History Main / CountryMusic

->''"Country music has only gotten rowdier and younger and more meat-headed. I can't be the only person to notice that country music videos these days are just rap videos with white girls."''
-->--'''WebVideo/ToddInTheShadows''' on modern trends in country music

* Music/RyanAdams: An alt-country musician (mostly), he's experimented with other genres most notably indie rock and metal. He was married to former teen pop star Mandy Moore.
* Music/TraceAdkins: Baritone-voiced neotraditionalist/rocker who spent most of the noughties on top.
* Music/{{Alabama}}: Most popular band in the genre; most #1 hits for any country band. Named Artist of the Decade for the '80s.
* Music/JasonAldean: A-list country singer known for being one of the more rock-oriented acts in the genre, and is currently the genre's most popular male vocalist.
* Music/GaryAllan: Popular California country singer.
* Music/BillAnderson: Known as "Whisperin' Bill", a prolific singer-songwriter from the 50's onward.
* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_Arnold Eddy Arnold]]: The man who brought pop-style crooning to Country, helping the music to evolve from its hillbilly roots. Jaw-droppingly prolific; his first hit was in 1945, and his final chart entry happened in 2008, a few weeks after his death.
* Music/GeneAutry: Major proponent of the "Singing Cowboy" subgenre in recordings, radio and film, especially in The 30's-40's.
* Music/TheBandPerry: A popular band who had a crossover hit with "If I Die Young."
* Music/DierksBentley: One of the younger names in country music.
* Music/BigAndRich: Hot country-rock-rap duo.
* Music/RyanBingham: Modern practitioner of slide guitar.
* Music/ClintBlack: Has had success mostly in the 90s.
* Music/LeeBrice: Popular songwriter and singer of the 2010s.
* Music/GarthBrooks: One of the best-selling acts in any genre, explosively popular throughout the 90s only to retire abruptly in 2001. Surprisingly, he only had one top 40 hit on the Hot 100. Often credited or blamed with reintroducing pop influences to country music. Named Artist of the decade for the '90s.

* Music/BrooksAndDunn: Most popular duo in the genre, most #1 hits for any country duo.
* Music/ZacBrownBand: One of the best selling bands of recent times.
* Music/LukeBryan: A very popular modern country singer and currently rivaling Aldean as the genre's biggest male star.
* Music/JimmyBuffett: More thought of as a pop singer, but much of his fanbase overlaps with country music.
* Music/TheByrds: FolkRock turned PsychedelicRock turned Country Rock pioneers.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Campbell Glen Campbell]]: A musician/actor who had a few number-one hits on the pop charts as well.
* Music/JohnnyCash: The genre's greatest legend.
* Music/KennyChesney: A massively successful star of the 00s. Mixes traditional country with a tropical/island sound.
* Music/EricChurch: Fast-rising country-rock singer.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patsy_Cline Patsy Cline]]: Much-beloved classic female singer who, like Hank Williams, had her career tragically cut short.
* Music/BillyRayCyrus, whose debut album featured major break-out hits such as "Could've Been Me" and "Achy Breaky Heart", and would later be known for his role on the teen sitcom ''Series/HannahMontana''.
* Music/DavidAllanCoe: A key figure in the decidedly un-mainstream "Outlaw Country" movement of the 70s. Recorded a couple of very dirty albums back in the day. At the behest of Shel Silverstein, no less.
* Music/JohnDenver: "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" amongst others.
* Music/DiamondRio: Popular 1990s band.
* Music/JoeDiffie: Novelty musician and balladeer of the 90s.
* Music/DixieChicks: One of the most popular (and controversial) all-female acts in the genre.
* Music/BobDylan: From the late 1960s on Dylan's music moved more into a country music direction.
** ''Music/NashvilleSkyline'' (1969)
** ''Music/SelfPortrait'' (1970)
** ''Music/BloodOnTheTracks'' (1975)
** ''Music/{{Desire}}'' (1976)
** ''Music/SlowTrainComing'' (1979)
** ''Music/OhMercy'' (1989)
* Music/{{Eagles}}: Mostly known for rock but had a few hits in country radio, and their material on their early albums was much more country-oriented.
* Music/JustinTownesEarle: Son of below mentioned Steve Earle.
* Music/SteveEarle: A country-rock musician who has had hits on both genre's charts.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lefty_Frizzell Lefty Frizzell]]: Perhaps the most influential country artist ever along with Hank Williams.
* Music/FloridaGeorgiaLine: Hot duo of the 2010s.
* Music/KinkyFriedman: Colorful singer-songwriter and leader of the Texas Jewboys. Also dabbled in politics by running for Governor of Texas in 2006.
* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Gayle Crystal Gayle]]: Loretta Lynn's younger sister, known for her smooth singing style, a number of big pop crossover hits, and her RapunzelHair.
* Music/BrantleyGilbert: One of the more rock-influenced artists nowadays.
* Music/VinceGill: Former Pure Prairie League leader who became more successful as a solo act.
* Music/TheGratefulDead: Delved into country-rock in concerts and on several of their albums, which tend to be among their best-regarded studio efforts.
** ''Music/AmericanBeauty'' (1970)
* Music/MerleHaggard: Legend who was one of the most prolific and esteemed singer-songwriters in country music history.
* Music/TomTHall: "The Storyteller", whose SliceOfLife songs brought a new dimension to Country songwriting.
* Music/HunterHayes: A young up-and-comer of the new tens.
* Music/FaithHill: Was a regular visitor to the pop charts in the late 90's, and is also known as Tim [=McGraw's=] wife.
* Music/SamHunt: A rising star of the 2010s.
* Music/AlanJackson: Consistently acclaimed singer-songwriter who is known for his self-described simple songs, "everyman" disposition, and countless well-received recordings.

