From its early origins in Bristol, Tennessee, during the first days of music recording in the late 1920s, country has evolved into one of the most popular genres of American music. Nowadays, just about everyone has at least one country artist they love, whether it's an old-school legend like Dolly Parton or a pop-y princess in the vein of Taylor Swift. But chances are there are great talents you've overlooked along the way, which is why we've put together this list of country music stars and their top albums. Most are best-selling releases, many are multi-award winners, and some are both, but one thing's for sure: These albums all provide a great introduction to the performer who produced them.
There is so much here to love here, including compilations from folks like Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire; albums wrapped around monster hits (Darius Rucker's True Believers, which features "Wagon Wheel," and Need You Now by Lady A, featuring the title cut); and even cover efforts like Willie Nelson's beautiful Stardust. Then, if you're a romantic (and what country music fan, at heart, isn't?), you're definitely going to want to check out the Best Country Love Songs We Could Listen to Forever and Ever, Amen.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
1
Garth Brooks
Any list of country stars has got to include the fellow who has sold more albums (157 million and counting) than any solo artist in history, full stop. The the first-ever seven-time recipient of the Country Music Awards (CMA) Entertainer of the Year accolade, Garth received the Kennedy Center Honor in 2021.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
After Garth's debut effort No Fences sold 17 million copies, it might have seemed for a spell like he could never top it. But then came Double Live in 1998, which went 21x platinum, becoming the best-selling live album in history.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4
Some Hearts
Carrie's 2005 debut album couldn't have been much bigger. Certified 9x platinum, it was 2006's best-selling album in any any genre, and the best-selling country album of 2006 and 2007. It contained the number one country singles, "Jesus, Take the Wheel," "Don't Forget to Remember Me," "Wasted," and "Before He Cheats."
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5
Taylor Swift
Thanks to her tales of young heartbreak that comfortably straddle the line between country and pop, Taylor has been awarded three Grammys for Album of the Year, the only female solo artist to achieve this feat. She's also the first artist ever to have the top-selling U.S. album of the year five times.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
It's a toss-up between which of Taylor's albums is bigger, with both Fearless and 1989 selling more than 10 million copies. But we'll go with 2008's Fearless,which won Grammys for Album of the Year and Best Country Album. After Taylor re-released Fearless in 2021, it promptly became the only re-recorded album to ever reach No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 200.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
8
Johnny Cash American IV: The Man Comes Around
8
Johnny Cash American IV: The Man Comes Around
Album of the Year winner at the 2003 CMAs, American IV: The Man Comes Around also earned platinum status for Johnny. It includes the haunting cover of NIN's song "Hurt" and "Give My Love to Rose," for which Johnny snared the Best Male Country Vocal Performance Grammy.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
While Tim's 2000 Greatest Hits album has also been certified 6x platinum, we'll choose Not a Moment Too Soon, his sophomore effort, as his top album. Released in 1994, it also sold six million-some copies, spending two weeks atop the Billboard 200 album chart and 29 weeks at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
The best-selling album by a female artist in any genre, 1997's Come on Over spent a mind-blowing 50 weeks total at the peak of the Top Country Albums chart. Three singles from the record hit No. 1, and five more made it inside the top ten on both the country and Hot 100 Singles chart.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Released in 2013, Blake's Based on a True Story... debuted at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200. It went on to become the best-selling album of year and has sold more than 1.4 million copies. Singles include "Sure Be Cool If You Did," which hit No. 1 on the country chart.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
16
One Source Disticor Crash My Party
16
One Source Disticor Crash My Party
Now 30% Off
The fourth studio album from Luke, 2013's Crash My Party debuted at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart as well as the Billboard 200. With more than four million copies sold, it was received the first-ever Album of the Decade award from the ACM.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17
Dolly Parton
One of the few people to be nominated at least once for an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award, universally beloved country music luminary Dolly Parton has also been named a Living Legend from the Library of Congress and received a Kennedy Center Honor and as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She's sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
With more than 50 albums to her name, The Queen of Country Music has released more than 40 Top 10 country albums. Dolly has a number of albums that have reached platinum status, but we'll pick Blue Smoke as her top effort. Released in 2014, it's her only album that to land inside the Billboard 200 top ten.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
20
My Kinda Party
20
My Kinda Party
While Jason has no problems cranking out platinum-selling albums, My Kinda Party remains his biggest. With sales in excess of three million, the 2010 release featured five top five singles, including including "Don't You Wanna Stay," a duet with Kelly Clarkson.
