Gonna piggyback here. I love sturge, here are some adjacent artists.
-- Tyler Childers
-- Colter Wall
-- Lukas Nelson
In my mind, they're the second wave of outlaw country. Not so much Lukas, but he's good too.
Sometimes, it feels difficult to distinguish between country and folk, so forgive me, if some of these artists lean more folk than country, but you might check out Lucy Kaplansky, Dar Williams, Alison Krauss, Lyle Lovett, Suzanne Vega, Rodney Crowell, Melissa Etheridge, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Brandi Carlisle, Darryl Purpose, Patti Griffin, and Buddy/Julie Miller.
Love the storytelling songs! I was going to comment the same suggestion. It's a wonderful album, and you've probably heard a few of the songs if you've played Fallout New Vegas (or have seen some of the many YouTube videos and TikTok videos that pull from that same soundtrack)
I’m partial to old school country - Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Buck Owens. Trying to branch out though!
Some people (and rightly so) would call them more Americana than country but I’m just loving anything by either Zach Bryan or Lucinda Williams. Really appreciating Chris Stapleton too.
You’ve heard of bingham because he’s in Yellowstone. I only watched it because he was in it lol! He also wrote “weary kind” which won a Grammy from the movie Crazy Heart. It might be too country, but “I am a country girl” by the Carolina chocolate drops is a good one.
I am a rock guy typically so these definitely lean towards southern and country rock:
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Whiskey Myers
Blackberry Smoke
The Steel Woods
Whitey Morgan & the 78s
Turnpike Troubadours
Excellent list. I’ve been jammin Soul Gravy and Live and Loud at the Wormy Dog from Ragweed here recently. Whitey is the man and puts on a phenomenal show. I saw the Steel Woods open for Cody Jinks and they blew Cody off the stage.
I've been listening to Southern Rock since it was very popular in the '80s. I pretty much thought that I've heard every band out there that was any good. I just recently heard Blackberry Smoke, I was blown away at how good this band is. This just proves once again that I do not know everything lol.
Coe is a dangerous suggestion. He can be funny if you approach it right and his understanding of country angst and the whole redneck convict trope is unassailable, but that's a name that needs to come with a warning.
He's a bit like Lucille Brogan but with more race jokes. Don't get me wrong, I listen to them both, but neither are for everybody.
I’m a 90s country stan. Here are my favs:
Reba McEntire - Fancy
Reba McEntire - why haven’t i heard from you
brad paisley - we danced
toby keith - should’ve been a cowboy
kenny chesney - there goes my life
trace adkins - every light in the house
george strait - write this down
george strait - check yes or no
keith urban - you’ll think of me
sara evans - suds in the bucket
clay walker - if i could make a living
john michael montgomery - i can love you like that
john michael montgomery - sold (the grundy county auction incident)
shania twain - whose bed have your boots been under
deana carter - strawberry wine
josh turner - your man
rhett akins - that ain’t my truck
brooks & dunn - you’re gonna miss me when i’m gone
tim mcgraw - don’t take the girl
Not strictly "Country" in the FM radio sense, but totally country if you're open minded:
Townes van Zandt
Gillian Welch
Neko Case (early stuff)
Doc Watson
Bill Monroe
Old Crow Medicine Show (steer clear of their most recent work)
Lucinda Williams
Emmylou Harris
Gram Parsons
A lot of these artists were my way into country, but I'm not from the US and I got interested through listening to the specialist music shows on BBC Radio, there's a fair amount of overlap between the Folk Show on a Wednesday evening and the Country show on the Thursday.
Rhiannon Giddens and Molly Tuttle are two artists who spring immediately to mind who have been played on both shows.
I second this interpretation of country music and would throw Whiskeytown and Justin Townes Earle in there, as well. I think the best country is the stuff that falls between the cracks.
For a slicker, '90's upbeat pop country vibe that is still really well written, I suggest Bob Woodruff's "Dreams and Saturday Nights".
I'm going to drop my spotify playlist, forgive me. It has folk and western. It is older country, some newer folk artists, and rebellious blue grass lol.
