Deconstructing Billboard’s “100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time”
Recently, Billboard published a list of what they believe are the “100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time.” As always with these lists, it has stimulated lots of conversation, and some controversy.
The first thing to understand and respect is this is Billboard‘s list, and they have a right to their opinion and perspective. This isn’t the set-in-stone “All Time” list for everyone. This is Billboard‘s version of it, and everyone else’s will be different.
What’s great about music is that we all have our own opinions and perspective on it, and can use a list like this to discuss what we think. The point of these lists is to potentially point you to someone or something you don’t know about and might enjoy.
That said, there are some choices, inclusions, and omissions here that do beg strong scrutiny.
Let’s start off with what works, and that is Billboard’s Top 10. Though you could perhaps argue about the order a little bit, it’s difficult to argue these are not the Top 10 country artists of all time, and in an order that’s close enough.
10. Merle Haggard
9. George Strait
8. Charley Pride
7. Garth Brooks
6. George Jones
5. Hank Williams Sr.
4. Loretta Lynn
3. Willie Nelson
2. Johnny Cash
1. Dolly Parton
The Top 20 is not terrible either, but starts to give you some stuff to second guess.
20. Kenny Rogers
19. Alan Jackson
18. Keith Whitley
17. Alabama
16. Randy Travis
15. The Carter Family
14. Waylon Jennings
13. Jimmie Rodgers
12. Patsy Cline
11. Reba McEntire
Is Reba McEntire really the 11th most important/successful/influential country artist of all time? This feels pretty high, and perhaps factoring in her TV/sitcom career a little too much. And though Keith Whitley was a worthy and recent pick for the Country Music Hall of Fame, to put him at #18 seems extremely high as well. Yes, an early death cut off what was likely to be an incredible career, and his influence is undeniable. But there are performers not even on this list that arguably were more important than Keith Whitley. Do either Reba or Whitley feel bigger than Alan Jackson? Not really.
Brothers Osborne and Maren Morris:
The biggest problem with this list is that it gives away the game with the very first two names on it:
100. Brothers Osborne
99. Maren Morris.
This is clearly a gift to those on social media and in the press who would complain if they weren’t included due to political and diversity interests. But including them does a disservice to both this list, and these artists, especially when considering who doesn’t make the list. What Billboard does by putting Brothers Osborne and Maren Morris at the start of the list is they allow everyone not included to be judged against them, which is a brutal exercise.
And no offense to either Brothers Osborne or Maren Morris who’ve had their impact, but they are still relatively new performers if nothing else. By putting them at 99 and 100, you’re signaling you know they don’t belong here. You just want to include them as a “cover your ass” maneuver. This is what happens when you try to wishcast diversity into a list.
Some have complained “diversity” is the reason Jason Aldean and others were left off the list. Does Aldean deserve to be on it? Maybe near the end of it. But clearly he’s had a bigger impact in country than either Maren Morris or Brothers Osborne. That’s how you undermine the entire list, and open up a vector of attack by including these two performers first.
Important Black Performers:
Country Music Hall of Famers Charley Pride at #8 and DeFord Bailey at #83 on the Billboard list feel like quality picks, and are hard to quibble with. Hall of Famer Ray Charles at #24 might be a little high just due to a lack of volume of country material, and so might be Darius Rucker at #91. Both both of these performers probably deserve to be on the list, much more than Maren Morris and Brothers Osborne do.
Linda Martell at #67 is a very questionable call. Martell deserves all the credit in the world for being the first Black woman to break the race/gender barrier in country music, and her album Color Me Country continues to be an overlooked gem in the country catalog. But the story of her career is how it should have been big and wasn’t. As tragic as this was, you can’t wishcast what she could have been onto this list, any more than you can with Keith Whitley. Martell deserves all the accolades and retrospectives she receives. But she was not the 67th most important artist in country music history.
Country Music Hall of Famers Not Included:
One great way to check a list is to check it with another list. In this case, a look at the inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame is a good way to cross-reference eligibility. Since the Country Music Hall of Fame is one of the hardest institutions to get inducted in, it really offers a rugged litmus test with which to judge an artist’s talent, influence, legacy, and longevity.
Removing all non-performers, songwriters, and musicians from consideration, there are 36 artists in the Country Music Hall of Fame that are not on Billboard‘s list. That seems like a pretty high number, especially when you factor in who is on Billboard‘s list that probably shouldn’t be. Some of these omitted Hall of Fame names include performers many would likely put in their Top 20. This list includes:
Lefty Frizzell
Hank Snow
Webb Pierce
Bill Anderson
Red Foley
Tom T. Hall
Ferlin Husky
Other Hall of Famers not included on Billboard‘s list are:
Chet Atkins Bobby Bare – Jim Ed Brown and The Browns – Bill Carlisle – Vernon Dalhart – Jimmie Davis – Jimmy Dean – Delmore Brothers – Jimmy Dickens – Flatt & Scruggs – Don Gibson – Marty Stuart – Homer and Jethro – Sonny James – Grandpa Jones – Pee Wee King- Uncle Dave Macon – Patsy Montana – George Martin – Minnie Pearl – Jim Reeves – Tex Ritter – Roy Rogers – Jean Shepard – Connie Smith – Sons of the Pioneers – Ray Stevens – Ernest V. “Pop” Stoneman – Hank Thompson
You could make an argument that any of these performers is superior to Brothers Osborne or Maren Morris.
Artists Who Should Be in the Hall of Fame Who Are Not Included:
Again, taking Brothers Osborne and Maren Morris as where the list begins, it’s easy to field a list of performers whose artistry, impact, legacy, and longevity outpace them. Names that are likely to be induced into the Country music Hall of Fame in coming years and could have made it on the Billboard list include:
Johnny Horton
Johnny Paycheck
Jimmy Buffett
Eddie Rabbitt
Gram Parsons
Lynn Anderson
Crystal Gayle
Rosanne Cash
Rodney Crowell
Maddox Brothers and Rose
David Allan Coe
John Michael Montgomery
Steve Warnier
Eddie Rabbit alone had twenty #1 songs, and 34 total Top 10 hits, most of which he wrote himself. Eddie Rabbitt was one of the biggest and most influential country artists of the late ’70s and throughout the ’80s. How Billboard overlooked Rabbitt’s chart impact alone is quite curious.
