To pull off great cover music, an artist must honor the original. More importantly, however, they need to challenge it. The re-edits that actually break through are usually the ones that take a familiar song and flip it on its head—revealing something new in the process—rather than remain faithful recreations.
That’s why classic rock continues to dominate the cover-song conversation decades later. These tracks were built with enough structural and emotional muscle to survive even the most drastic cosmetic surgeries. In 2026, they’re still inspiring artists who weren’t even born when the originals first hit radio. Fleetwood Mac lives comfortably beside Gen Z playlists. Aerosmith gets reintroduced through hip-hop samples. The genre never seems to age out, but with the help of some sonic botox (if you will), it has evolved in a way that looks better than ever.
What makes the best modern covers work is all about translation. Today’s artists refuse to try and sound like the past. They’re pulling classic rock into new soundscapes by stripping it down, speeding it up, or recontextualizing it entirely. The result is a growing list of covers that don’t just honor legendary songs, but stand confidently next to them. And in a few cases, they might even outshine the originals.
7
BLACKBIIRD By Beyoncé, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kiennedy, And Reyna Roberts
Queen Bey Reminds Audiences Of Important Message
Like many other great covers, Beyoncé’s rendition of “Blackbird” was about making a statement. She didn’t make any dramatic changes, preserving the original’s gentle nature and elevating it with mesmerizing harmonies and ad-libs. Queen Bey’s version dropped in 2024 on Cowboy Carter,her critically acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning foray into country music.
Beyoncé’s 2025 Grammy Album of The Year win for her first country album, Cowboy Carter, was historic for the 35-time Grammy Award winner.
It’s no secret that her musical exploration isn’t welcome by some in the country music space. By covering “Blackbird,” a track Paul McCartney wrote in solidarity with Black women and girls during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, Beyoncé echoes an encouragement to, seemingly, herself and others who wish to take up space where they have not been traditionally welcomed.
“I think she does a magnificent version of it and it reinforces the civil rights message that inspired me to write the song in the first place,” Paul McCartney said in a 2024 Instagram post.
6
Bohemian Rhapsody By Jonathan Groff & The Glee Cast
This Belongs In The GleeCover Hall Of Fame
This one’s for my fellow choir nerds. Jonathan Groff flexed his versatility and smooth vocals in this show choir rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the 1975 hit by British rock band Queen. This cover dropped on Glee’s season 1 finale in 2010. There are spoilers ahead, so if you’re 15 years behind on Glee, it’s time to skip to the next section.
The large Glee ensemble cast has found success elsewhere following important breakthrough performances for many in the hit musical-comedy drama.
Jesse (Groff) of Vocal Adrenaline performed “Bohemian Rhapsody” at a regional show choir competition, earning the group’s first-place prize. Groff’s performance, a fan favorite among Glee fans, was combined with a scene of cheerleader Quinn’s birth scene, which served as quite the dramatic soundtrack.
5
Sweet Child O’ Mine By Sheryl Crow
A Sunny Rendition Of A Classic Hit
Country music queen Sheryl Crow put her signature optimistic spin on Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” The original arrived in 1988 and ascended to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 – the group’s only song to reach that accolade in the United States. Guns N’ Roses’ version is almost instantly recognizable by its intro guitar riff.
There aren’t many genres of music that gained popularity after the 1960s and 70s that weren’t directly influenced by the rock music of that time.
Crow’s cover dropped in 1999 to mixed opinions. Some critics deemed it a notoriously bad rock cover, but I think Crow’s version – which earned her a Grammy Award – accomplished what she set out to do. She wasn’t aiming to recreate the song, but instead reimagine it as a soft pop, country-leaning rendition worthy of a romantic comedy soundtrack.
4
Stairway To Heaven By Dolly Parton
Country Music Royalty Pays Tribute To A Longtime Favorite
Dolly Parton’s gentle, bluegrass cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” appeared on her 39th solo album, Halo & Horns. Parton closes the album with the cover. She has said she selected the song because of her longtime love of the track and Led Zeppelin.
“I didn’t do it just for the gimmick – my love for the song comes from a very real place. It’s not just about making it work – it’s about it really being a part of you,” Parton said of the cover (Dolly Mania). “So I thought, ‘What the hey – I’m just going to go with it, and if it didn’t turn out good, nobody would ever know I even tried it.’ I knew I was walking on sacred ground because it is a classic.”
Parton’s reverence for classics is clear in her delivery. It comes across as a spiritual cautionary hymn with its acoustic, stripped intro. As the song progresses, her sweet, gentle vocals build, and a choir joins her belting. Drums kick in, adding to the song’s emotion.
3
(Money Can’t) Buy Me Love By Blackstreet
A Masterclass In Classic Rock’s Versatility
’90s R&B group Blackstreet slowed down The Beatles’ No.1 hit, “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1964), and revamped it with their signature soulful harmonies and ad-libs. This is a successful cover because, with a slower tempo, the song’s message emits more emotion.
If you’re a fan of artists like Victoria Monet, Brent Faiyaz, or SZA, then these 10 Korean R&B artists are perfect for you and your music library.
Although I absolutely adore the original, Blackstreet’s version makes the song more accessible to other audiences who wouldn’t ordinarily tune into the more folksy rendition. “(Money Can’t) Buy Me Love” was released in 1996 as track 13 on Blackstreet’s sophomore album, Another Level. The transformation is one of many examples of classic rock’s versatility.
2
Smells Like Teen Spirit by Patti Smith
Cover Accomplishes A New Sound With Familiar Angst
Although a notably folksy departure from Nirvana’s original song, Patti Smith’s take on “Smells Like Teen Spirit” still preserves the angst we know and love. Smith is well-versed in harnessing emotion through her vocals to transform a track.
Patti Smith’s take on “Smells Like Teen Spirit” still preserves the angst we know and love.
Her version of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” appeared on her 10th studio album, Twelve. The 2007 project featured covers ranging from The Beatles to Stevie Wonder. Smith’s Nirvana cover sneaks up on you. It starts quietly and grows in urgency as the track progresses, which allows the song to maintain the essence of the original while taking on a new sound.
1
Edge Of Midnight (Midnight Sky Remix) By Miley Cyrus And Stevie Nicks
Nostalgic Team Up That Unites Generations
Miley Cyrus took over 2020 with “Midnight Sky.” Well-received by critics and fans alike, the track went on to become Cyrus’ 15th top-20 hit in the U.S. She took it a step forward by dropping a remix, “Edge of Midnight,” featuring Stevie Nicks, one of the artists Cyrus said inspired “Midnight Sky.”
Miley’s got a new album coming. Deal with the suspense by revisiting some of her most iconic collaborations.
The remix combines “Midnight Sky” and Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen.” Each artist sings the other’s lyrics, serving as a mashup cover. Cyrus has that classic rock growl perfected, so she sounds right at home with Nicks. She knows how to complement a guitar-driven track. Cyrus also boasts the cosignature of the original artist in the form of an official collaboration.
0 Comments