Country music lacks talented artists, but these 26 men stand out from the pack. They might not be country music’s best-known stars, but each one deserves a place on your playlist. The lyrics are clever and often personal, the instrumentation is straightforward and well-executed, and the singers have a genuine penchant for spinning narratives.
This list is Top 26 of our favorite male country singers and introduces you to new artists you might never have heard before while celebrating some of country music’s most beloved voices.
1. Kane Brown
| Name | Kane Allen Brown |
| Date of birth | October 21, 1993 |
| Place of birth | Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 2014–present |
Kane Brown was born in 1993. He is a singer and composer who specializes in country music. Kane began writing songs in the 8th grade when his home school district banned the Beatles and continued throughout high school. On May 10, 2014, Brown signed to Warner Bros. Records Nashville. His debut single, “What If,” was released to country radio on July 1, 2014.
2. Craig Morgan
| Name | Craig Morgan Greer |
| Date of birth | July 17, 1964 |
| Place of birth | Kingston Springs, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, artist |
| Years active | 2000–present |
Craig Morgan Greer was born in 1964. He is an American country music singer. His album “I Love It,” released in 2002, produced his first two number one singles, “That’s What I Love About Sunday” and “International Harvester”. Morgan’s song “Almost Home”, co-written by Phil Vassar, reached number 1 on the country charts in 2005. Similarly, his next single, “Redneck Yacht Club,” became another number 1 hit on the country charts in early 2006.
3. Luke Bryan
| Name | Thomas Luther “Luke” Bryan |
| Date of birth | July 17, 1976 |
| Place of birth | Leesburg, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, and television personality. |
| Years active | 1996–present |
Thomas Luther “Luke” Bryan was born in 1976. He is an American country singer and songwriter. Luke released his debut album in 2007, which included the singles “All My Friends Say”, “We Rode in Trucks,” and “Country Man”. Two years later, he issued a self-titled extended play that features his fourth single to date, “Do I”, which reached the Top 15 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
4. Brad Paisley
| Name | Bradley Douglas Paisley |
| Date of birth | October 28, 1972 |
| Place of birth | Glen Dale, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, and guitarist |
| Years active | 1998–present |
Bradley Douglas Paisley was born in 1972. He is a performer and songwriter for country music in America. His album “Mud on the Tires” produced the hit singles “Mud on the Tires”, “Alcohol”, and the title track. It was followed by 2005’s “Time Well Wasted”, whose first three singles were minor hits before the fourth single; Paisley’s cover of classic rock group Foreigner’s “Feels Like the First Time” became a No. 1 hit in early 2006.
5. Chase Rice
| Name | Chase Rice |
| Date of birth | September 19, 1985 |
| Place of birth | Asheville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter and reality television personality |
| Years active | 2010–present |
Chase Rice was born in 1985 in Florida. He is a singer, composer, and Musician for country music on reality television. Rice’s first album, “Ignite the Night”, was released on August 14, 2009. The album produced three singles: “Buzz Back”, “Love Ain’t Gonna Wait for You”, and “Ready Set Roll”. In its 37th week on the charts (dated June 17, 2010), the latter became his first Number One hit on the Hot Country Songs chart.
6. Tim McGraw
| Name | Samuel Timothy McGraw |
| Date of birth | May 1, 1967 |
| Place of birth | Start, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor |
| Years active | 1990–present |
Samuel Timothy McGraw was born in 1967. He is an American actor, singer, and songwriter specializing in country music. Tim released “Tim McGraw,” his first studio album, in 1989 and married country singer Faith Hill in 1996. The album “Tim McGraw” was released in 1989 and spawned the hit songs “Anyone who knows me knows”, “Indian Outlaw,” and “Something like I do”.
Tim’s second album, 1995’s “Two Lanes of Freedom,” reached #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, while his third album, 1997’s “It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry,” reached #1 on the Billboard 200.
7. Eric Church
| Name | Kenneth Eric Church |
| Date of birth | May 3, 1977 |
| Place of birth | Granite Falls, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 2005–present |
Eric Church was born in 1977. He is an actor, singer, and songwriter specializing in country music. His album Chief released in 2011, produced five singles: “Chief”, “Give Me Back My Hometown”, “Cold One”, “Record Year,” and the title track. This album peaked at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart and reached No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200. It was followed in 2013 by “The Outsiders”.
