Many notable singers have contributed to the popularization and development of country music into the juggernaut it is today.
This music is an American genre that combines elements of folk, blues, rural dance, and bluegrass in its entirety.
Its worldwide popularity stems from its profound roots in ballads, blues, and choral music performed in simple settings.
But today, we have compiled a list of the top 30 country artists of the 2020s.
Whether your interest lies in the traditional or contemporary side of the genre, you can be sure to find a great country artist among the 30 listed below.
Enjoy our list of the best 2020s country artists!
1. Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw has been a household name since the 1990s, and his 2020 releases show that he is still one of the best country singers of all time.
Here on Earth, his 2020 album, is his fifteenth solo studio album and sixteenth overall.
It is a collection of songs put together by McGraw to create vignettes of notable human emotions like love, relationships, introspection, and fun.
See also: Best Tim McGraw Songs
2. Cole Swindell
“Single Saturday Night,” the lead single from Cole Swindell’s fourth studio album, was released on May 22, 2020.
On November 19, 2021, it was followed by “Never Say Never,” a duet with Lainey Wilson.
On April 8, 2022, Swindell released his fourth album, Stereotype.
Swindell’s third single from the album was “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” a remake of Jo Dee Messina’s 1996 single “Heads Carolina, Tails California.”
This single went on to become Swindell’s biggest single to date, spending four weeks at the top of the Country Airplay chart and becoming his first Top 20 single on the Billboard Hot 100.
3. Cody Johnson
Cody Johnson (also known as CoJo) self-released six albums but didn’t gain much fame until his album Gotta Be Me, which debuted at number two on Billboard’s Country Albums chart.
He released his first major-label album, Ain’t Nothin’ to It, in 2019, whereas October 2021 saw the release of his second major-label album, Human: The Double Album.
He also won two awards at the Country Music Association Awards in 2022 for his song “‘Til You Can’t.”
Johnson’s style is defined as a contemporary and neo-traditionalist country, with influences ranging from George Strait to Willie Nelson.
4. Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean is one of today’s most well-known country musicians.
Since his professional debut album in 2005, he has been producing exceptional songs.
His releases after 2020 include “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood, “Trouble with a Heartbreak,” “That’s What Tequila Does,” and “Christmas in Dixie.”
Macon, Georgia, his double albums, both debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200.
5. Madeline Edwards
Madeline Edwards’ rise to prominence has allowed her to perform at country music’s most distinguished events and receive positive widespread acclaim.
Her Opry debut in 2022 was lauded as one of the ‘best of all time’ by Country Living.
The Texas-raised artist is known for her ability to cross musical boundaries and for her unique blend of jazz, soul, gospel, and country music.
Edwards’ place in Nashville was further cemented with the release of her album Crashlanded in 2022.
6. Florida Georgia Line
Florida Georgia Line remained at the top of the charts well into the 2020s due to their willingness to incorporate pop and hip-hop styles into their music.
The duo appeared on the country remix of Canadian singer Justin Bieber’s single, “Yummy,” in February 2020.
The original song was released five days before the remix as the lead single from Bieber’s fifth studio album, Changes.
They were also featured on Chris Tomlin’s “Thank You Lord” with Thomas Rhett in June 2020, all three artists featured on this list.
7. Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood’s most famous songs are “Before He Cheats” and “Jesus, Take The Wheel.”
She has already released three albums since 2020.
At the Billboard Music Awards, My Gift won Best Christian Album and was nominated for Best Country Album.
My Savior, on the other hand, debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and won Best Roots Gospel Album at the Grammys.
Denim & Rhinestones, the third album, was also shortlisted for Favorite Country Album at the American Music Awards.
8. Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton’s music has been influenced by different music genres, which include blues, bluegrass, rock, and roll, and outlaw country.
His music is a wonderful fusion of Southern soul, classic rock, and country.
As of 2023, he had released four albums and fifteen singles, as well as having appeared on songs with Justin Timberlake, Santana, and even Taylor Swift.
His album Starting Over was certified Platinum by both the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Music Canada (MC).
It also received a Grammy award for Best Country Album in 2022.
See also: Best Chris Stapleton Songs
9. Kane Brown
Kane Brown is a talented male country singer who became the first artist to simultaneously reach number one on all five major Billboard country charts in October 2017.
Furthermore, Brown released another album in 2018, titled Experiment, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
Brown released the song “Worldwide Beautiful” in June 2020, with proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of America.
His song, “Thank God,” released in September 2022 is a love-themed duet with his wife Katelyn Brown.
10. Sam Hunt
Even though Sam Hunt has only released three albums up till now, he has received critical acclaim, with his songs receiving nearly a billion Spotify plays.
His rough, heartthrob voice shines through on every track of his albums.
Hunt’s delivery, which combines speaking and rapid-fire singing, distinguishes him from other country singers.
One of his most well-known songs is “Body Like A Back Road.”
Southside, his 2020 album, peaked at number one on Billboard’s weekly US Top Country Albums, as well as number ten overall for the year.
