50 top male country singers you need to add to your playlist
Country music has a great legacy and authentic narration that connects deeply with the audience. Its remarkable male talents have left an indelible mark in elevating country music's esteemed status globally. These male country singers have conveyed emotions, uniqueness, and tone, leaving a significant impact and influence in people's households.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Who are the top male country singers?
- 1. Mason Ramsey
- 2. Sam Barber
- 3. Jonathan Hutcherson
- 4. Jackson Dean
- 5. Drake Milligan
- 6. Daniel Donato
- 7. Willie Nelson
- 8. Bobby Osborne
- 9. Jesse McReynolds
- 10. Charley Pride
- 11. Leroy Van Dyke
- 12. Ronnie Milsap
- 13. Johnny Cash
- 14. Conway Twitty
- 15. Merle Haggard
- 16. Roger Miller
- 17. Porter Wagoner
- 18. Kenny Chesney
- 19. Toby Keith
- 20. Tim McGraw
- 21. George Strait
- 22. Brad Paisley
- 23. Keith Urban
- 24. Kane Brown
- 25. Luke Combs
- 26. Scotty McCreery
- 27. Dustin Lynch
- 28. Blackberry Smoke band
- 29. Bryce Leatherwood
- 30. Dylan Gossett
- 31. Colin Stough
- 32. Matt Schuster
- 33. Wyatt Flores
- 34. Mickey Gilley
- 35. George Jones
- 36. Alan Jackson
- 37. Garth Brooks
- 38. Kenny Rogers
- 39. Randy Travis
- 40. Vince Gill
- 41. Eddie Rabbitt
- 42. Marty Robbins
- 43. Blake Shelton
- 44. Kris Kristofferson
- 45. Glen Campbell
- 46. Don Williams
- 47. Billy Ray Cyrus
- 48. Chris Stapleton
- 49. Dwight Yoakam
- 50. John Denver
- Who is the most popular male country singer?
This list of the top male country singers is based on the influential and commercially successful artists who have left a lasting mark on country music. The list contains some of the top 100 male country singers of all time, is in no particular order and contains artists who passed away and those who are still alive.
Who are the top male country singers?
The pinnacle of country music has been shaped and represented by legendary figures and contemporary icons who bring out different styles. These male country singers have maintained the legacy of country music, which has remained relevant regardless of age.
The criteria for producing this list of the "50 top male country singers" include popularity, impact on the genre's history, and fan base size. Furthermore, musicians' careers and the popularity of their songs might alter over time.
No | Name |
1 | Mason Ramsey |
2 | Sam Barber |
3 | Jonathan Hutcherson |
4 | Jackson Dean |
5 | Drake Milligan |
6 | Daniel Donato |
7 | Willie Nelson |
8 | Bobby Osborne |
9 | Jesse McReynolds |
10 | Charley Pride |
11 | Leroy Van Dyke |
12 | Ronnie Milsap |
13 | Johnny Cash |
14 | Conway Twitty |
15 | Merle Haggard |
16 | Roger Mille |
1. Mason Ramsey
- Full name: Mason Ramsey
- Date of birth: November 16, 2006
- Place of birth: Golconda, Illinois, United States
Ramsey is one of the best young male country singers doing well in the industry. His music career flourished after a video of him yodelling Hank Williams' Lovesick Blues went viral online. He is one of the new male country singers who have released two albums and performed at the Grammy Awards.
2. Sam Barber
- Full name: Samuel Robert Barber
- Date of birth: April 15, 2003
- Place of birth: Perry County, Missouri, United States
Barber started country music by recording cover versions on YouTube in 2020. He first gained popularity on the platform when he posted a video of himself performing a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man". He has released one studio EP, one live EP and several singles. He is both a singer and a songwriter.
3. Jonathan Hutcherson
- Full name: Jonathan Hutcherson
- Date of birth: July 5, 1999
- Place of birth: Wilmore, KY
Participating in The Voice gave Jonathan Hutcherson, as a teenage boy, confidence and experience to be on the stage after being on Pharell Williams's team. His 2021 song Love Takes Times became a hit and garnered almost two million plays on Spotify, which made him famous. He is one of the top male country singers of 2021.
4. Jackson Dean
- Full name: Jackson Dean Nicholson
- Date of birth: October 6, 2000
- Place of birth: Odenton, Maryland, United States
After turning eight years old, Dean left his Maryland home to pursue a music career. He later started associating himself and opening for major label acts like Kane Brown. Being marked with the Big Machine Record has made Dean feature in the show Yellowstone.