Bias Against Grand Ole Opry Performers:
One thing you see throughout Billboard‘s list is a downgrading of performers whose careers primarily centered around the Grand Ole Opry. Perhaps this makes sense since this is Billboard, which is going to lean more heavily on their charts. But Minnie Pearl and “Little” Jimmy Dickens are two of the most recognized country performers of all time, and don’t make the Top 100.
Though most people tend to refer to either Hank Williams or George Strait as the “King of Country Music” (both of whom are worthy of that crown), it’s actually Roy Acuff who was coined with that term first, and held court at the Grand Ole Opry for many decades. #42 right behind Taylor Swift at #41 seems like a insulting ranking for the true “King of Country Music.”
Bias Against Bluegrass Performers:
Granted, bluegrass is a less commercial subgenre of country music, and artists should probably place second behind full blown country performers on a country list. But to have no Flatt & Scruggs, no Jimmy Martin, and to put the Father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe at #28 seems unfair. Bluegrass continues to be a massively influential and vibrant part of country music, and a strong case could be made Bill Monroe belongs in the Top 20, if not Top 10. Brothers Osborne? The Osborne Brothers probably belong before them.
Recency and Pop/Rock Bias:
Conway Twitty has the 2nd most #1 singles in country music history. Arguably no performer had a bigger commercial impact in country except for George Strait, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and Shania Twain. Yet Twitty ends up at #47. Meanwhile, John Denver who most would consider more of a folk pop performer is at #33. Kris Kristofferson is of course an incredible songwriter and an important country performer. But #27 seems like a stretch. His recent death probably resulted in some sympathy votes from the Billboard staff.
Eddy Arnold is another country artist that is regularly downgraded in historical retrospectives. In the time of Hank Williams, Eddy Arnold was actually the more popular star. Speaking of Billboard, Arnold scored 147 songs on the Billboard charts, ranking only behind George Jones for #1 all-time. He sold 85 million records. Yet he comes in at #78 on the Billboard list. Similarly, Ernest Tubb is considered an all-time artist in country. Yet somehow he ends up at #81.
Though many country purists will quibble with Taylor Swift at #41, this probably is a fair placing. Whether you liked her influence on country or not, she had a massive impact on country in the late ’00s, early ’10s, and is a 2-time CMA Entertainer of the Year. Shania Twain at #21 will also be shouted down. But again, she was a major superstar for many years.
Country Music Hall of Fame Implications:
Perhaps the most quizzical pick of the entire survey is Alison Krauss at #30. She is massive in the bluegrass world. But the fact that she put so many people behind her on the Billboard list speaks to the cultural footprint she’s had. It’s important to note that while Krauss is a #30 here, she is not in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Neither is Clint Black, who comes in at #69.
This speaks to just how hard it is to get into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and why that makes for a good cross reference to Billboard‘s list.
See Billboard’s full Top 100 Country Artists of All Time.
November 25, 2024 @ 12:22 pm
Just saw that Toni Price passed three days ago.
November 25, 2024 @ 12:30 pm
To me Jean Shepard will always be #1, no matter what people say
November 25, 2024 @ 12:39 pm
I am certainly glad that Jason Aldean isn’t on there. He just was not an all time great country singer. When he’s done singing his songs nobody else is going to be covering them.
I do think while it’s easy to be mad at omissions it is interesting to look at a list like this and ask what do they see about some picks that I don’t see.
November 25, 2024 @ 1:47 pm
I wouldn’t put Jason Aldean on a list of Top 100 country artists if I was making one. But it is impossible to argue that either Brothers Osborne or Maren Morris have had a greater impact on country than Aldean. By trying to pay off one demographic of people, Billboard enraged another. Instead, they probably should have just put Lefty Frizzell, Webb Pierce, or Eddie Rabbitt on this list since they actually deserve it, and avoid the whole controversy entirely.
November 30, 2024 @ 8:52 pm
Jason is definitely in the top 100 most successful. It’s clearly a political statement from billboard. They can’t even say they don’t like that style/era of country music when you have Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban etc on the list.
November 25, 2024 @ 4:06 pm
I don’t understand how Luke Combs is in the top 50 but Jason Aldean is left off the list entirely -despite Aldean having almost twice as many 1# songs. (28 vs 16)
I’ve clearly stated before that I do not like Jason Aldean, but their bias in leaving him off seems obvious based on their other inclusions.
November 25, 2024 @ 5:04 pm
Luke combs has made much better music
November 25, 2024 @ 5:06 pm
now we are just arguing over how close to the bottom of the barrel each is.
November 25, 2024 @ 7:20 pm
Especially when they include Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton
November 28, 2024 @ 5:53 am
Bryan, Shelton, Twain and Aldean don’t even deserve to be in the top 200 … all their music is so unmemorable.
December 1, 2024 @ 7:25 am
I agree completely, I’m just saying that obviously if you include those types then leaving Aldean out is strictly because of his personal views
November 25, 2024 @ 12:57 pm
I’m most taken aback by your Reba comments. She should be top 10. I’d put her 9 on this list (move Strait up to 8, put Pride back at 11). She’s the reigning Queen of Country Music! Put some respect on royalty.
She scored her fist number #1, “Can’t Even Get the Blues No More,” in 1982 and her last #1, “Turn on the Radio,” in 2010. Almost 30 years on radio relevancy. She’s charted singles in 6 different decades. The longevity of her career is worthy of top ten status.
32 studio albums. 20 of which were certified at least Gold, 5 of which have multiple platinum statuses. “According to RIAA, she has sold 41 million certified albums in the United States, making her the seventh best selling female album artist in the United States.” ***
“Whoever’s in New England” was the first break through country music video and she was a pioneer in music video development and creativity in the 90’s.
Add in her massive touring numbers, movies, TV, and Broadway…. I might put her top 5 by the end of this comment.
November 25, 2024 @ 1:51 pm
I love it.
You make a strong case for Reba. She’s certainly had an incredible career. I wouldn’t kick her out of the Top 20. I’m just not sure if her influence is as great as some other performers.
November 25, 2024 @ 2:46 pm
I disagree. Longevity doens’t equal greatness, otherwise Hank Sr and Keith Whitley wouldn’t be so revered in country music.
November 25, 2024 @ 3:23 pm
In order to do something successfully for decades, you have to be great at it.
