24 Famous Country Music Singers We Wish Were Still Alive
As we gear up to celebrate the best of today's country music at the 52nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards, it seemed a fitting time to take a look back at the country music legends we have lost. Some passed away far before their time while others played well into their 80s, but they all left a lasting mark on the country music community.
Patsy Cline
It's difficult to define the singular magic of Patsy Cline. But as soon as her intoxicating hit, "I Fall to Pieces," hits your ears, it's easy to remember why we still miss her. Though her life was cut short at age 30 in a tragic plane crash, her mark on country music, especially the classic "Nashville Sound" she helped create, is still going strong in the hearts of family, friends, and fans over 50 years later.
Listen to Patsy Cline on Spotify.
Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash
There's good reason so much folklore surrounds the Man in Black and his wife, June. The couple lived a storied and memorable life from their initial meeting backstage at the Grand Ole Opry in 1956 (June was singing backup for Elvis Presley) to their Grammy Award-winning duet "Jackson." Country music's original power couple continues to fascinate us—just read this touching love letter from Johnny to June on her 65th birthday in 1994.
Listen to Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash on Spotify.
Merle Haggard
There is nobody like Merle Haggard and it's hard to capture in words what this country icon meant to his fans. Perhaps Rolling Stone's Jason Fine captured the renegade star's spirit best: "I don't know if Merle was ever totally at peace in his life, but after six decades on the run it was obvious that he was home."
Listen to Merle Haggard on Spotify.
Joey Feek
The singer and songwriter, and half of duo Joey + Rory, showed us all what courage looks like as she fought a terminal diagnosis of cervical cancer in 2015. Sometimes, we were lucky enough to get a glimpse of her sharing a special moment with daughter Indiana, other times we awww-ed over a loving exchange with husband Rory Feek. Always, she reminded us to find pure joy in the little things and root yourself in the present. Her solo album If Not For You is coming out on April 7 and will be accompanied by a collection of photos and stories documenting the couple and their musical career.
Listen to Joey + Rory on Spotify.
Hank Williams
A musical genius lost far too soon at age 29 in 1953 (allegedly of heart failure, though numerous theories surround his mysterious death), Hank William's rich catalog, ranging from beloved love songs ("Cold, Cold Heart," "Your Cheatin' Heart") to ballads capturing the country-western musical culture of the '40s and '50s ("Honky-Tonkin,'" "Honky Tonk Blues") remain popular classics to this day. With his signature warbly vocal chops and poignant lyrics, it's really no surprise.
Listen to Hank Williams on Spotify.
Little Jimmy Dickens
Born as James Dickens, this inimitable star died at 94 in 2015. Though he may have been under five-feet tall, his larger-than-life persona was palpably felt at the Grand Ole Opry where he performed regularly from 1948 until December 2014, just days before he suffered a stroke.
Listen to Little Jimmy Dickens on Spotify.
Buck and Bonnie Owens
They may not be as recognizable as other country music couples like Johnny and June, but their influence on country music is profound. In 1965, Buck took home the Academy of Country Music Award for Top Male Artist, while Bonnie took home Top Female Artist (though it was then known as the Academy of Country & Western Music). Though the marriage didn't last, Buck's pioneering movement in Bakersfield, California changed the course of country forever (and even inspiring The Beatles), while Bonnie's smooth vocals and honest lyrics (she also toured extensively with her second husband, Merle Haggard) cement her spot in country music history.
Listen to Buck Owens and Bonnie Owens on Spotify.
Holly Dunn
The singer succumbed to ovarian cancer in 2016, leaving a major hole in our hearts. Rising to fame in the '80s and '90s, her morose and moving song, "Daddy's Hands," from her 1986 self-titled album, offers a rare strain of emotion that is truly moving. In 1987, Dunn was honored both by the Academy of Country Music Award with an award for New Female Vocalist of the Year and the Country Music Association Award for New Artist of the Year.
Listen to Holly Dunn on Spotify.
Lynn Anderson
"I beg your pardon / I never promised you a rose garden / Along with the sunshine / There's gotta be a little rain some time," croons Lynn Anderson in her upbeat 1970 hit "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden." In 1971, among other notable awards from the CMA and ACM, she also took home a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Rose Garden." Then, in 1974, Anderson became the first female country singer to sell out New York City's Madison Square Garden. Sadly, Anderson died of a heart attack in 2015.
Listen to Lynn Anderson on Spotify.
Mindy McCready
Another female country singer who left us far too soon, McCready died of what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 2013. With beloved singles ranging from "Ten Thousand Angels" to "You'll Never Know," our favorite lyrics hail from "A Girl's Gotta Do (What A Girl's Gotta Do):" "The first thing I did when you said goodbye / Was sit myself down and have a real good cry / The next thing I did was put my red dress on / And went downtown dancin' till the break of dawn." Indeed, she had many songs and albums grace the Billboard Country charts, but we also recognize McCready for her brave public portrayal of grappling with her drug and psychological issues, particularly when she joined the cast of VH1's Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.
Listen to Mindy McCready on Spotify.
Tammy Wynette
To honor Tammy Wynette's life is to celebrate her grace, ever-distinct voice, and so many timeless classics still in heavy rotation on our playlists. Heck, the "First Lady of Country Music," even inspired today's female country powerhouse Miranda Lambert to name her cherished pickup "Tammy." Though there are too many great Tammy moments to count, one of the all-time greatest has to be this 1970s performance of "Golden Ring," performing for the first time with George Jones after the couple's divorce. Wynette passed away in 1998 at the age of 55.
Listen to Tammy Wynette on Spotify.
