Many artists have been known to have country elements in their genre of choice. But not everyone can make the complete switch to country. Here are some artists who have transitioned into the country music genre after already being established in another. And they did it well.
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1. Steven Tyler
Most people know Steven Tyler from his career with Aerosmith, a band known for classic rock hits like "Dream On" and "Sweet Emotion". What many people don't know, however, is that Tyler's debut solo project was a country album. We're All Somebody From Somewhere was the culmination of years spent in Nashville. There, Tyler honed his craft in country storytelling and collaborated with established songwriters like Jaren Johnston and Hillary Lindsey. The album featured a country version of Aerosmith's hit "Janie's Got A Gun". It was supported by solo tours geared towards an entirely new audience than he had known for most of his career.
2. Lionel Richie
Although Lionel Richie was born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama, and admittedly grew up in a household that listened to country music. He broke onto the scene with R&B hits like "Sweet Love" and "Easy", so no one would have ever guessed that he would eventually make the switch to country. In 2012, he put out The "Tuskagee" album. The record gave credit to his place of birth, and country music fans let it ride to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 Chart and the Country Albums Chart. This success for Richie came second only to "Dancing On The Ceiling", which also topped the charts in 1986.
3. Elle King
After initially gaining recognition for "Ex's and Oh's" in 2015, it was only natural for Elle King to take her sound, which was always influenced by country and folk elements, and take the plunge into a full-on country career. This transition manifested firstly through collaborative moves with established country icons like Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert. King then eventually worked with prominent producers in the space, like Ross Copperman. After releasing her country album, Come Get Your Wife, in 2023, King decided to stick with the genre for the time being. She continues to incorporate that bluesy and soulful edge that her fans know and love.
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