Tom's Top 100 Country Artists

In 2017, Rolling Stone was at it again with another one of their music lists.  This one was on the Top 100 Country artists of all time.  It's a good list, and this being a Rock oriented magazine, they included many names that some may not consider pure Country, but should be:  John Prine, Townes Van Zandt.  Surprises:  Jessi Colter, Asleep at the Wheel.  And snubs:  Chet Atkins, Ricky Skaggs, Everly Brothers, Elvis Presley.  The latter definitely rankles this Elvis fan.  A Country Top 100 that includes Jerry Lee Lewis (deserved) but not Elvis is a head-scratcher.  Their #1 and 2 mirror my own:  Haggard, Hank.  On any given day I could swap those out. 

Of the 100 names on the Rolling Stone list, 57 are in the Country Hall of Fame.  Some of the others will get in eventually, and some aren't eligible yet.

Here's Rolling Stone Top 100 Country Artists

Now for a little personal background.  I have my Dad to thank for my eclectic music tastes.  But his favorite musical genres were Country and Pop.  While stationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, he took us to a few Country shows.  Most I was too young to remember (I was 5 or 6).  But he would always remind me that we saw Merle Haggard, Charley Pride, George Jones, Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton among the ones I remember.  Most of these shows were package ones.  You got a lot of legendary acts for your buck in those days.  So, thanks Dad.

Below is a list of my Top 100 Country acts.  All but Elvis, Ricky Skaggs and the Everly's showed up on Rolling Stone's list.  

1.  Merle Haggard

2.  Hank Williams

3.  George Jones

4.  Dolly Parton

5.  Willie Nelson

6.  Johnny Cash

7.  Jimmie Rodgers

8.  Loretta Lynn

9.  Lefty Frizzell

10.  Carter Family

11.  Patsy Cline

12.  Elvis Presley

13.  Bob Wills

14.  Tammy Wynette

15.  Waylon Jennings

16.  Buck Owens

17.  Conway Twitty

18.  Charley Pride

19.  Louvin Brothers

20.  Ray Price

21.  Tom T. Hall

22.  Roger Miller

23.  John Anderson

24.  George Strait

25.  Bill Monroe

26.  Randy Travis

27.  Ernest Tubb

28.  Kris Kristofferson

29.  Flatt & Scruggs

30.  Gary Stewart

31.  Charlie Rich

32.  Shania Twain

33.  Everly Brothers

34.  Glen Campbell

35.  Miranda Lambert

36.  Garth Brooks

37.  Keith Whitley

38.  Kenny Rogers

39.  Dwight Yoakam

40.  Kitty Wells

41.  Rosanne Cash

42.  Gram Parsons

43.  Alan Jackson

44.  Jerry Reed

45.  Reba McEntire

46.  Steve Earle

47.  Jerry Lee Lewis

48.  Emmylou Harris

49.  Stanley Brothers

50.  Alabama
51.  Vince Gill
52.  Tanya Tucker
53.  John Prine
54.  Freddy Fender
55.  Rodney Crowell
56.  Johnny Paycheck
57.  Dixie Chicks
58.  Don Williams
59.  Ronnie Milsap
60.  Marty Robbins
61.  Ricky Skaggs
62.  Hank Thompson
63.  Billy Joe Shaver
64.  Hank Snow
65.  Hank Williams Jr.
66.  Jim Reeves
67.  Merle Travis
68.  Roy Acuff
69.  Statler Brothers
70.  Judds
71.  Eddy Arnold
72.  Guy Clark
73.  Oak Ridge Boys
74.  Chet Atkins
75.  Faron Young
76.  Tennessee Ernie Ford
77.  Eddie Rabbitt
78.  Mel Tillis
79.  Patty Loveless
80.  Bobby Bare
81.  Connie Smith
82.  Brooks & Dunn
83.  Alison Krauss
84.  Bill Anderson
85.  Crystal Gayle
86.  Doug Sahm
87.  Lucinda Williams
88.  Barbara Mandrell
89.  Porter Wagoner
90.  Vern Gosdin
91.  John Denver
92.  Bobbie Gentry
93.  Little Jimmy Dickens
94.  Brad Paisley
95.  Anne Murray
96.  Uncle Dave Macon
97.  Asleep At The Wheel
98.  Don Gibson
99.  Johnny Horton
100.  Clint Black