Conway Twitty
It's no easy feat to find a country duet we adore more than Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn's "After The Fire Is Gone." His velvety voice complemented Lynn's trilling riffs perfectly, and the duo have a long list of CMA, ACM and American Music Awards to serve as a testament to their ethereal duets. Twitty died suddenly of a ruptured blood vessel while on tour in 1993, and his last album, fittingly titled "Final Touches," was released later that year.
Listen to Conway Twitty on Spotify.
Marty Robbins
As Marty Stuart writes in his tribute to Robbins in the ACM's book This is Country: A Backstage Pass to the Academy of Country Music Awards, "Merle Haggard and I once talked about Marty Robbins and his impact on our culture. Merle's observation was, 'The world is filled with imitators, but I've yet to meet the man who could pull Marty Robbins' train. It's too deep in there. It's the pure sound of his voice that was so much of his power, and that can never be duplicated.'" We couldn't agree more.
Listen to Marty Robbins on Spotify.
Ralph Stanley
When people think of bluegrass, it's Ralph Stanley that often comes to mind—with his banjo playing, one-of-a-kind voice, and Appalachian roots. Among other achievements, Ralph achieved notoriety with his brother Carter in their group The Stanley Brothers, and he continued to tour under the name after his brother's death in 1966. If you're not familiar with his work, you may recognize his deep trills in "O Death" from the O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack or his cover of The Velvet Underground's "White Light/White Heat" on the Lawless soundtrack. He died in 2016 at age 89 after a battle with skin cancer.
Listen to Ralph Stanley on Spotify.
Dottie West
Country music fans still lament the untimely loss of Dottie West, who ultimately died from injuries sustained in a car crash on the way to the Grand Ole Opry in 1991. With friends ranging from Willie Nelson to Patsy Cline, West will always be remembered for her duets with another famous friend: Kenny Rogers. The duo recorded two albums together, with 1978's "All I Ever Need is You" also becoming a big hit in 1994 for Sonny & Cher. Her 1973 ode to country life, "Country Sunshine," where she sings "You say you love me and it's inviting, to go where life is more exciting / But I was raised on country sunshine…" will forever be one of our favorite ballads, thanks to its take on the simplistic beauty of growing up in rural areas.
Listen to Dottie West on Spotify.
George Jones
From the first note of George Jones' single "She Still Thinks I Care," it's difficult not to fall in love with the voice of the famed honky tonk musician. Married to fellow country star Tammy Wynette for several years, Jones' musical collaborations with those in the Nashville community are numerous, and the George Jones Entertainment Complex gives modern day fans in Music City an opportunity to learn more about the superstar and see unique memorabilia. He died in 2013, at 81, after being hospitalized with a fever and blood pressure problems. His most famous single, the morose love song "He Stopped Loving Her Today" won the CMA Song of the Year in both 1980 and 1981 (not to mention, he also picked up several Grammy awards),
Listen to George Jones on Spotify.
Greg Trooper
You may not be familiar with his name, but the influence of this talented singer and songwriter had a tremendous influence on country music and Americana. Sadly, he passed away in January 2017 after battling pancreatic cancer, just two days after his 61st birthday. In addition to writing songs for celebrated musicians like Robert Earl Keen and Vince Gill, he put out 13 of his own albums. If you like music with intricate, touching storylines and a dash of Bob Dylan, you'll want to check out his 2013 album "Incident on Willow Street."
Listen to Greg Trooper on Spotify.
Jean Shepard
Country greats like Loretta Lynn all have the sensational Jean Shepard to thank. Born in Oklahoma, the singer became a regular at the Grand Ole Opry for more than 60 years, recording a diverse array of honky tonk hits sure to make you smile. Her1953 duet with Ferlin Husky, "A Dear John Letter," along with "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)," and "The Real Thing" are just a few of her wonderful hits.
Listen to Jean Shepard on Spotify.
Roy Clark
The singer helped popularize the country music genre. Clark was also well known as a television presenter, most notably for the variety show, Hee Haw. He played the guitar, banjo, and the fiddler. His hit songs as a pop vocalist are “Yesterday, when I was young,” and, “Thank God and Greyhound.” He was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009. Clark died at age 85 in 2018 at his home in Tulsa due to pneumonia.
Kenny Rogers
Rogers is one of the best selling artists of all time, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. His first major hit was released in 1968, called, “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).” He received multiple awards, including grammys, CMAs, ACMs, and AMAs, as his career spanned over 7 decades.
Ed Bruce
The veteran country artist wrote the 1975 song, “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.” Bruce also recorded and released the country number one smash hit, “You’re The Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had.” He co-starred in the American Western television series, Bret Maverick. Bruce passed on due to natural causes while home in Tennessee during 2021.
Jerry Lee Lewis
Lewis, who was nicknamed “the killer” and was described as “rock ‘n’ roll’s first great wild man,” was an American pianist, a singer, and songwriter. His number one hits include “To Make Sweeter Love To You,”, “There Must Be More To Love Than This,” , “Would You Take Another Chance on Me,” and, “Me and Bobby McGee.” His career began to dwindle due to his marriage to his 13 year old cousin once-removed, Myra Gale Brown.
Naomi Judd
Judd was one half of the iconic musical duo, The Judds, which she formed with her daughter, Wynonna. The successful country act went on to win five Grammy Awards, and nine Country Music Association Awards. Naomi died the day before she and her daughter were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2022.
Loretta Lynn
Lynn was a singer and songwriter. Her career spanned six decades and she released several gold albums. Them 1980 musical film Coal Miner's Daughter was based on her life. She was nominated for eighteen Grammy Awards, winning three, as well as winning numerous Country Music Awards. Lynn passed away in 2022 in her sleep and is buried next to her husband.
You Might Also Like
