Country music is probably more popular now than ever. There are several reasons for this: It has broadened its base and reached new audiences, perhaps because it has come to sound more like mainstream pop music; and it has moved beyond stereotypes of pickup trucks, guns, and beer to address new topics — including racism and domestic abuse. (To track the music’s evolution over the past half-century or so, consider every country music album of the year since 1967.)
In addition, country has attracted artists from other genres — such as former NSYNC vocalist Justin Timberlake, who has performed with Chris Stapleton, and country rapper Lil Nas X — who may have done more to transform the music’s image than anybody else.
24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of the most popular country musicians right now, and it’s an incredibly diverse and sometimes surprising one. It includes long-established superstars such as Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson; icons who haven’t been with us for a while, such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash; and more recent arrivals such as Lady A (formerly known as Lady Antebellum) and Miranda Lambert. A few groups also known for rock (like The Byrds and The Grateful Dead) have been included since they have also recorded country music.
Click here to see the 50 most popular country music stars right now
To identify the most popular country musicians right now, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from Chartmetric on country musicians and their Chartmetric Cross Platform Performance (CPP). CPP score is based on overall performance relative to musicians in all musical categories on the following nine platforms: Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, Deezer, Soundcloud; Instagram, Facebook; Twitter, and Wikipedia. The lower the CPP score, the closer the artist is to being one of the most popular in any genre. Monthly Spotify and Youtube visits and the number of followers on social media is also from the Chartmetric data.
Lil Nas X and some other crossover artists are missing because we have included only those musicians for whom “country” is the primary genre according to Chartmetric, the source of our information. However, the performers who are included add up to a roster of the best-loved stars of this kind of great American music. (Speaking of stars, see the best movies for fans of country music.)
50. The Band Perry
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,563
> Spotify monthly listeners: 2,161,112
> Youtube monthly video views: 3,198,190
> Social media followers: Facebook: 3.01 million; Instagram: 346,383; Twitter: 1.11 million
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49. Lonestar
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,519
> Spotify monthly listeners: 2,564,183
> Youtube monthly video views: 2,638,965
> Social media followers: Facebook: 890,120; Instagram: not available; Twitter: 13,241
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48. Scotty McCreery
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,427
> Spotify monthly listeners: 2,165,535
> Youtube monthly video views: 3,529,842
> Social media followers: Facebook: 2.46 million; Instagram: 603,577; Twitter: 897,329
47. George Jones
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,417
> Spotify monthly listeners: 1,793,035
> Youtube monthly video views: 6,440,966
> Social media followers: Facebook: 1.63 million; Instagram: 42,958; Twitter: 2,600
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46. The Byrds
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,405
> Spotify monthly listeners: 2,270,743
> Youtube monthly video views: 1,396,932
> Social media followers: Facebook: 163,539; Instagram: not available; Twitter: 241
45. Parmalee
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,372
> Spotify monthly listeners: 2,178,207
> Youtube monthly video views: 2,206,221
> Social media followers: Facebook: 336,718; Instagram: 112,481; Twitter: 169,148
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44. Merle Haggard
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,317
> Spotify monthly listeners: 1,838,219
> Youtube monthly video views: 6,904,186
> Social media followers: Facebook: 2.54 million; Instagram: 106,950; Twitter: 200,510
43. Garth Brooks
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,288
> Spotify monthly listeners: 669,682
> Youtube monthly video views: 345,163
> Social media followers: Facebook: 4.86 million; Instagram: 1.71 million; Twitter: 635,258
42. Eli Young Band
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,242
> Spotify monthly listeners: 3,188,351
> Youtube monthly video views: 1,736,631
> Social media followers: Facebook: 1.59 million; Instagram: 191,071; Twitter: 509,911
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41. Trisha Yearwood
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,200
> Spotify monthly listeners: 2,140,064
> Youtube monthly video views: 2,329,921
> Social media followers: Facebook: 2.25 million; Instagram: 970,521; Twitter: 495,346
40. The Marshall Tucker Band
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,174
> Spotify monthly listeners: 1,996,542
> Youtube monthly video views: 3,973,442
> Social media followers: Facebook: 746,551; Instagram: 8,246; Twitter: 562