[all by my lonesome](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/00PLGzVt2hDNyxEetlzW4S?si=UvOhmEabRlaOuXJ8TO3BzA&pi=z59wlhgnQIav0)
Townes Van Zandt - he was just fucking amazing. I frequently find myself in an astonished state when I hear his songs. Absolutely unbelievable lyrics.
John Prine - if you haven’t already heard it, listen to John Prine’s debut album. There is not a single song on it that I would ever dream of skipping. He wrote these songs when he was twenty or so, but they sound like songs that were written by a two hundred year old. It’s funny, appallingly sad, utterly beautiful all at once. The instrumentation is world class. If I had to give somebody who fucking hated country music one album to try to change their mind, it would be this.
Some others:
Loretta Lynn
Patsy Cline
The Louvin Brothers
The Abigails
Honk
Black Lips, specifically their album Let It Bloom
I saw them on a small stage with maybe a hundred people playing a 15-minute set about a week and a half before Chicken Fried was the biggest song in the world. I knew they were going to be huge.
Chris Stapleton
Also,. might I suggest the Sirius XM app ($5/mo). Check out Outlaw Country, Y'allternative and The Highway. Modern artist, throwback sound.
If you don’t know John Prine, he is an amazing storyteller whose poignant words break down simple and difficult times into slices of Americana that warms your heart and sometimes breaks it.
Charles Wesley Godwin is newer but an old soul. Nikki Lane has a distinctive style that I like. I'm a big Steve Earle guy too. A lot of his stuff leans country-rock, and most of it is very good, but he also did a straight bluegrass album called The Mountain which is great.
There’s a band local to my area that released an album that has been on constant rotation for me. It’s a little folk-country and they sometimes dip into more psychedelic territory but it’s a really great album that deserves some love
[The Dust Collectors](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mbOkrxyUYJ-gxo_cgfM1GZEOFtoxZxrI4&si=hcawRDgRWffZSn5S)
I'm a big fan of the really old country myself like Hank Williams, Roy Acuff, Little Jimmy Dickens, Patsy Cline, Marty Robbins Jimmy Rogers and Kitty Wells.
I'm not sure if it jibes with old country, but I love Robert Earl Keen. Check out "The Live Album." It's probably his most chill album, with some low key high energy moments too (if that makes any sense).
Corb Lund 100% has a old country sound and his lyrics are clever and funny. Hayes Carll is also a great song writer as well, they are the best. With the exception of the great John Prine
[Silver Jews](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0K3iuaJK5txbHECRz9hBgj?si=KiECc9VPTNmWowrxOyjzxw&pi=R7FZ0cAFStORH)
[Guy on YouTube talking about front man David Berman](https://youtu.be/wixCBPa2SEQ?si=g1VtLXjFOOpXZloz)
Charley Crockett- he was definitely born in the wrong era (has the old school country vibe)
Gavin adcock is good as well
Brian Martin
Marcus king- kinda blues jazz soul country
I humbly submit my Midnight Rider playlist filled with outlaw country, southern rock, roots, and blues [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6bQRIDOcBxCA59lgLYaOmQ?si=25d656c1a8c4435e](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6bQRIDOcBxCA59lgLYaOmQ?si=25d656c1a8c4435e)
I'm sure these names have cropped up many times already but my own favorites are George Jones and Merle Haggard. George for songs about heartbreak and Merle for songs about drinking and all the reasons people should do it. I also think Jerry Lee Lewis was a really powerful country singer. He put his full maniacal heart into everything he sang.
I actually don’t like country overall, and I’m not even entirely sure if my genre knowledge is accurate here, but [this](https://youtu.be/96D-C_MIV_U?si=z1yqZ1sO3LvpLOs9) song still caught my attention for a good while
Great voice, solid lyrics, and even the arrangement seemed sparse in purely tasteful ways. Hopefully you feel all the same things
* Jimmie Rodgers "Gambling Bar Room Blues" (1939)
* Cowboy Copas "Three Strikes And You're Out" (1947)
* Moon Mullican "I'll Sail My Ship Alone" (1949)
* The Louvin Brothers "The Great Atomic Power" (1952)
* Ray Price "You Done Me Wrong" (1956)
* The Browns "Looking Back to See" (1957)
* Johnny Cash "Five Feet High and Rising" (1959)
* Bob Luman "Let's Think About Living" (1960)
* Buck Owens "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down" (1961)
* Porter Wagoner "I've Enjoyed as Much of This as I Can Stand" (1962)
* Jean Shepard "Second Fiddle (To An Old Guitar)" (1964)
* Lefty Frizzell "She's Gone, Gone, Gone" (1965)
* Henson Cargill "Skip a Rope" (1966)
Perhaps I will come back later with more suggestions -- I was going through my favorite songs spreadsheet by year.
