Top 100 country artists
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The History of Country Music
The term “country music” is often synonymous with American music, which couldn’t be more true. Like the United States, the country genre has a melting pot of cultures and influences to thank for its rise to fame: the soul of Southern gospel, the folksy traditions of Appalachia, and the cowboy twang of the American West.
Today, country music is a worldwide phenomenon, blending the qualities of blues, hip-hop, pop, indie, and much more.
But there was a time before country music dominated the airwaves—and that’s where the history of country music begins.
Humble Beginnings (The Early 20th Century)
It can be practically impossible to pinpoint the origins of a musical genre. But in 1998, the U.S. Congress did just that when they formally recognized Bristol, Tennessee as the birthplace of country music.1 Their resolution cites the historic recording sessions that took place in the city in 1927, even if they weren’t technically the first country music recordings to occur.
Way before the days of Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, the twangy sound of c
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15 Famous Country Singers and Their Biggest Hits
Hank Williams
1923-1953
Famous songs: “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “Cold, Cold Heart”
Considered country music’s first superstar, Hank Williams suffered from spina bifida and found an escape in music. He first played guitar at age 8 and made his debut on the radio when he was only 13.
He rose in popularity after early hits like “Move It On Over” and “Lovesick Blues,” but the singer struggled on and off the stage with alcohol and morphine abuse. Just days after collapsing in a Knoxville, Tennessee, hotel room, Williams died on January 1, 1953, while traveling to a concert.
Luckily, his legacy lives on in more ways than one. His son, Hank Williams Jr., also became a country star.
Read More About Hank Williams
George Jones
1931-2013
Famous songs: “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and “White Lightning”
George Jones began performing on the streets of Texas as a child to help his family. During the Korean War, he played in San Jose, California, bars while serving in the Marines. By the end of the 1950s, he had his
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100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time
When putting together this ranking of country music’s all-time greats, we looked to movie criticism for inspiration. For decades Citizen Kane topped nearly every list as the greatest film ever made, but with time, some started to realize that, hey, just maybe The Godfather is the better picture. Likewise, we reevaluated exactly where Hank Williams fits into country music, the true influence of Merle Haggard, and if an artist as clearly in the pop realm as Taylor Swift deserves inclusion. (Spoiler alert: She does.)
Of course, while 100 artists is a lengthy list, there isn’t room for everyone. We didn’t include those who were primarily songwriters, like Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard. We respectfully skipped past Chet Atkins, who, though an architect of the Nashville Sound and a solo artist, was chiefly a sideman and producer. And we omitted both Elvis Presley and Ray Charles, whose admittedly important contributions to country music took a backseat to their work in rock & roll and soul.
For those who made the cut
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