Wynonna Judd
Wynonna Judd got her start singing with her mother Naomi when they started a country music duo in the first half of the 1980s. Their first album had 14 singles chart at number one, ensuring the ladies a lasting legacy in country music history. Though the group disbanded only a decade later, Judd managed to parlay their popularity into a successful solo career. In 2013, she appeared on Dancing With the Stars though she was one of the first couples eliminated, and she released a new album in 2016.
Keith Urban
Keith Urban may look like your all American country boy, but he’s really rocking some Kiwi roots. Following his relocation from New Zealand to America, he hit the big time on the country circuit. More recently, he appeared as a judge on the hit reality shows, The Voice and Amerian Idol. His most recent tour, Rhythm and Roots began in 2016, which was timed in order to accompany the release of his latest single, the heartbreaking ballad “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes was only 14 when she was awarded her first two Grammys in 1997, making her the youngest country star since Tanya Tucker in the 1970s. Her first album, Blue, had been released only the year before, but that didn’t stop it from hitting the number one spot on the Top Country Albums chart and becoming certified multi-platinum. Though LeAnn Rimes is still a successful musician, she’s also been writing books recently, releasing two novels and two children’s books.
Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley’s 1999 album, Who Needs Pictures, turned the country world upside down. Since his debut, he has released 10 albums, each achieving a certification of at least gold, if not higher. It only took him two years to be inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, an honor that takes many stars a lifetime to achieve. Paisley was the muse behind several songs in the Pixar film, Cars, and he shows no sign of slowing down, as his latest album, Love and War, was released in April.
Luke Bryan
Like many other artists on our list, Luke Bryan is another whose musicianship is far better than his fashion sense. He has the voice of an angel plus an unparalleled knack for songwriting, so it’s no wonder that he got his start writing music for more famous artists before getting signed himself. Since then he’s sold more than 7 million albums internationally. In 2017, Bryan was chosen to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl in Houston, Texas and is a guest judge on The Voice.
Jake Owen
Jake Owen, whose given name was actually Joshua Ryan, managed to land a record deal with RCA Nashville in 2006. His first album, Starting with Me, was released later that year, but it took him another five years to land a number one hit on the country charts. The song? Barefoot Blue Jean Night. He may still be putting out new albums, including 2016’s American Love, which he also produced, but it’s his recent divorce that’s been keeping him in headlines.
Darius Rucker
While he started as the frontman of Hootie & the Blowfish, Darius Rucker has managed to become a successful solo act in his own right. He first met his fellow bandmates in the 80s when the four of them attended University of South Carolina. Rucker ditched the band in 2008, after 22 years together, but it was worth it when Rucker became the first black artist to reach the number one on the Hot Country Songs chart since 1983. Rucker recently played the County to Country festival in Europe.
Lorrie Morgan
Lorrie Morgan lived the dream of millions when she first performed at the Grand Ole Opry when she was only 13 years old. Her first number one hit, “Five Minutes”, was released in 1990, but it was her second record, “Something in Red” which she put out a year later that was certified platinum. Morgan has suffered some personal difficulties over the years, which culminated when she filed for bankruptcy in 2008. Luckily, Morgan managed to stage a comeback and released an album in 2016 called Letting Go…Slowly.
Toby Keith
Hailing from Clinton, Oklahoma, Toby Keith made his country debut in 1993, with the single “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” which managed to make it to the number one slot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Keith wasn’t content to just be a musician, so he opened up Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill in Oklahoma City. The bar was a success and has since expanded, as have Keith’s business dealings. By 2017, he’d become one of the wealthiest American celebrities, earning the title “Country Music’s $500 million man”.
Josh Turner
Josh Turner hasn’t shied away from sharing the influence that his faith has had on his music, saying that he doesn’t need to sing gospel to be a Christian singer. Turner’s first album, Long Black Train was released following his deal with MCA Nashville Records in 2003. It was his second album though, that scored him two number one hits, “Would You Go With Me” and the title track of the album, “Your Man.” His most recent album was released in March 2017 and called Deep South.
