The country music genre is one of the most lucrative and beloved in American history. The music goes centuries back, and it has given us a long list of talented artists. Country music has also spawned numerous award shows to recognize the skill of artists who pour their efforts into the genre.
Several stars who started as country artists have now crossed over to other genres, and we also now have mashups like pop-country. We decided to list some of the most prominent country artists who are still known for churning out hits and have also picked up other business ventures along the way.
Shania Twain
Shania Twain has 100 million record sales under the belt, which makes her the top-selling female country artists. It’s the reason why she holds the honorific title “Queen of Country Pop.” The Woman in Me, her second album, earned her widespread recognition with 20 million sales globally.
Twain has appeared on several T.V. shows like American Idol and her self-titled show on the OWN network. Twain teamed up with Febreze and launched a limited edition scent in 2006. She also launched two Shania scents in partnership with Coty. Twain has been married to Frédéric Thiébaud, a Nestlé executive, since 2010.
Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton is a well-known name both within the country music scene and the T.V. industry. Shelton has garnered seven Grammy nominations, and he’s charted (for now) 40 singles. He is also recognized as one of the judges on the NBC reality competition show The Voice.
Shelton is also an entrepreneur, and he runs the Ole Red restaurant franchise and entertainment establishments. He opened the doors to the first of these complexes in 2017 in his hometown Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Shelton has walked down the aisle twice, but it didn’t work out both times. He’s currently involved in a relationship with Gwen Stefani.
Carrie Underwood
In 2005, Carrie Underwood won the fourth season of the singing competition American Idol. Inside Your Heaven was her debut single, and it charted at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Some Hearts, her debut album, achieved crossover success, earning her even more attention.
Underwood has collaborated with several brands throughout her career, including Skechers, Olay, and Nintendo. She is also the spokesperson for the Coca Cola subsidiary Vitamin Water. Underwood also teamed up with Dick’s Sporting Goods in 2015 to launch a casual and activewear label called CALIA.
Keith Urban
Keith Urban kicked off his career in his native homeland Australia before moving to the U.S. in 1992. He worked as a session guitarist and eventually started a band called The Ranch. Urban made his American solo debut in 1999 with releasing a second eponymous album under Capitol Records.
Urban launched a line of signature guitars and accessories in 2013 with part of the proceeds benefiting the Grammy Foundation as well as The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. He served as a voice coach for the Australian version of The Voice. Urban also served as a judge on American Idol during the show’s 12th to 15th seasons.
Faith Hill
With 40 million album sales, Faith Hill ranks high on the list of successful country music artists. Her two albums released in the early ‘90s were a commercial success, and her subsequent two albums helped her achieve mainstream crossover success. Hill has earned several awards over the years, including 15 ACMAs and 5 Grammys.
She has also found success in acting, and her breakthrough was in The Stepford Wives. Hill has an eponymous fragrance line she launched in 2009, and in 2010 she followed through with a second fragrance called True.
Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire started her career in high school singing for the Kiowazi band. She made it on the local radio and also toured rodeos with her siblings. It wasn’t until 1977 that she released her solo debut after signing with Mercury Records two years before.
McEntire then switched over to MCA Nashville Records, where she achieved breakthrough success through her second album. She now has 29 studio albums, 42 top-charting singles, and 75 million record sales to her name. McEntire ventured into acting in the late ‘80s, and she most notably appeared in the sitcom Reba.
Tim McGraw
Out of the 15 studio albums Tim McGraw has released, he’s had 10 of them reach the top spot on the Country Albums charts. His albums have collectively produced 25 number 1 hits on either the Country Airplay or Hot Country Songs charts.
McGraw also dabbles as a record producer and an actor. His acting credits include Friday Night Lights, Flicka, and Country Strong. McGraw is philanthropic, and he established an annual softball charity game dubbed the Swampstock event. He is the proud owner of a Cirrus SR22, and he is a private pilot license holder.
Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert broke into the country music scene in 2001 with an independently released self-titled album. Lambert competed in Nashville Star and finished third. She then signed with Epic Records in 2003 and released her debut studio album, Kerosene. Lambert’s now six albums after releasing Wildcards in 2019.
She also released a boot and shoe collection at DSW in 2014. Lambert also teamed up with her mother to launch the MuttNation Foundation in 2009 that focuses on animal rescue and adoption. She also started a shelter called the Redemption Ranch in Oklahoma.
Garth Brooks
Rock, pop, and country have never sounded better than when they are mashed up on a Garth Brooks song. It could be the reason behind Brooks’ streak as the artist with the most solo album sales in the United States, with 156 million copies sold domestically.
Brooks had a short stint playing baseball during the spring season with various professional baseball teams, but he didn’t manage to score a permanent spot with any team. He launched the Touch ‘em All Foundation. Brooks launched Pearl Records and the online music store called GhostTunes.
Loretta Lynn
For an impressive 60 years, Loretta Lynn has entertained us with an endless list of country hits. She’s had several albums certified gold and some of her famous songs, including the track that inspired a biographical film about her - Coal Miner’s Daughter.