* Music/WaylonJennings: One of the most respected country musicians ever, and a chief member of the outlaw movement of the 1970s.
* Music/GeorgeJones: Was known as "the greatest living country singer," and often regarded as the genre's greatest vocalist.
* Music/CledusTJudd: The genre's most famous parodist. No relation to The Judds.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Judds The Judds]]: Second most-popular country music duo (they were tops until Brooks & Dunn trumped them). After mother Naomi retired from singing, daughter Wynonna went on to a modestly successful singles career, and then her sister Ashley became a highly successful actress.
* Music/TobyKeith: One of the genre's more politically-oriented acts.
* Music/TheKentuckyHeadhunters: Prominent country-rock and Southern rock band.
* Music/AlisonKraussAndUnionStation: The best-selling, and perhaps best known, bluegrass group in the business.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_Kristofferson Kris Kristofferson]]: Known for writing songs made famous by other people ("Me and Bobby [=McGee=]" was popularised by Janis Joplin), but also well-regarded in his own right as both a singer-songwriter and actor.
* Music/LadyAntebellum: Country-pop trio that rose to superstardom in the late '00s.
* Music/MirandaLambert: Known for her grittier style and for influencing Cassadee Pope on ''Series/TheVoice''.
* Music/SteveLee: Australian country singer who mostly sings about firearms.
* Music/JerryLeeLewis: [[/index]] {{Rockabilly}} [[index]] legend who had a series of top 40 hits in the 1950s, then successfully reinvented himself as a country act in TheSixties and TheSeventies.
* Music/LittleBigTown: Popular vocal group of the 2000s.
* Music/{{Lonestar}}: Hot band in the late 90s-early 2000s who achieved massive crossover success.
* Music/PattyLoveless: Twangy traditionalist of the '90s.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyle_Lovett Lyle Lovett]]: The trope maker of Alternative Country and, for a while, one of the few alternative country acts to get attention on country radio. Nowadays, you're likely to find his music playing on an Adult Alternative station rather than your local country station.
* Music/JennetteMccurdy, [[OldShame although thank you for reminding her]].
* [[http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loretta_Lynn Loretta Lynn]]: Legend who is arguably the most important female country artist. Called the "First Lady of Country Music", a title that has never been granted to anyone else. Named "Artist of the Decade" for the '70s. Creator/SissySpacek won an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward playing her in ''Film/CoalMinersDaughter''.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Mandrell Barbara Mandrell]]: Famous for her spectacular live shows and one of country music's most iconic female singers.

