50 top male country singers you need to add to your playlist

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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.

Brad Paisley, Kane Brown and Porter Wagoner

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

Jonathan Hutcherson in Nashville, Tennessee

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

Drake Milligan performs at Cook County Saloon

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

Willie Nelson speaks onstage in New York

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

Bobby Osborne at Madison Square Garden in New York City

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

The late Jesse McReynolds performing in Nashville, Tennessee

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

The late Charley Pride performing on stage

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

Sylvia and Leroy Van Dyke at The Palm Restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee

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

Ronnie Milsap at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee

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

Johnny Cash performing at at Glastonbury Festival

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

The late singer Conway Twitty perfoming on stage

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

Roger Miller at the Palladium for an awards event

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

Porter Wagoner at BMI Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee

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

Kenny Chesney performs onstage during the 57th Annual CMA Awards

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

Musician Toby Keith in Indio, California

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

Tim McGraw performing in Las Vegas, Nevada

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

George Strait performs at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee

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

Keith Urban performing at Las Vegas Strip Circuit

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

Scotty McCreery performing at Bridgestone Arena

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

Dustin Lynch performing in Las Vegas, Nevada

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

Blackberry Smoke band performing at a festival in Toender

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

Colin Stough performing at Disney classics LIVE

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

Matt Schuster performs onstage at Spotify House during CMA Fest 2023

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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Authors:

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 three years of experience. He worked as an editor and content creator at @SportsCulture and Cottagemed.org. In 2019, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University. At Sportsbrief, he contributes extensive sports research, such as biographies and listicles.

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