Who are the Current Country Music Stars?

Find out who the current country music stars are and learn about their music and careers.

Tim McGraw

McGraw has released fifteen studio albums, ten of those albums have been certified multi-platinum. He has also produced thirty-six number one singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, three of which (“It’s Your Love”, “Just to See You Smile”, and “Live Like You Were Dying”) he co-wrote with former songwriter and producer Byron Gallimore. McGraw has won three Grammy Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music Awards, 11 Country Music Association Awards, 10 American Music Awards, and three People’s Choice Awards.

Early Life

Early Life
Born in Delhi, Louisiana, on May 1, 1967, Tim McGraw was the youngest child of Tug McGraw and his first wife, Betty Trimble. After his parents’ divorced when he was 10, McGraw was raised by his mother in Start, Louisiana. There, he played baseball and basketball and ran track. In 1985, he graduated from Northeast Louisiana University with a degree in communications.

Career

McGraw’s debut album was released on April 7, 1993. His first single “What Room Was the Holiday In”, peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Top Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1992. McGraw’s second album Not a Moment Too Soon, was his breakthrough success and was released on May 3, 1994. It reached number one on the Billboard 200albums chart and Top Country Albums chart, selling 1.5 million copies in the United States. The album produced six top 10country hits, including “Indian Outlaw” and “Don’t Take the Girl”, which became his first Number One hits in 1994. “Down On The Farm” and “I Like It, I Love It”was also included on this album and both were nominated for Grammy Awards in 1996.

Personal Life

Tim McGraw was born in Delhi, Louisiana, the son of Betty D’Agostino and former professional baseball player Tug McGraw. He was raised by his mother in Start, also in Richland Parish, although she moved the family to Rayne, Louisiana, in 1989. Throughout his life in Rayne he was known as “The Frog”. McGraw is of Italian and Irish descent on his mother’s side, and of Scottish descent on his father’s side. He has a younger sister named Jenny and an older brother named Mark.

On December 28, 1987, aged 19 years old, he married his high school sweetheart Faith Hill after they both graduated from high school that year. They have since released numerous albums together. The couple has three daughters: Gracie Katherine (b. 1997), Maggie Elizabeth (b. 1998) and Audrey Caroline (b. 2001).

Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood is a American singer, songwriter, and actress. She rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, and has since become one of the most successful country music artists in history. Underwood has sold more than 65 million records worldwide, and has won seven Grammy Awards, as well as numerous other awards.

Early Life

Carrie Marie Underwood was born on March 10, 1983, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She is the daughter of Carole (Shatswell) and Steve Underwood. She has two older sisters, Shanna and Stephanie, and a younger brother named Chris. Her musical influences come from her mother, who was a country music fan, and her grandmother, who introduced her to artists such as Patsy Cline.

Underwood attended Green Country Technology Center in Claremore, Oklahoma, where she studied to be a veterinarian. She graduated from Checotah High School in 2001 as Salutatorian. After high school, she worked at a local tanning salon before starting college at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on a partial music scholarship. However, she later transferred to Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow after winning a full-ride talent contest called “Famous Folks” which was put on by country artist Toby Keith. In 2006, she graduated from NSUBA with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with an emphasis in journalism.

Career

Career
Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was released in 2005 and is the fastest-selling debut country album by a female act in Nielsen SoundScan history and the bestselling solo feminine album of all time. The album was certified seven times platinum and produced three number one songs: “Inside Your Heaven”, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats”. Her second album, Carnival Ride, followed in 2007 and was certified quadruple-platinum. It had one of the biggest ever opening weeks by a female artist and earned Underwood two Grammy Awards: Best New Artist and Best Country Album. Her next album releases included 2009’s Play On (3× Platinum), 2012’s Blown Away (2× Platinum), 2014’s Greatest Hits: Decade #1 (Platinum) and a Christmas-themed album My Gift ( Platinum). She is the only female artist to ever have all first four studio albums certified multi-platinum or higher by RIAA.

Underwood has sold more than 65 million records worldwide. She has amassed fourteen number one singles on the Billboard Country Airplay chart as of January 2020, as well as twenty-one Number Ones on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart which ties her with Reba McEntire for the most among females. She is also tied with Wendy Moten for second most top tens on Hot Country Songs chart with thirty six, behind only McEntire with forty seven. All fourteen of her number one singles on Airplay have also reached number one on Hot Country Songs making her tied with McEntire again for most number ones in history on both charts among females. Underwood is also ideasas second artist overall among all acts behind McEntire again who holds both records for most number ones on Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts respectively. Grammy Award winning singer Faith Hill holds third place with twelve number ones followed by Keith Urban who has achieved eleven chart toppers throughout his career.

