Country Pop Music Guide: 5 Notable Country Pop Artists

Country pop is a style of music that combines elements of traditional country songs and mainstream pop music. Largely centered in the country music capital of Nashville, Tennessee, the country pop scene has produced numerous chart-topping artists including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, and Florida Georgia Line.

Some country pop hits involve crossover collaborations between pure country artists and pure pop music performers. Examples include the Dan + Shay collaboration with Justin Bieber on "10,000 Hours" and country singer Kelsea Ballerini’s collaboration with Halsey on "The Other Girl." Country pop songs perform well on both the Billboard Hot 100 list and the Billboard Country charts.

Country pop music stands out on account of four key characteristics.

1. 1. Crossover appeal: Country pop records often connect different audiences within the music industry. For example, the 1983 hit "Islands in the Stream” topped both pop music and country music charts. It also drew from the fan bases of the Bee-Gees, who composed the song, and country singers Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, who performed it.
2. 2. Collaborative atmosphere: Modern country pop records bring together artists from mainstream pop, hip-hop, rock 'n' roll, and traditional country music. This can be heard on tracks like "Both of Us" by the rapper B.o.B., which features country pop superstar Taylor Swift on sung vocals.
3. 3. Premium production: Top pop country hits are often helmed by leading pop music producers, including Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Timbaland. Some modern country pop albums feature electronic synthesizers and drum machines alongside traditional country instrumentation.
4. 4. Professional songwriters: While both country music and pop music feature their share of singer-songwriters who compose and perform their own music, country pop increasingly features large teams of professional songwriters. Many are based in Nashville, Tennessee, but others work out of cities like Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Atlanta, and Austin.

Country music began making a play for mainstream pop attention in the 1950s. Over the ensuing decades, it has transformed itself into one of the most widely-consumed styles of music in the United States.

• The Nashville Sound: Throughout country music's early history, it was largely associated with rural honky-tonks and niche radio stations. In the 1950s, Nashville musicians and producers Owen Bradley and Chet Atkins looked for ways to intentionally soften the sound of some country songs to make them palatable to larger audiences. They added string sections, top session musicians, and meticulous production. This new style of country music became known as the Nashville Sound, and it helped buttress records by artists like Patsy Cline and Glen Campbell.
• Countrypolitan: While the Nashville Sound drew new ears to country music, the "countrypolitan" movement of the 1970s—so named for its ability to expand beyond rural audiences— pushed even further toward mainstream pop. Glen Campbell, already a hitmaker with songs like "Wichita Lineman," gained more mainstream success on smooth country pop hits like "Rhinestone Cowboy." Crystal Gayle, John Denver, Anne Murray, Charley Pride, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, and Olivia Newton-John all thrived in this era of slicker country production that appealed to rural and urban audiences alike.
• Chart-topping hits: The 1980s saw country pop music top the Billboard charts with tracks like "Islands in the Stream" (a duet between Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers), "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me" by Ronnie Milsap, and "I Love a Rainy Night" by Eddie Rabbitt. These songs did roughly as well on the Billboard Hot 100 as on the country charts.
• Return to traditional country: By the mid-1980s, country pop had pushed so far toward slick mainstream production that it sparked a backlash among some core country music fans. This helped neo-traditional country acts, bluegrass performers, and alternative "outlaw country" artists to seize back some of the spotlight.
• Back to mainstream success: By the 1990s, country pop music was back in the mainstream thanks to artists like Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Leann Rimes, the Chicks (originally the Dixie Chicks), Tim McGraw, and Billy Ray Cyrus.
• Endurance in the twenty-first century: Country pop remains a leading genre of music in the twenty-first century. Artists like Taylor Swift, Maren Morris, Lady A, Carrie Underwood, Uncle Kracker, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, and Kacey Musgraves have found success combining traditional country music with slick pop production. Instead of the smooth studio strings of the 1950s Nashville Sound, many of these artists now dabble in electronic textures and work in slices of hip-hop, rock, and dance pop to their country foundations.

Country pop stars have played a key role in mainstream American music since the 1950s. Five artists particularly stand out in the genre.

1. 1. Glen Campbell (1936–2017): Glen Campbell was among the first country singers to thrive using pop music aesthetics. Although a master guitarist in his own right, Campbell also allowed smooth studio strings to envelop his voice on hits like "Wichita Lineman" and "Rhinestone Cowboy."
2. 2. Dolly Parton (1946–present): Dolly Parton has spent her career as both a leading country singer and a cultural icon. Her contribution to the film 9 to 5, both as an actress and songwriter, brought her into the homes of mainstream Americans. She frequently employed pop songwriters on her hits, including "Here You Come Again" (by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil) and "Islands in the Stream" (by the Gibb brothers of the Bee-Gees).
3. 3. Garth Brooks (1962–present): Garth Brooks enjoyed massive 1990s success by combining the rough-hewn country of Johnny Cash and the soft rock of Billy Joel. Beginning with his eponymous debut album in 1989, he has since released nine separate records that have achieved diamond status in the United States (sales of 10 million units or more).
4. 4. Shania Twain (1965–present): Canadian country pop star Shania Twain has topped pop music charts with hits like "You're Still the One" and "Man! I Feel Like a Woman." She is famous for her collaborations with ex-husband Robert John "Mutt" Lange, a South African producer known for creating both hard rock and country music tracks.
5. 5. Taylor Swift (1989–present): Taylor Swift began her career as a country singer-songwriter and eventually vaulted into the upper echelon of pop music success with tracks like "Shake It Off," "Love Story," and "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." She remains one of the most popular musicians of the Millennial generation.

Become a better musician with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Reba McEntire, Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, St. Vincent, Itzhak Perlman, Tom Morello, and more.