Vince Gill
Vince Gill’s career may have started in the 70s when he was the lead singer of Pure Prairie League, a country rock fusion, but he broke off on his own by 1983 and hasn’t looked back. Gill has released over 20 albums, with sales reaching over 26 million volumes sold. He’s earned his 18 Country Music Awards. Gill’s accolades don’t just stop there; he’s also won a record 21 Grammy awards, breaking the record for the number of Grammys earned by any other male country artist.
Eric Church
Eric Church burst onto the scene in 2005 when he scored a deal with Capitol Nashville. He’s managed to put out five albums since his debut album, Sinners Like Me, which came out in 2006. For the curious, there’s a good reason why Eric Church is always wearing sunglasses onstage–it’s to prevent his contacts from drying out under the glare of the harsh theatrical lighting. This year, you can catch Church singing all over the country as he begins his latest tour, titled Holdin’ My Own.
Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert is another country star plucked from the ranks of other young hopefuls in the 2003 season of Nashville Star. Though she was only 19 when she placed third in the competition, the Texas native has grown into a talented and accomplished musician. Among her other country music accomplishments was marrying a fellow artist, Blake Shelton, though the relationship was not long-lived. She managed to translate her heartbreak into career success, appearing in Europe for the first time ever in 2016.
Hank Williams Jr.
Country music runs in Hank Williams Jr.’s blood. Not one to settle with being overshadowed by his famous father, Hank Williams, Jr.’s career was almost entirely derailed in 1975 when he suffered a serious mountain climbing accident. Luckily, for his career, Williams Jr. recovered, and he became a veritable country star in his own right as his music climbed the charts in the 1980s. He’s still releasing music more than 40 years after his debut, having released his most recent album, It’s About Time, in 2016.
Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton’s personal life may be what’s been making the headlines lately, following his split from Miranda Lambert and subsequent engagement to the blonde bombshell, Gwen Stefani. But before he was the focus of celebrity gossip, he was just a young country boy trying to make it in the big time when he released his first album in 2001. Even more recently, he’s been a judge on the hit show, The Voice, since the show began its run in 2011.
Sara Evans
Sara Evans may be a Missouri native, but when she arrived in Nashville in 1991, she fit right in, landing a record deal with RCA Nashville. She didn’t stay with the label for long, having eventually signed with Sony Music Nashville, before leaving them in August 2016 for Concord Music Group. In the interim, Evans took some time away from music to focus on raising her family with husband, Jay Barker. In 2016, she also made an appearance on Chrisley Knows Best, where she performed a duet with Todd Chrisley.
Trace Adkins
Rarely seen without his signature cowboy hat, Trace Adkins has always managed to make it look chic. Adkins began his career in 1995 when he signed with Capitol Records Nashville and subsequently released his debut album, Dreaming Out Loud. Adkins has continued to release albums since his start 22 years ago, with over 10 studio albums now under his belt. In addition to music, Adkins also wrote an autobiography, A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Free-Thinking Roughneck in 2007. 2017 saw the release of his latest album, Something’s Going On.
Billy Ray Cirus
Often considered a one-hit wonder to those not in the know, Billy Ray Cyrus has been churning out albums since his early success in the 90s, when “Achy Breaky Heart” shot to the top of the charts. But Cyrus wasn’t content to just stick to music and has appeared in numerous television shows, particularly as Hannah Montana’s father, which starred his more famous daughter, Miley in the title role. Billy Ray is still acting and was recently seen at the 2017 VMAs with his signature mullet.
Gary Allan
Gary Allan burst onto the country music scene after he signed with Decca Records in 1996. His album, Used Heart for Sale, went certified gold with the single “Her Man” turning Allen into a bonafide star overnight. Allen has released eight more albums with 26 singles that made the Billboard charts, including four number one singles, including “Man to Man.” His last album was released in 2013, with a new one scheduled to come out this year, though the title is as yet unknown.
