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Man, I consider myself a country fan, but the only one on that list that I love is Dwight Yoakam.

Most of today's popular country is just pop music with a twang.

I like Junior Brown, BR5-49, Alison Krauss, Buck Owens, Chet Atkins, Chris Knight, Eddy Arnold, Freakwater, Gillian Welch, The Handsome Family, Hank Williams (the first and third, not so much the second), Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristoferson, Mavericks, Patsy Cline, Robert Earl Keen, Steve Earle...

[dfwgator]

Junior Brown can flat out play.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Ever hear of Fiddlin John Carson? He’s my great, great grandpa.

[dmz]

Junior Brown is in a league entirely of his own.

[MissTed]

Love, love, love Patsy Cline! Heard some DJ's saying she could never make it in today's market because she didn't have "the look".

Looking at Shania Twain (who has a awful voice, imo) Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, etc. they kinda have a point. Not any unattractive country singers that I can think of.

[SamAdams76]

I'm a big fan of many of the artists you listed and I might add Neko Case, who is not a pure country artist, but damn good at her trade and her style of music fits right in with Junior Brown, Mavericks, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, etc.

Speaking of Junior Brown, one of the most underrated performers ever. He deserves to be way more famous than he is (same with Neko Case).

Garth Brooks...his first three albums, he was headed for greatness. But he went off the rails with "The Chase" and turned into the Barry Manilow of country music thereafter. Still puts on a decent show but anything he put out since about 1993 sucks really bad.

George Strait is a good choice for number one, can't think of a song by him I don't like.