Making lists of the top artists of any kind is always tough because there’s no one-way to sort artists’ success.
When it comes to ranking top country singers, there are a few ways they could be compiled. How do you decide the best way? Is it by who has the most played song online? The most records sold? Who has the biggest net worth? Who was the most influential?
While it’s impossible to measure some of these subjective qualities, we can always offer up appreciation for musical artists who are generally popular and influential in the hopes of teaching readers something new!
Here is a list of famous and influential country singers that will hopefully inspire you to listen to some new music and consider the artistic stylings of different musicians.
John Denver
Even people who don’t know country know that John Denver is one of the most famous country singers in recent history.
His hit song “Take Me Home, Country Roads” continues to be referenced in pop culture to this day in movies like “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” videos on YouTube, and in memes and sound bites on TikTok and Instagram. Before the internet, John Denver was still extremely influential in the country music scene. He popularized the genre outside of country lovers with his easy listening and joyful lyrics.
Over his career, he earned many awards including Album of the Year (1974), Emmy for Outstanding Variety (1975), Favorite Country Album & Male Artist (1976), Grammy Hall of Fame Award (1998), and the posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Folk Music Association (1998); an award which was invented for John Denver. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1996.
Merle Haggard
One of the most recognizable old country singers, Merle has been called the “Poet of the Common Man” for his ability to capture mundane, everyday life in emotive, profound lyrics. Haggard debuted in 1964 with a cover of “Sing a Sad Song" by Wynn Stewart, which was an immediate success. The following year, he released "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers," written by Liz Anderson, which turned into his first top-10 record.
Over his career, he and his classic country songs have won numerous awards including Most Promising Male Vocalist (1965), Top Male Vocalist (1969, 70, 72, 74, 81), Album/Song/Single of the Year (1969), 4 Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994.
Dolly Parton
Dolly is one of the most popular country artists of all time, maintaining her relevance over the years since her debut in 1967. To this day, people of all age groups and music preferences sing her most famous songs like “9 to 5” and one of the top country songs of all time, “Jolene.”
A quotable woman, Dolly continues to serve as an inspiration for many people, especially girls and women, with lines like:
“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”
“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”
“I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb—and I'm not blonde either.”
"I'm not going to limit myself just because people won't accept the fact that I can do something else.”
And famously “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap!”
As of 2012, Dolly has written over 3,000 songs and sold 100+ million records!
The RIAA has certified 25 of her releases as Gold, Platinum, or Multi-Platinum Records. She boasts 26 Billboard country chart-topping songs, a record for females. With 42 Top 10 albums, she holds the record across all artists. She's also charted in seven decades; a unique feat. Parton has won eleven Grammys and received fifty nominations, second-most among female musical artists. And, she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1969.
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash is without a doubt one of the top country artists by any metric. His signature baritone voice and iconic guitar stylings, paired with his winning stage persona and relatable lyrics has cemented him in the category of eternal country stars.
He was well-known for performing always in all-black, earning him the nickname “The Man in Black” and for performing free concerts in prisons, which was requested by prisoners themselves after he released “Folsom Prison Blues” in 1968. Cash’s music wasn’t strictly country although as a whole, his music and persona fit comfortably into that category. Many of his songs can be called rock and roll, blues, rockabilly, folk, and gospel.
Over his 5-decade career, Cash won dozens of awards including Single of the Year (1985), Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award (2002), Album of the Year (1968, 69, 2003), 18 Grammys, 7 different Hall of Fame inductions, a Grand Ole Opry membership in 1956, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Loretta Lynn
The Queen of Country in the 60’s, Loretta will forever be in the list of top female country singers. One of her most famous songs, the 1970 hit “Coal Miner’s Daughter” became an overnight success and reached the #1 spot on Billboard’s Country Chart. Ten years later, a musical film with the same name was written about her life.
Her songs hit home for country fans because Lynn had real-life experience of growing up poor in the South; “Coal Miner’s Daughter” is an autobiographical song, after all. Loretta’s clear vocals and pure country spirit helped her become a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1962.
Her award-studded accolades include Top Female Vocalist (1970, 72, 74, 75), Top Vocal Group for her country group Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn (1971, 74, 75, 76), Favorite Country Group (1975, 77, 78), Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting (2014), and the Legend Award (2015) in addition to four Grammys.