Rascal Flatts
Rascall Flatts may have gotten their start as a country trio in Columbus, Ohio in the late 90s, but boy have they grown up since! The trio is comprised of Gary LeVox and his second cousin, Jay DeMarcus, as well as their friend Joe Don Rooney. Their 2000 demo got the band signed, and since then, they’ve taken over the country charts. Most recently, they’ve been touring the country following the release of the popular single, “I Like the Sound of That.”
Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Lee Musgraves is another artist who appeared on Nashville Star, though by that time she had already released three albums of her own. She came in seventh place in the show’s fifth season but took several more years to actually sign with her label, Mercury Nashville Records. Musgraves music is notable in the genre because she doesn’t shy away from controversial topics like most conservative country stars do. On Christmas Eve 2016, Musgraves got engaged to Rustin Kelly.
Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson was a major country star in the 1970s, when he was not only a star of his own but was such a prolific songwriter than he won almost all the 1972 songwriter Grammys on his own. Kristofferson often shares stories from his time cavorting with other country legends like Johnny Cash. Though Kristofferson has planned another tour, it’s been somewhat derailed by his battle with Lyme disease, which at 80 years old was first thought to have been the early stages of Alzheimer’s.
Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean started his music career by performing in nightclubs around Atlanta, which eventually helped him land a record deal at Broken Bow Records. Though his relationship with Broken Bow didn’t last, it was all for the best as he blossomed under his deal with Capitol Records. His most famous hits include “My Kinda Party,” “Night Train,” and “Burning It Down.” Aldean embarked on the Six String Circus national tour in 2016 and was finally awarded Entertainer of the Year at the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift may have gone full pop star the past few years, but she wouldn’t have gotten off the ground if it weren’t for her early country hits. When “Teardrops on My Guitar” was released in 2007, Taylor became America’s darling, and amassed a large teen fanbase, as they found her songs of teenage love and heartbreak relatable. Taylor’s image has gone through a number of transformations since. Her latest revamp came in conjunction with the release of her latest single, “Look What You Made Me Do.”
Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson has a real rags to riches story, as he started off working in the mailroom of The Nashville Network. It was his wife, Denise Jackson, who managed to get him connected to country music executives. Jackson signed with Arista Nashville in 1989 and has been a prolific recording artist ever since. With over 16 albums released and 80 million records sold, Jackson is a true pillar of country music. In 2017, it was announced that Jackson would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Dierks Bentley
Dierks Bentley was signed to Capital Nashville in 2003, with whom he subsequently released his debut album. Both his first and second albums went on to be certified platinum. Though Bentley’s look has often changed over the years, he’s still been a consistent hit maker, with over 15 of his singles making the number one slot on the Hot County Songs and Country Airplay charts. Bentley strayed from genre just a little bit with his 2010 bluegrass album, though his 2016 album, Black, was pure country.
Tim McGraw
One-half of a country power couple, Tim McGraw has had an enviable country career. With 14 records, nine headlining tours and a number of acting roles to boot, his secret to success may just be his wife, Faith Hill. In addition to McGraw’s success on the country music stage, he’s also acted alongside Sandra Bullock in both The Blind Side and Friday Night Lights. In 2017, McGraw signed on with a new label, Arista Nashville, a branch of Sony Music Nashville.
Tanya Tucker
Tanya Tucker is another country star who got her start when she was just a tween, making her debut when she was about 13 years old. Her 1972 single, “Delta Dawn,” hit number six on the country charts, ensuring that Tucker’s career would continue. Unlike most child stars, whose fan bases change as they age, Tucker has managed to keep her fans engaged with her music for over 40 years. Tucker is still touring today and released her first single since 2009 following the death of Glen Campbell in August.
