@agrigator717: It's not so much the SONGS as the performers. There've been a number of rock and country songs that managed to top the Hot 100 from 2000-2009 (YMMV in defining "rock"); however, most of the artists have only been able to top the chart once during the decade.
Among the rock brigade: Vertical Horizon, Matchbox Twenty and Creed topped the chart in 2000; Crazy Town and Nickelback in 2001; James Blunt in 2006; Maroon 5 and Plain White T's in 2007; Coldplay in 2008; and Owl City last year. (Again, your definition of what qualifies as "rock" may vary, but the artists I listed are generally classified under some sub-genre of rock.)
Country artists are a bit less represented at the top of the Hot 100 but Lonestar hit #1 in 2000 and Carrie Underwood hit #1 in 2005 (admittedly that song was more pop-oriented, but she's more than made up for it since; the song also reached #52 on the country chart when it was first released, largely on her very country-leaning AmIdol appearances). |
VH1 100 Greatest Rock Songs
VH1's 100 Songs (Hard Rock)
3+ Billboard #1s
