The Best-Selling Country Music Artists of All Time
Carrie Underwood performs at the 2016 Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California.Since the 1920s, when settlers in the South took their “hillbilly” music to the cities, country music has been one of the most popular genres in the U.S. In fact, today there are more country radio stations than top 40/pop, classic rock, adult contemporary and hip hop — combined.
What’s not to love about country music? First of all, there’s something for everyone, from the “outlaw” country sound of Johnny Cash to pop-country crossovers artists like Shania Twain and Garth Brooks. Then there’s the appeal of a great story, which is at the heart of all great country music. Check out “Travelin’ Soldier” by the Dixie Chicks or "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" by Reba McEntire for country storytelling at its finest.
Whatever you’re going through in your life, there’s a country song you’ll be able to relate to. And then there’s the fashion — from Dolly Parton’s sequin jumpsuits to McEntire’s gravity-defying hair, country stars never disappoint on the style front.
Whether you’re a longtime country music fan or discovering the genre for the first time, here are the best-selling stars you’ll want to add to your playlist, ranked according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) top-selling artists list.
39. Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton performs at the Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 15, 2018, in Las Vegas.Album units sold: 10 million
Hit you should know: “Some Beach”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 13
Before Blake Shelton was a judge on “The Voice,” he had carved out a successful career in music. Shelton moved to Nashville when he was 17, got a record deal with Giant Records and scored his first No. 1 single with “Austin.” His self-titled debut album was released in 2002 and was certified gold, largely due to the success of the singles “All Over Me” and “Ol’ Red.”
Shelton has won several awards, including CMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for “Based on a True Story…” He continues to juggle his role on “The Voice” with making music. His 11th studio album, “Texoma Shore,” was released in 2017.
38. Zac Brown Band
Zac Brown of the Zac Brown Band performs at the CMT Music Awards June 10, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee.Album units sold: 10.5 million
Hit you should know: “Chicken Fried”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 8
The Zac Brown Band is an eight-piece band including founder, lead vocalist and guitarist Zac Brown; vocalist and fiddler Jimmy De Martini; bass guitarist John Driskell Hopkins and drummer Chris Fryar. The band’s debut single, “Chicken Fried,” reached No. 1 on the country music charts in 2008, making Zac Brown Band the first country band to reach the top spot with a debut single since Heartland did so in 2006 with “I Loved Her First.”
In 2012, Billboard named the band’s album “Uncaged” the best country album of the year. The band have received numerous awards, including the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2010, Vocal Group of the Year at the 2012 ACM Awards and International Album of the Year at the British Country Music Association Awards in 2017.
37. Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus performs at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on Sept. 20, 2017.Album units sold: 10.5 million
Hit you should know: “Achy Breaky Heart”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 1
Billy Ray Cyrus is a household name, but may be more famous for his acting roles — and his even more successful daughter Miley — than his music. Kentucky-born Cyrus’s debut album reached the top of the pop and country charts, and his single “Achy Breaky Heart” was a massive hit (and the only No. 1 single of his career). But he became more of a star for his role as a father of two in the Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana,” which starred his real-life daughter Miley as his on-screen daughter Miley Stewart.
Billy Ray and Miley worked together on music, too — they recorded “I Learned For You” for the “Hannah Montana” soundtrack, as well as a song for Billy Ray's 2006 album, “Wanna Be Your Joe.”
36. The Judds
Naomi Judd, left, and Wynonna Judd of The Judds perform at Girls' Night Out: Superstar Women of Country in Las Vegas on April 4, 2011.Album units sold: 10.5 million
Hit you should know: “I Know Where I’m Going”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 14
The Judds — mother Naomi Judd and her daughter Wynonna — were a hugely successful country music duo in the 1980s. With Wynonna on lead vocals and guitar and Naomi on backing vocals, they signed to RCA Records in 1983 and over the next eight years sold millions of albums, won every major country music award and received five Grammy awards.
The Judds’ domination of the country music scene ended on a high with the No. 1 single “Let Me Tell You About Love, which was released in 1989. Two years later, Naomi was forced to retire for health reasons, following complications from Hepatitis C. Wynonna Judd continued to record and perform as a solo artist, releasing her debut album “Wynonna” in 1992. It was a smash hit, going platinum five times over.