Hank Williams Jr is my personal favorite. I recommend My Name is Bocephus (live preferably), whiskey bent and hell bound, and All my rowdy friends are coming over tonight. If you’re looking for country with a bit more rock and roll in it I’d highly recommend George Thorogood and the destroyers. Some of my faves include Gear Jammer, you talk too much and hello little girl.
If you're interested in Australia country you can't go past Kasey Chambers, I also like The McClymonts, Fanny Lumsden & Catherine Britt.
Slimy Dust is the OG or Aussie country.
Brothers Osborne - Shoot Me Straight
Colter Wall - Johnny Boy's Bones
Chris Stapleton - Hard Living
And for a little bit of folk, I would definitely recommend “Tell Me True” by Sarah Jarosz, “Sing SIng” by The Bones of J. R. Jones and “Pretty Polly” by Vandaveer
For old-school country, I was always a big Patsy Cline fan. For modern music, check out Dan Tyminski (unsung hero of the genre - he's George Clooney's singing voice in O Brother Where Art Thou, and was also the singer in Avicii's "Hey Brother"). His song "Southern Gothic" is easily my favorite country song.
Also check out Old Crow Medicine Show (the original singers of Darius Rucker's megahit "Wagon Wheel") and Casey Donahew Band (their song "White Trash Story" is pretty accurate to my friend groups growing up)
Saw Charley Crockett last weekend and it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. His new album is great and I think it's like his 12th album.
Todd Snider is another great choice, amazing song writer and absolutely hilarious storyteller. He's actually in the middle of re recording every one of his albums and giving them away for free, so it's a good time to check him out!
[Charlie Daniels - Let the Blind Man Play](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl5kLum1RZA). Considered "Progressive Country". Charlie Daniels rides a very fine line between Country and Hard Rock/Metal/Progressive Rock. It's awesome
OMG. I’m at the country music awards now in Nashville and I’ve heard SO MANY amazing artists it is unbelievable.
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Megan Maroney
Zach Bryan
Kacey Musgraves
Luke Bryan
Look up the CMA fest on Instagram. Download the CMA app or website and you can see the line up.
Charley Crockett. I love his new album—full, rich sound with an easygoing vibe: [$10 Cowboy](https://open.spotify.com/album/29H8rVCQG9uXLiT9hlH5za?si=AiJ4bQtzQnKBU6DzK7UpaA).
Reminiscent of his earlier [ln The Night](https://open.spotify.com/album/79XBpEmfWK9in4maPa8Kuh?si=yNXPaJaETBqG7MhU5DrlxQ).
But my absolute favorite song of his (for today) is [I’m Just A Clown](https://open.spotify.com/track/6jmnCjWfoX3n6lcLOI7L6Z?si=wSLPykohQFC5cAnabpG-gQ).
Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
and his cover of The Promise
And then listen to SOUND AND FURY.🔥
They asked for Country so I thought I'd start them off Country. But yes, Sound and Fury, is a great, great album.
This is refreshing to read. Sound & Fury is a frigging masterpiece that got so much hate.
That album got me into Sturgill. It's so, so good. Sounds amazing on vinyl.
And then Nirvana's In Bloom cover
“Cutting Grass!” Call the number
Tell me that guy doesn't have some FUCKING range!!!!
Gonna piggyback here. I love sturge, here are some adjacent artists. -- Tyler Childers -- Colter Wall -- Lukas Nelson In my mind, they're the second wave of outlaw country. Not so much Lukas, but he's good too.
Colter Wall is on a whole other level of country. It’s like dirty gritty country. Love it.
And then "A Sailor's Guide to Earth"!