I hear this every year when NFL HOF nominees are announced. There are players in the NFL HOF based on their longevity:
“Longevity is a factor in the selection process for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as it’s believed that availability is a significant part of a player’s ability.”
As for Keith Whitley, in this article Trig questioned his ranking because of his short career:
“And though Keith Whitley was a worthy and recent pick for the Country Music Hall of Fame, to put him at #18 seems extremely high as well. Yes, an early death cut off what was likely to be an incredible career, and his influence is undeniable. But there are performers not even on this list that arguably were more important than Keith Whitley.”
November 25, 2024 @ 3:54 pm
I don’t completely disagree that Keith Whitley may be ranked too high, and I do agree that there is a greatness and longevity are often tied together, however I don’t think that longevity always equals greatness in that it puts Reba all the way up at number 9. Kenny Chesney has had hits in 4 decades but he should not be in the top 50. Many of the greats had relatively short careers. (often from untimely deaths)
Every artist’s legacy is always based on a, at most, 10-15 year period of output. Yes some will have 1#’s outside of that timeframe, but their own continued success is from the songs within that shorter period. This is I don’t think longevity allows some artists to leapfrog others on the list. I think Reba is important to country music and I’d rank her up wherever Vince Gill and Patty Loveless would be.
Keith Whitley is so reverred because many country singers considered him the best country vocalist.
December 2, 2024 @ 1:39 am
I agree about longevity because Cline I argue has had and still has more influence on music as a whole then anyone in the top ten outside of Willie and Dolly at this point. That woman for such a brief career survives decade after decade with not just country fans but the mainstream music world knowing her songs (and often singing them at karaoke).
In fact in my circle, if somebody doesn’t like country music, it is not Willie or Dolly or Cash the just “happen to like”, it’s Cline. I don’t know what it is but Patsy Cline just resonates to this day.
November 25, 2024 @ 8:28 pm
An artist’s body of work is what’s being judged her and longevity is certainly a factor in establishing a body of work. Lognevity also shows that an artist has been able to make worthry music at different stages of life, from youth to middle-age and maybe beyond and to be creative even when they’re not the current big thing.
And to equate Keith Whitley with Hank Williams–if that’s what you’re doing–is just off-base. Hank Williams wrote songs and sang in an instantly recognizable style that had a huge influence on country and also pop music at the time and for generations after. Keith Whitley was a talented vocalist in the mold of Lefty Frizzell, Ray Price, Carl Butler, Charlie Walker, Merle Haggard, George Jones, John Anderson, Gene Watson and Randy Travis, among others. Along with Travis, he had a strong influence on the ’90s New Traditionalist movement.
Nothing against Whitley, but there’s no way in hell I’d rank him as an “all-time greater country artist” than Lefty, Ray Price and Marty Robbins (who also wrote “El Paso” and other of his big hits, solo.) But hey, everyone’s entitled to their opinion. And I recognize that Rolling Stone’s intent is to create a list that reaches its current audience.
November 25, 2024 @ 9:30 pm
The body of work artists are judged for typically is over a 10-15 year stretch. Haggard’s greatest output was from the mid-60’s thru 1980. Jones’s was late 50’s thru early 70’s. George Strait’s was 1980-mid 90’s. They all had “hit” songs after that 10-15 year period but the output from that period is what cemented their legacy. It’s the songs from that shorter period that is what is judged and what is typically played in concerts when they tour as a legacy act. I love George Strait’s music but I’m not that enthusiastic about his 2000’s forward music like I am the stuff prior.
Again my whole point is that just because an artist is able to maintain success for decades, it’s what they put out in the 10-15 years timeframe at their peak which is what they are ultimately ranked in greatness by.
November 26, 2024 @ 12:00 am
I’m not sure I agree Dolly is #1, but Reba most definitely should be just inside the Top 10. She dominated a solid 10 years of Billboard charts and Boxscore sales. No other female country performer came close to sales and tickets sold during her reign or held onto it as long as she did. Reba had many firsts for a woman in country. Her music/concert stats alone deserve top 10 before even factoring in tv / movies / broadway.
November 26, 2024 @ 2:44 am
And don’t discount the her TV, movies, and broadway contributions to country music!
When Reba was starring in Broadway’s ‘Annie Get Your Gun,’ she made songs like “You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun’ mainstream (albeit briefly).
https://youtu.be/AwqaWf-mud8?si=llgX2BQzpdORykRK
The theme song to her TV show Reba, “I’m a Survivor,” has had a viral revival on TikTok.
She turned songs into major network TV specials: “Is There Life Out There?” and “Forever Love.”
Even her recent chair on The Voice is used as a vehicle to promote and expand country music beyond terrestrial radio waves.
November 26, 2024 @ 8:27 am
Adding Reba’s acting stuff is where I can see her at #11, and as I said in the article, I think that was being factored in. Let’s not discount her appearances on “The Voice” either, which in the Billboard world, is probably bigger than anything.
November 27, 2024 @ 3:35 pm
Agree, hoptowntiger94. “Whoever’s In New England” is undeniably great. “Don’t Touch Me There” is one of the best country ballads ever.
November 25, 2024 @ 1:05 pm
Brandy Clark should be in there, IMHO. Carrie Underwood number 32? Couldn’t see Jim Reeves? Johnny Cash should be number 1.
November 27, 2024 @ 6:03 pm
Yeah. I know that sales are very important but I have a big problem with putting both Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert ahead of Emmylou Harris.
November 25, 2024 @ 1:14 pm
Marty Robbins 48th? He should be higher than that. Career spanned 4 decades & recorded several legendary songs. He was a race car driver, appeared in several films & had a variety show. No way the likes of John Denver, Vince Gill, Christ Stapleton, etc. should be above him.
November 25, 2024 @ 1:21 pm
If he was alive today, Roy Acuff probably wouldn’t mind being “right behind Taylor Swift,” but Mildred might.
And, if Bill Monroe was alive today, he’d have no issue with Martin, Flatt, and Scruggs being left off of the list, because he could hold a grudge.
November 25, 2024 @ 2:13 pm
Dolly Parton as #1 is a safe choice, she’s pretty much a brand now (I see her name on Dollar General and Walmart items)
I’d put Willie at #1.
November 25, 2024 @ 9:38 pm
People unfamiliar with country music tend to overstate Dolly’s musical contribution to the genre. Yes, she has had some breakout hits, but her brand, personality, and legend are what have kept her out of obscurity. She is definitely not #1, and I wouldn’t even consider her Top 10.