35. Dwight Yoakam
Dwight Yoakum arrives at the Warner Music Group Grammy Awards After Party at Milk Studios on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, in Los Angeles.Album units sold: 11.5 million
Hit you should know: “I Sang Dixie”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 2
Dwight Yoakam is a rule-breaker according to Nashville’s standards, favoring a stripped-back approach to honky tonk. Consequently, he hasn’t dominated the charts like some of his contemporaries, but he has a strong, loyal fan base who love his rock-and-roll quality.
Yoakam’s first full-length album, “Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.,” was released in 1986 to positive critique and was a hit on the country charts. The first single, a cover of Johnny Horton’s “Honky Tonk Man” made it to No. 3 and a No. 4 hit, “Guitars, Cadillacs,” followed. He finally scored a number one hit in 1988 with his cover of Buck Owens’ "Streets of Bakersfield," which he recorded with Owens himself.
34. Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean performs at New York's Madison Square Garden on Saturday, March 2, 2013.Album units sold: 11.5 million
Hit you should know: “Why”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 9
Despite first appearing in public as a singer at the age of 14, it took Jason Aldean many years to break into the country music scene. He finally made it in 2005 with his self-titled album and other successful albums followed, including “Wide Open” and “My Kinda Party.” The first single, “Hicktown,” was a top 10 hit and the follow-up, “Why,” made it to No. 1.
Aldean was awarded his first ACM Entertainer of the Year award in 2016, and got his second in 2017. Later that year, Aldean was involved in the Route 91 Harvest country music festival tragedy, which left almost 60 people dead and injured hundreds more. Aldean, who was a featured act, was unhurt, but postponed his tour as a mark of respect for the victims.
33. Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan performs at the CMT Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, in Nashville, Tennessee.Album units sold: 12 million
Hit you should know: “Play it Again”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 11
Luke Bryan was successful as a songwriter before releasing his own debut album “I’ll Stay Me” in 2007. More critically acclaimed albums followed, including “Kill the Lights,” which produced a record-breaking six No. 1 singles on the country charts. In 2017, Bryan’s fourth album “What Makes You Country” earned him yet another No. 1 hit. The next year, Bryan started his stint as an “American Idol” judge.
Bryan has won many awards for his music; in 2012 he swept the board with nine American Country Awards, and he has been named Entertainer of the Year by both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.
32. Travis Tritt
Travis Tritt performs at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday, February 8, 2017Album units sold: 12 million
Hit you should know: “Best of Intentions”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 5
Inspired by country “outlaws” like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, Travis Tritt gave country a rock-and-roll vibe, which alienated him from the Nashville music scene but didn’t put country fans off — he made it into the country top 10 with his first album, 1990’s “Country Club.” The following year, his next album “It’s All About to Change” cemented his place as a best-selling country act.
In 1992, Tritt won his first Grammy Award for his duet with Marty Stewart, “The Whisky Ain’t Workin’.” Over the next few years, he had more chart success with the albums “The Restless Kind,” “No More Looking Over My Shoulder” and “Down The Road I Go.”
31. Clint Black
Clint Black performs during the CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, in Nashville, Tennessee.Album units sold: 12.5 million
Hit you should know: “Nobody’s Home”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 13
A 1987 meeting with ZZ Top manager Bill Ham was a huge turning point for Clint Black, who sang in local bars in Long Branch, New Jersey after dropping out of high school. Ham quickly signed Black with RCA and his 1989 debut album “Killin’ Time” stayed at the No. 1 spot on the country album charts for 28 weeks. Four No. 1 singles led to a triple-platinum certification, and Black was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1991.
Black also dabbled in acting, staring in the TV show “Wings” and the film “Maverick.” In 1996, he released a greatest hits album.
30. Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood performs as part of Nissan Live Sets on Yahoo! Music in Los Angeles on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008.Album units sold: 12.5 million
Hit you should know: “How Do I Live”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 5
Growing up in a small farming community in Monticello, Georgia, Trisha Yearwood developed a passion for country music. However, it wasn’t until 1987, when she graduated from Belmont University in Nashville with a degree in business administration and started working as a receptionist for MTM Records, that the seeds for her own music career were sown. Yearwood started singing backup for up-and-coming artists, including Garth Brooks, who introduced her to his producer Allen Reynolds. This led to an introduction to another producer, Garth Funds, who helped Yearwood secure a contract with MCA Records.
Yearwood became the first female country singer to sell a million copies of her debut album, which was her self-titled 1991 release. That year, she was named the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Female Vocalist. She’s also received two Grammy Awards, one for “How Do I Live” and another for “In Another’s Eyes,” her duet with Garth Brooks. After many years of friendship, Yearwood and Brooks married in 2005.
