Most Successful Country Music Couples
Country music has a rich tradition of bringing love stories to life through its lyrics and melodies. Some of the genre's most successful couples have not only created chart-topping hits but also found lasting love in each other's arms.
The following romantic duos have left an indelible mark on country music, inspiring fans with their timeless tunes and heartwarming relationships.
10. Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd
Combined net worth: $9 million
Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd met during a 2013 writing session for one half of another famous country couple on this list — Tim McGraw.
McGraw paired them together to help out with his song “Last Turn Home." According to Morris, they were professional partners until about 2017, which was when their relationship turned romantic. They married in 2018.
"We didn’t know each other and it just kind of grew from there, so music has always been really intertwined in our love for each other, and now that we aren’t just songwriters, we’re artists," Morris said.
9. Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter
Combined net worth: $12 million
Country music legends Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter crossed paths in the Nashville music scene of the early 1960s. They were both trying to make a name for themselves and their meeting was initially a professional one. Waylon already had some success under his belt (if you didn't already know, he was on tour with Buddy Holly and gave up his seat on Holly's doomed flight to ailing musician and friend "J.P." Richardson, known as "The Big Bopper.")
During the 1960s, the couple's connection deepened as they collaborated on various musical projects, with Waylon often taking on the role of producer for Jessi's records. Their shared passion for music and their growing personal bond eventually led to romance. They tied the knot on October 26, 1969.
The King and Queen of Outlaw County reigned supreme for over thirty years until Jennings died of diabetic complications in 2002.
7. Clint Black and Lisa Hartman
Combined net worth: $30 million
Actress Lisa Hartman was a fan of Clint Black's before she met him at his show on New Year's Eve in 1990 in their hometown of Houston. While the show should have been a triumphant one, Black was nursing a cold and was not in the mood to meet people.
Enter Hartman — the attraction was instantaneous, but they wouldn't meet again until a Tonight Show appearance some months later. The couple tied the knot just ten months after they met and have been together ever since.
Their musical partnership has resulted in a few duets and joint performances. One of their most notable collaborations is the song "When I Said I Do," released in 1999. The song was a smash, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and earning them a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals.
7. Chris and Morgane Stapleton
Combined net worth: $30 million
Chris and Morgane Stapleton were budding songwriters working in Nashville when they first met in 2003. They hit it off and soon decided to collaborate together. It wasn't long before they became romantic partners and were married by 2007.
In a matter of just a few years, this musical duo's on-stage chemistry, exceptional songwriting chops and ethereal harmonies propelled them to become power players in country music. Their 2015 album "Traveller" swept the CMAs that year.
6. George Jones and Tammy Wynette
Combined net worth: $36 million (deceased)
While George Jones and Tammy Wynette were only together for six years, they changed country music for decades to come. The duo first met in 1967. Tammy was already a country star, and George already had a reputation for his incredible voice and equally incredible problems. The sparks flew, not just on stage but also in their personal lives.
They recorded some unforgettable duets like "Golden Ring" and "Near You" but their home life was acrimonious. Jones' addictions caused endless public spats and heartbreaks. They divorced in 1975 but would come into each other's lives again and again as friends and musical partners.
Wynette passed in 1995 at age 55. Jones stated, "I am just very glad that we were able to work together and tour together again. It was very important for us to close the chapter on everything that we had been through. I know Tammy felt the same way. Life is too short. In the end, we were very close friends, and now I have lost that friend. And I couldn't be sadder."
Jones passed away on April 26, 2013.
5. Vince Gill and Amy Grant
Combined net worth: $60 million
Amy Grant and Vince Gill met in 1993, but were married to other people at the time and did the only thing they could do — work on music together. When their respective marriages ended, the relationship turned romantic. They began dating in 1999 and by 2000, they were married. They have been together ever since.
In 2021, Gill won a Best Country Solo Performance Grammy for his song, "When My Amy Prays." He said, "It's just a testament to how much I care about her. How dear she is to me in my life. Kindness is how she leads her life and it's the first thing you ever notice. It's the first thing you ever experience, and it's kind of unending."
4. Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash
Combined net worth: $80 million (deceased)
The OGs of country coupledom — Johnny and June were already headed for the big time when they met in 1956 backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. At the time, "I Walk the Line" was a massive hit for Johnny and June was singing with the Carter Family.
Both were married to other people and had and worked together professionally for a few years, but the attraction became to great to ignore. In 1968, during a live performance in London, Johnny made a heartfelt proposal to June. This union resulted in some of the most memorable duets in country music history.
They were together until their deaths. June died in 2003, with Johnny following just four months later.
3. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
Combined net worth: $165 million
With songs like "Breathe" and "Faith," crossing over into the pop charts, Faith Hill is a musical force all her own. McGraw has sold about 80 million records and has enjoyed crossover success thanks to tunes like "Something Like That." He's also an actor who has starred in films like "The Blind Side," "The Kingdom," "Tomorrowland" and "Friday Night Lights."
The duo first met in 1994 during a tour rehearsal when Tim was the opening act for Faith. Sparks flew, and their connection was immediate. Soon after, their professional collaboration turned into a personal one, and they began dating. In 1996, they were married.
Their collaborative work has been well-received by fans and critics alike. Some of their notable duets include songs like "It's Your Love," "Like We Never Loved at All," and "Speak to a Girl."
2. Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani
Combined net worth: $280 million
While they couldn't be more opposite, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani were made for each other. They met on the set of "The Voice," where they served as coaches and found themselves drawn to each other. At the time, they were both divorcing from their respective spouses and forged a close friendship. By late 2015, their romantic relationship was made public.
While Gwen has been an alternative pop start for over 30 years, she's dipped her toe in county music and has played and recorded with Shelton to great success. The duo tied the knot in 2021.
1. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood
Combined net worth: $400 million
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood first met in the late 1980s when they were both up-and-coming artists in Nashville. They were married to other people at the time but their paths continued to cross cross professionally. They became friends before their romantic relationship blossomed in 2003.
On May 25, 2005, Brooks popped the question at a show at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace. The couple married that year and settled down in Oklahoma. Yearwood and Brooks often tour together. They made their first joint album — "Christmas Together" — in 2016.