November 27, 2024 @ 5:45 am
I respectfully disagree with this take. To women in the industry and other female artists, Dolly is the major influence and is in no way overstated. She was the first one to step out and try to do bigger things and took a lot of risks that opened up the entertainment industry to those who followed. Let’s not forget that Dolly started her own publishing company and retained all of the publishing rights to her songs at a time when women doing so was not the norm in Nashville.
Without Dolly taking the lead, others like Reba would not have found it so easy to go to Broadway or big TV and film. Barbara Mandrell is ever hardly mentioned, but she showed that a woman from country music could successful have a major network TV program that was successful. In 1976, Dolly became the first female artist to host her own variety series filmed out of Nashville. It had never been done before that time. Both Dolly and Barbara Mandrell paved the way for all of the women that followed that had dreams of “big time” entertainment. There is no way to overstate that fact.
December 2, 2024 @ 1:54 am
Also both Dolly and Barbara are much-instrumentalist and not in way like Swift where it is more of a prop than an instrument.
November 26, 2024 @ 7:45 am
Dolly has been a brand since the 1980s.
November 27, 2024 @ 3:39 pm
Dolly is an incredible talent apart from her “brand” (which is also great.) Still, Hank Williams to my mind ill always be #1.
November 25, 2024 @ 2:32 pm
The Rolling Stone top 100 list is better, but still flawed as all these lists are.
November 25, 2024 @ 2:42 pm
Any list that omits Tammy Wynette from the Top 10 is garbage. The fact she doesn’t figure into the Top 20 is a crime. With 18 number 1 hits, a career that spans decades, and unparalleled influence on scores of her contemporaries. Undeniably, she is without peer or equal and deserves every accolade due her.
November 25, 2024 @ 2:42 pm
I think a list of 100 should consist of:
-50 HOFers
-30 eligible for the HOF
-20 not yet eligible for HOF
I mean if we’re talking about “of all time”, the list should heavily focus on those who have been awarded that honor. I could even see 35 eligible and 15 not yet eligible. A lot of ‘80s and ‘90s artists to consider.
November 25, 2024 @ 2:43 pm
Luke Combs and Eric Church over Hank Williams Jr???? Even if it was a list based purely on album sales and popular appeal Hank Williams Jr would be in the top 10. I don’t think any other country artists had so many consecutive albums in the charts for years.
November 28, 2024 @ 5:32 pm
Morgan Wallen ahead of the Mavericks!
November 25, 2024 @ 2:49 pm
I searched out the list just to see where Hank Jr was ranked (because he’s top 20 for me) … 57! Fifty-mothertruckin’-7! Are you even an ICON on the backside of 50?
You wrote about the downgrading in historical retrospectives of Eddy Arnold and Ernest Tubb, Bocephus is eroding fast in the mainstream (while his daddy is as relevant as ever).
November 25, 2024 @ 2:53 pm
I don’t know what that even means about Bocephus eroding fast in the mainstream. Hank Sr isn’t played on corporate country radio. Hank Jr is requested in bars just as much as ever. Hank Sr gets the name drops by the “Metrosexual Cowboys” in country but Hank Jr is still one of the kings.
November 26, 2024 @ 5:01 pm
You talked about that 10 to 15 year range in an earlier comment. Hank Jr.’s seemed shorter. He was on fire in the late 70s and early 80s, but I don’t care for much of his music outside that timeframe.
November 26, 2024 @ 6:12 pm
I agree. I only listen to a limited range of his albums.
November 25, 2024 @ 2:50 pm
The problem with lists like these is that there are far too many people to cram into a given 1-10, 11-20, etc. It really has to be tiers that include multiple artists in a number. (Hank Sr. Jimmy Rodgers, Lorretta Lynn…) / and on some other level (Hank Jr., George Strait…) Then whatever tier is Kenny Chesney, Eric Church
November 25, 2024 @ 3:06 pm
Mark Chesnutt should’ve made the cut.
November 25, 2024 @ 4:13 pm
Lefty being left off is a crime against culture and common sense. He should be top 5 (yes I’d personally put him above Hank Williams).
Webb Pierce was/is awesome, this list is the opposite of awesome.
No one living is more country than Bill Anderson (yet his last Grammy nomination was not for country).
Also Trig, Connie Smith belongs in that company of Hall of Famers not on the list, not buried in a list of every single Hall of Famer not on the list.
November 25, 2024 @ 5:52 pm
Everyone can argue the merits of any list. List making is a very subjective exercise. But if there was one egregious omission from this Billboard list, it’s Lefty Frizzell. As Bull Mason points out below as well, he influenced so many of the singers that did make this list. Frizzell is easily Top 20 on any country list, and didn’t even make it on Billboard’s list at all.
November 25, 2024 @ 4:30 pm
1. Bob Wills.
2. Hank Williams.
3.Johnny Cash.
4. Waylon Jennings.
5. Willie Nelson.
6. Merle Haggard.
7. Kris Kristofferson.
8. George Jones.
9. George Strait.
10. Bill Monroe.
11. Marty Stuart.
12. Marty Robbins.
13. Jimmie Rodgers.
14. Jim Reeves.
15. Don Williams.
16. Glen Campbell.
17. Kenny Rogers.
18. Bobby Bare.
19. Hank Williams JR.
20. Johnny Paycheck.
21. Charlie Daniels.
22. David Allan Cohen.
23. Patsy Cline.
24. Loretta Lynn.
25. Dolly Parton.
26. Tammy Wynette.
27. Kitty Wells.
28. Rosanne Cash.
29. John Denver.
30. Elvis Presley.
November 27, 2024 @ 11:35 am
Marty Stuart and John Denver, but not Lefty Frizzell…?
November 25, 2024 @ 4:43 pm
29. Connie Smith.
Sorry, John Denver.
November 25, 2024 @ 4:48 pm
And goodbye Elvis.
30. Tanya Tucker.
November 26, 2024 @ 1:34 pm
I love how you put all of the women at the bottom of the list- tells me a lot!
November 26, 2024 @ 4:46 pm
Quit white knighting.
Other than KK being listed, it is a great ranking.
November 26, 2024 @ 8:34 pm
What does that tell you other than I prefer male singers?
That I don’t like women?
That my favorite movie is Brokeback Mountain?
That my 22 favorite Country singers are men?
