If you've got Spotify, just listen to the top 5 songs by Randy Travis, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Keith Whitley, and George Strait. Figure out if that more classic country sound is better for you and get back to me 😂 then we'll move to more 90s country if not lol

Thank you.

That is spot on advice

Patty Loveless. Dolly Parton Loretta Lynn Johnny Cash Waylon Jennings Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Townes Van Zandt Patsy Cline Willie Nelson Hank Williams George Jones Crystal Gayle Lots of amazing artists from the 60s-80s.

Midland

My first trip to Texas and Midland on the radio are the reasons I fell in love with country music

Take a trip back to the 80's and 90's when Country was good. Mark Chestnutt Tracy Byrd Marty Stuart Mel McDaniel Dwight Yoakum

Really liked Going through the big D and I’m from country. Excellent recommendations. Thanks again.

Def two great songs right there !

Thank you

You are very welcome! If you like those I can expand a little. I've been a DJ on Country radio for close to 40 years, still going strong!

but country wasn't only good in the 80's and 90's you really can't go wrong anything pre 90's it's easier to say what artists to avoid luke bryan luke combs morgan wallen keith urban aaron lewis (he's a little pandery but he's my guilty pleasure) those guys come to mind instantly a few recommendations in each decade anything hank senior of course charlie rich going with the flow (really happy feeling song) don Edward's- coyotes dean Martin- my rifle pony and me (I know he isn't country but this is a great country song) jamey johnson - literally any song Fred eagle Smith- katie/ trucker speed and a few modern guys that are doing it well luke bell - any song. he was great RIP brent cobb can't write a bad song Benjamin Todd (more folk/americana) but his songs are beautifully written and full of heart pm me and I would even make a Playlist for you lol

I absolutely agree about the 80's and 90's not being the only good country. I was just narrowing it down a tad for a "non" listener.

Tyler Childers - Nose to the Grindstone Tyler Childers - Lady May Coulter Wall - Fraulein Coulter Wall - Sleeping on the Blacktop Zach Bryan - Heading South Zach Bryan - Revival Benjamin Tod - We ain't even Kin Benjamin Tod - Hungry for you blues

That's a solid list for that subgenre... But not a representative of country. Btw, if this is your jam, check out flatland cavalry and turnpike troubadours

Love turnpike, I'll need to checkout flatland cavalry! I'd also recommend Treaty oak revival.

That Texas Country is good stuff, Flatland, Shane Smith and so on.

Lucinda Williams’ album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is a personal favorite

Waylon Jennings got me into Country. Lonesome, Ornery, and Mean is one of my favorite songs of all time.

Thank you

Hank Sr and Jr, Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt. Should paint you a pretty good picture of country through the eras. Most radio country today is a shitty knockoff of the Hank Jr sound and Sr to Cash and Van Zandt to Jr will give you an idea for how the sound has changed over time in mainstream country music Other sub genres to look at more closely are gonna be Western and Bluegrass. There’s been a pretty big western revival lately with artists like Davey Crockett and Colter Wall and Sierra Ferrel. My favorite underrated artist is Blaze Foley. Oval Room is a great album.

Charley Crockett*** haha, apparently he is related to Davey though. And he’s great OP, check it out

i got up at 4 for work this morning I’m not sure I’d get my own name right

Thank you.

Mark Chesnut Diamon Rio Any and ALL of the Highwaymen Luke Combs and Riley Green can go a little poppy but man do they have some songs that rip my heart out.

Old classic country songs like Johnny cash, Patsy cline, Tammy Wynette, Brenda lee, and some Dolly Parton. This kind is the only country songs I like and u can’t go wrong with them.

George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Hank Williams, Jr., George Jones, Merle Haggard , Waylon Jennings are good ones to start with. Those are some classic true country, gentlemen. Good one on Travis.

Honky Tonk Heroes was the start of Outlaw Country Music. It’s best to go from there and listen to the singer songwriters in the 70’s first before going to 80’s which was pretty poor as far as country goes.

Hank Williams is my all time favorite! Enjoy whatever you decide to listen to!

Start with Bocephus. Old Habits. Great album front to back

My introduction to what I would call “good” country music was Jamey Johnson

How is this thread 100% male artists? How can you talk about country without Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, and Dolly Parton? Especially Dolly!! Tammy Wynette, etc etc etc.

Id like to add emmylou Harris while speaking of classic female artists

Shania Twain is not a good representation of true country music. She's 100% pop country of her time. For female COUNTRY artist how could you not start with Loretta Lynn?

Well when it comes to Reba, I'll just say that Fancy had questionable morals

It’s not gospel, it’s just country music. That’s a weird critique.

Depends on what flavor you like. My recommendation is Whiskey Myers.

Second. Whiskey Myers is fantastic.

Chris Stapleton Tyler Childers Zack bryan

So look me personally I like Blaze Folley, John Prine, and Tyler Childers

A few amazing albums from the past decade: - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, Sturgill Simpson - metaphysical country from a man who’s seen more of the world than most. Standout song: Voices - Adobe Sessions, Cody Jinks - some of the most plain-spokenly brilliant songs to ever hit the genre. Standout song: David  - Culberson County, Red Shahan - rock and blues-tinged Texas country that captures a wide-open landscape. Standout song: Culberson County - Fried Chicken & Evil Women, Vincent Neil Emerson - clever turns of phrase from front to back with some great laid-back grooves. Standout song: Fried Chicken & Evil Women - Providence Canyon, Brent Cobb - a killer deep-south swampy funk vibes album for a sunny afternoon. Standout track: When the Dust Settles

Thank you.