Randy Travis
Randy Travis’s voice has held the country world in thrall since he started producing records in the 1980s. He’s had 16 singles make it to the top slot on the Billboard Hot Country songs, which is just the cherry on top of his six Grammys, and his six Country Music Awards. Unfortunately for both Travis and his fans, the baritone crooner suffered a stroke in 2013, but with a team of expert therapists, Travis was able to perform “Amazing Grace” for his Country Music Hall of Fame induction in 2016.
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson was the first ever winner of American Idol, and America has loved her ever since. At only 20 years old, the country belter took over both pop and country charts and has been a record selling artist with over 100 number one hits on the Billboard charts. Though Clarkson has experimented with a variety of musical genres, including pop and rock, her roots are still country. She is expected to release her latest album, Meaning of Life, this October.
Kenny Rogers
Kenny Roger’s has been a country music star for over 60 years now, and the Country Music Hall of Famer is still touring and performing. Another of the top selling artists in history, with over 100 million albums sold, Rogers considered retiring in 2015, but he just couldn’t escape the draw of performance. Like his fellow country legend, Wille Nelson, Rogers has blown through his fair share of marriages, five in total, and has had children with most of his wives.
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood may have been a small town girl from Oklahoma when she won the fourth season of American Idol, but now she’s a veritable country superstar. She’s sold over 65 million records and has won numerous awards, which include 7 Grammys, 17 Billboard Music Awards, and 11 American Music Awards. Indeed, Carrie seems to be the “reigning queen” of country.
Clint Black
Clint Black’s first album, Killin Time was released in 1989, and became an instant hit, with five singles making the number one slot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Black wasn’t content to remain a one trick pony and moved into acting with a starring role in the 1998 film, Still Holding On: The Legend of Cadillac Jack. In the early 2000s, Black to a break from performing in order to focus on his family, but he returned in 2013, and released his most recent album in 2015.
Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood’s country career took off in the early 1990s, as she made a name for herself with her female-centric songs. Married to another country great, Garth Brooks, Yearwood has been something of a jack of all trades, even if she’s best known for her music. With titles that include author, singer, actress, and even chef, Trisha has been hosting an Emmy award-winning cooking show on Food Network, Trisha’s Southern Kitchen, since 2012. In 2016, she participated in the live TV musical, The Passion.
Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss has distinguished herself from many of her peers as one of the few whose niche is more bluegrass than country. Her first record was released when she was only 14 years old, proving her abilities as a virtuoso in the genre. Krauss’s talent has earned her 27 Grammys, on top of a number of other awards in country music. Her hits have been featured in the films O’ Brother Where Art Thou and Cold Mountain. She released her latest album, titled Windy City, in February of 2017.
Patty Loveless
Patty Loveless’s self-titled first album was released in the 1980s, and her popularity has held strong since then. Her professional heyday came a decade later, as she managed to release single after single that made it onto the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Loveless has semi-retired from performing, only making sporadic appearances these days at the Grand Ole Opry and on a country music cruise, preferring to focus her energy on being with her husband and children.
George Strait
Texas native, George Strait seems to have hardly aged over the 30 years since he began his career in country music. A cowboy at heart, Strait is considered the “King of Country” as he’s had more number one hits on various charts, over 60 to date, than any other artist in any musical genre. With over 28 albums in his discography, Strait has clearly earned his title. Strait’s first grandchild was born in 2012 and was named after his famous grandpa. His most recent album, Cold Beer Conversations was released in 2015.
Rhett Akins
Rhett Akins first made waves in Nashville with the release of the single “That Ain’t My Truck” in 1995, which made it to the number three spot on the Billboard Country Charts. His first album, A Thousand Memories, contained a number of other hits, solidifying Akins as a country star. Akins is still going, and has been successfully penning songs for other country stars of late, including co-writing credits on “I Can Take It From There” which was recorded by Chris Young, and Blake Shelton’s “Boys ‘Round Here”.