FAQs
Who is the biggest star in country music? ›
1. Tim McGraw. What is this? Along with being one of the most famous and influential country singers, Tim McGraw is also a talented actor, guitarist, and record producer.
Who is bigger Garth Brooks or George Strait? ›Garth Brooks: Biggest Selling Country Star In History
According to U.S. sales figures, Garth Brooks has sold a total of 156.1 million albums, making him one of the best-selling solo artists of all time, while George Strait is third only to Elvis Presley and The Beatles with 70 million albums sold in the United States.
George Strait
The statistic are dizzying: The King of Country Music has produced 60 No. 1 singles (more than anyone else in any genre) and 33 platinum or multi-platinum-selling albums. He's sold more than 70 million albums, and owns more than 60 major entertainment industry awards.
George Strait has achieved the most number ones, reaching the top spot with 27 albums.
Who is the king of country music now? ›George Harvey Strait Sr.
(born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. Strait is considered one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time.
- I Hope You Dance, Lee Ann Womack.
- Jolene, Dolly Parton.
- Live Like You Were Dying, Tim McGraw.
- Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning), Alan Jackson.
- Concrete Angel, Martina McBride.
- Choices, George Jones.
- Friends in Low Places, Garth Brooks.
- I Walk the Line, Johnny Cash.
It could be somewhat shocking to find out, for instance, that country star Garth Brooks has sold more than Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.
Has Garth Brooks sold more records than Michael Jackson? ›Although Michael Jackson has sold 89 million albums, his former hitmaker, Garth Brooks, holds the record for the best-selling artist of all time.
Who is the biggest selling country star of all time? ›1. GARTH BROOKS. Garth Brooks' certified sales of 156.1 million put him right up there with the biggest-selling artists of any genre, ahead of rock titans like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones.
What is the most sold song of all time? ›
According to Guinness World Records, Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" (1942) as performed by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.
Who is the greatest male country singer of all time? ›George Strait
The reigning King of Country Music tops our list. What is this? George Strait has 33 platinum or multi-platinum records, more than any other country artist in history. He's third overall in the world of music behind only The Beatles and Elvis Presley.
This makes Wallen's 'Last Night' the longest-running No. 1 country song in Billboard Hot 100 history. The previous record-holder was Kenny Rogers' 'Lady', which enjoyed a six-week spell atop the chart in 1980.
Who wrote the most #1 country songs? ›Indeed, George Strait is known as the “King of Country.” Also, he is one of the most influential recording artists of all time. He, on the other hand, is one of the artists to bring country music back to its roots. And as mentioned above, he holds the record of having the most number one singles.
What country song was at number 1 the longest? ›Florida Georgia Line holds the records for the most cumulative weeks atop the Hot Country Songs chart (106) and the most weeks atop the chart for a single song (50 for "Meant to Be", a collaboration with pop singer Bebe Rexha).
Who is the real Queen of Country Music? ›Reba Nell McEntire (born March 28, 1955), or simply Reba, is an American country music singer and actress. Dubbed "the Queen of Country", she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
Who is the current Queen of Country Music? ›And in her decades' worth of career, Loretta Lynn continued to empower women. It's undeniable that Loretta Lynn's role in country music has nothing been short of groundbreaking. And just like Kitty Wells, she has also earned herself the title of 'Queen of Country Music.
