Top 20 Most Popular Country Singers

Photo by Christopher D. Wikimedia Commons

Top 20 Most Popular Country Singers

Country music is also known as western. It is a genre of popular music that arose from church music and blues such as old times, spirituals, southern gospel, and American folk music. Country music traces its roots in the Southern and Southwestern United States since the early 1920s. It is one of those pieces of music that comes with a special touch and most of its composition is a heart-warming story that is told through music. Over the years it has been popularized and has grown to greater heights today. Some of the most significant singers have helped in the evolution of country music and have stood out to become the most popular country singers. Study with us through the paragraphs below and explore the top 20 most popular country singers.

1. Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton. Photo by Eva Rinaldi. Wikimedia Commons

Dolly Rebecca Parton is one of the well-known and established American singers in the country music genre. She was born on the 19^th of January 1946. However, she has also released other music genres including gospel and bluegrass. Her talent has been outstanding since she became active in music in 1956. She has sold over one hundred million records over the years which has significantly influenced country music at large. Twenty-five of her songs has managed to reach number one on the Billboard country music. Over the years she has composed over three thousand songs that have become the best-selling album of all time. Among her top singles include “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You” among others.

2. Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw. Photo by Steve Kwak. Wikimedia Commons

Tim McGraw is one of the most famous and influential American country songwriters and singers of all time. He was born on the first of May 1967 but came into active music in 1990. Apart from singing country music, he is also a record producer, actor, and guitarist. Over the years he has released over sixteen albums and ten of them have managed to top position one on the Top Country Albums charts. His popularity rose from his outstanding ballads and love songs. He has also won several awards and sold over eighty million records worldwide making him among the best-selling music artist of all time.

3. Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash. Photo by Heinrich Klaffs. Wikimedia Commons

Johnny Cash was an American country singer and songwriter, who was popular in music themes that contained moral tribulations, sorrow, and redemption. He lived between 1932 and 2003 and was active in music since 1954. He sold over ninety million records worldwide making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. His voice was a deep calm bass-baritone that came out so amazing from his songs.

4. George Strait

George Strait. Photo by Craig ONeal. Wikimedia Commons

George Harvey Strait is an American country musician commonly referred to as King of Country. He was born on the 18^th of May 1952 and was active in music since 1976. Alongside singing country music, he is also a rancher, actor, and record producer. He became very famous in 1981 when his first single “Unwound” hit. He is one of the most popular and influential country music artists having seven of his album reach position one in the country charts. At one point he has the most number-one hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart. He has also been rewarded for his sensational music and inducted into several halls of fame.

5. Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson. Photo by Larry Philpot. Wikimedia Commons

Willie Nelson is one of the outstanding country music artists whose fame has continued to flourish since 1956 when he became active in music. He was born on the 29^th of April 1933. Apart from singing country music, he has also ventured into jazz, blues, and gospel. He rose to prominence from the success of his albums in the 1970s which made him among the most recognized country music artist. Some of his singles topped the Billboard Hot 100 and he won Song of the Year, Best Country song, and Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

6. Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks. Photo by Steve Jurvetson. Wikimedia Commons

Garth Brooks is one of the most famous and influential country music singers and songwriters of all time. He was born on the 7^th on February 1962 and his fame has reached far worldwide with his exceptional talent. He is also known as Chris Gaines and is also a renowned guitarist and pianist. He was active in music since 1985 and released his first single in 1989. Since then. He has excelled in country music and released his first album that reached position one on the Billboard 200. He also gained induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

7. Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton. Photo by Stacey Huggins. Wikimedia Commons

Blake Shelton is a famous country music singer born on the 18^th of June 1976. He made his debut with the single “Austin” in 2001. His debut album was so outstanding that it spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart. Over the years he has released several albums that have made him very popular. He has been awarded several awards and nominations including Best Country Album. In his career journey, he is also a judge in televised singing competitions.

8. Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood. Photo by Matthew Wittkopp. Wikimedia commons

Carrie Underwood is an American singer and songwriter whose talent and work in Country music have made her very famous. She was born on the 10^th of March 1983 and gained fame in 2005 after she won the fourth season of American Idol. Her single “Inside Your Heaven” hit and reached far wide making her standout s the only artist to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100. In 2005 she released other singles that saw her become the best-selling female solo artist in the country’s history. She was awarded the best artist alongside other major awards.

9. Kenny Rogers

Kenny Rogers. Photo by Eva Rinaldi. Wikimedia Commons

Kenny Rogers passed on in 2020 after a successful career in country music. He was an American songwriter, singer, and actor who gained fame from his magnificent talent for telling stories through music. Apart from rock music, he also sang pop and soft rock alongside playing guitar and harmonica. He was one of the best-selling artists of all time after best-selling more than one hundred million records worldwide. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Country audiences loved him for his melodious hits across various genres.