29. The Charlie Daniels Band
Charlie Daniels of the The Charlie Daniels Band performs at the Faster Horses Music Festival in the Brooklyn Trails Campground at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, July 22, 2017, in Brooklyn, Michigan.Album units sold: 13.5 million
Hit you should know: “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 1
Charlie Daniels grew up in the 1930s and 1940s listening to gospel, bluegrass, country and blues music. As a teenager, Daniels played the guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin, and was singing and writing songs. After moving to Nashville to become a session musician — he played electric bass on three Bob Dylan albums and also played with Ringo Starr and Leonard Cohen — Daniels eventually formed The Charlie Daniels Band.
The band has had many hits, the biggest of which — “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” — was a No. 1 hit on both the country and pop charts, and received the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group.
28. Keith Urban
Keith Urban performs at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival at New York's Madison Square Garden in April 2013.Album units sold: 14 million
Hit you should know: “Somebody Like You”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 16
New Zealand-born musician Keith Urban, who grew up in Australia, may be best known to some people for being a judge on “American Idol” and being married to actress Nicole Kidman, but to country music fans, he’s much more. After enjoying success with his Nashville band The Ranch, Urban released his first, self-titled, solo album in 2000, and the following year was named the CMA's “Top New Male Vocalist.”
Urban opened for country acts like Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn before headlining his own tour in 2004. Over the next couple of years he won a slew of awards, including CMA Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and International Artist of the Year, and a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for “You’ll Think of Me.” Urban continues to tour and enjoy chart success; his most recent album was 2018’s “Graffiti U.”
27. John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery displays his two awards for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "I Swear" at the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 1995, in Los Angeles.Album units sold: 14 million
Hit you should know: “The Little Girl”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 7
John Michael Montgomery, who was born in 1965 in Danville, Kentucky, was taught by his father to play guitar when he was a child. When he was only five, Montgomery performed in public with his father’s band (it was a true family affair, with his mom playing drums). After high school, he played local gigs and was spotted by a talent scout, which led to a record deal with Atlantic in 1991.
From his 1992 debut album “Life’s a Dance,” Montgomery enjoyed huge chart success. A brief hiatus in 1995 to have vocal cord surgery didn’t curtail his winning streak, and in 1996 he hit No. 2 with the singles “Friends” and “How Was I to Know” from the album “What I Do the Best.”
26. Patsy Cline
A photo of Patsy Cline appears during a tribute at the American Country Awards in Dec. 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada.Album units sold: 14.5 million
Hit you should know: “Crazy”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 2
Patsy Cline was only on the country music scene for a short time (she was killed in a plane crash in 1963, at the age of 31), but she made a huge impact as a crossover artist. Best known for her hits “Crazy” and “Walking After Midnight,” Cline is credited with paving the way for female artists in country music — in the early 1960s, the scene was still predominantly male.
Cline never knew just how successful her music would be. She had a posthumous hit with “Sweet Dreams” a few months after she died, and 10 years later was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Jessica Lange played Cline in the 1985 film of her life, “Sweet Dreams.”
25. Anne Murray
Anne Murray arrives at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony in June 2008, in New York.Album units sold: 14.5 million
Hit you should know: “Snowbird”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 10
Anne Murray, who was born in Nova Scotia in 1945, began pursuing music at a young age. She studied piano and took voice lessons throughout her childhood and adolescence, and released her debut album “What About Me” when she was 23. The following year, she signed a record deal with the Canadian branch of Capitol Records, and her big break came in 1970 with the song “Snowbird.” which was a top 10 hit on the pop, adult contemporary and country charts. Murray was the first female Canadian solo artist and to reach No. 1 on U.S. music charts, and the first female solo artist and Canadian singer to win the CMA Album of the Year, in 1984 with “A Little Good News.”
Murray has won numerous Juno Awards in Canada as well as Grammy Awards for “Love Song,” “You Needed Me,” “Could I Have This Dance” and “A Little Good News.”
24. Martina McBride
Martina McBride performs at LakeShake at FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island on June 18, 2016, in Chicago.Album units sold: 16 million
Hit you should know: “Wild Angels”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 5
It was thanks to another country artist that Martina McBride got her break — her husband was working on a sound crew for Garth Brooks and McBride was picking up work where she could, including selling merchandise at Brooks’ gig. In 1990 Brooks realized she had talent, and said she could open for him if she managed to get a record deal. When she eventually signed with RCA, Brooks kept his promise. McBride went on to have a string of hits on the single and album charts, including the song “Independence Day” about domestic abuse, which won her the 1994 CMA Video of the Year award.