The album’s lead single, “Give Me Back My Hometown”, was a number one country hit and reached numbers 4 and 27 on the U.S. Hot 100 and Hot 100 Airplay charts, respectively.
8. Russell Dickerson
| Name | Russell Edward Dickerson |
| Date of birth | May 7, 1987 |
| Place of birth | Union City, Tennessee |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 2011–present |
Russell Edward Dickerson was born in 1987. He is an American country pop singer-songwriter from Union City, Tennessee. Dickerson began his career playing in coffee shops across the Southern United States. His debut single, “Yours”, was released in late 2011.
9. Keith Urban
| Name | Keith Lionel Urban |
| Date of birth | October 26, 1967 |
| Place of birth | Whangārei, Northland, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Singer, guitarist and songwriter |
| Years active | 1990–present |
Keith Lionel Urbahn, known professionally as Keith Urban, was born in 1967. He is an Australian-born American singer-songwriter who first found success in Australia before moving to the U.S. and has been a country music star since. Urban has released 11 studio albums and 40 singles. For his achievements in his music career, he was named the Musician of the Year by Billboard in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
10. Brett Eldredge
| Name | Brett Ryan Eldredge |
| Date of birth | March 23, 1986 |
| Place of birth | Paris, Illinois, United States |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter and record producer |
| Years active | 2010–present |
Brett Ryan Eldredge was born in 1986. He is a vocalist and songwriter for country music from Lexington, Kentucky. He is signed to Warner Bros. Records Nashville and released his self-titled debut E.P. on March 1, 2011. His single “Somethin’ I’m Good At” became his first Top 20 hit on the Hot Country Songs chart when it reached number 20 in June 2011.
11. Rodney Atkins
| Name | Rodney Allan Atkins |
| Date of birth | March 28, 1969 |
| Place of birth | Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer and songwriter |
| Years active | 1996–present |
Rodney Allan Atkins was born in 1969. He is a singer and composer who specializes in country music. His single “These Are My People” became his first number one hit on the Hot Country Songs chart in 2005. This song was also a Top 40 hit on the “Billboard” Hot 100, reaching number 36.
12. Blake Shelton
| Name | Blake Tollison Shelton |
| Date of birth | June 18, 1976 |
| Place of birth | Ada, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer and television personality |
| Years active | 2001–present |
Blake Tollison Shelton was born in 1976. Blake is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. In 2001, he made his debut with the single “Austin”. Soon after the single’s release, Shelton signed to Warner Bros. Records Nashville and released his self-titled debut album.
Blake has released eleven studio albums (including a Christmas album) plus one compilation album for thirteen – nine for Warner Bros. and four for Columbia Records Nashville.
13. Luke Combs
| Name | Luke Albert Combs |
| Date of birth | March 2, 1990 |
| Place of birth | Huntersville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer and songwriter |
| Years active | 2014–present |
Luke Eugene Combs was born in 1990. He is a performer and songwriter for country music in America. In 2014, Combs independently released his debut extended play “Someday,” followed by a full-length album, “This One’s for You”, in 2015. This album produced four singles: “Hurricane”, “When It Rains It Pours”, “Paper Company,” and “She Got the Best of Me”.
14. Jason Aldean
| Name | Jason Aldean |
| Date of birth | February 28, 1977 |
| Place of birth | Macon, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1998–present |
Jason Aldean was born in 1977. He is an American country singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. His album “They Don’t Know” peaked at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart and his single “Big Green Tractor” topped the Hot Country Songs chart in 2009. In 2011, Aldean’s “She’s Country”, also a No. 1 on Hot Country Songs, was honored as Song of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.
15. Garth Brooks
| Name | Troyal Garth Brooks |
| Date of birth | February 7, 1962 |
| Place of birth | Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer and songwriter |
| Years active | 1985–2001 2005–present |
Garth Brooks was born in 1962. Garth is an American country singer and songwriter. His first success came in 1989 when he released his self-titled debut album, “Garth Brooks.” The album reached #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Garth’s crossover appeal led to his record-breaking career, achieving more than 40 Top 10 hits, selling nearly 160 million albums, and taking home over 118 BMI Songwriter Awards.
16. Kenny Chesney
| Name | Kenneth Arnold Chesney |
| Date of birth | March 26, 1968 |
| Place of birth | Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, and guitarist |
| Years active | 1993–present |
Kenneth Arnold “Kenny” Chesney was born in 1968. He is an American country singer, songwriter, and record producer. His 2003 single “There Goes My Life” topped the Hot Country Songs charts, and his 2005 single “When the Sun Goes Down” was the top hit on the Billboard Hot 100, making him the first artist to simultaneously top all three country music charts (Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, and Country Digital Songs).