Lynn has garnered an equally long list of accolades for her contributions to the country genre. She holds the most awards out of all other female country artists. Sadly, in recent years Lynn has slowed down due to poor health. She broke her hip after a fall back in 2018 after recuperating from a stroke she suffered the year before.
The Dixie Chicks
Rebranded as The Chicks, the Dixie Chicks is a country band made up of sisters Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire and Natalie Maines. The band grouped in 1989, and they were initially known for busking and bluegrass performances.
They achieved commercial success in 1998, but after their controversial remarks about the former U.S. President George W. Bush, they were blacklisted, forcing them to go into a hiatus. They made a comeback in 2010, and The Chicks boast of 13 Grammy wins. The band had to postpone the release of its 2020 album titled Gaslighter owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alan Jackson
Combined with his songwriting talent, Alan Jackson has the gift of blending mainstream country-pop and honky-tonk sounds. Jackson has released 16 studio albums, and he has charted 66 songs. He’s often included on the list of best selling artists with 75 million record sales.
Jackson is also known for his car collection, including an Ampihcar, a ‘70 Chevelle SS 396, and a ‘68 Shelby GT-500KR. He also pours his wealth into homes, and Jackson most notably owned a Franklin estate dubbed Sweetbriar, which he sold in 2010 for $28 million.
Trace Adkins
Dreamin’ Out Loud marked Trace Adkins’ debut, and he has since added ten more albums to his list of releases. Adkins has also charted 20 singles and had several songs peak at the number one spot. He has appeared on several T.V. shows, including Hollywood Squares and The All-Star Celebrity Apprentice.
Adkins has an extensive list of credits on the big screen, including an appearance in the 2019 film Badland. He has also lent his voice to King of the Hill and KFC commercials. Adkins rakes in part of his fortune from brand endorsement deals, and he serves as a spokesperson for Pilot Flying.
Chris Stapleton
Whether it’s playing the guitar or writing and singing country hits, Chris Stapleton does it all. Stapleton moved to Nashville in 2001, and he soon signed up with Sea Gayle Music. He currently has over 170 song credits to his name, having penned songs for artists like Kenny Chesney, Josh Turner, and Luke Bryan.
Stapleton has also collaborated with artists like Justin Timberlake, Ed Sheeran, and Peter Frampton. Stapleton features as an extra on an episode of Game of Thrones. He is married to Morgane Stapleton, who is also a singer-songwriter, and they are the proud parents of five.
Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney has had his 20 albums highly certified by the RIAA. The albums have spawned 40 top 10 hits, and 30 of them managed to reach the number 1 spot. With most of these songs also featuring on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, Chesney is on the list of highly successful crossover country stars.
Chesney’s hard work has seen him receive six ACM awards and nine Country Music Association awards. Chesney tried his hand at filmmaking when he produced and co-directed Boys of Fall for ESPN. Chesney released his nineteenth studio album dubbed Here and Now in early 2020.
Billy Ray Cyrus
Since Billy Ray Cyrus shot into the country scene in 1992, he has released 53 singles and 16 studios. Cyrus is credited for popularizing the line dance through the music video of his hit Achy Breaky Heart. Cyrus has also charted eight singles.
When it comes to acting, you might have seen Cyrus in Doc, The Next Wave, and Diagnosis Murder. Cyrus made it on the Billboard Hot 100 with his 2019 collaboration with Lil Nas X Old Town Road. Cyrus is a father of six, including entertainers Brandi, Noah, Trace, and Miley.
Toby Keith
Toby Keith makes his fortunes as a country artist, actor, and music producer. Under Mercury Records, Keith released four albums that earned gold certification. Keith has charted several songs; including Should’ve Been a Cowboy. In 1998, Keith jumped ship signing up with DreamWorks Records.
How Do You Like Me Now put him on the map, and when DreamWorks closed shop in 2005, he established Show Dog. The label soon got into a partnership with Universal South Records becoming Show Dog-Universal Music. Keith runs the Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill franchise.
Rosanne Cash
Growing up with a father who was none other than the legendary Johnny Cash set the ball rolling for Rosanne Cash, who is now an acclaimed singer-songwriter. Cash is often classified as a country star, but her music crosses the folk, blues, rock, Americana, and pop genres.
She is also a successful author, and she’s written three books. Cash has also edited a series of short stories, and she’s had works published by Rolling Stone and The New York Times. Cash frequently guest lectures at various universities and colleges offering songwriting and English programs.
Randy Travis
Since 1978, Randy Travis has released 20 gospel and country studio albums. Travis has had 50 singles charts, and 16 of them made it to the top spot. He signed with DreamWorks Records after leaving Warner Bros. in 1997. That was when he also released more Christian material.
Travis also pursued acting and appeared in critically acclaimed productions like The Rainmaker, Touched by an Angel, and Texas Ranger. Travis also boasts of selling 25 million records, seven Grammy wins,10 ACM awards, and he’s also a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee.