In 1996, McBride was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, and three years later she got her first CMA award for Female Vocalist of the Year. The same year, she performed for President Bill Clinton. Several more awards and chart hits followed and McBride continues to perform around the world today.
23. LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes performs in concert at SugarHouse Casino on March 6, 2016, in Philadelphia.Album units sold: 16.5 million
Hit you should know: “How Do I Live”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 1
Mississippi girl LeAnn Rimes first hit the pop charts with her 1996 album “Blue,” but it wasn’t her first album; she actually recorded her first album “All That,” in 1994, at the tender age of 11. The title track of “Blue” which was originally written for country legend Patsy Cline, reached No. 1 on the Billboard country charts and earned Rimes a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. In 1996, Rimes made history by being the first country musician to win the Best New Artist Grammy.
After the huge success of “Blue,” another two albums quickly followed: 1997’s “Unchained Melody” and “You Light Up My Life,” which also made history by becoming the first album of all time to simultaneously debut at No. 1 on the pop, country and contemporary Christian Billboard charts.
22. Randy Travis
Randy Travis holds the award he won at the 2004 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.Album units sold: 18 million
Hit you should know: “On the Other Hand”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 16
From humble beginnings on a North Carolina farm, Randy Travis (born Randy Traywick) became one of the world’s best-selling country music stars — despite the odds being stacked against him. He showed his musical talent early, learning to play guitar at 10, but experimenting with drugs and alcohol in his teenage years lead to several misdemeanor charges.
Travis was facing jail time at the age of 18 when nightclub manager Elizabeth Hatcher took him under her wing, persuading a judge to let her become the teen’s legal guardian. Over the next few years, she groomed Travis for a music career. His big break finally came in 1985, when he was signed by Warner Bros. Records. His 1986 album “Storms Of Life” was No. 1 for eight weeks and sold over five million copies.
Over his career, Travis has had eight platinum albums and been awarded seven Grammy Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards and five Country Music Association (CMA) awards.
21. Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts performs on NBC's "Today" show in 2014 in New York.Album units sold: 18.5 million
Hit you should know: “These Days”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 12
The band Rascal Flatts (vocalist Gary LeVox, bassist Jay DeMarcus, and guitarist and banjo player Joe Don Rooney) made its impressive chart debut in 2000 with the single “Prayin’ for Daylight,” which reached No. 3 on the Hot Country chart. The band also achieved crossover success, with its 2005 single release “What Hurts the Most” hitting the top spot on both the Hot Country and Adult Contemporary charts, and reaching No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2011, Rascal Flatts was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and in 2012 the band received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
20. Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood performs at the 2012 CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.Album units sold: 19.5 million
Hit you should know: “Before He Cheats”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 14
Carrie Underwood introduced a whole new generation to country music after winning season four of “American Idol” in 2005, at the age of 22. Three years later, she was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry (becoming the youngest member of the renowned establishment) and began hosting the annual CMAs with Brad Paisley. In 2017, Underwood was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. With seven Grammy Awards, 24 No. 1 singles and six platinum albums under her belt, she continues to be one of the world’s most popular country music stars.
19. Hank Williams Jr.
Hank Williams Jr. raises his arms during Country Music Television's 2007 "CMT Giants" show in Los Angeles.Album units sold: 19.5 million
Hit you should know: “I’m For Love”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 10
Born Randall Hank Williams in 1949 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Hank Williams Jr. is the son and namesake of country music legend Hank Williams — and is now a legend in his own right. Williams Jr. was only three years old when his father died, but he kept his memory alive by performing his songs on stage during his childhood.
By the 1970s, Williams Jr. had established his own sound, a fusion of country, rock and blues, entertaining audiences with a huge repertoire of instrumental skills — he can play drums, piano, keyboards, guitar, bass guitar, upright bass, steel guitar, banjo, dobro, saxophone, harmonica and fiddle. Throughout his career, Williams Jr. has amassed a huge number of awards, including a trio of ACM Entertainer of the Year trophies.
