McGraw track may be suitable for a couple who has experienced loss. Consider dedicating it to late loved ones who couldn't be there.

30. "Southern Girl," Two Lanes of Freedom

Lyrics you'll love: "Kisses sweeter than Tupelo honey/Little bit crazy like New Orleans/Memphis blue and Daytona sunny/Soft as cotton in some cut-off jeans"

This song is a fun, loving tribute to women from the South. Its catchy beat and cute lyrics make it a great dance number for any Southern belle—or for those who appreciate a little Southern charm at their wedding.

31. "Hard To Stay Mad At," Here On Earth

Lyrics you'll love: "You're hard to stay mad at/And I've tried a million times, but baby, I know/You reach for me and I just let it go/Just like that"

Last but certainly not least is Here On Earth's "Hard To Stay Mad At," a song relatable to many couples. If you love Tim McGraw but are looking for an uncommon song to dance to as newlyweds, this could be it. The soothing music and atypical approach to a love song make it a standout.

Additional reporting by Brittany Barber.

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