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Johnny Cash - The bass-baritone voice that in many ways defined the genre, Johnny Cash is widely regarded as the greatest country artist of all time.

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George Strait - Dubbed the "King of Country," George Strait is a performer with deep country roots that became a staple of entertainment in the 1980s.

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Hank Williams - When you think of classic honky-tonk twang, you get the distinct and powerful voice of Hank Williams. He influenced countless country artists that came after him.

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George Jones - With a voice you could pick out from a mile away, George Jones had more than 150 hits during his long career.

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Merle Haggard -

As the ultimate cowboy drifter, Merle Haggard is widely considered one of the greatest song writers in country.

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Alan Jackson - This soft-spoken country icon is known for effortlessly blending mainstream western sounds and honky-tonk styles.

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Garth Brooks - One of the top-selling artists in country music, this Oklahoma-native brought both rock 'n' roll and pop elements into his country hits.

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Willie Nelson -

Outlaw country singer, actor, and activist Willie Nelson is one of the most prolific artists in the genre and is a standout for his epic stage presence.

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Randy Travis - This classic and Christian country performer has recorded over 20 studio albums and has risen to the top of the Billboard charts numerous times.

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Conway Twitty - Twitty was a multi-faceted recording artist with a flare for country music—and very distinct sideburns.

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Waylon Jennings - This outlaw country artist has a Nashville sound that was heard around the world.

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Tim McGraw - One of the first and most notable pop country artists, Tim McGraw is one of the highest-selling recording artists of all time.

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Glen Campbell - Campbell was an iconic country singer from Arkansas who went on to release over 70 studio albums and win the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Dwight Yoakam - The legendary honky-tonk performer was instrumental in bridging the gap between rock and country music.

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Toby Keith - Keith is an outspoken country singer known for epic anthems and a distinct twang.

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Kenny Rogers - This iconic country singer from Texas rose to fame with a smooth sound and memorable country pop tracks.

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Vince Gill - The contemporary country singer has a flare for writing lyrics as well as a high octave range.

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Brad Paisley - This country singer from West Virginia has collected three Grammy Awards and a whopping 14 Academy of Country Music Awards.

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Keith Whitley -

This neo-traditional country artist only recorded two albums, but rose to fame after his death.

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Ronnie Milsap - Milsap rose to fame during the 1980s for his country pop. The blind performer took influences from other musical genres such as R&B and jazz.

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Kenny Chesney - Chesney is a country rock artist that has collected a range of honorable awards and accolades throughout his career.

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Blake Shelton - The Nashville-based superstar rose to fame with his easy-listening country songs and charming good looks.

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John Denver - One of the most celebrated artists of all time, Denver is well-known for his country rock hits.

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Charley Pride - Iconic country singer and former baseball player, Pride is famed for his smooth melancholic tracks.

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Hank Williams, Jr. - This redneck country rock artist is the son of one of the biggest names in the genre.

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Marty Robbins - Iconic country artist and race car driver Marty Robbins was known as the "El Paso" hit-maker.

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Elvis Presley - He may be the undisputed King of Rock 'n' Roll, but the Mississippi-native was a country legend as well. Presley's 11th studio album was titled 'Elvis Country.'

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Buck Owens -

Famed for being the architect of "Bakersfield Sound," Buck Owens was an iconic honky-tonk artist who sang some of country's finest.

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Trace Adkins - This country star was a former oil rig worker. His "blue collar" anthems are cherished within the genre.

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Travis Tritt -

Famed for being a rebel country artist, Travis Tritt blended southern rock style with honky-tonk twang.

See also: The best country songs for the mother-son dance

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