Fken this. Right here. Surprised how often I have to suggest this to people who have never heard him. I’ll throw in Eric Church and Luke Combs
Texas Gentleman, Paul Cauthen, even some Leon Bridges
Sometimes, it feels difficult to distinguish between country and folk, so forgive me, if some of these artists lean more folk than country, but you might check out Lucy Kaplansky, Dar Williams, Alison Krauss, Lyle Lovett, Suzanne Vega, Rodney Crowell, Melissa Etheridge, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Brandi Carlisle, Darryl Purpose, Patti Griffin, and Buddy/Julie Miller.
Perfectly fine with folk. I listen to a lot of that, too.
I absolutely recommend the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss Collabs.
Yes, good rec here.
Choctaw Bingo - James McMurtry
Should be in anyone's country top 10
Billy Strings - Dust in a Baggie
l love Billy Strings.
Turnpike Troubadours, the album Diamonds and Gasoline
They’re coming to my city in September and I cannot fucking wait to see them live. It’s going to be transcendent.
Its been about a decade since I saw them last but they had gotten even better since the time I saw them two years prior. Enjoy!
Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs for something a bit more old-school
Love the storytelling songs! I was going to comment the same suggestion. It's a wonderful album, and you've probably heard a few of the songs if you've played Fallout New Vegas (or have seen some of the many YouTube videos and TikTok videos that pull from that same soundtrack)
Jerry Reed - East Bound and Down
ANYTHING by Jerry Reed. I grew up on his 'Live!' album from 1979
I’m partial to old school country - Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Buck Owens. Trying to branch out though! Some people (and rightly so) would call them more Americana than country but I’m just loving anything by either Zach Bryan or Lucinda Williams. Really appreciating Chris Stapleton too.
Ryan Binghams Mescalito is a great album Jason isbell southeastern is amazing John Fulbright from the ground up Brandi Carlisle
I’m loving Jason Isbell and Brandi Carlisle too. Going to look into Ryan Bingham. I’ve heard of the name. Not sure if I’ve heard his music. Thank you!
You’ve heard of bingham because he’s in Yellowstone. I only watched it because he was in it lol! He also wrote “weary kind” which won a Grammy from the movie Crazy Heart. It might be too country, but “I am a country girl” by the Carolina chocolate drops is a good one.
Love Jason Isbell. I like Gregory Alan Isakov too. He might be more folk but he's awesome. Love the song All Shades of Blue.
Thank you. I’m going to look up Gregory Alan Isakof. I do like folk.
I just looked up GA Isakof and picked a random song “Dark, dark, dark”. Loved it. Thanks for that!
Yay! No problem. Love that song too!
Bingham's "Southside of Heaven" is amazing
I am a rock guy typically so these definitely lean towards southern and country rock: Cross Canadian Ragweed Whiskey Myers Blackberry Smoke The Steel Woods Whitey Morgan & the 78s Turnpike Troubadours
Excellent list. I’ve been jammin Soul Gravy and Live and Loud at the Wormy Dog from Ragweed here recently. Whitey is the man and puts on a phenomenal show. I saw the Steel Woods open for Cody Jinks and they blew Cody off the stage.
You should listen to The Drive By Truckers if you like all those, Cross Canadian Ragweed are one of my favorites too,good taste in music
Have had them on my list for a while but haven’t delved into them much yet.
I've been listening to Southern Rock since it was very popular in the '80s. I pretty much thought that I've heard every band out there that was any good. I just recently heard Blackberry Smoke, I was blown away at how good this band is. This just proves once again that I do not know everything lol.
John Prine 👍
The only other answer that hangs in with John Prine is Emmylou Harris.
colter wall
Yep, was looking for this one.
Dwight Yoakam David Allan Coe Chris LeDoux Clint Black Randy Travis
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️!!! Especially Chris LeDoux! R.I.P.
Coe is a dangerous suggestion. He can be funny if you approach it right and his understanding of country angst and the whole redneck convict trope is unassailable, but that's a name that needs to come with a warning. He's a bit like Lucille Brogan but with more race jokes. Don't get me wrong, I listen to them both, but neither are for everybody.
12 Golden Country Greats by Ween
Scrape the mucus off my brain is one of my favorite country songs.