18. Johnny Cash
Hits like “A Boy Named Sue” and “Ring of Fire” helped Johnny Cash, shown here in 1977, secure his spot as one of country’s best-loved stars.Album units sold: 23.5 million
Hit you should know: “Ring Of Fire”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 9
It’s thanks to Johnny Cash’s childhood singing teacher that generations of music fans have enjoyed his unique vocals — she told him to quit lessons and never try to change his natural voice. The musician and songwriter, who was born in 1932 in Arkansas into a poor farming community, may be just as famous for his personal challenges as for his music — he had a serious substance abuse problem in the 1960s — but hits like “I Walk the Line,” “A Boy Named Sue” and “Ring of Fire” secure his spot as one of country’s best-loved stars.
In 2005 Joaquin Phoenix played Cash in the critically-acclaimed, Oscar-winning film “Walk the Line,” which was based on two of Cash’s autobiographies, “Man in Black: His Own Story in His Own Words” and “Cash: The Autobiography.”
17. Vince Gill
Vince Gill performs at the 2017 ASCAP Country Music Awards at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.Album units sold: 24 million
Hit you should know: “I Still Believe In You”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 5
Before embarking upon a solo music career in 1983, Vince Gill was frontman to the successful country rock band Pure Prairie League. His multi-instrumental skills (he can play play banjo, guitar, bass, mandolin, dobro and fiddle) have made him a highly sought-after vocalist and duet partner — he was even invited to join Dire Straits, an offer he declined. He has, however, performed with the Eagles.
Gill has 18 CMA Awards, including two Entertainer of the Year awards and five Male Vocalist Awards, and 21 Grammy Awards — more than any other male country music artist.
16. Toby Keith
Toby Keith performs at the CMT Ultimate KickOff Party in Dallas in 2015.Album units sold: 25 million
Hit you should know: “How Do You Like Me Now?!”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 20
Oklahoma-born Toby Keith moved to Nashville in the early 1990s and started his music career with Mercury Records, thanks to a flight attendant on a flight he took, who gave a copy of his demo tape to Mercury Records executive Harold Shedd. However, Keith’s breakthrough success came after he signed to DreamWorks Records Nashville in 1998. His 1999 single release "How Do You Like Me Now?!", the title track to his album of the same name, was the number 1 country song of 2000.
15. Faith Hill
Faith Hill performs on NBC's "Today" show in 2017, in New York.Album units sold: 25.5 million
Hit you should know: “The Way You Love Me”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 9
Born Audrey Faith Perry in 1967, Faith Hill shot to fame with her first album, “Take Me As I Am” in 1993 and added to her success with subsequent releases. Her fourth album “Breathe” is one of the best-selling country albums of all time, with its singles “Breathe” and “The Way You Love Me” earning Hill huge crossover success and three Grammy Awards.
She has won numerous other awards and her Soul2Soul II Tour 2006 with her husband Tim McGraw became the highest-grossing country tour of all time. In 2019, Hill will add a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to her achievements.
14. Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn performs in Chicago in 2016.Album units sold: 27.5 million
Hit you should know: “Only In America”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 20
Vocalists and songwriters Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn were solo recording artists before they joined forces to form Brooks & Dunn in 1991, and went on to become the most successful country music duo of all time. They won the Country Music Association Vocal Duo of the Year award every year between 1992 and 2006, with the exception of 2000. They performed their final concert as a duo in September 2010 and continued to record as solo artists, but reunited in 2015 for a series of concerts with Reba McEntire in Las Vegas, Nevada.
13. Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt performs at the Country Music Association awards show in 1986.Album units sold: 30 million
Hit you should know: “You’re No Good”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 2
Throughout her 40-plus year career, Linda Ronstadt has released country, pop, rock and folk songs, but she really made her mark in the country genre. She has had 14 platinum albums, four of which have been No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart, and been awarded 13 Grammys and two ACMs. She won her first Grammy Award for her breakout 1974 album “Heart Like a Wheel,” which cemented her success as a solo artist after a stint with the Stone Poneys in the 1960s. In the 1980s, Ronstadt joined forces with fellow country greats Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris to release the award-winning album “Trio.”
12. Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney performs at the Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in 2018.Album units sold: 30.5 million
Hit you should know: “How Forever Feels”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 23
Born in 1968 in Knoxville, Tennessee, Kenny Chesney began his music career performing in local bars with a college band while studying at East Tennessee State University. Today, he has 30 No. 1s, 11 platinum albums and a mass of awards under his belt. He’s also the only country artist on Billboard’s Top 10 Touring Acts of the Last 25 Years, and many of his country hits have also charted on the Top 40 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, making him one of the most successful crossover country artists.
