10 of the biggest country singers with the longest careers

Talia LakritzJul 21, 2020, 00:15 IST

Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton have dominated the country music scene for decades.Jason Davis/Getty Images for SiriusXM, David Crotty/Contributor/Getty Images

Loretta Lynn released her 45th studio album, "Wouldn't It Be Great," in 2018.
Since 1967, Dolly Parton has won eight Grammy awards, as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are a country music power couple who have been making hits together since the 1990s.

There's a reason country stars like Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, and Alan Jackson have enjoyed careers spanning decades. Their soulful voices and vivid storytelling have defined and transformed country music throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.

Here are 10 singers who continue to dominate the country music scene.

Loretta Lynn signed her first record deal in 1960 and found success with her debut single, "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl."

Loretta Lynn performs at the Grand Ole Opry in the 1960s. Getty Images

Lynn has received many prestigious honors over her career, including Kennedy Center Honors, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, CMT's Artist of a Lifetime, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Loretta Lynn in 2017. Rich Fury/ AP

Lynn has received many prestigious honors over her career, including Kennedy Center Honors, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, CMT's Artist of a Lifetime, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Willie Nelson's first album was called "And Then I Wrote." He released it in 1962.

Willie Nelson in 1978. AP

Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993.

Willie Nelson today. Jason Davis/Getty Images for SiriusXM

Dolly Parton released her debut album, "Hello, I'm Dolly," in 1967.

Dolly Parton in 1979. Tsugufumi Matsumoto/AP

She has since won eight Grammy awards, as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dolly Parton today. David Crotty / Contributor / Getty Images

Reba McEntire's self-titled debut album was released in 1977.

Reba McEntire in 1984. Mark Humphrey/AP

McEntire's 33rd album came out in 2019.

Reba McEntire today. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

George Strait released his first single "Unwound" in 1981 and it reached No. 6 on the Billboard charts.

George Strait in 1985. Paul Natkin/Getty Images

In total, Strait has released 28 albums in 33 years.

George Strait in 2019. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Garth Brooks got his start in 1989 with a self-titled album that gave him his first No. 1 hit.

Garth Brooks in 1989. Beth Gwinn/Getty Images

Brooks earned the title of best-selling solo artist in US history in 2015, beating out Elvis Presley and only trailing The Beatles.

Garth Brooks today. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Alan Jackson's first No. 1 single was "I'd Love You All Over Again" from his 1990 debut album, "Here in the Real World."

Alan Jackson in 1991. Tim Mosenfelder/ImageDirect/Getty Images

Jackson has since won CMA's Entertainer of the Year award three times and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.

Alan Jackson in 2017. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

Tim McGraw's first album came out in 1993, but it was his second album that propelled him to stardom.

Tim McGraw in 1994. Paul Natkin/WireImage/Getty Images

He has won three Grammy awards and had 26 Billboard No. 1 hits.

Tim McGraw today. Frederick Breedon IV/Getty Images

"Wild One," Faith Hill's first single in 1994, spent four weeks at No. 1.

Faith Hill. The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

She has won five Grammys and been nominated 17 times.

Faith Hill today. Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Kenny Chesney signed his first record deal in 1993.

Kenny Chesney in 1999. Mark Humphrey/AP

Chesney has had 11 No. 1 hits and 16 top 10 hits throughout his career, according to Billboard.

Kenny Chesney in 2019. Leigh Vogel / Stringer/Getty Images

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10 of the biggest country singers with the longest careers

Loretta Lynn signed her first record deal in 1960 and found success with her debut single, "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl."

Lynn has received many prestigious honors over her career, including Kennedy Center Honors, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, CMT's Artist of a Lifetime, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Willie Nelson's first album was called "And Then I Wrote." He released it in 1962.

Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993.

Dolly Parton released her debut album, "Hello, I'm Dolly," in 1967.

She has since won eight Grammy awards, as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Reba McEntire's self-titled debut album was released in 1977.

McEntire's 33rd album came out in 2019.

George Strait released his first single "Unwound" in 1981 and it reached No. 6 on the Billboard charts.

In total, Strait has released 28 albums in 33 years.

Garth Brooks got his start in 1989 with a self-titled album that gave him his first No. 1 hit.

Brooks earned the title of best-selling solo artist in US history in 2015, beating out Elvis Presley and only trailing The Beatles.

Alan Jackson's first No. 1 single was "I'd Love You All Over Again" from his 1990 debut album, "Here in the Real World."

Jackson has since won CMA's Entertainer of the Year award three times and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.

Tim McGraw's first album came out in 1993, but it was his second album that propelled him to stardom.

He has won three Grammy awards and had 26 Billboard No. 1 hits.

"Wild One," Faith Hill's first single in 1994, spent four weeks at No. 1.

She has won five Grammys and been nominated 17 times.

Kenny Chesney signed his first record deal in 1993.

Chesney has had 11 No. 1 hits and 16 top 10 hits throughout his career, according to Billboard.