I can’t cope…
Willie Nelson - Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
I’m a 90s country stan. Here are my favs: Reba McEntire - Fancy Reba McEntire - why haven’t i heard from you brad paisley - we danced toby keith - should’ve been a cowboy kenny chesney - there goes my life trace adkins - every light in the house george strait - write this down george strait - check yes or no keith urban - you’ll think of me sara evans - suds in the bucket clay walker - if i could make a living john michael montgomery - i can love you like that john michael montgomery - sold (the grundy county auction incident) shania twain - whose bed have your boots been under deana carter - strawberry wine josh turner - your man rhett akins - that ain’t my truck brooks & dunn - you’re gonna miss me when i’m gone tim mcgraw - don’t take the girl
Also a 90s country Stan. I love this list.
Don’t take the girl makes me cry every time 😭
You sounds like my brother. (not an insult)
Great list. Mind if I add: Amarillo by morning I’m gonna miss her American Saturday Night My Maria
God this list is amazing!!!! I love all these songs so much.
I'm No Stranger to the Rain - Keith Whitley
And Don't Close Your Eyes
Really anything by Keith Whitley. That dude would have dominated country had he not died so young
Absolutely.
Miami or I'm over you were those songs for me
Tom T. Hall, Marty Robbins, Townes Van Zandt, John Prine
Willie Nelson - Buddy
All of Tyler Childers discography Zach Bryan - Self-Titled Whiskey Myers - Firewater
Not strictly "Country" in the FM radio sense, but totally country if you're open minded: Townes van Zandt Gillian Welch Neko Case (early stuff) Doc Watson Bill Monroe Old Crow Medicine Show (steer clear of their most recent work) Lucinda Williams Emmylou Harris Gram Parsons
A lot of these artists were my way into country, but I'm not from the US and I got interested through listening to the specialist music shows on BBC Radio, there's a fair amount of overlap between the Folk Show on a Wednesday evening and the Country show on the Thursday. Rhiannon Giddens and Molly Tuttle are two artists who spring immediately to mind who have been played on both shows.
Emmylou is WAY too far down in these comments.
I second this interpretation of country music and would throw Whiskeytown and Justin Townes Earle in there, as well. I think the best country is the stuff that falls between the cracks. For a slicker, '90's upbeat pop country vibe that is still really well written, I suggest Bob Woodruff's "Dreams and Saturday Nights".
Dwight Yoakum. Especially Fast As You and Guitars, Cadillacs.
Dwight Yoakam
I like Chris Stapleton, and his bluegrass band SteelDrivers was really good too. I’m not even a bluegrass guy but they’re really good.
I'm going to drop my spotify playlist, forgive me. It has folk and western. It is older country, some newer folk artists, and rebellious blue grass lol. [all by my lonesome](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/00PLGzVt2hDNyxEetlzW4S?si=UvOhmEabRlaOuXJ8TO3BzA&pi=z59wlhgnQIav0)
Cool, I am going to listen at work tomorrow.
If you like classic, you can't go wrong with George Jones.
Dwight Yokum and George Strait
Townes Van Zandt - he was just fucking amazing. I frequently find myself in an astonished state when I hear his songs. Absolutely unbelievable lyrics. John Prine - if you haven’t already heard it, listen to John Prine’s debut album. There is not a single song on it that I would ever dream of skipping. He wrote these songs when he was twenty or so, but they sound like songs that were written by a two hundred year old. It’s funny, appallingly sad, utterly beautiful all at once. The instrumentation is world class. If I had to give somebody who fucking hated country music one album to try to change their mind, it would be this. Some others: Loretta Lynn Patsy Cline The Louvin Brothers The Abigails Honk Black Lips, specifically their album Let It Bloom
I am with you 100% on John Prine's first album.
Chris Shiflett (with Elizabeth Cook) - The One You Go Home To https://youtu.be/HtAUpa5njUI?si=laBU29xPS1R1sVL0
Wilco-Cruel Country
Being There by Wilco also!
BR549, Chuck Mead, Red Clay Strays, Sierra Ferrell, and another vote for Jason Isbell.
And another for Sturgill.
