The year-end lists have begun. As we reflect on the music released each year, I am always amazed at the emerging talent, the duets formed, and the covers laid down. While I know we have said this before, 2024 was a truly remarkable year for country music. We had terrific artists like Zach Top, the Red Clay Strays, and more break the Nashville mold, earning CMA Award nominations. Sturgill Simpson returned triumphantly to the limelight as Johnny Blue Skies and the badass women of country, like Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley, and Ashley McBryde, continued to dominate. Because of the phenomenal year of music, we will have many lists commemorating some of the great work throughout the year before we unveil the Whiskey Riff Top Albums of 2024 list. One of my favorite things to look back on over the years is the collaborations that took place. Some fans might have had their dreams come true when their two favorite artists finally joined forces on a song or be pleasantly surprised when two unexpected voices came together to create a fantastic tune. Without further ado, let's dive into some of our favorite collaborations released this year. The Mavericks featuring Sierra Ferrell: "Moon & Stars" The Latin and Western swing-inspired track was an unlikely pairing that came out of 2024, but WOW, it works. Sierra Ferrell's extraordinary vocal range is highlighted and perfectly complimented by the smooth vocals of The Mavericks' frontman Raul Malo.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwY40-pinT4 Zach Bryan featuring Noeline Hofmann: "Purple Gas" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY5WIkzwITw&pp=ygUKcHJ1cGxlIGdhcw%3D%3D Evan Honer featuring Charles Wesley Godwin: "Mr. Meyers" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO8xT1j8Ajc&pp=ygUgQ2hhcmxlcyBXZXNsZXkgR29kd2luIGV2YW4gaG9uZXI%3D Post Malone featuring Hank Williams Jr.: "Finer Things" Post Malone's country music debut was all the rage this year. Whether F-1 Trillion was your cup of tea or not, you must give Post Malone props for the star-studded list of collaborators featured on the record. While so many tracks could have made this list, the duet I have found myself going back to repeatedly since the release is "Finer Things" featuring Hank Williams Jr. The rugged deer blind meets diamonds and fancy things anthem makes you want to run through a wall. These lyrics sum up the feeling that many of us who enjoy the outdoors and fancy wine or cars feel. We've got a thing for the finer things. "I got a thing for the finer things I'm in that deer blind with a diamond ring My Lambo and my ammo's all camo green Yeah, I got an F-1 Trillion limousine I got a ten-point blonde in the shotgun seat I got a thing, got a thing for the finer things Yeah, I do..." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piiG1j_ga0U&pp=ygURaGFuayBmaW5lciB0aGluZ3M%3D Lainey Wilson featuring Miranda Lambert: "Good Horses" https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=1PLBxdyO3qo&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whiskeyriff.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE Ernest Featuring Lainey Wilson: "Would If I Could" While this might be a cover, Lainey Wilson and Ernest laid down country heartbreak gold with their take on "Would If I Could." Originally written in 1996 by two of the all-time great country music songwriters, Dean Dillon and Skip Ewing, the melody of this track has stood the test of time, sounding just as good nearly 30 years later as when it was first written. If sad country songs make you happy, this track should also be on your year-end list. "I would if I could But I can't, so I won't, but I want to I'd love to say, "Yes, " but it's best if I don't, though, I'd like to I love you enough that I'm lettin' you go I love you so much that I'm tellin' you, "No" I would if I could, but I can't, so I won't, but I want to" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TJ2kdE_6Dw&pp=ygUQd291bGQgaWYgaSBjb3VsZA%3D%3D Matt Koziol Featuring Isaac Gibson: "Old Fashioned" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mbWSGSQBVY George Strait featuring Chris Stapleton: "Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UubivuLNB9c&pp=ygUWY2hyaXMgc3RhcGxldG9uIHN0cmFpdA%3D%3D Riley Green featuring Ella Langley: "Don't Mind If I Do" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1CUG_hCXgA Kameron Marlow featuring Marcus King: "High Hopes"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yD08l17gwA&pp=ygUSaGlnaCBob3BlcyBtYXJsb3dl Benjamin Tod and Jesse Daniel: "Turn The Devil Away" A recent release from Tod and Daniel, two authentic honky tonk songwriters. This collaboration was a match made in heaven. Benjamin Tod and Jesse Daniel are raw and gritty with their songwriting, spinning their stories of hardship into their lyrics, and when you put the two of them into a room... it's pure gold. Tod and Daniel had nothing but kind words to say about each other when making this song, and their similar lens on life led to the cautious tale "Turn The Devil Away." “I had never formally co-wrote and laid down a song with someone before this, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Jesse Daniel and I had a flawless experience. Jesse and I are cut from the same cloth of the old world punk scene with the scares and kicked habits to prove it. We understand things about ourselves and about the world that no one else can because we had to escape our personal hells around the same time and culture in American society. All that to say, there are no two other writers on the planet that COULD have written this song much less in their spare time both in the middle of major tours. I am proud to call Jesse Daniel a brother and I look forward to many more songs together on the horizon.”  These guys are the real deal; if you are unfamiliar with this duet, it's time to study up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-TcPobonvw&pp=ygUQamVzc2UgZGFuaWVsIHRvZA%3D%3D Cody Johnson featuring Carrie Underwood: "I'm Gonna Love You" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy9PuYMU29g&pp=ygUVY2FycmllIHVuZGVyd29vZCBjb2R5 Silverada featuring Rob Leines: "The Road" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwrs44M9Ruo 49 Winchester featuring Maggie Antone: "Leavin' This Holler" The title track from their record, Leavin' This Holler, 49 Winchester, teamed up with fellow Virginian Maggie Antone. This song easily stands out from the tracklist, as Antone's impressive vocals are fully displayed. Antone's vocals flawlessly compliment Isaac Gibson's on the track, creating a powerful dynamic sound. “I’m leaving this holler, leaving the heartache And I’m leaving the way things used to be I will not be returning, my spirit is still yearnin’ For a chance at being happy, Lord, and free” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6bMD4o6qEY&pp=ygUUNDkgd2luY2hlc3RlciBtYWdnaWU%3D Ella Langley featuring Riley Green: "You Look Like You Love Me" Hands down, Riley Green and Ella Langley were THE country duo of the year. With this being their second song on the list, they have something special together. "You Look Like You Love Me" was a viral success, and the song won Ella Langley and Riley Green their first CMA Award for Musical Event of the Year. Riley Green and Ella Langley dominated the duet field this year, and I hope we see more from them in 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm2TSMerGPQ