List of country performers by era

Below is a list of notable country performers alphabetically by period, with each listing followed by a description of the artists' work.

Early innovators

*Vernon Dalhart recorded hundreds of songs until 1931.
*Jimmie Rodgers, first country superstar, the "Father of Country Music".
*The Carter Family, rural country-folk, known for hits like "Wildwood Flower".
*Roy Acuff Grand Ole Opry star for 50 years, "King of Country Music".
*Jenny Lou Carson, the first female to write a #1 Country Hit - 1945 - You Two-Timed Me Once Too Often.
*Patsy Montana, the first female Country singer to sell 1 million records.
*Girls of the Golden West, one of the first Country music duo groups.
*Ernest Tubb Beloved Texas troubadour who helped scores become stars.
*Hank Snow Canadian-born Grand Ole Opry star famous for his traveling songs.
*Hank Williams Sr, honky-tonk pioneer, singer, and songwriter, known for hits like "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)".
*Bill Monroe, father of bluegrass music.
*The Davis Sisters, best-known for the hit "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know"
*Grand Ole Opry, one of the oldest radio programs.
*Louvin Brothers, inspired the Everly Brothers.
*Little Jimmy Dickens 4-foot 11 inch star of the Grand Ole Opry.
*Goldie Hill, the "golden hillbilly", best known for the hit song "I Let the Stars Get in My Eyes".
*Wilf Carter, the "yodeling" cowboy, aka Montana Slim.
*Jean Shepard, one of Country's leading female vocalists in the 1950s.
*Webb Pierce, classic honky-tonker who dominated '50s country music.
*Kitty Wells, country's first female superstar, called the "Queen of Country Music".
*Johnny Cash created the boom-chicka-boom sound and recorded music from 1954 to 2003.
*Ray Price, created the 4/4 shuffle which transformed traditional country music.

The Golden Age & Country Pop In the 60s, 70s & 80s

*Bill Anderson, singer who is still a major songwriter of new hits
*Liz Anderson, as famous for her songwriting as her singing
*Lynn Anderson, a California blonde who became a top country star in the 1970s
*Deborah Allen, a popular 80s Country/Pop vocalist
*Eddy Arnold, the all-time hit leader by Joel Whitburn's point system
*Moe Bandy, one of the greatest signers of the 1970s with hits galore.
*The Browns, brother-sister trio who hit No. 1
*Johnny Cash, one of the single most Influential and popular country singers of all time. Best known for hits like "Ring of Fire" and "Folsom Prison Blues." He died in 2003
*Patsy Cline, immensely popular balladeer who died in 1963
*David Allan Coe, Outlaw Country star of the 70s
*Jessi Colter, Outlaw country singer and wife of Waylon Jennings, best-known for "I'm Not Lisa"
*Skeeter Davis, major female vocalist for decades
*Mac Davis, Country Pop hitmaker in the 70s and 80s
*Jimmy Dean, singer and TV personality, former owner of Jimmy Dean Sausage Company
*Roy Drusky, smooth-singing Opry star for 40 years
*Jimmy Martin, The King of bluegrass
*Janie Fricke, known for her series of smooth Countrypolitan hits in the early 80s
*Lefty Frizzell, perhaps the greatest of the honky-tonkers
*Crystal Gayle, sister of Loretta Lynn who became a Countrypolitan sensation in the 70s and 80s and had 18 #1's during this stretch.
*Don Gibson, wrote and recorded many standards
*Merle Haggard, popularized the Bakersfield sound
*Tom T. Hall, "The Storyteller", wrote most of his many hits
*Johnny Horton a fantastic singer who met an untimely death that ended a wonderful career.
*Jan Howard, pop-flavored female vocalist who sang pure country
*Stonewall Jackson, honky-tonk icon
*Sonny James, had a record 16 consecutive No. 1 hits
*Wanda Jackson, honky-tonk female vocalist equally at home in rock and roll
*Waylon Jennings, one of the leaders of the "outlaw" country sound
*George Jones, widely considered "the greatest living country singer", #1 in charted hits
*Kris Kristofferson, songwriter and one of the leaders of the "outlaw" country sound
*Loretta Lynn, arguably country music's biggest star in the 1960s and 1970s
*Roger Miller, songwriter and Grammy record-breaker
*Ronnie Milsap, country's first blind superstar