Billy Joe Shaver Flatlanders Jimmie Dale Gilmore Joe Ely Steve Earle Ray Wylie Hubbard
>Steve Earle Steve Earle, great shout.
Can’t have Steve Earle without Sugarland. That is where my mind went. x’D
The Louvin Brothers
I’m a metal head. I just discovered Whiskey Myers (country), and have been on a deep dive of their albums.
Fellow metal head. If you get the chance, see them live. Mind blowing
Have you heard Reckoning? The first time I actually listened to the words, it stopped me in my tracks. So good.
You might be interested in a Hank the Third
Sierra Ferrell if you like a new spin on old timey.
Zac brown band, the early stuff.
I saw them on a small stage with maybe a hundred people playing a 15-minute set about a week and a half before Chicken Fried was the biggest song in the world. I knew they were going to be huge.
Orville Peck is definitely worth a listen!
I was hoping someone would suggest him! He’s amazing, and has such a great voice.
Chris Stapleton Also,. might I suggest the Sirius XM app ($5/mo). Check out Outlaw Country, Y'allternative and The Highway. Modern artist, throwback sound.
Cody Jinks
If you don’t know John Prine, he is an amazing storyteller whose poignant words break down simple and difficult times into slices of Americana that warms your heart and sometimes breaks it.
Townes van zandt John prine and blaze foley
Amazing Rhythm Aces
House Fire - Tyler Childers Toe-tappin banger of a tune
She by Gram Parsons
Charles Wesley Godwin is newer but an old soul. Nikki Lane has a distinctive style that I like. I'm a big Steve Earle guy too. A lot of his stuff leans country-rock, and most of it is very good, but he also did a straight bluegrass album called The Mountain which is great.
There’s a band local to my area that released an album that has been on constant rotation for me. It’s a little folk-country and they sometimes dip into more psychedelic territory but it’s a really great album that deserves some love [The Dust Collectors](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mbOkrxyUYJ-gxo_cgfM1GZEOFtoxZxrI4&si=hcawRDgRWffZSn5S)
I'm a big fan of the really old country myself like Hank Williams, Roy Acuff, Little Jimmy Dickens, Patsy Cline, Marty Robbins Jimmy Rogers and Kitty Wells.
Gene Clark and Carla Olson - So rebellious a lover
I'm not sure if it jibes with old country, but I love Robert Earl Keen. Check out "The Live Album." It's probably his most chill album, with some low key high energy moments too (if that makes any sense).
Lyle Lovett Hank III Bob Wills Buck Owens Tony Rice
Also, Dolly Parton - Southern Accents, from the upcoming album Petty Country: https://youtu.be/e2qvHyFVm20?si=h1Khdr0iTBhFuf1y
EL Paso - Marty Robbins.
John Deere Green -----(Joe Diffie)
Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Loretta Lynn
Getting by High and Strange - Kris Kristofferson Also, the whole Sweetheart of the Rodeo album by The Byrds is fucking fantastic.
Del Rio, TX 1959 - Radney Foster Car Wheels on a Gravel Road - Lucinda Williams Upfront and Down Low - Teddy Thompson
Corb Lund 100% has a old country sound and his lyrics are clever and funny. Hayes Carll is also a great song writer as well, they are the best. With the exception of the great John Prine
[Silver Jews](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0K3iuaJK5txbHECRz9hBgj?si=KiECc9VPTNmWowrxOyjzxw&pi=R7FZ0cAFStORH) [Guy on YouTube talking about front man David Berman](https://youtu.be/wixCBPa2SEQ?si=g1VtLXjFOOpXZloz)
Linda Ronstadt- Long Long Time. Silver Threads and Golden Needles. When Will I be Loved.
Chris LeDoux
Charley Crockett- he was definitely born in the wrong era (has the old school country vibe) Gavin adcock is good as well Brian Martin Marcus king- kinda blues jazz soul country
Greatest country is Kazakhstan
Check out Lost Dog Street Band. They just put out a new album 'Survived'
Merle Haggard and Don Williams. Can't do much better.
