Alan Jackson

He is the recipient of 2 Grammys, 16 CMA Awards and nominated for numerous awards in his time, Alan is the literally the King of country music, with his awards shining, glistening like his teeth. Not only that but Alan has been conducted in the Georgia hall of fame, and rightly so, a King in Georgia and royalty in the country/gospel world of music.

His first work was way back in 1989 and it didn't even chart in the Country Chart top 40. A song that Alan would ditch quickly and move onto better work. In in 1990 'Here in the Real World' rocketed to number 3 in Hot Country Songs chart and swung Alan into the real world of fame. After that it was year upon year that Mr Jackson would produced high quality, chart topping songs including 'Loves Got a Hold on You.'

In 2000 Alan was gifted a greatest hits deal, crowning Alan the glory of achieving numerous hits and showcasing them on a lengthy album. But this song-writing machine didn't stop there. He even released a Christmas album in 2002, as if we didn't love him enough- he even had us playing him on Xmas day.

And what a true loving gentlemen. Alan is together with his school sweetheart and has had 3 darling children. There is nothing to dislike about this man!

He’s taken home trophies for Entertainer of the Year, Artist of the Year, Top Country Artist, and more. Bryan has also appeared as an adviser and judge in major music competitions such as The Voice and American Idol.

It’s been a pretty amazing journey for Bryan. The Leesburg, Georgia native started life as the son of peanut farmers. Terrible challenges befell him when he lost his older brother Chris in tragic circumstances. Still, he fought through, determined to follow his dreams.

Initially ready to go to Nashville at age 19, Bryan stayed near his home to provide emotional support to his family as he attended Georgia Southern State University. Earning a BA in Business Administration, he also met his future wife, Caroline. They dated for a year, parted ways, then reunited.

Not long after college, with his father’s support, Bryan finally moved to Nashville to follow his musical career aspirations. Knocking on doors, writing songs, and performing live, he made connections and headway until his work began to be recognized.

Bryan’s first taste of the music industry was as a songwriter for a publishing house in Nashville where he wrote some successful country hits like the title track of Travis Tritt’s My Honky Tonk History album. During this time he was signed as a performer to Capitol Records, but he still found time to keep writing.

After co-writing Billy Currington’s single “Good Directions,” which made number one on the Hot Country Songs charts, it was time for Bryan to release his own record. His debut album I’ll Stay Me was released in August 2007 under the Capitol Nashville label, with Bryan involved in writing all 11 songs.

After a steady rise in popularity, Bryan’s fourth single “Do I,” released in May 2009, got all the way to number 2 in the Country charts. His next two singles, “Rain Is a Good Thing” and “Someone Else Calling You Baby” appeared on his critically acclaimed second album Doin’ My Thing, which finally cracked the number one spot on the Country charts. Sadly, 2007 would see his only other sibling, Kelly, pass away suddenly. Hard as this was, this event would impact him again as he grew in fame.

In 2011, a whole bunch of singles and the EP Spring Break 3…It’s a Shore Thing kept his fan base growing. Tracks like “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” electrified audiences, serving to introduce what would be his third studio album, Tailgates & Tanlines. This album came out that summer, peaking at the top of the Country Albums chart and reaching #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Bryans’ next three albums all made number one in the Billboard 200 and Country Music Charts. The 2013 release Crash My Party included hits like the title track and “Drink a Beer.” Then, in 2014, a huge collaboration with Florida Georgia Line produced the single “This Is How We Roll.”

In the midst of it all, Bryan’s late sister’s husband, Ben Lee Cheshire, passed away. Bryan and his wife Caroline took over the duties of raising his surviving nephew and nieces.

Never slowing down, Bryan got busy on his next full-length album, 2015’s Kill the Lights. In the first week of its release, it sold a staggering 345,000 copies, beating out superstar rap artist Dr. Dre’s record Compton to hit #1 on the Billboard charts. Bryan also broke a new record, becoming the first artist even on the Billboard Country Airplay chart to have six singles reach the number one spot.