Who is the new Queen of Country Music? ›The current Queen of Country Music, along with her friend Miranda Lambert, Carrie is a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry, known as country music's church, and plays the Opry whenever she can.
What is the most listened to country song in the world? ›1. Heart Like A Truck – Lainey Wilson.
Who has the most played song in the world? ›- 'Blinding Lights' by The Weeknd (3.59 billion streams) ...
- 'Shape of You' by Ed Sheeran (3.49 billion streams) ...
- 'Dance Monkey' by Tones And I (2.82 billion streams) ...
- 'Someone You Loved' by Lewis Capaldi (2.79 billion streams) ...
- 'Rockstar' by Post Malone feat 21 Savage (2.68 billion streams)
What is the #1 country song? ›
The current number one country song on iTunes is: Fast Car by Luke Combs. Realted country music charts: Top New Country Songs June 2023, iTunes Top 100 Country Albums, Top Country Music Videos, Top Bluegrass Songs.
Which artist has sold 1 billion records? ›Over the course of Elvis' life, he achieved some of the highest accolades in music and film. It is estimated that more than one billion Elvis records have been sold worldwide, more than anyone in record industry history.
What is the most successful album of all time? ›Michael Jackson's Thriller, estimated to have sold 70 million copies worldwide, is the best-selling album ever. Jackson also currently has the highest number of albums on the list with five, Celine Dion has four, while the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Madonna and Whitney Houston each have three.
Is Garth Brooks bigger than the Beatles? ›The only male artist to sell more albums than anyone else is Garth Brooks, who has sold 69.52 million albums in his career to date. Pink Floyd has sold more albums than the Beatles.
Who was bigger Garth Brooks or Michael Jackson? ›Has Garth Brooks Sold More Than Michael Jackson? It may surprise you to learn that country star Garth Brooks has sold more albums than Elvis and Michael Jackson combined. Michael Jackson's legacy lives on, and it will never be forgotten.
Who sold more Elvis or Michael Jackson? ›Presley has sold an astounding 212 million vinyl albums and another 135 million singles. New Jersey's own Frank Sinatra came in second with 95 million singles. Michael Jackson finished 3rd with 79 million singles.
Did Michael Jackson sell a billion albums? ›He is the most awarded recording artist in the history of popular music and is recognized as the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" by Guinness World Records selling an estimated 1 billion records around the world.
Who sold more Eminem or Garth Brooks? ›Currently Eminem has sold 44.91 million units, while Strait has notched 44.89 million. The only male artist to wrack up more sales: Garth Brooks, who sits at No. 1 with a massive 69.52 albums sold.
Who is the number 1 artist in America? ›As of June 8, 2023, The Beatles have the highest total certified albums and Drake has the highest total certified digital singles. Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Eminem, and Taylor Swift are the only acts in the top 30 of both lists.
Who has sold the most records in US history? ›The top selling album of all time in the United States based on certified unit sales is currently the Eagles' Greatest Hits, with 38 million copies sold.
Who sold more George Strait or Garth Brooks? ›
Garth Brooks sold many albums, but George Strait had numerous number-one hits. However, the fact that Garth Brooks sold the most albums and had more diamond-status albums than the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin is hard to overlook.
Who is the most successful female country singer of all time? ›Shania Twain
Today, she has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female country artist of all time. This feat is particularly impressive, given that she has released only five studio albums since her career started in 1993.
- Barbara Mandrell. ...
- Taylor Swift. ...
- Miranda Lambert. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images. ...
- Shania Twain. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images. ...
- Carrie Underwood. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images. ...
- Loretta Lynn. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images. ...
- Reba McEntire. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images. ...
- Dolly Parton. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images.