That I’m kicking myself for not ranking The Killer so that Rosanne Cash wouldn´t be in my top 30?
November 25, 2024 @ 4:58 pm
Lefty Frizzell is arguably the most influential country singer ever. Absurd to omit him, but par for the course.
Most male country artists were influenced by him whether they realize it or not.
You can particularly hear him in the voices of Merle Haggard, Randy Travis, George Jones, and Keith Whitley.
November 27, 2024 @ 5:55 pm
I heard David Frizzell’s “I’m Gonna Hire A Wino” years before I ever heard of Lefty Frizzell. (Or David, either. I had no idea who it was that was singing it.) Years later, after I had bought and listened to a Lefty Frizzell boxed set and other of his recordings, I listened to “I’m Gonna Hire a Wino” again. It should be no surprise, but still I thought it was uncanny how much David sounds like his older brother on that recording. When he “For you I’ll ohlllways keep in stock those soft, aluminum cans,” I’m hearing “Always late” and “Forever and “Always.”
November 25, 2024 @ 5:06 pm
Eddie Rabbit was a big omission and Earl Thomas Conley is another. One would think that if anyone remembers their impact, it would be Billboard.
November 28, 2024 @ 6:14 am
Totally agree. It was shocking they were omitted.
November 25, 2024 @ 5:10 pm
And what about Jerry Lee Lewis… I’ll have to make a top 50!
November 25, 2024 @ 6:09 pm
When I first read it I thought “Oh it’s good to see Sonny and Bobby make the list.” Then I realized it’s the wrong Osborne Brothers. Any list that includes them throws their credibility right out the window. Not only do classic country listeners have no idea who they are, I bet 90% of current country radio listeners have no idea who they are. What did they have? 2 Years of relevance and accouple top 10 hits?
November 26, 2024 @ 5:20 am
One of which is one of the state songs of Tennessee. And as long as the University of Tennessee plays football, “Rocky Top” will be heard.
November 25, 2024 @ 6:32 pm
It’s a fool’s endeavor to do a greatest of all-time list. I was very pleased with many of the entries, but dumfounded and confused by others.
I wouldn’t recognize a single Brothers Osborne or Maren Morris song, and I don’t suppose their fans have ever heard of Hank Snow or Chet Atkins. Putting Ernest Tubb and Taylor Swift together on the same list is just silly. One was a beloved, gravelly-voiced artist that befriended and paved the way for many, many others over decades, and the other is…well, something of a pop phenomenon that I do not understand, to say the least!
I am not a big proponent of genre distinctions, but I know country, and a good third of that list “Just Ain’t!”, to coin a phrase by Flatt and Scruggs, 1951.
Thank you, Trigger, for putting Hank out there as an overlooked hall-of-famer. His guitar playing, singing, and the brilliance of his various Rainbow Ranch Boys were unequaled!
November 25, 2024 @ 6:48 pm
Waylon >>>>>>>>>> Garth…. I just can’t help looking for a pig down in the poke.
November 27, 2024 @ 11:37 am
Nashville is all about money.
November 25, 2024 @ 7:38 pm
Several that SHOULD NOT be on a top 100 list in addition to the two that Trig named include:
Linda Martell- Shes only known to journalists looking to score credibility.
The Mavericks- Yes they put out 3 great early albums that put them on radio, but truthfully they aren’t a Country band anymore, and haven’t been in years.
Brenda Lee- More of an early Rock and Roll Pop artist
Luke Bryan- needs no explanation- hes a king of mediocrity
Blake Shelton- yes hes famous because of a tv show…
Kacey Musgraves- No longer a Country artist…
Morgan Wallen- really?….
Keith Urban- maybe top 300 but not 100.
Dolly at number 1??? That would imply shes the greatest country artist of all time. And while shes great, don’t get me wrong, shes nowhere close to as influential to the music as Jones, Haggard, Nelson, Frizzell, Williams and others. Is she top 10? Perhaps.
For number 1 I’m going with George Jones.
And, yes lists are pointless and subjective and nearly impossible to find universal agreement.
November 27, 2024 @ 3:44 pm
Yes, George and Hank Sr. fight it out for #1 in my book.
November 25, 2024 @ 8:28 pm
We knew Charley Pride would be be in the Top Ten all-time,but as a black Country fan and (hopefully) contributer,I’m thrilled DeFord Bailey,first African American Grand Ol’ Opry performer (1925-1941) is lised Number 83,as most have forgotten Mr. Bailey’s remarkable contributions to the genre.I only wish O.B. McClinton,Stoney Edwards and Big Al Downing were included,but Ms. Linda Martell’s pioneering as the first black female true Country artist was justly recognized by her Number 67 listing.
Of course,Dolly Parton and George Strait are obvious the Queen and King of Country music,but NO EDDIE RABBITT on his songwriting alone,let alone his great hits ? Explain THAT omission,folks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 26, 2024 @ 12:03 am
These lists are so silly. Doesn’t it just come down to personal taste? Granted, I don’t know if I could even come up with 100, but I do know that my list would be different from another person’s and another person’s, and so on.
November 26, 2024 @ 12:54 am
Are you really an “artist” if all you do is perform other people’s songs? *Ahem* George Strait and Charley Pride. Love them both but they are performers, not artists. Artists create.
No fucking way Maren Morris is top 5000 let alone 100.
Great article though.
November 26, 2024 @ 2:48 am
If you were to make your own Top 100 Country Artists list would there be anyone on it after the early 2000’s? I think the answer is likely no which sadly proves that Country music died in the early 00’s. There were great albums in the early 00’s like Alison Krauss and Union Station’s ‘New Favorite’ and The Chicks ‘Home’ and the Brad Paisley albums to name a few but it steeply dived off and quickly deviated from the traditional sound and never really returned as far as terrestrial radio relevance was concerned.
November 26, 2024 @ 6:01 am
I don’t know how you can leave Guy Terrifico off the list.
November 26, 2024 @ 6:04 am
No Sara Evans, No Peace
November 26, 2024 @ 6:05 am
Hi, everybody. I am a long-time reader but first-time commenter. I would have added Marty Stuart, Jamey Johnson, and Kathy Mattea. They are powerful artists. I really enjoy reading all of your comments, even the cranky ones. Thanks, Trigger!
November 26, 2024 @ 8:29 am
Thanks for reading!