In 2017, the country crooner would have the honor of performing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl. By the end of that year, after releasing singles like “Light It Up,” Bryan would release What Makes You Country, his sixth album.

True to form, Luke kept busy in 2019, releasing two singles, ”Knockin' Boots” and “What She Wants Tonight,” which made waves on the country charts. Anticipating a new release and planning a tour named “Proud to Be Here,” Bryan was looking forward to a robust 2020.

Covid delayed all those plans, but only for so long. Born Here Live Here Die Here hit listener’s ears in 2021, with sales once again proving as robust as his creative output. Followed up with the long-delayed tour, things got back on track.

All these albums later, Bryan’s success continues to snowball with more sales and awards every time he makes new music. In between breaking records and releasing new material, he’s done everything from philanthropic work for City of Hope to starting his own record label. He’s even opened his own Nashville restaurant. Bryan has become one of the biggest acts in country and looks set to carry on that way.

Womack made her debut album release on May 13th 1997, with an eponymous album. It later reached platinum status and reached number 9 on the country charts, her sophomore album “Some Things I Know” released a couple of years later reached similar success. It featured the singles “A Little Past Little Rock” and “I’ll think of a Reason Later that both reached number two on the US Country Charts.

It was when Womack struck gold with her album “I Hope You Dance” the album released on May 23rd 2000 that topped the country charts, going 3x Platinum in the US. The album featured the hit single “I Hope You Dance”, which also topped the charts, and as a single in it’s own right, was certified Platinum. Following this album, her releases were consistently chart topping with the release of the album “Something Worth Leaving Behind” which was one away from the top spot, and like it’s predecessor, reaching number 16 in the Billboard 200 chart. With some solid foundations having been laid down, the country and western singer songwriter’s effort were always present in the chart right up until her album “The Way I’m Livin” released on September 23rd 2014 on new label, Sugar Hill Records, which unfortunately didn’t quite match the stats of the “I Hope you Dance” album, but still graced the country charts making it to number 18. Her highest Billboard 200 release was for her album “There’s More Where that Came From” which made it to number 12 in the chart, and was later certified Gold.

Keith Urban began his musical endeavors at an early age entering in local competitions and Country Musical Festivals when he was only 10. He grew up idolizing Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knophler and Lindsay Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac fame and began closely modeling his style after these influences. For the next couple of years Urban made consistent appearances on several Australian Country TV programs and went on to win the golden guitar award at the Tamworth Country Music Festival with collaborator Jenny Wilson.

His debut album was released through EMI on 1 October 1991 and managed to reach number 98 on the Australian Album Charts. Apart from pursuing a solo career Urban was involved in writing songs for other musicians as well as backing them on tour. Urban toured alongside legendary Australian Country musician Slim Dusty as a backup guitarist. During this period he also contributed backing vocals to a live INXS album.

After Urban moved to the United States country hub, Nashville, he collaborated with Alan Jackson for the song Mercury Blues and helped pin the christmas song “Jesus Gets Jealous of Santa Claus” for Toby Keith. In 1997 Urban formed a Country three piece band called The Ranch with fellow members Peter Clarke and Jerry Flowers. Urban contributed lead vocals, guitar, ganjo, and keyboards on their one and only self-titled release. Despite the groups short lived career two singles from the album appeared on the country charts.

Around this period Urban became an ardent user of cocaine, which subsequently led him into rehab. Once Urban became drug-free his career received a significant jumpstart and with the release of his self-titled American debut he reached number 145 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and had a number 1 hit with Go-Go’s singer Charlotte Caffey. His success was amplified with his 2002 release “Golden Road”. The opening track on that album “Somebody Like You” stayed at number 1 on the charts for six weeks. His songs “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me” and “ You’ll Think of Me” both topped the charts with the latter earning him a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

Urban has produced five more albums since “Golden Road” all which have done extraordinarily well with the public and has embarked on multiple world-tours with the likes of Bryan Adams, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift and Sugarland.

In addition to his music career Urban has acted as a judge on the Australian version of The Voice and replaced Steven Tyler as a judge for American Idol.