Personal Life

Carrie Underwood was born on March 10, 1983, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, to parents Barbara and Stephen Underwood. She has two brothers, Shilo and Justin. When she was a baby, her family moved to the nearby town of Checotah. Her father worked in oilfields while her mother was a schoolteacher. Carrie Underwood was homeschooled through high school. In 2001, she graduated as valedictorian of her class at Checotah High School.

After high school, Carrie Underwood attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on a softball scholarship. While she was in college, she auditioned for American Idol’s fourth season and made it to the Top 10. After finishing as the runner-up on American Idol, Carrie Underwood moved to Nashville and began working on her debut album with music producer Mark Bright. Her first single, “Inside Your Heaven,” debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and her album Some Hearts followed suit, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

Since then, Carrie Underwood has released five more albums – Carnival Ride (2007), Play On (2009), Blown Away (2012), Storyteller (2015), and Cry Pretty (2018) – all of which have debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. She has also won 7 Grammy Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards, 11 Country Music Association Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music Awards, and 3 American Music Awards. In 2010, she was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and in 2014 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In addition to her musical success, Carrie Underwood is also an accomplished actress. She made her film debut as Organ Grinder Betsey in 2006’s The Benchwarmers and has since appeared in such films as Soul Surfer (2011) and The Sound of Music Live! (2013). She also starred as Maria von Trapp in NBC’s live television adaptation of The Sound of Music in 2013. On television, Carrie Underwood has hosted Saturday Night Live three times and served as a guest judge on American Idol for its ninth season finale in 2010.

Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton is an American country music singer and songwriter. In 2001, he made his debut with the single “Austin”. The lead-off single from his self-titled debut album, “Austin” spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Early Life

Blake Tollison Shelton was born in Ada, Oklahoma, to Dorothy, a beauty salon owner, and Richard Shelton, a used car salesman. She has a younger sister named Endy. From the age of six, Shelton was raised on a family farm in Ada, Oklahoma; he has two olderstepbrothers named Richie and Troy Gentry and an older sister named Ashley Wilke. Growing up, he was taught how to hunt deer and fish trout by his father. When Shelton was thirteen years old he started helping out at his dad’s automotive shop after school

Career

Shelton’s first album was the self-titled Blake Shelton (2001), which was followed by the release of his second album, The Dreamer (2003). From 2003 to 2005, Shelton released three more albums: Blake Shelton’s Barn & Grill (2004), Pure BS (2007), and Startin’ Fires (2008). In 2009 and 2010, he occupied the top slot on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart with Hillbilly Bone and All About Tonight.

Personal Life

Shelton was married to Kaynette Gern from 2003 to 2006. He was then married to Miranda Lambert from 2011 to 2015. In May 2017, Shelton announced his engagement to Gwen Stefani.

Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean is a famous country music singer who has been in the industry for over a decade. He has released eight studio albums, with his most recent one being Rearview Town, which came out in 2018. Aldean has won numerous awards, including the Academy of Country Music Award for Artist of the Year.

Early Life

Jason Aldine Williams was born on February 28, 1977, in Macon, Georgia, to Debbie (née Peek) and Barry Williams. His mother is a high school teacher and his father is a former countryside rock musician. Growing up, the young Aldean was raised on Hank Williams Jr. and George Straitmusic and played guitar in his church band before he reached high school.

Aldean graduated from Windsor Academy, in his hometown of Macon, Georgia in 1995. He then proceeded to attend Wallace State Community College in Selma, Alabama where he played baseball before moving to Nashville, Tennessee in the late 1990s to pursue a career in country music.

Career

Jason Aldine Williams (born February 28, 1977), known professionally as Jason Aldean, is an American country music singer. Since 2005, Jason Aldean has been signed to Broken Bow Records, a record label for which he has released nine albums and 24 singles. His 2010 album My Kinda Party is certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Eight more of his singles have reached the top 10.

Aldean was born in Macon, Georgia, in the United States. His parents were teenagers when he was born. His mother’s name is Debbie and his father’s name is Barry Aldean. He was raised in Holbrook, New York, by his mother and her family. Aldean began writing songs when he was seven years old and started trying to play guitar when he was nine years old. He started entered talent competitions when he was ten years old and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1997 to pursue a career in country music. He worked at a publishing company called Widowmaker Music and co-wrote songs with Brian Kelley and Michael Houser.

