The Top 100 Country Singers of All Time

Country has always been a cornerstone of American music, but in recent years it has undergone quite a transformation. What was once brushed off as "hick music" is now being enjoyed by more people than ever before. Its audience has grown exponentially, and its songs are dominating the radio waves. While the rest of the music industry continues to struggle, country seems to be stronger than ever. If one thing is for certain, country music isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

While country music's more recent success can be attributed to a batch of talented, young artists, the real credit should go to the country music mainstays on this list. These top 100 country singers of all time, even those who have died, continue to be instrumental in defining the genre, and their influence can still be felt today.

Creating this list was a hefty undertaking that required significant input on where to place an artist and which artists belong on the list. The rankings are based on several factors: each artist's album sales; the number of Top 40 hits, No. 1 records, and No. 1 albums; awards and recognition; influence on other artists; and legacy. 

Some of the artists on this list are also considered to be the top country-to-pop crossover successes. They include, of course, Elvis Presley, along with Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Shania Twain, The Dixie Chicks and Glen Campbell.

The Top 100 Country Singers of All Time

1. Johnny Cash
2. Hank Williams
3. Merle Haggard
4. Patsy Cline
5. Jimmie Rodgers
6. Bill Monroe
7. Carter Family
8. Willie Nelson
9. Waylon Jennings
10. George Jones
11. Conway Twitty
12. Bob Wills
13. Tammy Wynette
14. Loretta Lynn
15. Buck Owens
16. Kitty Wells
17. Dolly Parton
18. Lefty Frizzell
19. Ray Price
20. Eddy Arnold
21. Ernest Tubb
22. Webb Pierce
23. Ronnie Milsap
24. Jim Reeves
25. Charley Pride
26. The Stanley Brothers
27. George Strait
28. Flatt & Scruggs
29. Marty Robbins
30. Garth Brooks
31. Elvis Presley
32. Hank Snow
33. Don Gibson
34. Hank Williams Jr.
35. Roger Miller
36. Johnny Horton
37. Charlie Rich
38. Red Foley
39. Louvin Brothers
40. Statler Brothers
41. Roy Acuff
42. Gene Autry
43. Hank Thompson
44. Bobby Bare
45. Chet Atkins
46. George Morgan
47. Porter Wagoner
48. Tennessee Ernie Ford
49. Vern Gosdin
50. Sonny James
51. Reba McEntire
52. Tom T. Hall
53. Roy Rogers
54. Tanya Tucker
55. Bill Anderson
56. The Oak Ridge Boys
57. Faron Young
58. Earl Thomas Conley
59. Alabama
60. Barbara Mandrell
61. Gene Watson
62. Crystal Gayle
63. Kenny Rogers
64. Shania Twain
65. Glen Campbell
66. Rodney Crowell
67. Keith Whitley
68. Dwight Yoakam
69. Marty Stuart
70. Patsy Montana
71. Don Williams
72. Steve Wariner
73. The Judds
74. Jean Shepard
75. Roy Clark
76. Emmylou Harris
77. Mel Tillis
78. John Conlee
79. Ricky Skaggs
80. Dottie West
81. T.G. Sheppard
82. Johnny Paycheck
83. Bellamy Brothers
84. Randy Travis
85. Lynn Anderson
86. Carl Smith
87. Dave Dudley
88. John Denver
89. Vince Gill
90. Patty Loveless
91. Alan Jackson
92. Clint Black
93. The Dixie Chicks
94. Brooks & Dunn
95. Tim McGraw
96. Toby Keith
97. Anne Murray
98. Diamond Rio
99. Mark Chesnutt
100. Alison Krauss + Union Station