The year 2016 has been a good one for country music -- so good, in fact, that The Boot's staff members had a hard time picking the year's Top 10 albums.

In many ways, 2016 was the year of reinvention, whether from new artists who helped shape the genre or from long-time favorites who added new depth and honesty to their portfolios; traditional country music experienced a rebirth in 2016 as well, with artists exploring classic approaches in new ways. In it all, though, vulnerability and authenticity reign supreme.

Of course, 2016's amazing crop of albums meant that some truly great projects got left out of this Top 10: Loretta Lynn's Full Circle is near perfect, and producer Dave Cobb's Southern Family brought together a host of country and Americana for an unforgettable concept album. And those are just a couple of the records that didn't make this list.

Click through the photo gallery above to learn about The Boot's Top 10 country albums of 2016 -- then let us know your favorites in the comments section below!

More From 101.5 KNUE