* Music/MartinaMcBride: Country-pop belter of the late '90s-early 2000s.
* Music/RebaMcEntire: Most Top 10 country hits for any female singer, also very popular as an actress.
* Music/TimMcGraw: Highly successful commercially; made independent Curb Records a driving force in the country industry. Married to the previously mentioned Faith Hill.
* Music/JoDeeMessina: Late 90s female star.
* Music/RonnieMilsap: Prolific '70s and '80s country-pop singer, best known for being one of the only blind musicians in the genre.
* Music/JohnMichaelMontgomery: Crossover-friendly hitmaker of The 90's.
* Music/MontgomeryGentry: Country-rock duo from the 21st century's first decade.
* Music/KaceyMusgraves: Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter of TheNewTens.
* Music/WillieNelson: Venerable singer-songwriter who has written or recorded numerous classic songs. Also known for being ''ridiculously'' prolific in recent years and collaborating with just about every musician in existence.
* Music/MichaelNesmith: Texas-born member of Music/TheMonkees did several early Country Rock songs with them, then went on to a critically acclaimed solo career where he further blended country with eclectic musical influences.
* Music/MojoNixon: Singer/songwriter specializing in bitingly satiric lyrics
* Music/TheOakRidgeBoys: A gospel group dating from the 1940s, The Oaks got retooled into a country-pop band following a membership change in the 1970s.
* Music/JakeOwen: Highly successful singer of the 2010s.
* Music/BuckOwens: Influential artist of the '60s and '70s, known for his "Bakersfield sound".
* Music/BradPaisley: The first 70s-born musician to make it big in the genre. Well-known for his absolutely insane guitar-playing skills and pop-culture heavy lyrics.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram_Parsons Gram Parsons]]: Helped create country rock as a member of Music/TheByrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, as well as recording a couple of well-regarded solo albums before his untimely death at the age of 26. He was also a major influence on AlternativeCountry.
* Music/DollyParton: Like Reba, she is known almost as much for her acting as for her singing. [[note]]And she's almost as much for both of those as for her [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail large...tracts of land]].[[/note]] Also known as one of the most incredibly prolific songwriters in any genre, with over '''3,000''' songs written to date. In the New Millennium, gained further fame as a businesswoman (owner of [[ThemePark Dollywood]] and the [[DInnerTheatre Dixie Stampede]] franchise) and philanthropist, especially in her home of Sevier County, Tennessee.

* Music/{{Poco}}: One of the leading country-rock bands of the '70s.
* Music/ElvisPresley: First became a star on the country circuit, then most of his early rock hits also scored big on the country charts. In TheSeventies he started recording country songs again alongside his pop material, and once again started racking up country hits. He even scored a posthumous #1 in 1981 ("Guitar Man").
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charley_Pride Charley Pride]]: Most popular black artist in the genre by far.
* Music/RascalFlatts: Easily the most popular country band of the 21st century.
* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Reeves Jim Reeves]]: Smooth-voiced singer who died at the height of his popularity in 1964 trying to fly his private plane in a heavy rainstorm. Still [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff quite popular in such unlikely places]] as South Africa and India.
* Music/ThomasRhett: Son of Rhett Akins
* Music/MartyRobbins Named "Artist of the Decade" for the '60s.

* Music/JimmieRodgers: One of the earliest and most influential artists of the genre. Considered the Father of Country.
* Music/KennyRogers: Has had the most pop crossover success of any country singer in history; also known for his chicken restaurant.
* Music/DanielRomano: Canadian country singer of an old-school inclination.
* Music/LindaRonstadt: Primarily a pop singer but showed enough country influence in her music to get a fair amount of country radio airplay in her heyday.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_Rucker Darius Rucker]]: The first black artist since Pride to achieve major popularity in the genre, with six #1 singles and four #1 albums on the ''Billboard'' country charts so far. Before entering the country genre in 2008, he was frontman of Music/HootieAndTheBlowfish, and still occasionally performs with them.
* Music/BlakeShelton: Current A-Lister and reigning Entertainer of the Year; he is one of the judges on ''Series/TheVoice''.
* Music/ChrisStapleton: Traditional-minded singer of TheNewTens.
* Music/TheStatlerBrothers: Beloved quartet who started out doing gospel before they became Music/JohnnyCash's backing vocalists. Scored a huge pop crossover hit with "Flowers on the Wall" in 1966.
* Music/RayStevens: Popular novelty artist.
* Music/GeorgeStrait: Most #1 hits of any artist (44 on ''Billboard''). Known for his extraordinary longevity, he's been a commercial A-lister for almost thirty years. Named Artist of the Decade for the aughts. Finally retiring from touring in 2013.
* Music/{{Sugarland}}: Popular duo from the 2000s.
* Music/ColeSwindell: 2010s country-pop singer.
* Music/TaylorSwift: Insanely popular among teenagers; her popularity is on the level that only pop musicians usually achieve. However, she's become a pop artist completely after the release of ''1989'' in 2014.