Lambert began her career at a young age, appearing at various talent shows in Texas, eventually acquiring a recording session in Nashville, US. She also fronted the house band of the Reo Palm Isle in her hometown of Longview for a period, the same place where Brooks & Dunn had first began their career.

Having won the talent competition, Nashville Star, Lambert went on to sign with Epic Records, releasing her debut album "Kerosene" in 2005. The album was highly successful, debuting at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, eventually gaining Platinum certification, selling over one million copies. The album produced four top 40 singles on the Billboard Country charts.

She continued the success of "Kerosene" with her second full length album, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" (2007), topping the country album charts and reaching number six on the Billboard 200 charts. Her album also won album of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM). She was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for her single "Kerosene."

Her third album, "Revolution" received critical acclaim upon its release, proving her talent as a songwriter. The album's second single "White Liar" was a a top five hit, reaching number two on the Billboard's Hot Country chart, with a number one achieved later with her third single "The House That Built Me." Her talents were awarded with a Grammy Award in 2011, for Vest Female Country Vocal Performance for the single. Two more releases maintained Lambert's stature and respect in the world of country music, fairing well in the US charts.

Speaking of her music, Lambert said "I don't write about angels, Jesus, happy days, kids. I grew up on drinkin', cheatin', love gone bad." This describes her brand of country music well, as it is not happy-go-lucky country pop, instead it is more serious tales of hardship, performed with her powerful voice.

Underwood’s rise to fame came after winning the fourth season of ‘American Idol’ in 2005, launching the singer into country-music stardom. After the victory and the subsequent Idols Live Tour, Underwood released her debut single “Inside Your Heaven" which immediately debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the only country single of the decade to do so. The singer’s debut maintained much the same appeal, “Some Heart” released in 2005 sold over 300,000 copies in its first week, stayed in the chart for over two years and eventually certified platinum seven times over.

As a result the singer became highly acclaimed and received an intimidatingly-high number of coveted awards including Single Record of the Year for “Jesus, Take the Wheel” from the Academy of Country Music, a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association and five trophies courtesy of the Billboard Music Awards among many others. Into 2007 the singer was still releasing singles from her debut album including “Wasted” and after a couple of Grammy wins the same year she issued her sophomore release “Carnival Ride” in October 2007.

“Carnival Ride” which debuted at No. 1, produced the four hit singles “So Small”, “All American Girl”, “Last Name” and “Just A Dream”. Underwood’s third studio effort “Play On” took the singer in a much more rooted songwriting position, co-writing seven on the album’s tracks including the lead single “Blown Away”. The album was released in early 2012, was produced by long-term contributor Mark Bright and featured the singles “Temporary Home” and "Undo It”.

Despite the singer’s modest show of releases, Underwood has earned a significant spread of awards including inductions into the Grand Ole Opry in 2008 and into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, winning six Grammy Awards, sixteen Billboard Music Awards, 11 Academy of Country Music Awards and eight American Music Awards.

Church grew up in the Granite Falls area of North Carolina and showed a keen interest in music as early as the age of four. One of Church’s first “paying gigs” was at this age. He remembers singing the song “Elvira” at a restaurant to a group of surrounding patrons who compensated his performance with loose change. It was not until Church was 13 that he began writing his own songs. At this time he wrote most of his music on a cheap electric guitar, which consistently fell out of tune. Church plugged along with his songwriting and guitar practicing and during his senior year of high school landed frequent gigs at local bars playing Jimmy Buffet covers and a few originals. Church formed the band “The Mountain Boys” with his brother and college roommate, but once he moved to Nashville, US he focused his attention on his solo career.

Like many other burgeoning country musicians, Church started his career in Nashville, US writing material for other artists. He helped write Terri Clarks single “The World Needs a Drink” and the Dean Miller song “Whiskey Wings”. Church attempted to break out on his own, but was met with hesitation amongst several producers and record labels. However when Church performed “Lightning” a song inspired by the movie “Green Mile”, Capitol Nashville signed him on their label. Church’s debut album was an instant success producing three single tracks that made it into the Country Charts top 30. Following this release Church scored opening spots on tours with Brad Paisley and Rascal Flats.