Chesney also has a rather unique achievement on his musical resume: In 1982, he won the best male yodeler at the International Yodeling Championship in Zurich, Switzerland.
11. Dixie Chicks
The Dixie Chicks perform at the Country Music Association Awards show in 2000 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee. The band members from left are Emily Robison, Natalie Maines and Martie Maguire.Album units sold: 30.5 million
Hit you should know: “Cowboy Take Me Away”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 6
When it comes to accolades, the Dixie Chicks are hard to beat. The trio (Martie Erwin Maguire, Emily Erwin Robison and Natalie Maines) has multiple diamond albums for sales of more than 10 million each (“Wide Open Spaces” and “Fly”), 13 Grammy Awards, 11 CMAs and nine ACMs, and is the best-selling female band of all time of any genre as well as the best-selling country group in the U.S.
By striking a balance between mainstream country-pop and bluegrass roots, and by speaking openly about politics — Maines faced a huge backlash in 2003 for publicly criticizing the Iraq war — the Dixie Chicks have secured a huge fan base across generations.
10. Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson performs during an “In Performance at the White House” series event in 2014.Album units sold: 31.5 million
Hit you should know: “Beer For My Horses”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 20
Not many artists can boast a six-decade career and more than 200 album releases. Willie Nelson, born in Texas in 1933, achieved critical success with the albums “Shotgun Willie,” “Red Headed Stranger” and “Stardust,” and became a leading figure in country music and in particular “outlaw country,” a country music subgenre from the late 1960s that rebelled against the more conservative, commercial Nashville sound.
Beyond his musical success, for which he’s won practically every award going, Nelson has appeared in more than 30 movies, written several books and campaigned for the legalization of marijuana.
9. Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw performs on NBC's "Today" show in 2017 in New York.Album units sold: 37.5 million
Hit you should know: “My Next Thirty Years”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 26
Of Tim McGraw’s 15 studio album releases, 10 have reached No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. McGraw, who has been married to fellow country music great Faith Hill since 1996, learned to play guitar in college and eventually dropped out to move to Nashville. He hit the big time with his second album “Not a Moment Too Soon,” which was the best-selling country album of 1994. His first release from that album, the controversial “Indian Outlaw,” was his first top 10 hit on the U.S. Hot Country Songs chart. Since then, he’s won a slew of Grammy Awards, ACM awards, CMA awards and People’s Choice awards.
8. Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire performs "Legends" at the CMA Awards in 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.Album units sold: 41 million
Hit you should know: “Somebody”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 24
Often hailed as the Queen of Country and considered a role model for practically every female country star to follow in her footsteps, Reba McEntire released her first self-titled solo album in 1977 with Mercury Records after being taken to Nashville by country artist Red Steagall. It was 1981 before McEntire — now signed to MCA records — charted in the Billboard Top Country Albums list, reaching No. 2 with “Heart to Heart.”
She has been named best female vocalist by the Country Music Association multiple times, starred in films and her own award-winning sitcom, and also runs several businesses. In 2011, McEntire was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
7. Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift performing on ABC's "Good Morning America" in New York in 2012.Album units sold: 43 million
Country hit you should know: “Tim McGraw”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 7
Although Taylor Swift probably wouldn’t rank this high on the list without her huge pop hits, she started out as a country music star, moving to Nashville with her family at the age of 14 after being inspired by a documentary about Faith Hill. She became the youngest artist ever to be signed by the Sony/ATV Music publishing house, and she was also the youngest person to single-handedly write and perform a No. 1 song on the Hot Country Songs chart, with “Our Song,” the third single from her self-titled debut album.
To date, Swift has won more American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards than any other artist. In 2015, she was included in Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.
6. Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson performs "Chattahoochee" at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas in 2018.Album units sold: 43.5 million
Hit you should know: “I Don’t Even Know Your Name”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 26
Alan Jackson grew up in rural Georgia and honed his music skills singing in church. After marrying his high school sweetheart Denise in 1979, the couple moved to Nashville to let Jackson follow his dream of a career in music. After enduring many rejections, he finally got a recording deal with Arista Records, and never looked back. He has received dozens of ACM and CMA awards, including CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1995, 2002 and 2003, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017 by Loretta Lynn.