5. Drake Milligan
- Full name: Drake Milligan
- Date of birth: June 1, 1998
- Place of birth: Arlington, Texas, United States
Drake participated in several TV singing talent shows and appeared in a show called Sun Records as Elvis. This has dramatically helped his career and popularity, as Dallas/Fort Worth was ranked as the most-played album on the Apple iTunes platform in 2022.
Milligan has charted with the singles "Sounds Like Something I'd Do" and "Honky Tonkin' About". The latter became his first number-one when it topped the Canadian country chart.
6. Daniel Donato
- Full name: Daniel Donato
- Date of birth: 1995
- Place of birth: Nashville, United States
Daniel learnt the skills of the country music industry at a very young age. Not only does he have a great and unique voice that everyone would die for, but he is also one of the most intense telecaster guitar singers in country music.
7. Willie Nelson
- Full name: Willie Hugh Nelson
- Date of birth: April 29, 1933
- Place of birth: Abbott, Texas, United States
Willie is among the most prominent old male country singers. His interest in country music started at an early age when he wrote his first song at seven and joined his band at 10. His popularity was brought into the limelight when he released the Shotgun Willie album in 1973. He later released the albums Headed Stranger and Stardust.
8. Bobby Osborne
- Full name: Bobby Van Osborne
- Date of birth: December 7, 1931
- Place of birth: Thousandsticks, Kentucky, United States
Did you know Bobby dropped out of high school to form a band with his brother Sonny? He specialised in bluegrass music and released great hit songs since the 1950s. He is popularly known for his song Originals. Bobby Osborne remains one of the most popular male country singers whose music touched many.
9. Jesse McReynolds
- Full name: Jesse Lester McReynolds
- Date of birth: July 9, 1929
- Place of birth: Coeburn, Virginia, United States
Jesse started performing country music around 1947 with his brother, Jim McReynolds. As Bluegrass specialists, the duo was able to release around forty albums. Jesse McReynolds is mainly recognised for his unique and great styles with violin.
10. Charley Pride
- Full name: Charley Frank Pride
- Date of birth: March 18, 1934
- Place of birth: Sledge, Mississippi, United States
Charley Pride is one of the first African American artists to achieve mainstream success in the predominantly white genre. He was one of the black male country singers who released 52 studio albums and charted over 50 singles on the US Billboard charts.
11. Leroy Van Dyke
- Full name: Leroy Frank Van Dyke
- Date of birth: October 4, 1929
- Place of birth: Mora, Missouri, United States
Leroy is not just a country singer but also a specialist in honk and rockabilly. He gained popularity after he released The Auctioneer, a song he wrote with Buddy Black. He has recorded and released over 500 songs over 50 years of singing. He is also known for his song Walk on By.
12. Ronnie Milsap
- Full name: Ronnie Lee Milsap
- Date of birth: January 16, 1943
- Place of birth: Robbinsville, North Carolina, United States
Ronnie was among the most influential and recognised country singers in the 1970s and 1980s. He is mainly known for his songs Stand By My Woman Man and What a Difference You've Made in My Life, which won him Grammy awards. Ronnie has released numerous hit songs. He is also a pianist.
13. Johnny Cash
- Full name: John R. Cash
- Date of birth: February 26, 1932
- Place of birth: Kingsland, Arkansas, United States
Johnny Cash was a legendary country singer icon. During this decade, he released most hit songs, such as Ring of Fire, A Boy Named Sue, and Jackson. His incredible vocals made him the best Country Vocal Performance at the Grammys.
14. Conway Twitty
- Full name: Harold Lloyd Jenkins
- Date of birth: September 1, 1933
- Place of birth: Friars Point, Mississippi, United States
As a former rock-and-roll singer, Conway received a breakthrough in his music career when he started country music in the 1960s. His popularity rose when he released his hit songs The Image of Me and Next In Line. He is among the most remembered old male country singers of the 1960s.
15. Merle Haggard
- Full name: Merle Ronald Haggard
- Date of birth: April 6, 1937
- Place of birth: Oildale, California, United States
Merle Haggard was inspired by Johnny Cash's performance at San Quentin State Prison, where he served as an inmate. His album Branded Man, which he did with his band in 1967, won many hearts.
16. Roger Miller
- Full name: Roger Dean Miller Sr.
- Date of birth: January 2, 1936
- Place of birth: Fort Worth, Texas, United States
King of the Road, England Swings, and Dang Me are among Roger Miller's most recognisable songs. His songs were identified mainly by honky-tonk features that he liked to use.
17. Porter Wagoner
- Full name: Porter Wayne Wagoner
- Date of birth: August 12, 1927
- Place of birth: West Plains, Missouri, United States
Porter Wagoner was both a country singer and a famous TV persona. He was recognised for his most famous songs, Sorrow on the Rocks, Green, Green Grass of Home, The Cold Hard Facts of Life, and Misery Loves Company. He is known as Grand Ole Opry for his long-standing presence in the country music industry.
