Country music has a lengthy history of artists who have stood the test of time. A genre built on storytelling, it's the artists, whether they wrote the songs or not, whose delivery makes the songs come to life. While there are numerous singers whose voices have stood out in the genre, there are three artists, namely Dolly Parton, George Strait and Reba McEntire, who are easily considered a GOAT, one of the greatest of all time, in country music.
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Three Singers That Are THE GOAT of Country Music
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton has been a mainstay in country music for almost 60 years. The Country Music Hall of Fame member, who turns 79 later this month, has rightfully become one of the most revered artists in country music. It's in large part due to her because of her consistently-flawless vocal delivery.
Parton released her debut Hello, I'm Dolly album in 1967, the unassuming beginning of what would become a historic career. Parton quickly made a name for herself with songs like "Joshua" and "Coat of Many Colors." But it was in 1973 when Parton released the sassy "Jolene," followed by the emotional "I Will Always Love You," that she sealed her fate as a country music superstar.
Parton, perhaps more than any other artist in history, catapulted on her music success to create a business empire that includes books, a theme park, a line of cosmetics, movies, TV shows, an upcoming Broadway musical and more.
Decades later, her music is still relevant. And both aspiring and seasoned artists are trying to emulate her legendary career.
George Strait
There isn't another artist in history who has the career that George Strait has enjoyed. The Texan became the only artist in history to have a Top 10 hit every year for 30 years. She held the record for the most No. 1 hits of any artist, in any genre.
More recently, the 72-year-old set a new concert attendance record, when he performed at Texas A&M University's Kyle Field, singing in front of 110,905 people, setting a new record for concert attendance in the United States as a result.
Strait, who recently received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award for his extraordinary career, released his debut album, Strait Country, in 1981. Staying true to himself, and the country music he makes, in the 44 years since then, Strait will for generations be known as one of the greatest artists of all time.
Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire is far from an overnight success story, which makes her journey in country music so compelling. Discovered by Red Steagall while performing at a rodeo event, McEntire's eponymous debut album came out in 1977. That record failed to produce any singles, with the follow-up, Out of a Dream, released two years later, only producing one song, "Sweet Dreams," that cracked the Top 20.
Undeterred, McEntire kept recording and releasing music, finally hitting the top of the charts with "Can't Even Get the Blues," released in 1982, from Unlimited, McEntire's fifth studio album.
McEntire's voice is instantly recognizable, and like Parton, she has built a successful business brand from her success in country music. But it's McEntire's tenacity that helped her tear down doors in country music, and it's the same tenacity that makes her one of country music's biggest hitmakers, more than 40 years later.
Fortunately, McEntire is still chasing new opportunities, including coaching on The Voice, singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, starring in a new sitcom, Happy's Place, and much more. For all that she has done, chances are good there is still a lot to come from McEntire in the future. Sounds like a GOAT if I ever heard one.