November 26, 2024 @ 7:28 am
These lists are always subjective, and my subjective opinion is that Faith Hill is too low. She’s always been underrated as a vocalist and her impact as a pop-country star was huge for the ones who came after her. More so than Shania IMO. If she had continued recording solo music post 2005’s Fireflies (excellent album), I imagine she would be higher.
November 26, 2024 @ 7:42 am
I love Pride and he is one of my favorites but there is no way he ranks over Merle and Pride would agree. Neither do Garth, Cash, or Nelson.
Dolly at #1 is a joke. Her oeuvre pales compared to the other legends. She’s more famous for her persona than her music.
Affirmation action is the enemy of merit.
November 26, 2024 @ 7:48 am
How in the hell can ETC be below Luke Bryan? Gotta be going off album sales or something because thats bullshit.
November 26, 2024 @ 9:02 am
Haggard at #10????? Charley Pride is cool, but ahead of the Hag??? No way. Not only that, but behind Garth Brooks?
November 26, 2024 @ 10:33 am
Jason Aldean does not being on the list. That he may be more deserving, far more deserving even, than multiple acts that are on it does not change this.
Maren Morris – whose major label career flamed out barely over 5 years, and no she wasn’t a major indie artist before or after and even at her peak was never massive or even huge – being listed has nothing to do with diversity (because Crystal Gayle, Rosanne Cash and Minnie Pearl all say hi) and is entirely due to her being a progressive culture warrior within country music. Maybe Billboard isn’t Rolling Stone, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Nashville Tennessean lately, CNN or the Grammys but they still have their agendas.
Reba McEntire is #11 for the same reason Dolly Parton is #1: crossover into mainstream entertainment via movies and TV. While some may play the “60 year career” card with Parton, Garth Brooks sold far more albums and by a good margin. Parton and McEntire had the long mainstream Hollywood careers that Brooks and other musicians who sold more records lacked. One can quibble with it being a function of the country singers that Hollywood chooses to afford mainstream opportunities to versus others – Lyle Lovett and Waylon Jennings should have had more opportunities for example – but things being what they are, it makes sense.
November 26, 2024 @ 10:45 am
“Is Reba McEntire really the 11th most important/successful/influential country artist of all time? ”
Of course no, but they needed a woman to start the second 10 and they couldn’t put Loretta Lynn low, so they bumped up Reba. I’m pretty amazed Charlie Pride didn’t make no. 1. Thank God for Johnny Cash’s activism (and his American Record resurgence) or he probably would’ve been relegated to number 12.
Also, am I the only one that is bothered by the reference to Hank Williams as Sr.? Do I even need to explain why he is, under no circumstances whatsoever “Hank Williams Sr.”?
November 26, 2024 @ 11:24 am
Well im not sure what the guidelines were for this honor but its clear there is a lot of recentcy bias far as people left off or really low or high in cases. Its billboard so you would think it would be rated on billboard charting not other factors like importance, racial factors, movies, etc but that doesnt seem to be the case which is fine but its open to more scrutiny that way. I think there is a number where after that it probably doesnt really matter but im not sure if im smart enough to know that number. Plenty of artist i could throw in but any list talking about the greatest that doesnt include jim reeves or tom t hall, im not personally fond of but thats just me. Keeping it to the top ten or so, i wouldnt have willie, dolly, or garth there though i perfectly understand why garth is there, hes sold a lot of albums, just not to me. Willie and dolly are great, based on songs they sing, not write, im just not as enamored with them as others are. I guess culture importance within the country community puts them there but there are others with far more importance to country that actually have more hits to back it up. Just off the top ten, hank sr def is over them in my view. If it was my list alan jackson would be top ten, waylon also probably, hank jr would be awful close. But like trigger pointed out, a lot comes down to personal preference and opinions.
November 26, 2024 @ 12:22 pm
Ronna Reeves and Jason Aldean should be numbers 100 and 99.
November 26, 2024 @ 12:26 pm
Aldean: recency bias
November 26, 2024 @ 7:38 pm
he’s been relevant for 19 years, that has to count for something.
November 26, 2024 @ 1:15 pm
I was shocked at this list to say the least. Barbara mandrell # 77 ? Miss Mandrell was the Taylor Swift of the ’70s and ’80s. She did more for country music during that time bringing people of all different genres into reviving country music making it popular. My generation listened to country music because of people like Barbara mandrell. I noticed Taylor Swift is listed much much higher on this list also. That’s ridiculous. Miss Mandrell’s popularity was equal to that of the big names in entertainment like Michael Jackson. She beat pop artists like Madonna and Cyndi lauper on the award shows. I think billboard should be ashamed of this list. It’s really not a true representation of these artists and their mark on their industry. No disrespect to Dolly Parton she’s definitely a pioneer and done quite well for herself, but I do not believe she is the # 1 country artist of all time. I’m not sure who I would put in that spot to be honest with you, I would really have to do some research and go back over the time span of History which is what any list of rankings should be. When I look at this list from billboard I have to wonder if the staff that did this ranking from billboard is all 21 years old. Listing Barbara mandrell at # 77 is just a disgrace.
November 26, 2024 @ 3:29 pm
While the Michael Jackson and (ugh) Madonna stuff is a bit much, you are absolutely right about Barbara Mandrell. Recency bias – and there being pretty much no knowledgeable country writers at mainstram media outlets – strikes again.
November 26, 2024 @ 1:52 pm
Great article, but to me, lists are maddening. I can hardly figure out what 10 or 20 (or 50 or 100) records I’d want on a desert island, let alone figure out the best 100 of anything. If I had to build this list myself, once I got past the top 15 or 20, I’d go insane on the rest because “who is better than who” or “who is more influential than who” is apt to change moment to moment. And the end of the decision never comes because you realize you left someone off.
Anyway, the moment I read that Marty Stuart and Connie Smith were not on this list, I didn’t care anymore.
November 26, 2024 @ 2:14 pm
Conway Twitty at #47 is complete insanity. Regardless if you liked his music or not, he was an Icon of the industry and the biggest hit maker of two decades.
Also, Don Williams at #76 with Freddy Fender right above him at #75??? I mean come on, just compare those two careers. Ridiculous.
And I personally would have had Johnny Rodriguez ahead of Fender. But J-Rod didn’t even make the cut.
This list is a joke.