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39. Lauren Alaina
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,161
> Spotify monthly listeners: 3,451,413
> Youtube monthly video views: 2,094,916
> Social media followers: Facebook: 787,549; Instagram: 968,839; Twitter: 668,911
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38. Jerry Reed
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,160
> Spotify monthly listeners: 1,054,539
> Youtube monthly video views: 00
> Social media followers: Facebook: 4,089; Instagram: not available; Twitter: 0 million
37. Maddie & Tae
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,150
> Spotify monthly listeners: 3,113,811
> Youtube monthly video views: 5,518,230
> Social media followers: Facebook: 936,203; Instagram: 766,855; Twitter: 173,455
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36. Crosby, Stills & Nash
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,059
> Spotify monthly listeners: 2,345,592
> Youtube monthly video views: 2,989,001
> Social media followers: Facebook: 655,336; Instagram: not available; Twitter: 33,220
35. Derek & The Dominos
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,043
> Spotify monthly listeners: 3,268,372
> Youtube monthly video views: 00
> Social media followers: Facebook: 251,236; Instagram: not available; Twitter: 0 million
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34. Harry Nilsson
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 3,018
> Spotify monthly listeners: 2,856,884
> Youtube monthly video views: 1,489,721
> Social media followers: Facebook: 95,375; Instagram: 8,364; Twitter: 7,288
33. Rodney Atkins
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 2,948
> Spotify monthly listeners: 3,401,642
> Youtube monthly video views: 3,857,008
> Social media followers: Facebook: 1.58 million; Instagram: 171,488; Twitter: 419,440
32. Kip Moore
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 2,900
> Spotify monthly listeners: 2,735,025
> Youtube monthly video views: 4,264,570
> Social media followers: Facebook: 1.46 million; Instagram: 514,821; Twitter: 932,492
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31. Chris Janson
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 2,895
> Spotify monthly listeners: 3,124,661
> Youtube monthly video views: 3,650,943
> Social media followers: Facebook: 311,076; Instagram: 457,478; Twitter: 105,199
30. Jamey Johnson
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 2,888
> Spotify monthly listeners: 1,695,085
> Youtube monthly video views: 5,440,046
> Social media followers: Facebook: 1.29 million; Instagram: 103,985; Twitter: 53,082
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29. Brett Eldredge
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 2,866
> Spotify monthly listeners: 2,880,807
> Youtube monthly video views: 1,692,774
> Social media followers: Facebook: 1.38 million; Instagram: 1.47 million; Twitter: 1.29 million
28. Jim Croce
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 2,822
> Spotify monthly listeners: 3,357,021
> Youtube monthly video views: 3,383,935
> Social media followers: Facebook: 14,807; Instagram: not available; Twitter: 12,675
27. Hank Williams, Jr.
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 2,820
> Spotify monthly listeners: 2,489,463
> Youtube monthly video views: 9,746,878
> Social media followers: Facebook: 3.39 million; Instagram: not available; Twitter: 222,504
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26. Trace Adkins
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 2,630
> Spotify monthly listeners: 2,299,704
> Youtube monthly video views: 4,616,440
> Social media followers: Facebook: 3.85 million; Instagram: 588,247; Twitter: 393,593
25. Alabama
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 2,577
> Spotify monthly listeners: 3,134,908
> Youtube monthly video views: 7,279,798
> Social media followers: Facebook: 2.42 million; Instagram: 112,781; Twitter: 70,495
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24. Grateful Dead
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 2,573
> Spotify monthly listeners: 3,218,894
> Youtube monthly video views: 5,609,589
> Social media followers: Facebook: 1.90 million; Instagram: 509,475; Twitter: 171,057
23. Reba McEntire
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 2,567
> Spotify monthly listeners: 1,954,255
> Youtube monthly video views: 6,958,459
> Social media followers: Facebook: 6.99 million; Instagram: 2.07 million; Twitter: 2.31 million
22. Travis Tritt
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 2,547
> Spotify monthly listeners: 3,110,718
> Youtube monthly video views: 6,824,149
> Social media followers: Facebook: 1.76 million; Instagram: 261,994; Twitter: 206,903
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21. Randy Travis
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 2,370
> Spotify monthly listeners: 2,542,266
> Youtube monthly video views: 6,351,032
> Social media followers: Facebook: 1.41 million; Instagram: 90,679; Twitter: 85,928
20. Toby Keith
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 1,666
> Spotify monthly listeners: 4,566,336
> Youtube monthly video views: 12,408,270
> Social media followers: Facebook: 5.60 million; Instagram: 702,138; Twitter: 1.23 million