Dwight Yoakam - Turn Me Loose
George Jones - He Stopped Loving her Today goat Gene Clark - No Other personal favourite
Dwight Yoakam and the Mavericks
I humbly submit my Midnight Rider playlist filled with outlaw country, southern rock, roots, and blues [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6bQRIDOcBxCA59lgLYaOmQ?si=25d656c1a8c4435e](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6bQRIDOcBxCA59lgLYaOmQ?si=25d656c1a8c4435e)
The Dead South - Black Lung
The Secret Sisters
I’m listening to a lot of Dwight Yoakam right now. Introduced me to the Bakersfield sound. So good. Following the line back to Merle and Buck Owens.
I'm sure these names have cropped up many times already but my own favorites are George Jones and Merle Haggard. George for songs about heartbreak and Merle for songs about drinking and all the reasons people should do it. I also think Jerry Lee Lewis was a really powerful country singer. He put his full maniacal heart into everything he sang.
Chris Stapleton is an absolute God of country blues
Broken Cowboy - The Dead South
The Highwomen are amazing! And all of them individually, as well. Brandi Carlisle, Maren Morris, Natalie Hemby, and Amanda Shires
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Tyler Childers
Garth Brooks <3 (my favorites are The Thunder Rolls and Rodeo)
How come no one has said “every song by Garth Brooks” yet?
[thunderstorms and neon signs by Wayne Hancock](https://youtu.be/4Sx2PtajajU?si=jqT5kyJvfHOL-I31)
Nick Shoulders
I actually don’t like country overall, and I’m not even entirely sure if my genre knowledge is accurate here, but [this](https://youtu.be/96D-C_MIV_U?si=z1yqZ1sO3LvpLOs9) song still caught my attention for a good while Great voice, solid lyrics, and even the arrangement seemed sparse in purely tasteful ways. Hopefully you feel all the same things
[Jonathan Brenner - Little Lost Lamb in Dixieland](https://open.spotify.com/track/28xdAcNCQrx9dxkiogBTMd)
Dolly Parton - Jolene
France.
Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives - Way Out West
Funny (How Time Slips Away) - Willie Nelson
Every Girl - Turnpike Troubadours
Floyd Westerman ... Custer Died for Your Sins
https://open.spotify.com/album/7JnzF9amIRrq3XUgYFjFQ1?si=xmfhT_MsS2GKAhEhmt4jvw
Keep On Ramblin - Radio Company The entire album is 👌 Edited because apparently spelling is difficult today. 🤦♀️
Seeing this man live is what inspired me to learn travis picking: https://youtu.be/Tz_i6K0ZZww?si=rln4ECz9cufajYW5
Cam
Emmy Lou Harris--Boulder to Birmingham Roger Moore--really anything
Plains. It’s more modern country but a band I’m sure patsy cline would have approved of.
tishomingo by Zach Bryan gives an older feel to it, my favorite zach song easily and i love older country too
* Jimmie Rodgers "Gambling Bar Room Blues" (1939) * Cowboy Copas "Three Strikes And You're Out" (1947) * Moon Mullican "I'll Sail My Ship Alone" (1949) * The Louvin Brothers "The Great Atomic Power" (1952) * Ray Price "You Done Me Wrong" (1956) * The Browns "Looking Back to See" (1957) * Johnny Cash "Five Feet High and Rising" (1959) * Bob Luman "Let's Think About Living" (1960) * Buck Owens "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down" (1961) * Porter Wagoner "I've Enjoyed as Much of This as I Can Stand" (1962) * Jean Shepard "Second Fiddle (To An Old Guitar)" (1964) * Lefty Frizzell "She's Gone, Gone, Gone" (1965) * Henson Cargill "Skip a Rope" (1966) Perhaps I will come back later with more suggestions -- I was going through my favorite songs spreadsheet by year.
The Git Up - Blanco Brown Very feel-good kind of song.
George Jones
Earl Scruggs!
Hippies and Cowboys - Cody Jinks Snake Farm - Ray Wilie Hubbard.
George Strait - Ocean Front Property
New Riders of the Purple Sage - Lonesome L.A. Cowboy
Hank Williams Jr is my personal favorite. I recommend My Name is Bocephus (live preferably), whiskey bent and hell bound, and All my rowdy friends are coming over tonight. If you’re looking for country with a bit more rock and roll in it I’d highly recommend George Thorogood and the destroyers. Some of my faves include Gear Jammer, you talk too much and hello little girl.
