Iowa Singer Makes Rolling Stone’s List of the Best Songs of 2025 So Far

Hailey Whitters has done it again!

Earlier this month (June 2025), Rolling Stone put out a list of the best songs of 2025... so far. There are some major hits on the list, like Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra" at number two and Doechii's "Anxiety" at number seven, but there lots of other songs that you may not have heard yet.

There are a total of 48 songs across all genres of music on Rolling Stone's list, and we were excited to see that our hometown Iowa girl Hailey Whitters made the cut! Not just that, but the song she was recognized for came in at NUMBER FOUR. How cool is that?!

"High on the Hog"

Hailey's song "High on the Hog" is the one that ranked highly on Rolling Stone's list of the best songs released in 2025. It came out back at the end of March as an early release from Hailey's latest album Corn Queen, which just dropped on June 6th.

Here's what writer Jonathan Bernstein had to say about the song (via Rolling Stone):

"The latest from the Iowa country upstart is a whip-smart, fiddle-heavy travelogue about the trials and travails of being an aspiring heartland country star. Sound familiar? 'The Colonel just called/said the next song might go all the way to the top,' Hailey Whitters sings over a throwback earworm arrangement that conjures everyone from Miranda Lambert to Alan Jackson. If there’s any justice, the Colonel’s false promise would become prophecy."

Corn Queen

I haven't had a chance to listen to all 16 songs on Hailey's new album yet, but my favorites so far are "Shotgun Wedding Baby," "White Limousine," "Prodigal Daughter," and "High On A Heartbreak." 

Corn Queen Tour 2025

Hailey Whitters will celebrate the release of her new album with a tour of the same name this summer! The first stop will be in Nashville on September 4th, with the final stop in Chicago on October 11th. Out of the 12 scheduled dates, there is only one Iowa show. Hailey will play Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines on September 20th. Get more information on the concert HERE. We're keeping our fingers crossed that the Shueyville-native will add a show at DanceMor in Swisher at some point...

Other Songs on Rolling Stone's List

As far as country music goes, there are only a total of five songs to make the cut:

• 8. Chappell Roan - "The Giver"
• 24. Shaboozey & Myles Smith - "Blink Twice"
• 26. Eric Church - "Hands of Time"
• 47. Morgan Wallen - "20 Cigarettes"

Here are the overall top 10 from ALL genres:

1. Bad Bunny - "Baile Inolvidable"
2. Lady Gaga - "Abracadabra"
3. Haim - "Relationships"
4. Hailey Whitters - "High on the Hog"
5. Ela Taubert - "¿Quién Diría?"
6. SZA - "Scorsese Baby Daddy"
7. Doechii - "Anxiety"
8. Chappell Roan - "The Giver"
9. Lorde - "What Was That"
10. MJ Lenderman & This Is Lorelei - "Dancing in the Club"

Check out the full list from Rolling Stone HERE.