Influential Black Artists in Country Music

Honoring Black Voices in Country Music

Times are changing and new talent is influencing the country music genre. Dominated by white artists for the longest time, the country music industry is now making for new and uprising black artists.

But this change didn’t happen over time. Keep reading and find out about classic black country artists who paved the way for change along with modern talent.

Charley Pride

Charley Pride is one of the most influential figures when talking about black country artists. He rose to fame in the 1970s, becoming the first African American to set his claws in the mainstream country music genre.

Released in 1971, his all-time hit, “Kiss An Angel Good Morning,” quickly became a major crossover success. With 30 albums and 29 number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, Charley Pride paved the way for other black singers in an industry mainly dominated by white figures.

Darius Rucker

The lead vocalist of the rock band, Hootie & the Blowfish, Darius Rucker earned fame in the country music genre in 2008. The singer’s solo debut country single, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” topped the charts, and rightly so.

This achievement made him the first black artist to reach such a milestone in decades. Over the years, the singer has gathered several awards and accolades in his name.

Mickey Guyton

Rising to fame in 2020, Mickey Guyton became the first black female solo artist to be included in the nominations for a Grammy in the Best Country Solo Performance category. Mickey didn’t shy away from talking about the struggles of a black woman in today’s society.

Her deeply moving song, “Black Like Me” highlighted this exact struggle and the powerful message resonated with many. Besides being praised for her phenomenal voice, Mickey is also loved by fans for her constant advocacy regarding societal issues.

Rhiannon Giddens

Contributing to both country and folk music, Rhiannon Giddens is an African American making big waves in the music industry. She’s a founding member of the Grammy-winning band, Carolina Chocolate Drops.

And with the help of this musical group, she has blessed us with the rich traditions associated with black string bands. Rhiannon celebrates the musical instruments of black heritage like banjo and fiddle.

Tina Turner

Known as the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, “Tine Turner was a remarkably versatile singer. Her unique talent was well showcased in the 1975 album “Tina Turns the Country On. “

The album was bold in terms of interpreting country classics with the singer’s distinctive style. The country singer has won 8 Grammy’s from 25 nominations.

Aaron Neville

Aaron Neville’s rendition of The Grand Tour, originally performed by George Jones, showcased the singer’s ability to bring emotional depth to any song.

Aaron’s hit songs include “Don’t Know Much”, “Everybody Plays the Fool”, and “All My Life”. Aaron has the talent of filling up lyrics with a soulful vibrato.

Cowboy Troy

Troy Coleman, more commonly known as Cowboy Troy, is an influential figure in country rap. He gained widespread recognition for blending traditional country music with rap and hip-hop elements in his debut major-label album, Loco Motive (2005).

Cowboy Troy has frequently collaborated with artists in “MuzikMafia”, and Big & Rich. The 53-year-old singer’s “I Play Chicken with the Train” is still famous after many years.

Reyna Roberts

Seamlessly blending traditional country elements with pop, trap, and a modern flair, Reyna isn’t afraid to test new waters. She’s known for her bold “outlaw country” style.

And named the “Princess of Outlaw Country” with the People’s Choice Country Award for the category of Collaboration Song (2024). The singer has always been an outspoken advocate for diversity in the genre.

Willie Jones

Known for his innovative blend of country, soul, and hip-hop, Willie Jones is an uprising artist in today’s country music scene. His viral single, “Bachelorettes on Broadway,” showcased the singer’s talent and soulful voice.

Similarly, his debut album, “Right Now,” discusses social issues. Jones never disappoints when it comes to delivering songs that resonate with younger and diverse audiences.

Shaboozey

Shaboozey doesn’t shy away from mixing different genres to create genre-defying tracks. He gained significant attention with “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”

This song of his debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 and continued to climb rankings. It was also recently nominated for the Grammy category, Song of the Year, and Best Country Solo Performance.

Tanner Adell

Adell’s songs are the perfect depiction of country glam, in which she mixes country sounds with hip-hop, pop, and high-fashion influences. Released in 2023, Tanner’s “Buckle Bunny” boldly celebrates empowerment and challenges stereotypes.

She also performed the hit single on the BET Amplified Stage presented by Nissan. The singer is seen to be quickly making her name in the country music industry.

Allison Russell

Breaking stereotypes and overcoming racial issues, Allison Russel is slowly but surely making her name in the country music industry. Her songs are a powerful blend of folk, Americana, and country influences.

Her debut solo album, “Outside Child” (2021), portrayed the singer’s journey with past traumas and her strength as a survivor. Her songs like “4th Day Prayer” and “Montreal” have broken genre barriers too.

Yola

Yolanda Claire Quartery, professionally known as Yola, has a talent for mixing country and soul music. Her singing style is heavily influenced by 1970s country and classic soul with the perfect hint of a modern twist.

Her debut solo album “Walk Through Fire” was nominated for four Grammy Award Nominations, including Best New Artist.

Kane Brown

Overcoming significant racial and cultural challenges, Kane Brown has earned fame and respect with his musical background in the country genre. His self-titled debut album, which was released in 2016, became a breakthrough success.

The album was full of hits like “Used to Love You Sober” and “Thunder in the Rain.” These songs gracefully blended traditional country sounds with pop and R&B influences.

Kane Brown, besides being an amazing singer, is also a loving dad.

Check out Kane Brown’s Sweet Fatherhood Struggle to find out how he’s dealing with fatherhood.

Beyonce

Beyonce has been making waves in the country music genre with the release of her album, “Cowboy Carter.” This album has paved the way for a revolutionary change for black artists in country music.

In other news, our queen Beyonce is all set to dazzle during the NFL halftime show. Check out Beyoncé to Headline NFL Christmas Halftime Show for more details.