*Melba Montgomery, duet vocalist in the 60s, who launched a solo career in the 70s
*Anne Murray, Prominent Canadian country-pop vocalist best known for the songs Snowbird, Could I Have This Dance, You Needed Me and other hits in the 1970s-1980s.
*Willie Nelson, songwriter and one of the leaders of the outlaw country sound
*Norma Jean, gifted "hard country" vocalist, known also as Pretty Miss Norma Jean
*Buck Owens, Hottest artist of the 60's, pioneer innovator of the Bakersfield sound
*Dolly Parton, the most successful female country artist in history
*Ray Price, traditional country star of the 50's and 60's, who experienced pop success in the 70's and 80's
*Charley Pride, the first black country music star
*Jeanne Pruett, female vocalist of the 70s, best known for the song "Satin Sheets"
*Susan Raye, Buck Owens' protégée who became a solo star
*Jim Reeves, crossover artist, invented Nashville Sound with Chet Atkins
*Charlie Rich, '50s rock star who enjoyed greatest success in '70s country
*Marty Robbins, one of the most popular artists in country music history. Named artist of the decade (1960-1969) by the Academy of Country Music
*Jeannie C. Riley, sexy girl in a miniskirt who socked it to the pop charts
*Kenny Rogers, unique-voiced storyteller who also recorded love ballads and more rock material. He defined what was known as country crossover and became one of the biggest artists in country and any music genre.
*Jeannie Seely, known as "Miss Country Soul"
*Billy Joe Shaver, songwriter, wrote all but one song on Waylon Jennings' groundbreaking Honky Tonk Heroes album
*Connie Smith, the longest of any female country music artist in history
*Margo Smith, known for her sexy come-on songs
*Sammi Smith, best known for her "husky" voice and 1971 hit song "Help Me Make It Through the Night"
*Sylvia, Countrypolitan sensation the early to mid-80s
*Billie Jo Spears, a hard-country vocalist with international popularity
*Ray Stevens, comedy crossover artist, Branson businessman
*Gary Stewart, undoubtedly the greatest honky tonk music singer in the history of country music.
*Tanya Tucker, teen Country star, who's career later spanned well beyond her teen years
*Conway Twitty
*Townes Van Zandt, songwriter, troubador
*Porter Wagoner, pioneer on country television
*Gene Watson, Texas country music cult legend, who gained national success after Love in the Hot Afternoon
*Dottie West, one of Country music's most influential and groundbreaking female artists
*The Wilburn Brothers, popular male duet for decades
*Hank Williams, Jr., Leader in the Outlaw country movement. Multi-instrumental talent, and song writing star. Won several awards. Son of Hank Williams Sr.
*Tammy Wynette, three-time CMA top female vocalist
*Faron Young, a country chart topper for three decades

Country Rock

*.38 Special
*The Allman Brothers Band, the most successful southern rock band in history
*The Band, started out backing up Bob Dylan and their Music from Big Pink is a classic record
*Blackfoot
*Black Oak Arkansas
*The Byrds
*Charlie Daniels Band
*Gene Clark
*Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
*Creedence Clearwater Revival, songs like Born on the Bayou helped to create the country rock genre
*Desert Rose Band
*The Eagles, a very popular country rock band
*The Everly Brothers, predated others in this category but important figures in the transition from rockabilly to country rock
*Firefall
*Flying Burrito Brothers
*Kinky Friedman
*Gram Parsons, critical favorite of the country rock movement
*Grateful Dead, extremely long-lived bluegrass and psychedelic band
*Heartsfield
*Lynyrd Skynyrd, a very popular southern rock band
*Marshall Tucker Band
*Rick Nelson, in the latter stage of his career, particularly on songs such as "Garden Party"
*Michael Nesmith
*New Riders of the Purple Sage
*Juice Newton, the top-selling female country rocker of the 1980s
*Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
*Ozark Mountain Daredevils
*Poco
*Pure Prairie League (Vince Gill was the lead singer of this group on their biggest pop hit, 1980's "Let Me Love You Tonight.")
*Southern Pacific
*John Rich
*Linda Ronstadt, in 1978 Country Music Magazine put her on the cover with the title "Queen Of Country Rock".
*KANE
*Gary Stewart honky tonker and southern rocker, legendary throughout the 70's and early 80's.
*Steve Young
*Brad Clark of DoubleDown (Lead Vocalist of DoubleDown, Solo Artist) Mixes southern roots with gospel, rock and blues, most notably w/ "Let The Eagle$ Fly", "The Day"

Early 80's Country Stars

*Alabama
*John Anderson
*Asleep at the Wheel
*Earl Thomas Conley
*Vern Gosdin
*Reba McEntire
*Ronnie Milsap
*Eddy Raven
*Kenny Rogers
*Ricky Skaggs
*George Strait
*The Statler Brothers
*Randy Travis
*Dottie West