Hunt has quickly gained recognition both inside and outside of the country music community for his genre-blending, incorporating R&B and pop into the production and composition of his songs.
11. Jordan Davis
Jordan Davis has established himself as one of the most talented country singers of the current century.
In mid-2017, Davis’ released his debut single, “Singles You Up,” which he co-wrote with Steven Dale Jones and Justin Ebach.
In April 2018, it topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
The associated debut album, Home State, was made available in March 2018.
His song “Cool Anymore,” featuring Julia Michaels, has a sonic swell reminiscent of an epic budding love story, supported by sharp beats and gentle guitar riffs.
Davis has released four singles since 2020, two of which peaked at number one on the US Country Airplay.
12. Morgan Wallen
If I Know Me, Wallen’s debut studio album was released in April 2018 and is one of the reasons for his immense popularity.
“Whiskey Glasses,” his signature hit, is a beautifully crafted ode to a woman and a drink.
Wallen was able to preserve his radio ubiquity in 2020 thanks to “Chasin’ You,” after which his fans turned him into a TikTok favorite by responding to song snippets and recording their own versions.
Having released two more albums in the 2020s, Wallen is still incredibly well-liked due to his raspy, gritty sound.
13. Zach Bryan
Zach Bryan, a veteran of the United States Navy, dedicated his debut album, DeAnn, to his late mother and released it in August 2019 after recording it in a Florida Airbnb.
Elisabeth, his second album, was recorded in a repurposed barn behind his home in Washington and was released in May 2020.
American Heartbreak, his major-label debut, was released on May 20, 2022.
It debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, marking the biggest first week for a country album in 2022.
Most of the tracks from his albums have millions of listens, a true testament to his genius.
14. Jackson Dean
Dean, a newcomer to the country music genre, has a well-liked singing style.
After signing on with Big Machine Records, he released a self-titled extended play along with the single “Wings.”
Dean released his debut single “Don’t Come Lookin’” in February 2022, followed by his debut album Greenbroke in March 2022.
He was also booked as an opening act for Brooks & Dunn’s Reboot 2022 Tour.
In 2022, “Don’t Come Lookin’” peaked at number three on both US Country Airplay and Canada Country.
The song was also used in an episode of the Paramount Network television show Yellowstone.
15. Dan + Shay
Since their debut, the duo Dan + Shay has won and been nominated for multiple Grammy, American Music, ACM, CMA, and Billboard Music Awards.
In 2020, the duo won a Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Speechless,” and in 2019 for “Tequila.”
“10,000 Hours,” released in 2021 featuring Justin Bieber, is the first song by a country duo or group to debut in the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 21 weeks at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs.
16. Blake Shelton
Shelton has a warm, masculine ease that lends a sly sense of humor to his more rambunctious songs.
This lighthearted touch also made him an effective ballad crooner, helping him move from country to the mainstream in the 2010s.
Blake Shelton’s superstar status grows with the release of the deluxe edition of his new album Body Language in 2021.
“Happy Anywhere,” his 28th country radio chart-topper, is also included on Body Language Deluxe, featuring his wife Gwen Stefani.
17. Kelsea Ballerini
Kelsea Ballerini has a history of breaking records.
She became ‘the only female country singer to hit #1 with her first three consecutive singles from a debut album’ with the release of The First Time in 2015.
She finished 2021 as the ‘number three most-played female artist on country radio’ and CMT’s ‘Artist of the Year.’
At the CMA Awards, she also won ‘Musical Event of the Year’ and ‘Video of the Year’ for the gold-certified “Half of my hometown” featuring Kenny Chesney.
She had three nominations for the 2022 CMT Music Awards, which she co-hosted with Kane Brown, another artist mentioned on this list.
18. Kacey Musgraves
Star-Crossed, Kacey Musgraves’ new album, is a bold, empowering, and extremely personal collection of songs that showcases the six-time Grammy Award winner’s continued growth as one of the greatest vocalists of this time.
The 2021 album has influences from Musgraves’ personal journey after she and Ruston Kelly got divorced in 2020.
The album received People’s Choice Award nominations and ranked 13th on Billboard’s list of the 50 Best Albums of 2021.
19. Tim Cote
Tim Cote has developed his contemporary country/pop sound and style, taking advantage of his love of bright lights to amaze his audience.
He began performing in 2012 as co-lead singer of the then-newly formed alternative country band, Uninvited Wilson, after honing his skills on the mic and instruments.
He discovered his true passion after auditioning for The Voice Season 10 and performing in front of internationally acclaimed music icons.
Up till now, Tim Cote has released a 5-song EP album, as well as eight new singles that have had some success, with more on the way.
20. Brett Eldredge
Brett Elridge began his music career in 2010 with his debut single, “Raymond,” which debuted at number 52 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
In the last three years, he has released three albums as well as four singles, one of which is “Under the Mistletoe,” a duet with Kelly Clarkson.
Despite not being nominated for an award since 2017, Elridge is still a well-known musician, having won four BMI Country Awards, two ASCAP Country Awards, and others in 2014 and 2015.