November 26, 2024 @ 5:06 pm
It feels like Freddy Fender was checking a box for that sort of sound and era (which I love), but you are probably right. Not top 100.
November 26, 2024 @ 5:24 pm
The biggest slight for me was Buck Owens. He deserved a much higher ranking. Arguing these types of lists is silly, of course. It is fun and serves its purpose of getting attention for Billboard. I actually clicked on the link and could easily see where things were going just by reading the short blurbs about numbers 100 and 99: Brothers Osborne made the list because one of them came out as gay. Maren Morris made the list because she supports LPBTQSVT (or whatever it’s called) causes. That was about as much as I could take of reading about each artist. It is not a horrible list. Some are ranked too high, or too low (in my humble opinion). Too much over-ranking of pop performers, and of “politically correct” performers. I’d put Hank at the top if was my list.
November 26, 2024 @ 5:29 pm
My main beef is Hank Snow not even on the list…I realize he is a bit of an acquired taste but pretty good songwriter, always on pitch and almost can hold his own on the guitar with Chet. Nearly 50 yers with RCA as well.
November 26, 2024 @ 8:29 pm
It is of the utmost importance for everyone to understand that any C(c)ountry music list created by effete metrosexuals who discovered C(c)ountry music 4 years ago exists solely to be mocked. Deconstruction of or commenting on the content of such a list gives the list a pseudo-sheen of credibility.
To be authorized to create C(c)ountry music list, one must meet all of the following criteria.
1. Must be born in a culturally southern state (old South plus KY, WV, OK, MO).
2. At least one of the following foods must’ve been a staple in their childhood home: grits, country ham, biscuits & gravy.
3. Must’ve been exposed to C(c)ountry music in the home from birth.
4. Cannot have been reared in a southern metropolis e.g. Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, etc.
November 26, 2024 @ 8:36 pm
Sorry Merle, I guess you’re not real country.
November 26, 2024 @ 9:44 pm
The San Joaquin Valley fits within the definition of culturally southern, as long as the person was born before the end of WWII.
November 26, 2024 @ 9:06 pm
Lynn Anderson charted 60 songs, First female country to be headline and sell out Madison Square Garden, first female country to win an American Music Award, first female country music artist on the Johnny Carson show. Winner of the Grammy, ACM, CMA, Peoples Choice Award and countless others. From 1970-74 she arguably was more popular than Loretta, Dolly and Tammy.
November 26, 2024 @ 10:27 pm
I debunked that one once before. The idea that Lynn Anderson could have headlined and sold out Madison Square Garden in the heart of Manhattan– a 20,000-seat arena famous as the home of Knicks basketball Rangers hockey, the Ali-Frazier “Fight of the Century,” the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus, and rock concerts–in the early 1970s is laughable. Concert headliners at MSG were acts like the Doors, Jimi Hendrix, the Temptations, Sly & the Family Stone, the Rolling Stones, the Jackson 5, the Moody Blues, Yes and Jethro Tull. And Tom Jones and Frank Sinatra. Only one country act headlined in Madison Square Garden prior to the 1990s and that was Johnny Cash in 1970 with Carl Perkins opening. (Two, if you count Jerry Lee Lewis, but he was rock.)
After people kept writing that Lynn Anderson headlined Madison Square Garden, I did some Internet sleuthing and found that the gone and lamented WHN AM country music station in New York held a “Country in the City” concert event in the Felt Forum, a somewhat low-ceiling, then-4,000-seat theater situated under the Madison Square Garden arena in 1974 and the acts were Lynn Anderson, Doug Kershaw and Dave Bromberg. Apparently, Lynn was the designated headliner, but she actually opened, because she had to catch a flight out of JFK. Seriously.
My high school graduation was at the Felt Forum (as were a lot of others).
November 29, 2024 @ 10:28 am
Thank you for the detective work. I absolutely love Lynn Anderson and I have many of her albums but I pass right on by when hearing this myth – there has never been any proof, that I have found, delivered to back up this claim. Certainly Madison Square Garden would have this in their history books if it were true. There’s another tale without proof that I always read that Lynn was the “Artist of the Decade” for the 70s. From what organization? Certainly there has to be photos of this, or a presentation, or a photo of her with the award – it was 1979 or 1980 and there were cameras by then. Loretta Lynn was given the ACM Artist of the Decade and it’s on film. If Lynn was named AOTD by some organization, I would love to know who.
November 29, 2024 @ 12:47 pm
@mike–I found it all with a few keystrokes and clicks..
There’s actually a Wikipedia page that lists all the concerts/entetainment events at the current MSG, starting with James Brown on May 28, 1967, (I thought the arena had opened in 1968, but I guess I was mistaken.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_entertainment_events_at_Madison_Square_Garden
It read like history of music that was popular among urban/metro-area audiences–at least in the Northeast–over the decades
When nothing came up on Lynn Andersn, on a hunch, I Googled “Lynn Anderson Felt Forum” and came up with two contemporaneous listings, and a listing from a site called Setlist.
November 26, 2024 @ 10:35 pm
Johnny Cash is way overrated IMO. Darius Rucker should be on no top 100 list
November 27, 2024 @ 10:14 am
Johnny Cash isn’t country.
He’s folk, at best.
November 27, 2024 @ 9:38 am
These lists are so highly subjective, but make for a nice debate. Great article!
November 27, 2024 @ 10:13 am
A top ten without Lefty Frizzell…
It’s not serious.
Interesting fact; Leonard Cohen called himself Lefty when he joined a canadian country band in the early 50’s (he often praised Lefty) and Roy Orbison took the name Lefty Wilbury as a travelling Wilbury in the 80’s.
He’s a much more important figure than people gives him credit for. Personally, I place him a notch above Williams. Without Lefty, no George Jones or Merle Haggard or Willie Nelson as we know them.
That’s not my conclusion, it’s Floyd Tillman’s statement.
November 28, 2024 @ 11:09 am
Some random observations:
-Morgan Wallen ahead of Patty Loveless, Ernie Ford, and Ricky Skaggs? Are you kidding me?
-Vince Gill isn’t even in the top 20? Really?
-Keith Urban ahead of Don Williams??? That’s just embarrassing!
-Eric Church ahead of Vern Gosdin, Ray Price and Ronnie Milsap??? I think I’m gonna be sick.
Also, did anyone find it interesting that they titled the list, Country Singers rather than Country Artists?