Late 80's Country Stars

*Alabama
*John Anderson
*Asleep at the Wheel
*Sawyer Brown
*Earl Thomas Conley
*Rodney Crowell
*Billy Ray Cyrus
*Vern Gosdin
*Highway 101
*Patty Loveless
*Reba McEntire
*Ronnie Milsap
*K.T. Oslin
*Eddie Rabbitt
*Eddy Raven
*Kenny Rogers
*Ricky Skaggs
*George Strait
*The Statler Brothers
*Randy Travis
*Keith Whitley
*Trisha Yearwood
*Dwight Yoakam

Early 90's Country Stars

*Alabama
*John Anderson
*Asleep at the Wheel
*Clint Black
*Suzy Bogguss
*Garth Brooks
*Brooks & Dunn
*Sawyer Brown
*Mary Chapin Carpenter
*Mark Chesnutt
*Earl Thomas Conley
*Rodney Crowell
*Bobbie Cryner
*Billy Ray Cyrus
*Diamond Rio
*Joe Diffie
*Vince Gill
*Highway 101
*Alan Jackson
*Toby Keith
*Tracy Lawrence

*Patty Loveless
*Reba McEntire
*Lorrie Morgan
*John Michael Montgomery
*K.T. Oslin
*Eddie Rabbitt
*Ricky Skaggs
*Doug Stone
*George Strait
*Marty Stuart
*The Statler Brothers
*Pam Tillis
*Aaron Tippin
*Randy Travis
*Travis Tritt
*Clay Walker
*Lari White
*Keith Whitley
*Kelly Willis
*Trisha Yearwood
*Dwight Yoakam

Late 90's Country Stars

*Trace Adkins
*Rhett Akins
*Alabama
*Asleep at the Wheel
*Clint Black
*Blackhawk
*Garth Brooks
*Brooks & Dunn
*Sawyer Brown
*Tracy Byrd
*Mary Chapin Carpenter
*Kenny Chesney
*Mark Chesnutt
*Terri Clark
*Diamond Rio
*Joe Diffie
*Dixie Chicks
*Vince Gill
*Gary Helms
*Ty Herndon
*Faith Hill

*Alan Jackson
*Toby Keith
*Tracy Lawrence
*Lonestar
*Patty Loveless
*Martina McBride
*Neal McCoy
*Reba McEntire
*Tim McGraw
*Mindy McCready
*John Michael Montgomery
*LeAnn Rimes
*George Strait
*Pam Tillis
*Aaron Tippin
*Travis Tritt
*Shania Twain
*Lari White
*Trisha Yearwood
*Dwight Yoakam

Modern country stars 2000-2008

*Trace Adkins
*Jason Aldean
*Gary Allan
*Keith Anderson
*Asleep at the Wheel
*Rodney Atkins
*Dierks Bentley
*Big & Rich
*Clint Black
*Chad Brock
*Garth Brooks
*Gary Helms
*Brooks & Dunn
*Luke Bryan
*Laura Bryna
*Tracy Byrd
*Chris Cagle
*Jason Michael Carroll
*Kenny Chesney
*Eric Church
*Terri Clark
*Confederate Railroad
*Kristy Lee Cook
*Bucky Covington
*Billy Currington
*Billy Ray Cyrus
*Diamond Rio
*Dixie Chicks
*Emerson Drive
*Sara Evans
*Montgomery Gentry
*Vince Gill
*Josh Gracin
*Halfway to Hazard
*Heartland
*Faith Hill
*Julianne Hough
*Jack Ingram
*Alan Jackson
*Jewel
*Carolyn Dawn Johnson
*Jamey Johnson
*Toby Keith
*Miranda Lambert
*Tracy Lawrence
*Little Big Town
*Lonestar
*Martina McBride

*Reba McEntire
*Tim McGraw
*Craig Morgan
*John Michael Montgomery
*Montgomery Gentry
*Gary Nichols
*Joe Nichols
*Brad Paisley
*Jamie O'Neal
*Jake Owen
*Danielle Peck
*Kellie Pickler
*Rascal Flatts
*Carolina Rain
*LeAnn Rimes
*Julie Roberts
*Kenny Rogers
*SheDaisy
*Ricky Skaggs
*George Strait
*Blake Shelton
*Sugarland

*Aaron Tippin
*Trent Tomlinson
*Travis Tritt
*Josh Turner
*Shania Twain
*Carrie Underwood
*Keith Urban
*Clay Walker
*Gretchen Wilson
*Darryl Worley
*The Wreckers
*Trisha Yearwood
*Dwight Yoakam
*Roger Alan Wade
*Chris Young

Country stars outside North America

* [http://www.truck-stop.de/ "Truck Stop", Germany]
* [http://www.tom-astor.net/ "Tom Astor", Germany]
* [http://www.texaslightning.net/ "Texas Lightning", Germany]
* [http://www.slimdusty.com.au/ "Slim Dusty", Australia]
* [http://www.troycassardaley.com.au/ "Troy Cassar-Daley", Australia]