21. Thomas Rhett
Rhett is popular for his collaborations with other artists.
He collaborated with Keith Urban, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, and Reba McEntire on “Be a Light,” after which he donated its proceeds to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.
At the 2020 Academy of Country Music Awards, Rhett was named ‘Entertainer of the Year.’
He co-wrote Dallas Smith’s song “Don’t Need the Whiskey,” which was released in August 2020.
Rhett announced a double album, the first part of which, Country Again: Side A, was released in April 2021.
The album includes the singles “What’s Your Country Song?” and “Country Again.”
22. Luke Bryan
Bryan’s first ten albums produced twenty-seven number-one hits, showing his immense talent.
With over 75 million records sold, he is one of the world’s finest musicians.
Born Here Live Here Die Here, the famous artist’s debut album, was released in 2020, with a deluxe edition the following year.
The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the US Top Country Albums charts in its first week.
23. Chris Young
In 2006, Chris Young, a Tennessee-born country singer, won Season 4 of the singing competition Nashville Star and released his debut album that same year, beginning his music career.
Famous Friends is his eighth studio album, which was released by RCA Records Nashville in August 2021.
His preceding three singles “Raised on Country,” “Drowning,” and the title track influenced the album’s production.
The album’s fourth single, “At the End of a Bar,” reached number one on Billboard’s US Country Airplay chart.
Young’s effortless foundation is given some livelier, stylish elements on the album, showcasing his talent.
24. Luke Combs
Combs released the single “Six Feet Apart” in May 2020, which quickly became popular with listeners as it depicted the difficulties of life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Combs announced the release of a deluxe edition of What You See Is What You Get, labeled What You See Ain’t Always What You Get, with five new tracks in October 2020.
His song “Forever After All” broke country music streaming records on Apple Music and Spotify.
He released two albums in the following two years, the second just recently on March 24, 2023.
See also: Best Luke Combs Songs
25. Clayton Shay
Although Clayton Shay has just started in the music industry, he is famous for his clever, narrative songwriting, which incorporates elements of pop, alt-rock, and Southern roots rock into his captivating country sound.
He has concentrated on songwriting, developing a high-quality live show, going on tour with international act Blackjack Billy, and releasing his own music since 2020.
He has released three studio singles, all of which have received millions of streams across all platforms, with “Signed, Another Man” reaching the Top 40 on the iTunes Country Chart.
His songs deal with the ups and downs of love, lust, loss, and other themes in romantic relationships.
26. Keith Urban
Keith Urban has spent the majority of his life pursuing a deep love of music.
Combined with his authenticity, skill, and insatiable musical novelty, it is no wonder he is one of the world’s most successful and well-respected artists.
The Speed of Now Part 1 is his fourth studio album to debut at number one simultaneously in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
It has produced the top-five songs, “God Whispered Your Name” and “We Were,” as well as the global hit, “One Too Many,” a duet with P!nk.
27. Jon Pardi
Firmly in the mainstream of country music, Jon Pardi is astute enough to subtly update classic sounds.
It is why his 2015 album California Sunrise catapulted him to stardom with number-one country singles “Head Over Boots” and “Dirt on My Boots.”
His success continued into the next decade with his 2022 album Mr. Saturday Night, which peaked at number five on Billboard’s US Top Country Albums.
28. Colter Wall
Colter Wall’s music encompasses country, folk, and Western styles; he is known for his deep, gravelly tenor and narrative songwriting.
His self-titled debut album was released in May 2017, whereas Songs of the Plains was released in October 2018.
Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs, his third album, was released in August 2020 and debuted at number one on US Heat and UK Country.
29. Walker Hayes
Hayes has had multiple singles peek on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, with “Fancy Like” reaching number one on both charts between late 2021 and early 2022.
His follow-up single, “AA,” was also performed at the 2022 ACM and CMT Award shows.
Hayes began his music career in 2011 with Reason to Rhyme, but it was only eleven years later that his album Country Stuff the Album, released in 2022, secured him the recognition he was looking for.
30. Eric Church
Eric Church has been active in the music industry since his debut in 2006 with his song, “How ‘Bout You” and his subsequent album Sinners Like Me.
In 2021, he split the album Heart & Soul into three parts before releasing it.
Heart was followed by the album &, and finally, Soul, all three of which were released in April 2021.
This was preceded by the single “Stick That in Your Country Song,” which was nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
On March 7, 2022, he also performed at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards.
Church’s music has been interpreted as country rock, outlaw country, and southern rock.
Metallica, Pantera, and AC/DC were among the hard rock and heavy metal bands that influenced his unique style of music.
Best 2020s Country Artists – Final Thoughts
These country stars represent a wide range of country music styles, including traditional and contemporary country, as well as rock and alternative, proving that country music is not just for the conventionalists.
All the singers mentioned on this list are considered to be the best country artists of the 2020s.
This list has a little bit of everything, from singers who helped the genre develop, to modern country stars just starting their careers in the music industry.
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