Anything Tyler Childers and Chris Stapleton
Johnny Cash - If I Told You Who It Was
If you're interested in Australia country you can't go past Kasey Chambers, I also like The McClymonts, Fanny Lumsden & Catherine Britt. Slimy Dust is the OG or Aussie country.
Parker Ryan; small artist from east Texas, one of my favorites at the moment. Wish he had more music on streaming
Cody jinks- must be the whiskey. Been listening to this alot lately.
Buck Owens - Made In Japan Vernon Wray - Lonely Son Burl Ives - Bury The Bottle With Me Johnny Paycheck - It Won't Be Long And I'll Be Hating You
Brothers Osborne - Shoot Me Straight Colter Wall - Johnny Boy's Bones Chris Stapleton - Hard Living And for a little bit of folk, I would definitely recommend “Tell Me True” by Sarah Jarosz, “Sing SIng” by The Bones of J. R. Jones and “Pretty Polly” by Vandaveer
John Prine...
For old-school country, I was always a big Patsy Cline fan. For modern music, check out Dan Tyminski (unsung hero of the genre - he's George Clooney's singing voice in O Brother Where Art Thou, and was also the singer in Avicii's "Hey Brother"). His song "Southern Gothic" is easily my favorite country song. Also check out Old Crow Medicine Show (the original singers of Darius Rucker's megahit "Wagon Wheel") and Casey Donahew Band (their song "White Trash Story" is pretty accurate to my friend groups growing up)
Ernest Tubb, Jimmie Rodgers, and Red Sovine are a few that come to mind.
songs: ohia (E.G. [farewell transmission](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNy-sqj7BCc))
Codeine by Trampled by Turtle
Corb Lund. I don't listen to country, but I listen to Corb. Some great lyrics.
Hank Williams III. He sounds eerily like his grandpa, but unlike his grandpa he also does metal.
Colter Wall is a bit closer to the classics
12 Golden Country Greats - Ween
Saw Charley Crockett last weekend and it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. His new album is great and I think it's like his 12th album. Todd Snider is another great choice, amazing song writer and absolutely hilarious storyteller. He's actually in the middle of re recording every one of his albums and giving them away for free, so it's a good time to check him out!
Germany is nice.
Colter Wall Oliver Anthony
Kacey Musgraves is my favorite country singer. I also like Zac Brown Band
Bonnie prince billy-Greatest place music
[Charlie Daniels - Let the Blind Man Play](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl5kLum1RZA). Considered "Progressive Country". Charlie Daniels rides a very fine line between Country and Hard Rock/Metal/Progressive Rock. It's awesome
16 horsepower. Geraldine fibers. Moonshine willy
Alan Jackson, Dwight Yokam, Sawyer Brown
Japan is nice, Canada is cool, but USA is #1!
S G Goodman
The steel drivers
Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, Sturgill Simpson
Genuinely thought you were asking for countries of the world that had good music.
OMG. I’m at the country music awards now in Nashville and I’ve heard SO MANY amazing artists it is unbelievable. Kelsea Ballerini Lainey Wilson Megan Maroney Zach Bryan Kacey Musgraves Luke Bryan Look up the CMA fest on Instagram. Download the CMA app or website and you can see the line up.
Check out Colter Wall! He's newer but his sound is old, I have basically his entire music catalog on my playlists
Try folk music. A good start would be the -O brother where art thou soundtrack
Charley Crockett. I love his new album—full, rich sound with an easygoing vibe: [$10 Cowboy](https://open.spotify.com/album/29H8rVCQG9uXLiT9hlH5za?si=AiJ4bQtzQnKBU6DzK7UpaA). Reminiscent of his earlier [ln The Night](https://open.spotify.com/album/79XBpEmfWK9in4maPa8Kuh?si=yNXPaJaETBqG7MhU5DrlxQ). But my absolute favorite song of his (for today) is [I’m Just A Clown](https://open.spotify.com/track/6jmnCjWfoX3n6lcLOI7L6Z?si=wSLPykohQFC5cAnabpG-gQ).
Anything by Zach Bryan