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19. Billy Ray Cyrus
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 1,489
> Spotify monthly listeners: 8,211,390
> Youtube monthly video views: 2,394,547
> Social media followers: Facebook: 2.05 million; Instagram: 2.15 million; Twitter: 1.55 million
18. The Chicks
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 1,332
> Spotify monthly listeners: 4,221,199
> Youtube monthly video views: 7,564,241
> Social media followers: Facebook: 1.53 million; Instagram: 324,865; Twitter: 639,491
17. Brooks & Dunn
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 1,294
> Spotify monthly listeners: 5,798,817
> Youtube monthly video views: 16,513,057
> Social media followers: Facebook: 2.70 million; Instagram: 123,144; Twitter: 168,783
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16. George Strait
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 1,009
> Spotify monthly listeners: 4,678,901
> Youtube monthly video views: 20,364,252
> Social media followers: Facebook: 8.10 million; Instagram: 1.14 million; Twitter: 505,947
15. Willie Nelson
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 926
> Spotify monthly listeners: 5,602,156
> Youtube monthly video views: 11,518,063
> Social media followers: Facebook: 5.65 million; Instagram: 745,501; Twitter: 691,735
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14. Alan Jackson
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 846
> Spotify monthly listeners: 5,865,589
> Youtube monthly video views: 33,604,541
> Social media followers: Facebook: 5.29 million; Instagram: 548,411; Twitter: 578,658
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13. Rascal Flatts
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 816
> Spotify monthly listeners: 7,697,302
> Youtube monthly video views: 13,518,280
> Social media followers: Facebook: 6.08 million; Instagram: 273,913; Twitter: 1.74 million
12. Tim McGraw
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 693
> Spotify monthly listeners: 7,286,234
> Youtube monthly video views: 15,408,301
> Social media followers: Facebook: 8.59 million; Instagram: 2.93 million; Twitter: 3.04 million
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11. Carrie Underwood
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 617
> Spotify monthly listeners: 6,613,287
> Youtube monthly video views: 20,632,729
> Social media followers: Facebook: 11.81 million; Instagram: 10.20 million; Twitter: 8.29 million
10. Dolly Parton
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 593
> Spotify monthly listeners: 10,488,460
> Youtube monthly video views: 11,506,379
> Social media followers: Facebook: 7 million; Instagram: 4.24 million; Twitter: 5.27 million
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9. Keith Urban
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 574
> Spotify monthly listeners: 10,007,825
> Youtube monthly video views: 16,219,904
> Social media followers: Facebook: 6.86 million; Instagram: 2.55 million; Twitter: 4.20 million
8. Lady A
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 561
> Spotify monthly listeners: 7,502,641
> Youtube monthly video views: 13,807,736
> Social media followers: Facebook: 9.32 million; Instagram: 1.61 million; Twitter: 2.36 million
7. Miranda Lambert
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 530
> Spotify monthly listeners: 6,937,193
> Youtube monthly video views: 19,328,764
> Social media followers: Facebook: 8.80 million; Instagram: 4.20 million; Twitter: 6.86 million
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6. Jason Aldean
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 490
> Spotify monthly listeners: 7,267,023
> Youtube monthly video views: 35,438,935
> Social media followers: Facebook: 8.93 million; Instagram: 3.33 million; Twitter: 3.72 million
5. Kenny Chesney
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 468
> Spotify monthly listeners: 8,008,371
> Youtube monthly video views: 18,073,465
> Social media followers: Facebook: 6.72 million; Instagram: 1.52 million; Twitter: 2.68 million
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4. Blake Shelton
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 437
> Spotify monthly listeners: 8,324,719
> Youtube monthly video views: 24,081,022
> Social media followers: Facebook: 10.58 million; Instagram: 4.39 million; Twitter: 20.07 million
3. Luke Bryan
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 411
> Spotify monthly listeners: 8,411,736
> Youtube monthly video views: 33,118,893
> Social media followers: Facebook: 9.34 million; Instagram: 5.76 million; Twitter: 9.47 million
2. Florida Georgia Line
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 377
> Spotify monthly listeners: 13,760,917
> Youtube monthly video views: 24,179,310
> Social media followers: Facebook: 4.56 million; Instagram: 2.16 million; Twitter: 2.02 million
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1. Thomas Rhett
> Chartmetric cross platform performance overall rank: 299
> Spotify monthly listeners: 11,565,668
> Youtube monthly video views: 18,177,422
> Social media followers: Facebook: 2.32 million; Instagram: 4.26 million; Twitter: 2.42 million
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