LeAnn Rimes
At the age of 13, LeAnn Rimes rose to stardom with her take of Blue by Bill Mack. That subsequently made her the youngest recording country star, after Tanya Tucker, who boasted of the achievement in ‘72. Rimes adopted a country-pop sound that helped her achieve crossover success.
Rimes’s career in acting has seen her grace movies like Coyote Ugly. She also served as a judge for one season of the singing competition series Nashville Starr, and she hosts Colgate Country Showdown. Rimes has also recorded soundtracks for films like Evan Almighty.
The Band Perry
Siblings Reid, Kimberly, and Neil Perry from The Band Perry signed with Republic Nashville. The band is perhaps best known for their hit If I Die Young off of their self-titled album released in 2010. In 2017, the band fully transitioned to pop music, and they also started independently producing their music in 2018.
The band is known for its charitable efforts, including putting together concerts for the benefit of Heifer International’s efforts to end global hunger. They are also highly involved in volunteering their time as well as resources towards Alzheimer’s research.
Dwight Yoakam
In the ‘80s, Dwight Yoakam began his climb to fame, and he has currently released twenty albums. He has charted over 30 singles, and his record sales stand at 30 million. Yoakam also established a successful film and T.V. career, and he most recently appeared in Goliath.
He has made the most frequent appearances on The Tonight Show as a musical guest. Yoakam created the Bakersfield Biscuits brand sold by retailers like Walmart. He also has a channel under SiriusXM dubbed Dwight Yoakam and the Bakersfield Beat. In March 2020, Yoakam tied the knot with professional photographer Emily Joyce.
Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker is best known as the lead vocalist for the rock group Hootie & the Blowfish. Rucker released a solo R&B album in 2002 before signing up with Capitol Nashville in 2008 as a country artist. He became one of the few African American artists to top the country charts with his first single Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.
Rucker followed through with a New Artist win awarded by the Country Music Association, and that made him the first African American to earn such an achievement. He is quite charitable, and he serves as a board member for various organizations, including the MUSC Children’s Hospital.
Lyle Lovett
Since starting his career in the ‘80s, Lyle Lovett has released 25 singles and 13 albums. Lovett has also earned four Grammys, and his single Cowboy Man got him on the 10th spot of the Billboard Hot Country Songs.
He has appeared in shows like Blue Bloods, Life in Pieces, and Backstage. Lovett has also performed songs for several productions, including Still Alice, True Bloods, and Stuart Little. He was married to Julia Roberts, but they divorced in 1995. Lovett exchanged vows with his second, current wife, April Kimble, in 2017.
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow mastered the art of fusing elements of blues, rock, jazz, pop, and country into her music. Ten album releases later, and she’s given us hits like All I Wanna Do and Tomorrow Never Dies. Crow had sold over 50 million records worldwide.
She is also the recipient of nine Grammys out of 32 nominations. Crow has also tried her hand at acting and has guest-starred in shows like 30 Rock. She extensively used Gibson Country Western guitars during her performances, and the brand eventually launched a guitar series named after her.
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is a respected country music star, record producer, author, and actress. She broke into the scene in 1967, and she steadily rose to fame. Parton has charted 25 songs, and the Recording Industry Association of America has highly certified several of her albums.
She co-owns The Dollywood Company, which encompasses a theme park, a dinner theater, a waterpark, and a resort and spa. Parton also co-owns the film and T.V. company Sandollar Productions. She also runs Dolly Records and has produced several of her albums independently through the label.
Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers was a prolific singer, record producer, and actor. He was also revered for his crossover success with his songs fusing country and pop sounds. Rogers sold more than 100 million albums worldwide in his lifetime. He transformed his passion for photography into two photo publications.
Rogers also teamed up with KFC CEO John Y Brown Jt.to launch the Kenny Rogers Roasters ribs and chicken chain. He appeared in several shows as himself, including Reno 911! Rogers passed away from natural causes at the age of 80 in March 2020.
Alison Krauss
Bluegrass-country artist Alison Krauss joined the industry at the age of 10 when she won a music contest. By 14, she had recorded her first song, and in 1985 she signed with Rounder Records. She joined Alison Krauss and Union Station in 1987, and Krauss still performs with the band to date.
On the silver screen, Krauss has featured in films like Annabelle’s Wish, Eight Crazy Nights, and Paper Clips. The Berklee College of Music awarded Krauss an Honorary Doctorate of Music in 2012. Krauss also has 27 Grammy wins to her name.
Brandy Clark
Brandy Clark has penned down songs for artists like Sherly Crow, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, and The band Perry. Clark also records material, and in 2015 she won the Grammy for the Best New Artist. In 2020, Clark released her latest album; Your Life Is a Record.
Clark’s musical journey started at the age of nine when she was already playing the guitar. She joined her school band and went on to pursue musical theater. Clark had highly supportive folks who encouraged her to venture into music writing, and given the endless number of hits she has penned, it has all paid off.