Olivia Rodrigo, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Make Prestigious Esquire List

Olivia Rodrigo, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan are among the musicians getting honored by Esquire magazine for songs that are part of the publication’s “25 Most American Songs of All Time” tally.

For Rodrigo, the magazine honored her song, “Drivers License,” stating that it “demonstrated the eternal power of two of American pop’s defining themes — cars and heartbreak.”

The publication also says the song “transcended backgrounds and generations, creating a shared, uniquely national experience” and “stands as the … pinnacle” of modern pop music.

So, how did Esquire pick these songs? According to the article, the list highlights “a collection of songs that are distinctly American, addressing protest and leisure, joy and pain, wisdom and silliness, nostalgia and experimentation.”

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Springsteen is on the list for his 1980 song “The River,” with the outlet saying it’s his “most perfectly American composition” because it explains the “compromises required of the working class.”

Dylan made the cut for his 1965 song “Highway 61 Revisited.”

Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” is also on the tally. Esquire calls it “the all-time biggest-selling single by a female artist” and “an era-defining record.”

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Other songs making the cut include 1989’s “Free Fallin’,” Kiss’ “Rock and Roll All Nite,” the Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop,” Jimmy Buffett's “Margaritaville,” The Beach Boys' “Surfin' Safari,” Woody Guthrie's “This Land Is Your Land” and Aretha Franklin's “Respect.”

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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 5:52 PM.