A new special, CMT 40 Greatest Love Songs, debuts Saturday (Feb. 12) at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The two-hour special will count down country's most romantic classics, from enduring standards by Patsy Cline and Hank Williams to new favorites from Taylor Swift and Keith Urban. The full list will be revealed for the first time during the special which features insight and commentary from contemporary country stars like Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire.

For example, Dierks Bentley looks back at "When You Say Nothing at All," an exquisite ballad recorded by Keith Whitley as well as Alison Krauss.

"Some of the most powerful parts of being in love with someone are the things that go unspoken, unsaid," Bentley says. "And there's a line in that song, 'Old Mr. Webster could never define what's being said between your heart and mine.' Just the chemistry that goes on between two people in love doesn't require words, and I don't think there's a song out there that says it better than 'When You Say Nothing at All.'"

Meanwhile, Jason Aldean elaborates on "I Cross My Heart," one of George Strait's most-loved hits.

"'I Cross My Heart' is a song that I've probably sung at 10 weddings over the course of my lifetime," he says, "and there for a while, I think for everybody that got married, that was their wedding song."

The list also features signature songs by Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Shania Twain, plus selections from more than a dozen Country Music Hall of Fame members.