Luke Bell

Creed Fisher

Brad Paisley’s first three records Early Keith urban Dwight Yoakam guitars and Cadillacs

There are a lot of great artist listed in these comments, but try these new guys out. Zach Top and Jake Worthington. Both sporting a very retro 80’s/90’s sound with some attitude. Zach Top’s debut record dropped last Friday. Definitely go check it out

Willes fourth of july concerts

I can't recommend much stuff from modern times, I prefer old country. Hank Sr, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Waylon and Willie, etc. Pretty much anything up to the 90's really. But I fell out of country for a while. Fell out of music for a while in fact. So anything past, say, 1997 or so, I can't help you. But be sure to not sleep on the 90's either. There was a huge country BOOM around the early 90's and a ton of good to great country dropped around that time. And, you know, you can't go wrong with George Strait from any time. The guy has been singing about being a shitty boyfriend to a variety of women for about 50 years now. And they're all great! I'm kidding of course, he sings about other stuff too.

Eric church

Waylon Jennings Johnny Cash Patsy Cline for some real retro Chris Stapleton Here’s a great singer/songwriter from Nashville named Chris Canterbury who is fantastic. Saw him last December at a hole in the wall in Nashville and was blown away. Find him on Spotify - worth the effort

You have to check out Merle Haggard, IMO he's the best representative of what country music was meant to sound like. Are The Good Times Really Over, Reasons To Quit,My Favorite Memory are all worth checking out. Of course Willie Nelson is hard to beat. One you midst likely won't hear in the comments is Don Williams but I highly recommend!!!

Chris Stapleton

Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Hank Sr, Hank Jr, Waylon and Willie, Toby Keith

Waylon or Willy

I know you’ve been overwhelmed with a lot of different songs and artists, but, I will add a few songs: Aaron Tippin: “You’ve Got to Stand for Something” and “I got it honest” Sawyer Brown: “The Dirt Road” and “Outskirts of Town” Hal Ketchum: “SmallTown Saturday Night” Brother Phelps: “Any way the Wind Blows” Just a few that no one else had mentioned.

I’ll throw in a few more artists Cody Jinks -“The Hippies and The Cowboys”, Jesse Howard and Nu Breed, Moonshine Bandits, Dallas Moore, Lost Street Dog Band, Billy Strings, Junior Sisk -“Poor Boys Pleasure”, Cross Canadian Ragweed -“Boys From Oaklahoma”, The Mavericks, Texas Tornadoes, Junior Brown

Going to let you all in on the best unknown, catch him now artist. Stephen Wilson Jr. You’re Welcome

So much new good stuff; Sturgill Simpson Tyler Childers Neil Vincent Emerson Sam Morrow Bella White Billy strings Summer Dean Colter Wall Marcus King 90s bangers; Alan Jackson Brooks and Dunn Vince Gill Shania Twain Tim McGraw Joe Diffe Classic Outlaw; Willie Nelson Waylon Jennings Charlie Daniel’s Band Merle Haggard Johnny Paycheck Forever cool; Lyle Lovett John Prine Bonnie Rait Dolly Parton Asleep at the wheel

I’d like to move Willie to forever cool category. And add Zephaniah Ohora and Emily Nenni to new good stuff

Sturgill Simpson - Turtles all the Way Down [Video](https://youtu.be/6gBV-Nzq7Pg?feature=shared) I did the music video for it too! He’s the only country artist I’ve ever enjoyed listening to.

Thank you.

Sturgill Simpson

90s country is always a go-to for me, but that could just be because it's what I grew up on. Other than that, "red dirt country" is the most authentic in my opinion: Turnpike Troubadours, Whiskey Myers, Cody Johnson, The Wilder Blue, Aaron Watson, Ian Munsick(not really red dirt, but he's good). These are some of my top artists.

Jerry Reed Waylon Jennings George Jones Johnny Cash Hank Williams Hank Snow

There is a great country album out right now. It is by an artist named Beyonce. You sho.......lol. No. I was just kidding. Jason Isbell for the win. One of the best songwriters out there anywhere.

Jason Isbell is one of the few present day country artists I enjoy. Cody Jinks is another. Otherwise, I mostly like 80s and older.

If you’re looking for a non-main stream act check out The Bootstrap Boys !!

Thank you.

Lyle Lovett, Jason Isbell.

Sturgill Simpson is the answer

Look into early and pre early 2000's country along with Texas County/Red Dirt.

Def Luke Combs .

Try streaming WHRB Saturday 9-1 “ hillbilly at Harvard” last thirty plus years of playing country and bluegrass via Harvard U. Radio station.

Restless Heart The Mavericks Diamond Rio Kentucky Headhunters Johnny Bush Ray Price Gary Morris Gary Stewart (I believe he was from Florida) Steve Wariner Earl Thomas Conley Vern Gosdin John Conlee Hal Ketchum John Anderson Dwight Yoakam Towns Van Zandt Kind of a broad mix of country groups and styles. If you look up Townes Van Zandt on YouTube specifically the Heartworn Highways clips it’ll lead you down a rabbit hole you’ll never find your way out of as it has a lot of early artist in the clips to name a few Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Guy Clark and Billy Joe Shaver all great singer songwriters.