5. Alabama
Alabama performs at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta in 2018.Album units sold: 46.5 million
Hit you should know: “Southern Star”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 33
Considered to be the most successful country music band of all time, the Grammy-winning trio of cousins, Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook, formed Alabama (initially under the name Wildcountry) in 1969 in Fort Payne, Alabama and are still going strong — the band will tour in 2019 to celebrate 50 years together.
During the 1980s, the band scored more than 27 No. 1 hits and seven multi-platinum albums, and received many awards. Alabama’s lyrics often centered on their homeland, such as their first hit single, "Tennessee River," which mentions being "born across the river in the mountains I call home."
4. Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers performs at the CMA Music Festival in 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.Album units sold: 47.5 million
Hit you should know: “Buy Me a Rose”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 21
Kenny Rogers bought himself a guitar in high school, formed a rockabilly group called the Scholars and the rest is history. In 1958, at the age of 20, he released his first hit, “That Crazy Feeling,” performing it on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand.” He racked up more hits in the country and pop charts, including “Lucille,” “The Gambler” and a No. 1 with Dolly Parton, “Islands in the Stream.”
Rogers also recorded a series of hits with country legend Dottie West, including "Every Time Two Fools Collide," "All I Ever Need Is You," and "What Are We Doin' in Love." He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013 and received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 CMA Awards.
3. Shania Twain
Shania Twain performs on NBC's "Today" show in New York in 2017.Album units sold: 48 million
Hit you should know: “You’re Still The One”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 7
Canadian singer-songwriter Shania Twain (born Eilleen Regina Edwards in 1965) holds the title of the first and only female artist in history to have three consecutive albums certified diamond by the RIAA for sales of more than 10 million units each. Her 1997 album “Come On Over” propelled her to international stardom and produced several chart-topping singles, including “That Don’t Impress Me Much," “You're Still the One,” “From This Moment On” and “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” As a successful country-pop crossover artist, Twain has earned five Grammy Awards, four ACMs, two CMAs and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2. George Strait
George Strait performs at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee in January 2019.Album units sold: 69 million
Hit you should know: “Write This Down”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 44
Quite rightly known as the “King of Country,” the hugely influential singer/songwriter George Strait is credited with taking country music back to its roots in the 1980s. This is despite starting his musical interest in a rock garage band, and listening to The Beatles.
In the 2000s, he was named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music, won a Grammy Award for his album “Troubadour” and was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Besides earning an incredible 44 No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart, Strait boasts the most CMA and ACM nominations and wins than any other artist.
1.5. Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton performs on NBC's "Today" show in New York in 2014.Album units sold: 100 million+
Hit you should know: “Here You Come Again”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 25
For some reason, Dolly Parton doesn’t appear on the RIAA list, but according to other sources she’s sold more than 100 million albums. News reports even say she was honored by the RIAA in 2014 for selling more than 100 million units. So we made a judgement call here: She deserves a mention.
Parton is back in the public eye in 2019, thanks to her vocals on Jennifer Aniston’s Netflix film “Dumplin’” — but Dolly Parton has never really left the limelight since she started performing at the tender age of 10. Parton made her Grand Ole Opry debut at 13 and moved to Nashville to pursue a music career as soon as she finished high school. A partnership with Porter Wagoner on The Porter Wagoner Show helped Parton secure a contract with RCA Records, and in 1971 she celebrated her first No. 1 country hit with “Joshua”. Since then, Parton has had many more chart-topping hits, won numerous awards, and appeared on the big and small screen (most notably “9 to 5” with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin and “Steel Magnolias” with Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine and Julia Roberts). She even has her own theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: Dollywood.
Read more about Parton in our View From the Top profile.
1. Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks performs during the "Sinatra 100" concert at The Wynn Las Vegas in 2015.Album units sold: 148 million
Hit you should know: “Two Piña Coladas”
No. 1 hits on the U.S. Hot Country chart: 19
Singer-songwriter Garth Brooks, who was born in Oklahoma in 1962, has broken several industry records and won every music award going. His third album, the 1991 release “Ropin' the Wind,” racked up 4 million orders before its release, and became the first album by a country singer to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts.
Brooks is the first artist in history in any genre to receive seven diamond awards for seven albums certified by the RIAA for 10 million album sales each, and he’s also the best-selling solo artist in U.S. history certified by the RIAA with over 148 million album sales. You’ll struggle to find a Hall of Fame Brooks hasn’t been inducted into, and in 2016 he won the CMA Entertainer of the Year award for a record fifth time.