Home

 › 

Entertainment

 › 

Featured

 › 

Music

 › 

The 50 Most Popular Country Music Stars Right Now

The 50 Most Popular Country Music Stars Right Now

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.

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.)

Source: Noam Galai / Getty Images

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

Source: Frederick Breedon IV / Getty Images

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

Source: mtanne / Flickr

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

Source: David Redfern / Getty Images

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

Source: Keystone / Getty Images

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

Source: morgancwilliams1 / Flickr

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

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

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

Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

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

Source: joebielawa / Flickr

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

Source: library-of-congress-life / Flickr

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

Source: Rick Diamond / Stringer / Getty Images

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

Source: mtanne / Flickr

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

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Handout / Getty Images

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

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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

Source: oddsock / Flickr

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

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer / Getty Images

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

Source: Stan Meagher / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

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

Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images

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

Source: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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

Source: jenniferlinneaphotography from Denver, CO, USA / Wikimedia Commons

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

Source: joebielawa / Flickr

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

Source: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer / Getty Images

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

Source: David Redfern / Getty Images

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

Source: Rick Diamond / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

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

Source: Erika Goldring / Stringer / Getty Images

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

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

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

Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

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

Source: Chuck Redden / Wikimedia Commons

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

Source: Rick Diamond / Getty Images

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

Source: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

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

Source: hellraisermedia / Flickr

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

Source: Lisa Blumenfeld / Stringer / Getty Images

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

Source: Rick Diamond / Getty Images

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

Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

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

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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

Source: Rick Diamond / Getty Images

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

Source: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

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

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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

Source: David Redfern / Getty Images

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

Source: John Shearer/Country Rising / Getty Images

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

Source: Terry Wyatt / Stringer / Getty Images

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

Source: Rick Diamond / Getty Images

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

Source: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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

Source: Marianna Massey / Getty Images

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

Source: Rick Diamond / Getty Images

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

Source: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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

To top