10 Of The Greatest And Most Famous Country Singers From Georgia

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Written by Laura Macmillan
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While it’s known for being the home to the World of Coca-Cola, Vidalia onions, and world-famous peaches, the state of Georgia has a lot more to offer than great food and drinks! Some of the most beloved country music artists call Georgia home. From Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia has left its mark on the genre. 

Country music traditions like bluegrass and rockabilly tunes have a long history throughout the south, especially in the Peach State. Some of the most iconic country music songs ever released have been sung by Georgians like Alan Jackson and Trisha Yearwood.

And to celebrate all this talent, we’ve put together a list of 10 of the greatest and most famous country singers from Georgia. Let’s jump in.

1. Alan Jackson

Up first, we have Alan Jackson, who is from Newnan, Coweta County, about 40 miles outside of Atlanta. From humble beginnings, Jackson’s family once lived in his grandfather’s tool shed. 

As a child, Jackson sang gospel music but began writing his own music in the early 1980s. After moving to Nashville, Jackson recorded his first album in 1987. Since then, he has sold more than 75 million records globally.

Jackson popularized many songs by blending honky-tonk sounds with modern country. He has had 15 of his albums chart the Billboard Top Country Albums, with 9 of those becoming multi-Platinum.

His performances have been recognized with two Grammys and more than 30 number-one hits. In 2017, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Related: Up next, check out our best country singers of all time post here. 

2. Jason Aldean 

Next is Jason Aldean, who is a singer, songwriter, and producer from Macon, Georgia. Aldean spent most of his childhood in there with his mother. Still, during the summer, he often spent months at his father’s home in Homestead, Florida, where his love for country music developed.

His career had started in the late 1990s, but after he signed with Broken Bow Records in 2005, it took off. Since then, Aldean has released ten albums, with “My Kinda Party” being certified quadruple-Platinum and “Night Train” double-Platinum. In addition, he has registered almost 30 number-one hits on the Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts.  

Some of his most famous songs include “Dirt Road Anthem,” “You Make It Easy,” and “If I Didn’t Love You,” a collaboration with Carrie Underwood.

Outside of music, Aldean frequently raises funds for breast cancer research. Not only that, he co-owns a hunting company with several others, including Luke Bryan.

3. Trisha Yearwood

“She’s in Love With the Boy” singer Trisha Yearwood was born in Monticello. She had a keen passion for music from an early age and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1985 to study for a business music degree.

She took country music by storm in 1991 when she released the song mentioned above, which became a #1 hit. Her self-titled debut album sold more than two million copies. Over the next five years, she released many other popular songs like “Walkaway Joe” and “XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl).” 

Yearwood continued to see country music success through the 1990s and early 2000s. She has won three Grammy awards and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry. In addition to her music, Yearwood is a popular food television host and cookbook author. She is married to another country music legend, Garth Brooks. 

4. Colt Ford

Born Jason Farris Brown, Colt Ford is from Athens, Clarke County. Interestingly, before he acquired fame as an artist, he was a professional golfer and played on the Nationwide Tour.

Ford has released seven albums with a record label that he co-founded. Most notably, he wrote “Dirt Road Anthem,” made famous by a fellow Georgian Jason Aldean. He has built a reputation for blending traditional country with rap.

His collaborations have seen him perform with numerous other country musicians, such as John Michael Montgomery and Montgomery Gentry. Ford is the only artist to have reached #1 on both Top Rap Albums and Billboard Top Country Albums charts.

5. Zac Brown

Zac Brown comes from Atlanta and is the lead singer and namesake of the Zac Brown Band. He grew up on Lake Lanier, a large man-made lake in north Georgia, with eleven siblings. 

Alongside his father and brothers, Brown played bluegrass music throughout his childhood. In high school, he performed independently in local bars and other venues. 

In 2002, the Zac Brown Band began recording music. Since then, the group has had 16 studio albums and at least 13 number-one hits, including “Where the Boat Leaves From” and “Chicken Fried.” The group is known for its southern rock-infused country music. 

6. Thomas Rhett

Born in Valdosta, Thomas Rhett is the son of country music artist Rhett Akins. When he was young, he sometimes performed on stage with his father. Rhett dropped out of college to seek success as a country musician. 

In 2013, he released his first studio album, It Goes Like This, which was lauded by one critic for being musically diverse. Since then, he has produced six more albums, two of which have gone Platinum and one Gold. Two of his albums have reached #1 on the Billboard 200.

In 2017 and 2019, he was nominated for Best Country Album at the Grammy Awards. Some of his most famous songs include “Die a Happy Man,” “Marry Me,” and “Country Again.” 

Rhett is also a prolific songwriter and has composed material for other country artists like Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line.

7. Luke Bryan

One of the most commercially successful singers in modern country, Luke Bryan, was born in Leesburg, Georgia. Before moving to Nashville to pursue his career, Bryan attended Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.

In 2007, he released his first album, I’ll Stay Me. Since then, he has had 27 number ones, like “Country Girl Shake it for Me” and “I Don’t Want This Night To End.” Besides his own music, Bryan has written songs for other musicians like Travis Tritt and Billy Currington.

In 2013, he was named Entertainer of the Year by the Academy of Country Music Awards. Then, in 2018, he joined American Idol as a judge. 

8. Kip Moore

“Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck” singer Kip Moore comes from Tifton, a small city in Tift County, Georgia. He began playing music while studying at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama. 

Before his big break, Moore often performed at the Mellow Mushroom restaurant in Valdosta. His debut album in 2012, Up All Night, was certified Platinum and was well-received by critics. It featured multiple hits, including “Beer Money,” “Hey Pretty Girl,” and the number-one smash hit mentioned above.

He has since released four albums and had multiple charted singles. Aside from his music, the Tifton native co-manages a lodge in Rogers, Kentucky.

9. Billy Currington 

Hailing from Savannah, Billy Currington started his musical career by writing songs and singing in bars. In 2003, he signed with Mercury Records Nashville and released an eponymous album, which charted on Billboard Top Heatseekers.

Since then, he has released seven albums and earned 11 number-one singles. His second album, Doin’ Somethin’ Right, was certified Platinum while three others have gone Gold.

Some of his biggest hits include “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right,” “People Are Crazy,” and “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To.” In 2010, he was nominated for a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

10. Sam Hunt

Our last singer, Sam Hunt, was born in Cedartown, Georgia. He has built a reputation for blending various genres into his music, from R&B to pop.

Before his music career, Hunt was a college athlete and attended open tryouts for the professional football team, the Kansas City Chiefs. When he hung up his cleats, Hunt turned to writing songs for numerous iconic stars, including Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and Reba McEntire.  

His breakthrough as a singer came with his debut album, Montevallo, in 2014, which stormed the charts and delivered four #1 songs on the Country Airplay charts.

Summing Up Our List Of Georgian Country Singers

As you can see from the list of musicians above, Georgia has been a hot spot for country music for decades.

From Trisha Yearwood taking over the radio waves in the 1990s to Thomas Rhett’s latest releases, the Peach State has made a lasting mark on country music. 

However, this list barely scratches the surface, and there are many more amazing country singers we haven’t mentioned.

Who did we miss off? Let us know and we’ll add them in!

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Laura has over 12 years experience teaching both classical and jazz saxophone and clarinet. She now resides in California where she works as a session and live performer.