* Music/RandyTravis: Highly regarded singer-songwriter who achieved his greatest commercial success during the neotraditional movement of the late 1980s of which he was a key component. Mostly recorded gospel music in the 2000s. Was sidelined by a serious stroke in 2013, though he is still recovering.
* Music/TanyaTucker: Former child singer of the 70s who matured into the 80s and 90s.
* Music/ShaniaTwain: One of the biggest crossover successes of the 1990s.
* Music/ConwayTwitty: Holder of the record of most #1 hits before George Strait broke it. A rock singer before switching to country full-time, he retained his rock influences. Known for featuring overt sexual themes in his lyrics, not to mention being a ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' running gag.
* Music/CarrieUnderwood: Rivals Music/KellyClarkson as the most successful ''American Idol'' winner in terms of commercial and chart success.
* Music/KeithUrban: A little bit of Australian flavor on the charts. He joined the "American Idol" judging panel in 2013.
* Music/KittyWells: The first female country music star, and known as "The Queen of Country Music".
* Music/KeithWhitley: Influential honky-tonker of The 80's who met his untimely death in 1989.
* Music/DonWilliams: Soft-voiced country pop singer of the 70s and 80s, known as the "Gentle Giant".
* Music/HankWilliams: A legend whose career was cut far too short, arguably the greatest and most influential country musician.

* Music/HankWilliamsJr: Son of the legendary Hank Williams, but managed to craft a substantial career and identity of his own. One of the leading lights of the late 70's "outlaw country" genre, and known for his popular Monday Night Football theme.
* Music/HankWilliamsIII: Grandson of Hank Williams and son of Jr., he's carved out a unique career different from both his grandfather and father and is one of the more popular alternative country artists today, largely influenced by punk, metal and the neotraditional country scene. (His guitar case bears Woody Guthrie's famous "This Machine Kills Fascists" sticker, fairly clearly indicating his political stance).
* Music/LucindaWilliams: One of the more popular alternative country singer-songwriters. Daughter of the poet Miller Williams; of no relation to the three Hanks.
* Music/MarkWills: 90s-early 2000s hitmaker.
* Music/LeeAnnWomack: Late-90s neotraditionalist.
* Music/ChelyWright: Most famous nowadays for being the first openly gay country star. [[note]]While k.d. lang came out years before her, she had already left the genre by the time she did so; see the top of the page.[[/note]][[note]]Ty Herndon and Billy Gillman have since come out as well.[[/note]]
* Music/TrishaYearwood: A singer whose only crossover hit was a cover of a [=LeAnn=] Rimes song. Is married to Music/GarthBrooks.
* Music/DwightYoakam: Another notable early Alternative Country musician, Yoakam is a Honky-tonk singer who brought back his genre until it died yet again.

* Music/CyndiLauper: 80s pop star who dipped into country with her 2016 album ''Detour''.

* [[Music/AlisonKraussAndUnionStation Alison Krauss & Union Station]]: The best-selling, and perhaps best known, bluegrass group in the business.

On that note, the fanbase is stereotyped as being [[StrawmanPolitical right-wing]] {{Boisterous Bruiser}}s who personify the DeepSouth of EagleLand. While such an portrayal is two-dimensional and uneducated, one must remember k.d. lang ''was'' blacklisted for being outspokenly pro-vegetarian (she didn't come out as a lesbian until after she felt she no longer had a country fanbase to alienate). And yet the DixieChicks were surprised when their fans turned on them after bad-mouthing [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush George W. Bush]] (granted, the death threats were a bit much).

* Music/GeneAutry: Singer from The 30's-40's.

* Music/RyanBingham

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Campbell Glen Campbell]]: A musician who had a few number-one hits on the pop charts as well.

* Music/MojoNixon

* Music/DollyParton: Like Reba, she is known almost as much for her acting as for her singing. [[note]]And she's almost as much for both of those as for her [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail large...tracts of land]].[[/note]] Also known as one of the most incredibly prolific songwriters in any genre, with over '''3,000''' songs written to date.

* Music/HankWilliamsIII: Grandson of Hank Williams and son of Jr., he's carved out a unique career different from both his grandfather and father and is one of the more popular alternative country artists today, largely influenced by punk, metal and the neotraditional country scene. (His guitar case bears Woody Guthrie's famous "This Machine Kills Fascists" sticker, fairly clearly indicating his stance vis-a-vis the stereotypical country fanbase).

* Music/KinkyFriedman: Colorful singer-songwriter and leader of the Texas Jewboys.