November 28, 2024 @ 7:49 pm
Morgan underrated if anything. May end up the biggest commercial artist of all time.
Where’s Zach woman beater Bryan?
November 28, 2024 @ 9:13 pm
Yes, if you look at the URL of the Billboard article, or you bookmark it and then look at it in your browser’s bookmark section, it says “Best Country Singers.” I believe this was the original title of the article, and then probably somebody told them, “Hey, Bob Wills didn’t even sing” and they changed the title last minute, but forgot to change the URL. That tells you the lack of care they seem to have put into this list. I was going to broach this in the article, but then decided there were bigger fish to fry.
November 28, 2024 @ 5:35 pm
Where the hell is Steve Earle on that list???
November 28, 2024 @ 7:47 pm
Can’t believe Zach Top didn’t cut it! He’s awesome!
November 29, 2024 @ 12:15 am
If Billboard is going by Billboard stats alone, this list wouldn’t fly. Clearly this is editorial opinion as well. And it’s rarely fair or easy to weigh eras against one another.
I would not give Dolly #1. How did she get this nod? No idea. However, she rarely slips from public view and that has to be a big factor in Billboard naming her. She’s got quite the promotional machine employed by her to keep her in front of anyone who will look at her and to push her onto anyone who won’t look at her – she’s even selling cake batter or muffin mixes at this point. She’s just as legendary as anyone in the top ten, but she’s not the #1 artist of all time. If we simply look at stats on various charts, and many fans do, we find Reba has bigger Billboard stats than Dolly if we have to have that particular technical conversation. So does Willie. So does Loretta. I’m a Dolly lover, so no shade is being thrown. Dolly is top ten, of course.
I would have ranked Willie Nelson as #1. He has all the Billboard stats necessary for that kind of chart conversation. What is important here is that he changed music. He created a movement that made uncompromising music. He changed the entire country landscape for a time. These artists today that pretend to be “outlaws” make me laugh. Willie is the architect and he lived it..
There is much debate for me with Loretta and Cash and #2 and #3. If you say Cash – most people know the Man in Black. Let’s not forget for all that Loretta did and stood for in the 70s, and she was probably the biggest music star in the world by 1980 thanks to her Oscar winning movie. Both of them have the Billboard stats to back it all up and were certainly a huge part of mainstream pop culture.
Random thoughts – that will delight and annoy –
Garth Brooks – I would be fine moving him to the top twenty.
Dottie West deserves way better than #97. So does Roy Clark and Ernest Tubb.
Pleased to see Freddy Fender to make a list for a change.
Ray Charles could drop at least 50 places. Keith Whitley could drop out of the top 100. Insert Hank Snow or Lefty or Tom T. Hall in his place. Geez.
No Lynn Anderson? Wasn’t Rose Garden the single of the decade of the 70s?
No Crystal Gayle? How silly is this list?
December 1, 2024 @ 1:17 pm
Now everyone just hold your horses there are a lot of factors that are taking in consideration longevity and the business years of high profile most number ones 42 top 10 albums the most of any artist album sales written more number one hits than any other artist and the greatest top selling song of all times I will always love you no scandals the by far most loved star in the world and let me tell you no one deserves the number one spot more than Dolly Parton!!!!!!
December 1, 2024 @ 8:50 pm
A Few more misses, in my humble opinion:
Jerry Jeff
Asleep at the Wheel
Robert Earl Keen
Chris Hillman
December 2, 2024 @ 1:33 am
1st: They said greatest not most influential and that is important.
2nd: As with any RS list the lay out their methodology and thinking and then throw it out the window and outright ignore much of the time.
That said top ten is damn solid but personally Pride feels like they didn’t want all white people in the top ten. Similar to their just Greatest Rock Frontmen list having Geroge Clinton (who never fronted a rock band).
Personally, I think Patsy Cline had and still has greater impact overall in country and outside of it. Yes, some of it is mythology but I would have put her top 10 and removed pride or Strait. Yeah, yeah #1s yadda yadda yadda… I have friends who swear to me they don’t like country music but LOVE Cline. Whereas somebody like Twain has faded with the 90s Cline seems to transcend every decade every time.
The rest of the top 20… Well… Where I live Emmylou Harris is, after Dolly, the Queen of Country. That is, if we exclude Linda Ronstadt. Also where I live Tammy Wynette beats most of those because of the gay fanbase that loves the music and the southern gothic of whole Tammy George dynamic. But this reads more like influence than greatness.
And was Jimmie Rodgers that influential? Willie Neslon said it was Gene Autry that made him and others go pick up a guitar not Jimmie Riodges. Jimmie Rodgers was not a big name in his day.
I would also ad Dixie Chicks to the top 20 like what O Brother Where Art Thou did for Bluegrass. The Chicks, did for country in the 90s at least where I lived. They were a gateway drug for many people into true full on twang country.
Finally just a personal pick out of pure favoritism- Buddy Harmon. That man played on so many iconic recordings and people forget how hard it is to play drums well in a country band. Also we so often forget the great studio players that were often better instrumentalists than the big names on the marquee.
December 2, 2024 @ 2:01 pm
The list is subjective and probably completed by people a lot younger than me. I think the exclusion of Jason Aldean has certainly gotten the most attention on Social Media. I agree that he should have made the list. The most mind boggling thing for me was how Barbara Mandrell didn’t make top 25. This reminds me of CMT’s list of the 40 top Female Artist of All Time that listed her at #38. Always been confused on why one of the greatest live entertainers of any genre of music has consistently gone so unrecognized.
December 2, 2024 @ 3:15 pm
Barbara Mandrell’s retirement and nobody really out there tooting her horn I think has contributed to this. Mandrell was one of the few if only music entertainers who said she was retiring and actually meant it. That should probably country for something too.
December 2, 2024 @ 2:36 pm
This is how the list should have gone number one1 Dolly Parton number two George Jones, number 3 Loretta Lynn number four Tammy Wynette number five Conway Twitty number six Johnny Cash number seven Hank Williams number eight Reba McEntire number nine Garth Brooks and number 10 Alan Jackson
December 3, 2024 @ 11:37 am
Eddie Rabbitt and Steve Wariner not being on this list is a joke. No different then when I visited the Country Music Hall of Fame and noticed these two as well as Earl Thomas Conley are not inducted which is very disappointing. I would add Crystal Gayle and Anne Murray on this list before Alisson Kraus.