Church’s commercial success seemed to progressively grow with each album release. His second album “Carolina” contained 2 top 10 hits being “Love Your Love the Most” and “Hell on the Heart”. Church’s next album sent him into the stratosphere of stardom. His 2011 LP “Chief” entered number 1 on the top Country Albums as well as the Billboard 200. The album was also up for a Grammy in 2012.

Other than Church’s blatant Country influences such as superstars Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney and Outlaw influences like Hank Williams Jr. and Waylon Jennings, he is also a confessed fan of heavy metal bands such as Metallica and AC/DC. In the early stages of Church’s career he even received inspiration from his parents diverse taste in music ranging from Bluegrass to Motown.

Born and raised in Dixon, California, Jon Pardi was introduced to country music while still in nappies; endeared to the music of George Jones and Hank Williams Jr. Making use of his grandmother’s country karaoke machine, the young singer made his debut at the age of seven at his father’s 30th birthday party with the single “Friends in Low Places”. By the age of 12 Pardi was writing his own songs with musical accompaniment, and subsequently joined his first band aged 14. After graduating from high school Jon, alongside friend Chase McGrew, Pardi formed a country music duo who played the regional club circuit, before enrolling in Butte Junior College and performing with the group Northern Comfort.

With the unshakeable dream of finding success in the country music capital, Pardi moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2008 and worked as a life guard. It wasn’t long before the musician’s name was generating attention, notably for his songwriting, and by 2010 inked his first publishing deal. The deal enabled Pardi to work with a host of successful artists, promote his name further, and ultimately led the musician to sign with Capitol Records Nashville in 2011.

Featuring friend and producer Bart Butler at the production reigns, the singer begun work on his debut album, the first single of which “Missin’ You Crazy” arrived in March 2012. Marking his debut on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, it was his second, Top 10 single “Up All Night” which exposed Pardi to a large country music audience. In January 2014 the singer-songwriter issued his debut full-length album “Write You a Song”. Peaking at No. 3 on the U.S. Country Album Chart and No. 14 on the Billboard 200, the record proved a critically acclaimed, cohesive country album, and spawned the subsequent singles “What I Can’t Put Down” and “When I’ve Been Drinking”.

Blessed with raw talent, his powerful sound landed him a solo performance in the fabled Carnegie Hall while he was still in high school.

Of course, city slicking wasn’t in Luke’s plans. He dropped out of college in his senior year and moved to Nashville, the epicenter of his beloved country genre, where he concentrated on improving his guitar-playing and songwriting skills. After honing his stage presence in countless live performances, he self-released key songs on early EPs including the single “Hurricane.”

Garnering audience buzz, Combs caught the attention of River House/Columbia Nashville, his first big recording contract. Reworking “Hurricane” for radio gave Combs his first hit, selling 15,000 copies and hitting #46 on the Billboard Country chart. This led to singing with Sony Music Nashville, and one more re-release of “Hurricane.” His debut album release, 2017s This One’s For You, solidified Combs’ status by reaching number one on the chart.

Comb’s next big hit was an evolution from “Hurricane’s” slow-burn buildup to the moving ballad “Beautiful Crazy” in 2018. The song charted at number one for almost two months and played a huge role in his becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry. It also helped him hit a huge milestone in becoming the first artist to hit Billboard's top country charts at the same time: Top Country Albums, Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, Country Streaming Songs, and Country Digital Song Sales.

Luke then hit the road hard and built up a fanbase on the back of his energetic, dominating performances, revealing his skill in capturing his audiences in ways few artists do. From 2017 to the present, Combs has relentlessly toured, both as headliner and in support of other artists like Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson. His exclusive live performances on platforms like Apple Music have further cemented his reputation as a solid live act.