17. Chris Stapleton
| Name | Christopher Alvin Stapleton |
| Date of birth | April 15, 1978 |
| Place of birth | Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer |
| Years active | 2001−present |
Christopher Alvin Stapleton was born in 1978. He is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer specializing in country music. He had released two studio albums and was a member of the bluegrass group The SteelDrivers until March 2015, when he announced his solo career and released the single “Nobody to Blame” in May 2015. He played fiddle with the group Brothers Osborne in 2011. Stapleton won three Grammy Awards for Best Country Album in 2016 for his debut solo album “Traveller”.
18. Alan Jackson
| Name | Alan Eugene Jackson |
| Date of birth | October 17, 1958 |
| Place of birth | Newnan, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1983–present |
Alan Eugene Jackson was born in 1958. He is an American country music singer known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his hits. He has recorded 14 studio albums and several compilations on the Arista Nashville label.
19. Jason Isbell
| Name | Michael Jason Isbell |
| Date of birth | February 1, 1979 |
| Place of birth | Green Hill, Alabama, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1995–present |
Jason Isbell was born in 1979. He is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Green Hill, Alabama, near Florence. Isbell has been named “Best New Artist” by the Nashville Scene, “Artist of the Year” by the Americana Music Association, and “New Artist of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music. In 2013 he won the Americana Music Association’s Poet’s Award and Duo/Group of the Year Award with Amanda Shires.
20. Johnny Cash
| Name | John R. Cash |
| Date of birth | February 26, 1932 |
| Date of death | September 12, 2003 |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1954–2003 |
John R. Cash was born in 1932 – died in 2003. He was an American country singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and author. A cultural icon and one of the world’s best-known recording artists, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, the first solo artist to be inducted. Cash is also known for serving time in prison, his marriages (to Vivian Liberto and June Carter), his flamboyant lifestyle, and his controversial “Outlaw” persona.
3. George Strait
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George Harvey Strait was born in 1952. George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. George has been honored by the Country Music Association with 18 CMA Awards, including two Entertainer of the Year awards and five Male Vocalist Awards.
6. Willie Nelson
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Willie Hugh Nelson, Jr. was born in Abbott, Texas, in 1933. He is an American country singer-songwriter, actor, and activist whose songs frequently deal with social issues. Willie has released more than 50 albums in his solo career. He has collaborated with various artists and has written songs for country artists such as Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson, among others.
10. Hank Williams
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Hank Williams, Jr. was born in 1949. He is an American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been active since the early 1970s. He has recorded a total of 23 studio albums as well as two live albums/ DVDs. Hank is also a renowned painter and actor. His most recent album is “Where Were You When I Needed You”.
16. Toby Keith
| Name | Toby Keith Covel |
| Date of birth | July 8, 1961 |
| Place of birth | Clinton, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer |
| Years active | 1993–present |
Toby Keith Covel was born in 1961. He is an American country singer, songwriter, and actor. His 1998 single “How Do You Like Me Now?!” spent seven weeks at number one on the U.S. “Billboard” Hot Country Songs chart and 20 weeks on the U.S. “Billboard” Hot 100. In addition, it reached numbers 6 and 23 on the Hot 100 Airplay and Hot 100 charts, respectively, becoming Keith’s first top 40 hit on pop charts.
19. Randy Travis
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Randall Gene “Randy” Travis was born in 1959. He is an American country music singer, Musician, actor, and songwriter. His album “Storms of Life” peaked at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart in 1985. He is one of only five singers to have three No. 1 albums in the 1990s. He is also one of the only two country musicians to have a number one hit with a Christmas song (the other being Lorrie Morgan in 1997).
20. Clay Walker
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Clay Walker was born in 1969. He is an American country singer and songwriter. His 1995 single “Live Until I Die” topped the Hot Country Songs charts and am followed by his second number one later that year with “If I Could Make a Living”. After this song, he had 22 additional singles on the country charts.
Kenny Rogers
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29. Glenn Campbell
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30. Merle Haggard
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31. Roger Miller
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32. Conway Twitty
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33. George Jones
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34. Jimmie Rodgers
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35. Roy Acuff
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