18. Kenny Chesney
- Full name: Kenneth Arnold Chesney
- Date of birth: March 26, 1968
- Place of birth: Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
He is one of the great male country singers of the 2000s. Kenny is very likeable and has many fans worldwide. His albums, selling more than a million units each, prove him to be one of the most successful country music artists today.
19. Toby Keith
- Full name: Toby Keith Covel
- Date of birth: July 8, 1961
- Place of birth: Clinton, Oklahoma, United States
Toby Keith became famous after his debut song, Should've Been a Cowboy, which was the most played song. His music industry career has flourished since then, as his albums topped the country charts.
20. Tim McGraw
- Full name: Samuel Timothy McGraw
- Date of birth: May 1, 1967
- Place of birth: Delhi, Louisiana, United States
Tim's singing career began in the late 90s, but his career skyrocketed in the industry in his early 20s. His albums have been the best and are topping the US charts. Tim's most significant songs include Angry All the Time and It's Your Love.
21. George Strait
- Full name: George Harvey Strait Sr.
- Date of birth: May 18, 1952
- Place of birth: Poteet, Texas, United States
George is the most successful country singer, not just in the 2000s. His career became promising when he released his album Strait World. In 2001, he released the song Murder On Music Row, which critiqued the flaws in the music industry.
22. Brad Paisley
- Full name: Bradley Douglas Paisley
- Date of birth: October 28, 1972
- Place of birth: Glen Dale, West Virginia, United States
Brad Paisley is one of the best male country singers of the 1990s. His albums have consistently been ranked at the top of the country music charts. His unique, smooth voice and excellent guitar-playing skills make him the most prominent country music artist.
23. Keith Urban
- Full name: Keith Lionel Urban
- Date of birth: October 26, 1967
- Place of birth: Whangārei, New Zealand
Keith Urban is an excellent country singer in Australia who began his career in the 1990s but gained popularity in the 2000s. This was after the release of his album Golden Road, which became number two on the US country charts. Keith can incorporate both Australian pop and rock influences.
24. Kane Brown
- Full name: Kane Allen Brown
- Date of birth: October 21, 1993
- Place of birth: Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
Kane Brown became famous after his videos on social media went viral, and he got a record deal in 2016. He is extensively known for his hit songs such as Lose It and One Thing Right, which was a collaboration with Marshmello
25. Luke Combs
- Full name: Luke Albert Combs
- Date of birth: March 2, 1990
- Place of birth: Huntersville, North Carolina, United States
Luke is an excellent voice in the country music industry and is well-known as a crowd-pleaser. His hit songs Beer Never Broke My Heart and Beautiful Crazy have significantly contributed to his achievements.
26. Scotty McCreery
- Full name: Scott Cooke McCreery
- Date of birth: October 9, 1993
- Place of birth: Garner, North Carolina, United States
Scotty started his music career after winning the 10th season of the reality singing competition American Idol in 2011. He later took a break from singing, then returned in 2017 with a tribute song, Five More Times, for his late grandfather. Scotty McCreery is regarded as one of the best male country singers of the 2010s.
27. Dustin Lynch
- Full name: Dustin Charles Lynch
- Date of birth: May 14, 1985
- Place of birth: Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States
Dustin released his first album in 2012. Since then, he has been doing great in the industry, topping the country's music charts. In 2020, he released an album titled Tullahoma, named after his hometown in Tennessee.
28. Blackberry Smoke band
- Band members: Charlie Starr, Brit Turner, Paul Jackson, Richard Turner, and Brandon Still
- Years active: 2000–present
- Origin: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Blackberry Smoke is one of the biggest country music bands, producing great hits since 2010. It became popular after the release of the album Holding All The Roses. They have performed throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and South America.
29. Bryce Leatherwood
- Full name: Bryce Leatherwood
- Date of birth: February 4, 2000
- Place of birth: Woodstock, Georgia, United States
Bryce Leatherwood became famous in 2022 when he won season 22 of The Voice competition on NBC. He later moved to Nashville to pursue music full-time. He has been doing great in the industry, especially after he landed his first major label record deal with the Universal Music group Nashville in Alliance with Republican Records.
30. Dylan Gossett
- Full name: Dylan Gossett
- Date of birth: 2000
- Place of birth: Austin, Texas, United States
His passion for music started at an early age when he enjoyed country music and played guitar. He began showing off his talents by doing covers on social media, after which he released his debut song, To Be Free. He is also known for his hit song Coal, which exploded on TikTok and gained a lot of views and streams.