10. Keith Urban

Keith Urban. Photo by Craig ONeal. Wikimedia Commons

Keith Lionel Urban famously known by his professional name as Keith Urban is an Australian musician and songwriter born on the 26^th of October 1967. He, however, made his first debut in a self–titled album in 1990. He was so talented in the Country genre and this saw him rise to fame so easily. He won several awards including Grammy Award for Best Male Country Music Vocal Performance. He was also named the biggest country hit of the 200s decade by Billboards.

11. Luke Bryan

Luke Bryan. Photo by Joe Bielawa. Wikimedia Commons

Luke Bryan is one the most famous and fascinating country music artists who began his career writing songs for several artists including Billy Currington. He is an American Country singer, songwriter, and television personality born in 1976. His real name is Thomas Luther born on the 17^th of July 1976. He rose to fame in 2010 and became one of the most successful country music artists. He was awarded country artists of 2010s and 2020s among other major awards. He is one of the world’s best-selling artists with over 75 million record sales.

12. Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift. Photo by Melodies1917. Wikimedia Commons

Taylor Swift is one of the best-selling female artists in Country music. She is an American singer, actress, producer, and songwriter born on the 13^th of December 1989. She became a country artist at the age of 14. However, she has also ventured into other music genres including pop, folk, and rock alongside playing guitar, piano, vocals, and banjo. She has won several awards including eleven Grammy awards and ranking on Billboard among the top 1oo Greatest Songwriters of All Time.

13. Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert. Photo by Craig ONeal . Wikimedia Commons

Miranda Lambert is an American country music singer and songwriter whose influence and talent in the genre have spread worldwide making her the best-selling artist in country music. \she was born on the 10^th of November 1983. However, she began her music career in 2001 and she made her debut album in 2003. She has been honored severally for her outstanding work in country music including the Academy of Country Music Awards than any other artist in history.

14. Shania Twain

Shania Twain. Photo by Jerry Daykin. Wikimedia Commons

Shania Twain is a Canadian songwriter and singer born on the 28^th of August 1965. She became very popular in the 1990s and was given several titles including Queen of Country pop. Billboard recognized her as a leader of the 90s country-pop crossover star. She sold over one hundred million records worldwide making her the best-selling female artist in the history of country music and one of the best-selling artists of all time. She has won several awards including Grammy Awards and other major awards.

15. Patsy Cline

Patsy Cline. Photo by Decca Records. Wikimedia Commons

Patsy Cline was an American singer who lived between 1932 and 1963. However, her legendary, fame and influence in country music are evident and live to date. She is regarded as the most influential vocalist of the 20^th century. She was the first country artist to cross over to pop music. Her music was so outstanding and her vocals were on another level. She has two hits on the Billboard Hot Country and Western side charts. She was the first female artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

16. Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn. Photo by Anna Hanks . Wikimedia Commons

Loretta Lynn was an American country music singer and songwriter who lived between 14^th April 1932 and 4^th October 2022. She rose to prominence in the 1970s and became very influential in country music. She was the most-awarded female country music artist in history. She received several awards for Grammy awards.

17. Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton. Photo by Library of Congress Life. Wikimedia Commons

Chris Stapleton is an American Guitarist, singer, and songwriter born on the 15^th of April 1978 in Lexington. He became active in music in 2001 and henceforth he has made an exceptional influence on country music. His debut solo album reached number one on the Billboard 200/ He has been awarded Grammy Award for Best Country Album among other major awards. He was also named the ACM’s Artist-Songwriter of the decade.

18. Luke Combs

Luke Combs. Photo by David Bergman. Wikimedia Commons

Luke Combs is one of the young and most popular county music artists born on the 2^nd of March 1990. He released his debut album in 2017 which reached number four on the Billboard 200. He managed to release his second album in 2019 ‘What You See is What You Get. The album was the first to top the charts in multiple territories. He has been awarded severally as well as two nominations for the Grammy Awards.

19. Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley. Photo by Crisco 1492. Wikimedia Commons

Brad made his debut in 1999 with his first album ‘Who Needs Pictures. Since his debut, he has managed to release other several singles becoming one of the most influential country music artists of all time. Ten of his singles reached position one on the US Billboard Country Airplay chart. He has won three Grammy awards, two American Music Awards, and Fourteen Country Music Association Awards among other awards.

20. Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire. Photo by Gage Skidmore. Wikimedia Commons

Reba is an American country music singer and actress born on the 28^th of March 1955. She became active in music in 1975 and has over the years influenced country music.  She is one of the most famous artists in country music with over seventy-five million sales worldwide making her the best-selling artist of all time. She has had over one hundred singles placed on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.