George Strait
The “King of Country” is recognized for leading the neotraditional country movement in the 1980s. His charm, handsome appearance, and authentic cowboy persona enhanced his popularity.
He rose to fame in the '80s and '90s, and his career is, marked by an impressive 60 #1 singles (although they didn’t make it into the Billboard list), which is more than any other performer in history.
With over 120 million records sold globally, he stands as one of the highest-selling music artists ever.
Strait’s musical influences started with rock and roll, notably, The Beatles, when he was a boy in the early 60s. But, since he lived in Texas, he experienced a lot of country music, which helped him earn a place in the Army-sponsored country music band, "Rambling Country" while he was an infantryman in Hawaii.
As one of the most popular 90s country artists, Strait holds multiple records in country music history, including most number-one albums and singles, gold, platinum, and multiplatinum albums. He ranks 11th for most number-one albums across all genres, and only Elvis Presley and The Beatles surpass him in gold and platinum album sales.
With 70 million records sold in the US, he's the 12th best-selling American artist ever. Since 2013, he's held the world record for most number-one hit singles, with 60 across all charts. He's the sole artist to have a top-10 hit annually for 30 years, meaning he is a large contributor to the top 100 country songs of all time. He's also second all-time for top-10 hits, nearing Eddy Arnold's record. Strait has won 22 CMA Awards, including three Entertainer of the Year honors and he holds the career record for CMA nominations.
He was inducted into the County Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and Texas even declared his birthday, May 18th, to be “George Strait Day,” a yearly holiday. It’s no wonder that Strait is one of the most popular male country singers of all time!
Deana Carter
You’re unlikely to find Carter on many other lists of overall best country singers because, compared to other names on this list, she has won few awards and isn’t nearly as timeless. However, the 90s was a very unique time in pop culture history and has its own list of top 90s female country singers to go along with it.
The 90s had a definite vibe about it which touched every aspect of culture: every genre of music, the movies and TV shows, the fashion, the food… if you can think of it, the 90s did it just a little bit different than the 80s and late 00s.
Deana Carter was one of the definitive 90s country voices, especially her hit songs “Strawberry Wine,” “Did I Shave My Legs for This?” and “You and Tequila.”
Other notable 90s and early 2000s country voices include:
- Gretchen Wilson
- Trace Adkins
- Garth Brooks
- Billy Ray Cyrus
- Tim McGraw
- Shania Twain
- Faith Hill
- Martina McBride
Carrie Underwood
Underwood currently sits in a pivotal place in the overall country music scene. She was one of the most popular country singers of the 2000s and 2010s, which is a decidedly different era of sound from the 50s-80s, and the 90s (which were their own unique beast).
Unlike previous country music artists, Underwood’s career began when she won American Idol in its 4th season in 2005, making her the first country singer to begin their career this way.
Since her debut, she has produced dozens of popular country songs, like “Before He Cheats,” “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “Dirty Laundry,” and “Two Black Cadillacs.”
Carrie Underwood, the most decorated country artist ever, has won numerous accolades, including eight Grammys, twelve Billboard Music Awards, sixteen ACM Awards, seventeen AMAs, and more. She's also received recognition as a songwriter, with a Golden Globe nomination and ten BMI Awards. Inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2008 and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2009, she later earned a spot in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2017. In 2020, she made history as the first woman to win the ACM Entertainer of the Year award three times.
Modern country simply wouldn’t be the same without Underwood’s contributions.
Top Country Artists 2024 - Watch Out for These Rising Stars!
In the present-day country scene, there are a few up-and-coming musical artists to watch as they progress in their careers.
Check out these artists to stay in the loop about contemporary country:
- Kacey Musgraves
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Luke Combs
- Mason Ramsey
- Bailey Zimmerman
- Kassi Ashton
- RaeLynn
- Zach Bryan
- Morgan Wallen
Over the years, countless country musicians have left their marks on the genre and their fans. Their music isn't just notes on a page; it's a soundtrack to life, weaving stories that resonate with us all. There will surely be many names added to the list of the best country musicians of all time as time moves forward! If you're inspired to try performing yourself, consider online singing classes for adults to develop your voice and stage presence.
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