31. Colin Stough
- Full name: Colin Stough
- Date of birth: July 18, 2004
- Place of birth: Gattman, Mississippi, United States
After finishing third on season 21 of the American Idol in 2022, Colin Stough didn't look back but kept the momentum going as he gained more experience in the music industry. Having worked as an HVAC technician, Colin looks forward to achieving dreams he never imagined would come true.
32. Matt Schuster
- Full name: Matt Schuster
- Date of birth: Around 2000
- Place of birth: Southern Illinois, United States
As a beginner in music, Matt seems promising in showing the world what he has and is one of the 90s male country singers. After partnering with Warner Music Nashville, he released his debut song, Tell Me Tennessee, in 2023.
33. Wyatt Flores
- Full name: Wyatt Flores
- Date of birth: June 29, 2001
- Place of birth: Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States
Wyatt Flores is a true definition of how young people can bring out their full potential by doing what they are passionate about. He has been working himself off in songwriting, recording, and performing on shows across his country. He is well known for his hit song Life Lesson.
34. Mickey Gilley
- Full name: Mickey Leroy Gilley
- Date of birth: March 9, 1936
- Place of birth: Natchez, Mississippi, United States
In his day, he was a prominent figure in American country music. Although Gilley began his career in the 1970s with strictly country and western music, he shifted to a more pop-friendly style in the 1980s, which led to even greater success on both the country and pop charts. After a long battle with bone cancer, Gilley passed away on May 7, 2022.
35. George Jones
- Full name: George Glenn Jones
- Date of birth: September 12, 1931
- Place of birth: Saratoga, Texas, US
George Glenn Jones, an American country music artist, singer, and composer, passed away in 2017. Famous for his unique voice and phrasing, he became famous worldwide thanks to many successful albums. In their 2023 edition of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time, Rolling Stone placed Jones at No. 24. On April 26, 2013, at 81, Jones passed away.
36. Alan Jackson
- Full name: Alan Eugene Jackson
- Date of birth: October 15, 1978
- Place of birth: Newnan, Georgia, US
Country music singer-songwriter Alan hails from the USA. He writes and performs many songs and is famous for the "neotraditional country" style. Among Jackson's twenty-one studio albums are three greatest hits compilations, two gospel albums, and two Christmas albums.
37. Garth Brooks
- Full name: Troyal Garth Brooks
- Date of birth: February 7, 1962
- Place of birth: Tulsa, Oklahoma, US
American country music singer-songwriter Garth became the best-selling solo artist of all time thanks to his songs' ability to transcend genres and appeal to audiences everywhere. After years of struggling to balance his work and family, Brooks took a hiatus from music from 2001 to 2005.
38. Kenny Rogers
- Full name: Kenny Rogers
- Date of birth: August 21, 1938
- Place of birth: Houston, Texas, United States
American singer and composer Kenny Rogers passed away in 2017. He became a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee in 2013. His death was "peaceful at home from natural causes," according to a family spokesman. During the '70s and '80s, Rogers was a pop and country chart-topper and a three-time Grammy winner.
39. Randy Travis
- Full name: Randy Bruce Traywick,
- Date of birth: May 4, 1959
- Place of birth: Marshville, North Carolina, United States
He performs on cinema and television and is known for his work in country and gospel music. His wife, Mary Travis, helps him out during interviews because he has aphasia, a condition that restricts his ability to talk. That's also why he hasn't released any new music in almost ten years, until now.
40. Vince Gill
- Full name: Vincent Grant Gill
- Date of birth: April 12, 1957
- Place of birth: Norman, Oklahoma, United States
He performs as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter from the USA. Gill won many Grammys in the '90s, solidifying his top country music singer position. From 1990 until 1999, he won the Grammy Award annually. Even in the 21st century, he has maintained his status as a Grammy favourite and won numerous accolades.
41. Eddie Rabbitt
- Full name: Edward Thomas Rabbitt
- Date of birth: November 27, 1941
- Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York, United States
American country music artist Edward Thomas Rabbitt also wrote songs for the genre. At the age of 56, Rabbitt passed away in Nashville on May 7, 1998, due to lung cancer. In March 1997, he received a cancer diagnosis; after that, he had radiation therapy and a lung transplant.
42. Marty Robbins
- Full name: Martin David Robinson
- Date of birth: September 26, 1925
- Place of birth: Glendale, Arizona, United States
An American singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist who also raced NASCAR, he passed away in 2017. An induction ceremony for Robbins into the Country Music Hall of Fame took place that very month. A heart attack took his life eight weeks later, on December 8, 1982, when he was fifty-seven years old.