In the midst of all that stage time, Luke Combs continues to create new music. In 2019, he dropped what was destined to be another number one country album, What You See Is What You Get. Proving once again his ability to please country music fans, Combs charted more hits like “Even Though I’m Leaving,” “Does to Me,” and the crowd-pleasing “Beer Never Broke My Heart.”

The unstoppable Combs brought it again in 2022. His Growin’ Up LP once again made number one on the country charts with hits like “Doin’ This” and “The Kind of Love We Make.” Combs balances a bold new confidence with reflective humility, while his audiences continue to feel close to a singer who, despite being more popular than ever, yet never forgets where he came from.

Those are the words of country superstar Cody Johnson, the former rodeo rider turned musician. In his two-disc album Human: The Double Album, Cody Johnson — also known as CoJo — opted for songs that Nashville had written off as “too country for country.”

Taking creative risks is nothing for Johnson. One might assume that earning accolades like CMA and ACM Awards nominations, a Platinum single (“On My Way To You”), more than 2 billion streams worldwide, and two RIAA-Gold-Certified tracks is best accomplished by playing by the rules. However, risk-taking is in Johnson’s DNA, and it’s something he’s not going to give up — particularly when it comes to his music.

Born in East Texas in 1987, Johnson started playing music at age 12. He loved it from the start, but his Texas upbringing also introduced him to another, more adrenaline-fueled love: riding bulls at the rodeo. Even as he formed the Cody Johnson Band in 2006 with his father and drummer Nathan Reedy, rodeo pulled at Johnson’s heart.

Later in his career, Johnson would immortalize this journey in song. “All that rodeo, that intense high of riding bulls and thinking that was what I was going to do, and that intense low of that instant realization at a young age that I wasn't good enough and I didn't finish that," says Johnson, "That almost depressed area of my life... all that was allowed to happen to me for one song."

Perhaps music had its own way of rectifying this struggle. On May 15, 2019, Johnson made history by becoming the first unsigned musician ever to sell out the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. If ever there were a case of fate assuring someone that they’re on the right course, this would be it.

Earlier that year, Johnson had released his seventh studio album Ain’t Nothin’ To It with Warner Bros. Records Nashville. This album gave him his first Top 40 hit on Country Airplay. There was plenty of touring to be done on such a monumental record, which is perhaps what led to the nearly three-year gap between this and his subsequent record.

When Human: The Double Album arrived in October 2021, it was the result of the years Johnson spent writing and retracing his songwriting roots. The result was a selection of authentic country songs that Johnson felt particularly attached to. When it came time to choose which ones were going on the record, Johnson says he tagged all of them as necessary to the album. That meant a true double album, each with an A and a B side.

“What I did was put the songs together in sequential order as if it was a set list, and I was going to play you this album live. If there’s a theme to this project, it’s that the album is a set list.”

Initially coming together as a duo of Kimberly Roads and Karen Fairchild, the college friends soon brought in Jimi Westbrook and Phil Sweet to expand the lineup, becoming a quartet by 1998. After initially struggling to find record label support, the success of another country vocal group, Dixie Chicks, made Little Big Town appear a commercially viable option, eventually signing with Monument Records in 2000.

It was two years before any recorded material surfaced but with "Don't Waste My Time," the band had their debut single. Bolstered by a number of minor hits, their self-titled debut album grew into a moderate success that same year. However, it was in 2005 that the band found superstardom, through their second record, "The Road," which spawned several Top 20 hit singles.

Despite the Platinum-selling success of their second release, 2007's "A Place to Land" failed to build on the previous commercial success. Although through extensive touring and high profile support slots with Sugarland and Carrie Underwood, the band continued to grow. 2010's breakout hit single, "Little White Church" brought Little Big Town more chart success, reaching number 14 on Billboard's country chart, helping to establish their fourth album, "The Reason Why."

In 2012, the band managed to top the country charts with the single "Pontoon," the lead single off their fifth record, "Tornado," released the same year. The album itself shot to the number two spot on the Billboard 200, bringing Little Big Town their biggest chart success of their career. Utilizing producer Jay Jayce's talents once again, they released "Pain Killer" in 2014, featuring the lead single, "Day Drinking."