10 Essential Sara Evans Songs

Take a trip down memory lane with 10 of Sara Evans' biggest cuts, including "Born To Fly" and "A Little Bit Stronger." 

Written by Chuck Dauphin
10 Essential Sara Evans Songs
Sara Evans; Publicity Photo

Sara Evans has been one of the most respected female vocalists in Country Music since her 1997 debut album Three Chords and The Truth (if you haven’t heard it – listen to it, you’ll thank us later). It took her until the release of her second album to truly find her voice, but once she did – she made the most of her opportunity. Here, we take a look at ten of the records that helped to define her career…

(Arranged chronologically)

1. “No Place That Far” – from No Place That Far
Written by: Sara Evans, Tony Martin, Tom Shapiro
I don’t know that it’s simple to say that Evans’ breakthrough hit was necessarily her most memorable, but let’s face it. The song that provided her with her initial trip to the pinnacle of the singles chart was a vocal showcase combined with a traditional melody about a love that would stand tall and true till the end of time.

2. “Born To Fly” – from Born To Fly
Written by: Sara Evans, Marcus Hummon, Darrell Scott
Listening to this now, one might not appreciate how cutting-edge the arrangement was. But, this 2000 hit was one of the most entertaining of its time on Country radio. Evans’ vocal floated into the stratosphere, making this one very much a sonic delight.

3. “I Could Not Ask For More” – from Born To Fly 
Written by: Diane Warren
I don’t know whether Sara Evans has ever released a more powerful love song. Her vocals and delivery were equal parts flawless and romantic on this 2001 power ballad from the pen of superstar tunesmith Diane Warren, but equally as important as her vocals on this track was the dreamy arrangement put in place by Matt Serletic and Noel Gordon. If any of Sara’s hits simply sounded like a love song, this was it!

4. “I Keep Looking” – from Born To Fly 
Written by: Sara Evans, Tom Shapiro, Tony Martin
Most of Sara’s biggest hits have been ballads that showcase her range as a vocalist. This song allowed her a chance to show her fun side, complete with a chorus that stayed glued to your brain. It also provided her with one of her seven trips to the top-40 of the Pop charts, as well.

5. “Suds In The Bucket” – from Restless
Written by: Billy Montana, Tammy “Jenai” Wagoner
Though many of Evans’ records featured more of a crossover-type sound, this is one of the most down-home records in her catalog. The song’s lyrics touched a chord among listeners who remembered how their love story might have bucked the trend or gone against the system. With her natural Missouri twang intact, this one is still a crowd favorite today!

6. “Perfect” – from Restless
Written by: Sara Evans, Tom Shapiro, Tony Martin
Evans’ breezy performance on this love song about all things being right in the world as long as that someone special was beside you was spot on. But, just like “I Could Not Ask For More,” there were other elements at play here. The video – filmed in the crisp and pristine scenery of the Mojave Desert – also set a video image in play that couldn’t be forgotten!

7. “A Real Fine Place To Start” – from Real Fine Place 
Written by: Radney Foster, George Ducas
Radney Foster and George Ducas are two artists that know their way around a hit song, and their composition provided Evans with a huge hit in the fall of 2005. During a time of year where many were taking to America’s backroads to celebrate the changing of the colors, chances were pretty good their stereo was glued to this dreamy sing-a-long melody.

8. “Cheatin’” – from Real Fine Place
Written by: Brett James, Don Schlitz
I have always been a fan of this one, which warned of the negative effects of a man having a lover on the side. This was the one time that an Evans single could have done without a music video. The lyrics were as brutally honest and as sharp as anything the singer has ever recorded, and the video (I always thought) took some of that emotion and got a little too cute. Still, the song is a classic performance, and definitely belongs on this list.

9. “A Little Bit Stronger” – from Stronger
Written by: Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey, Hillary Scott
After a five-year hiatus from the top of the charts, Evans returned to the summit of the Billboard lists with a song all about moving on – and the strength one gains from doing so. Male and female listeners alike could identify with this song, which was all about taking it one day and one step at a time.

10. “Slow Me Down” – from Slow Me Down
Written by: Marv Green, Heather Morgan, Jimmy Robbins
The arrangement on this 2014 hit record was as fresh and as current as anything on the radio, but there was something in Mark Bright’s production that brought to mind records by 80s icons Barbara Mandrell or Crystal Gayle. Though radio barely seemed to notice, unfortunately, this song is 100% ear candy from start to finish.

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