George Jones
The greatest country singer who ever lived.
Frank Sinatra called him the second-greatest singer in America. Most country fans would flip the order. 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' is the country ballad against which all country ballads are measured. The Possum sang heartbreak like a man who had earned every word.
- Hank Williams
- Lefty Frizzell
- Roy Acuff
- Tammy Wynette
- Merle Haggard
- Alan Jackson
Pull the thread
USA · 1944 — 1997
Townes Van Zandt
The patron saint of the kitchen-table songwriters.
USA · 1953 — present
Lucinda Williams
Louisiana made audible.
USA · 1978 — present
Sturgill Simpson
Walked into Nashville with a haircut and an attitude.
USA · 1991 — present
Tyler Childers
Appalachia, unfiltered and unembarrassed.
USA · 1988 — present
Sierra Ferrell
Sings like she found the songs in a creek bed.
USA · 1984 — present
Charley Crockett
Keeps the bones, throws out the gristle.
USA · 1979 — present
Jason Isbell
Wrote 'Southeastern' and meant it.
USA · 1983 — present
Margo Price
Outlaw country with a working-class spine.