Personal Life

Jason Aldean was born Jason Aldine Williams in Macon, Georgia, on February 28, 1977, to mother Debbie and father James. His parents divorced when he was three, and he was raised by his mother. Debbie later remarried to a man named Jeff Hewitt, and Aldean took his stepfather’s last name. He has an older sister named Jessica. As a child, music was always present in Aldean’s life. His mother worked in the music industry as a talent scout and his stepfather was a drummer in the band at their local church. Both of his grandfathers were also passionate about music and played in country bands. Aldean began playing guitar when he was 14 years old.

Aldean married his high school sweetheart, Jessica Ussery, on August 4, 2001. The couple has two daughters together: Kendyl (born August 20, 2007) and Keeley (born June 10, 2013). In 2013, Aldean admitted to having an affair with former American Idol contestant Brittany Kerr. He filed for divorce from Ussery in April 2014, and the divorce was finalized that November. In March 2015, Aldean announced his engagement to Kerr; they married on March 21, 2015. The couple has one son together: Memphis (born December 1, 2017).

Keith Urban

Keith Urban is a current country music star who is known for his talented singing and guitar playing. He has been a part of the country music scene since the early 2000s and has released many successful albums and singles. Some of his most popular songs include “Somebody Like You,” “Days Go By,” and “You’ll Think of Me.”

Early Life

Keith Lionel Urban was born on October 26, 1967, in New Zealand, of Welsh and Irish descent. He was raised in Australia. His parents divorced when he was 4 years old and he split his time between his mother’s home in Brisbane, Queensland and his father’s home in Caboolture, Queensland. As a child, he played cricket and rugby union; he took up guitar at age 6. When Keith was eight years old, his mother remarried and the family moved to Brisbane.

On June 5, 2017, Urban announced that he had become a United States citizen.

Career

Keith Urban has been a fixture on the country music scene since his self-titled debut album was released in 1999. He has released a total of nine studio albums, with his most recent, Graffiti U, coming out in 2018. He has also achieved massive success as a singles artist, with thirty-three of his singles charting on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, of which fourteen have reached number one. In addition to his musical success, Keith Urban has also found success as a judge on the reality television show American Idol.

Personal Life

Keith Urban was born on October 26, 1967, in New Zealand. He is the youngest of three children. His mother, Marienne, was a teacher, and his father, Robert, was a carpenter. The family emigrated to Australia when Keith was a child.

Urban began playing guitar at the age of six. He cites James Taylor and George Harrison as his early influences. He later became attracted to country music after hearing Hank Williams Jr.’s “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight.”

Urban began his professional career as a session guitarist in Australia. He moved to the United States in 1992 and found work as a session musician in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1999, he released his self-titled debut album. The album’s lead single, “But for the Grace of God,” became a top 10 hit on the Billboard country charts.

Urban achieved mainstream success with his second album, Golden Road (2002). The album’s first single, “Somebody Like You,” topped the Billboard country charts and reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Golden Road also produced the singles “Raining on Sunday” and “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me.”

In 2005, Urban released his third album, Be Here. The album’s lead single, “Better Life,” topped the country charts and reached the top 40 on the Hot 100 chart. Be Here also produced the singles “Making Memories of Us” and “Tonight I Wanna Cry.”

Urban took a break from recording after Be Here to focus on his personal life. In 2006, he married Nicole Kidman. The couple has two children: Sunday Rose (born 2008) and Faith Margaret (born 2010).

Urban returned to music with his fourth album, Defying Gravity (2009). The album’s lead single,”Sweet Thing,” topped the country charts and became Urban’s ninth number one hit overall. Defying Gravity also produced the hit singles “Only You Can Love Me This Way” and “‘Til Summer Comes Around.”

In 2012, Urban released his fifth album, Fuse. The album’s lead single,”Little Bit of Everything,” topped the country charts and became Urban’s tenth number one hit overall. Fuse also produced the hit singles “We Were Us” (a duet with Miranda Lambert) and “Somewhere in My Car.”

In 2016, Urban released his sixth album Ripcord. The album’s lead single,”Wasted Time,” topped the country charts and became Urban’s eleventh number one hit overall. Ripcord also produced the hit singles “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and “The Fighter” (a duet with Carrie Underwood).