43. Blake Shelton
- Full name: Blake Tollison Shelton
- Date of birth: June 18, 1976
- Place of birth: Ada, Oklahoma, United States
He performs as a singer, composer, and TV host in the United States. He became famous as a coach on the 2011 season of The Voice after previously gaining fame as a prominent country musician. This makes him the first television personality to achieve this feat.
44. Kris Kristofferson
- Full name: Samuel Robert Barber
- Date of birth: April 15, 2003
- Place of birth: Brownsville, Texas, United States
The legendary Kristoffer Kristofferson was known for his work in country music. Despite the 1970 Monument Records release of Kristofferson's self-titled solo album, the artist's songwriting remained his main claim to fame, drawing requests from both country and mainstream artists. He died on September 28, 2024, but the cause of his death remains unclear.
45. Glen Campbell
- Full name: Glen Travis Campbell
- Date of birth: April 22, 1936
- Place of birth: Billstown, Arkansas, United States
He acted, sang, played guitar, and wrote songs for country music in the United States. He is one of the old male country singers whose numerous popular songs from the '60s and '70s helped propel him to stardom. From 1969 until 1972, he hosted CBS television's The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.
46. Don Williams
- Full name: Donald Ray William
- Date of birth: May 27, 1939
- Place of birth: Floydada, Texas, United States
The late Don Williams was an ambassador for his country and a vast hitmaker. 199, Williams had 56 chart hits, including at least one significant hit each year. Willie passed away from emphysema in Mobile, Alabama, on September 8, 2017.
47. Billy Ray Cyrus
- Full name: Billy Ray Cyrus
- Date of birth: August 25, 1961
- Place of birth: Flatwoods, Kentucky, United States
Billy Ray Cyrus is well-known in the United States for his work in country music, acting, songwriting, and philanthropy. Along with 53 singles, he has put out 16 studio albums since 1992.
48. Chris Stapleton
- Full name: Christopher Alvin Stapleton
- Date of birth: April 15, 1978
- Place of birth: Lexington, Kentucky, United States
After a thrilling duet with pop sensation Justin Timberlake at the 2015 CMA Awards, Stapleton shot to fame. Additionally, he was nominated for three Country Music Association awards that year—New Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Male Vocalist of the Year—all of which he won.
49. Dwight Yoakam
- Full name: Dwight David Yoakam
- Date of birth: October 23, 1986
- Place of birth: Pikeville, Kentucky, United States
Anderson produced his 1986 debut album, and its publication catapulted him to fame. Most of the songs on Dwight's CDs have been written by him during his career. With seven more shows, Dwight Yoakam is presently on a cross-country tour.
50. John Denver
- Full name: Henry John Deutschendorf Jr
- Date of birth: December 31, 1943
- Place of birth: Roswell, New Mexico, United States
In addition to his fame as a musician, actor, philanthropist, and environmentalist, he was one of the world's most beloved entertainers. When Denver's small homebuilt plane went down on the afternoon of October 12, 1997, he passed away.
Who is the most popular male country singer?
The late Kenny Rogers is one of the most popular country singers who left a mark through his music. Kenny released 39 studio albums and 80 singles, 24 of which have reached Number One on the country chart. Rogers died at the age of 81 in 2020.
Who are the hot country artists to watch in 2024?
Some of the hottest country singers to keep track of are Bryce Leatherwood, HunterGirl, Austin Snell, Emily Ann Roberts, Dylan Gossett and Colin Stough.
Who is the hottest male country artist right now?
Some of the hottest male singers in country music are Blake Shelton, Kane Brown, Clint Black, Keith Urban, Tyler Hubbard, and Brian Kelly.
These are the best male country singers of the times who significantly contributed to the genre's rich and diverse sound. Their songs will be listened to from generation to generation.
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Mercy Mbuthia (Lifestyle writer) Mercy Mbuthia is a content writer with five years of experience writing on various topics, including biographies, entertainment, and lifestyle. She joined the Legit team in 2019. Mercy earned a Master of Science (Food, Nutrition & Dietetics) from Dedan Kimathi University in 2022. Her articles have appeared on several media sites such as The Health Channel, The Nation, Tekrati, ValiantCEO and Celebrity Leader. In 2023, Mercy finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: mercymmbuthia18@gmail.com
Kevin Omuya (Lifestyle writer) Kevin Omuya is a professional content writer with over three years of experience. At Legit.ng, he has contributed to extensive research on various topics such as celebrity news, fashion, and biographies. He has also worked as an editor and content creator at SportsCulture and CottageMed. In 2019, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University. You can reach him through his email: komuya89@gmail.com