Rank | Single | Artist(s) |
---|---|---|
1. | "Blinding Lights" | The Weeknd |
2. | "The Twist" | Chubby Checker |
3. | "Smooth" | Santana featuring Rob Thomas |
4. | "Mack the Knife" | Bobby Darin |
The Beatles hit 1 billion Spotify streams: Most streamed songs ever.
Who holds the record for most lyrics in a song? ›Answer: Eminem. Detroit-native, Eminem, set the Guinness world record with the song "Rap God" clocking in 1,560 words in six minutes. Eminem rapped an average of 4.28 words per second in the track.
Who is the richest singer of all time? ›- Rihanna (Estimated net worth: $1.7 billion)
- Herb Alpert (Estimated net worth: ...
- Madonna (Estimated net worth: $850 million) ...
- Celine Dion (Estimated net worth: $800 million) ...
- Dolly Parton (Estimated net worth: $650 million) ...
- Julio Iglesias (Estimated net worth: $600 million) ...
Jimmie Rodgers, known professionally as the “Singing Brakeman” and “America's Blue Yodeler,” was in the first class of inductees honored by the Country Music Hall of Fame and is widely known as “The Father of Country Music.” From many diverse elements—the traditional folk music of his southern upbringing, early jazz, ...
Who is the richest country singer? ›- Dolly Parton (Net Worth-$675 Million)
- Garth Brooks (Net Worth-$430 Million)
- Shania Twain (Net Worth-$410 Million)
- Toby Keith (Net Worth-$370 Million)
- George Strait (Net Worth-$300 Million)
- Kenny Rogers (Estimated Net Worth-$250 Million)
- Taylor Swift. 3,995,943 listeners. ...
- Johnny Cash. 3,322,640 listeners. ...
- Kacey Musgraves. 775,098 listeners. ...
- Morgan Wallen. 310,210 listeners. ...
- Carrie Underwood. 1,353,704 listeners. ...
- Dolly Parton. 1,493,934 listeners. ...
- Zach Bryan. 252,164 listeners. ...
- Shania Twain. 1,302,339 listeners.
Who is the biggest selling country star? ›
The great Garth Brooks. Garth Brooks has sold more records (157 million units) than any solo artist in the history of music, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Only the Beatles (183 million units) have moved more music than Garth.
Who is the biggest male country singer right now? ›Tim McGraw has been a mainstay in country music since the 1990s, with over 80 million records sold. He's known for his powerful vocals and has won multiple awards throughout his career.
Who is the number 1 male country singer? ›George Strait has 33 platinum or multi-platinum records, more than any other country artist in history.
Who is the most decorated country music star? ›George Strait
It's not much of a surprise that the reigning king of country music is also the winningest Country Music Association Award winner with 22 trophies. He's won in the Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year categories, some multiple times each!
Scoring 27 #1 hits and selling upwards of 75 million albums throughout its multi-decade career, including "Mountain Music" and "If You're Gonna Play in Texas," Alabama is widely regarded as the genre's most successful band.
What country singer has the most followers? ›Tayler Holder Becomes The Most-Followed Country Singer On TikTok With Over 20 Million Followers. Holder has more followers on TikTok than Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen and Shania Twain.
Who is the highest paying singer? ›Taylor Swift is the highest-paid female entertainer in the world, earning a cool $92 million in 2022 following the success of her 10th studio album “Midnights,” according to a new report from Forbes.
What country singer has the most top 10 hits? ›Dolly Parton has released 93 songs to the Hot Country Songs chart's Top 50, 54 of which reached the Top 10, and 25 of which hit No. 1.
Who is the most popular pop country singer? ›- Tim McGraw & Faith Hill. 41,002 listeners. ...
- Sunset West. 493 listeners. ...
- Coldwater Jane. 698 listeners. ...
- Amber Kamminga. 201 listeners. ...
- Andrea Hegard. 480 listeners. ...
- Ajaye Jardine. 19 listeners. ...
- Zaman Band. 138 listeners. ...
- Letícia Dias. 81 listeners.