Country Musicians With the Most Hits

Honky tonk hero Moe Bandy scored 19 Top 10 hits during the 1970s and ’80s, including his two chart-toppers: “I Cheated Me Right Out Of You” and “Just Good Ol’ Boys” — the latter a collaboration with frequent professional partner Joe Stampley. Bandy was a traditionalist in the sense that he rarely strayed far from common country themes such as love, loss, and drinking.

Louisiana native David Houston — a descendent of both Texas icon Sam Houston and General Robert E. Lee — scored 24 Top 10 hits throughout his musical career, including seven No. 1 songs. These include “With One Exception,” “Almost Persuaded,” and “My Elusive Dreams,” a duet with soulful singer Tammy Wynette. Houston died because of a brain aneurysm in 1993.

The Norman, Oklahoma, native has become one of country music’s most successful artists. He sang with country rockers Pure Prairie League before embarking on a solo career. Starting in the early 1990s, the 21-time Grammy winner has placed 25 singles in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Among his hits are “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” “When I Call Your Name,” “Tryin’ to Get Over You,” and “I Still Believe in You,” his first country No. 1.

Since the release of his self-titled debut album in 2005, Georgia native Jason Aldean has had 32 Top 10 hits and nine No. 1’s. Some of his most memorable hits thus far have been “Why,” “Dirt Road Anthem,” and “Fly Over States.” Aldean’s most recent album “9” — released on Nov. 22, 2019 — features the single “We Back,” which peaked at No. 8 this past March.

The Leesburg, Georgia, native, whose influences included Conway Twitty, Ronnie Milsap, Alan Jackson, and Merle Haggard, has placed 29 songs in the Top 10 on Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. He’s had 11 No. 1 songs on the chart, with three of them topping the country chart in 2014 — “Play It Again,” “This Is How We Roll” (with Florida Georgia Line), and “Drink A Beer.”

The smooth sound of Joe Stampley produced singles success for the singer from Springhill, Louisiana, beginning in the early 1970s. Stampley has had 51 songs chart on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list. Among his successes are “Soul Song,” “Bring it on Home (To Your Woman), “All These Things,” and “Roll On Big Mama.”

Known as “The Gentle Giant” because the tall man from Floydada, Florida, had an easy-going manner, Don Williams reeled off 17 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart from the 1970s to the mid-1980s and was one of the most successful performers in country music in the ’70s. He landed his first country No. 1 in 1974 with the song “I Wouldn’t Want To Live If You Didn’t Love Me.” Other chart-toppers from the 1970s include “You’re My Best Friend” and “Say It Again.” Williams had one crossover success, “I Believe In You,” which reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Lynn Anderson first gained notoriety as a songwriter crafting such hits for Merle Haggard as “(All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers” and “The Fugitive.” The North Dakota native then went off on her own singing career and became a big star with hits that included “Rose Garden,” which went to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. “Rose Garden” was one of her five chart-toppers on the Hot Country Songs list. In all, the Grammy winner had 18 songs chart in the Hot Country Top 10.

Dottie West became famous for creating a more sexy country singer persona that some fans found too provocative in the 1970s. Working with Chet Atkins, creator of the Nashville sound, West produced the single “Here Comes My Baby” that was nominated for three Grammys and won for Best Country & Western Vocal Performance – Female. That helped launch chart success on the Hot Country Songs chart, including five No.1 hits, among them “Every Time Two Fools Collide” with Kenny Rogers, “Are You Happy Baby,” and “A Lesson in Leavin’.”

West fell on hard times in the 1980s and filed for bankruptcy. Her attempt at a comeback ended tragically in 1991 when the car she was riding in flipped over and she later died from injuries.

The Alabama native known as the “The Southern Gentleman” posted his first (pre-Hot Country) Top 10 country hit in 1953, at the age of 25. Sonny James turned pop songs by artists like Roy Orbison, The Seekers, and The Chordettes into country tunes. He had 21 songs reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs between 1964 and 1974, three of them in 1968 — “A World Of Our Own,” “Heaven Says Hello,” and “Born To Be With You.”

Ronnie Milsap, who was born nearly blind due to congenital glaucoma, developed an affinity for music at an early age, playing various instruments before picking up the piano. Milsap, who was influenced by R&B and rock and roll, charted on Billboard’s R&B Songs list in 1965 with “Never Had It So Good,” co-written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. Milsap was a fixture on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with 35 No. 1 songs. He posted his first two in 1974 — “Pure Love” and “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends” — and his latest two chart-toppers — “Don’t You Ever Get Tired (Of Hurting Me)” and “A Woman In Love” — in 1989.

Country crooner “Gentleman” Jim Reeves from Galloway, Texas, had one of country’s biggest crossover hits with “He’ll Have To Go,” which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. He authored eight No. 1 hits on the Hot Country Songs chart, singing with his rich mellow baritone voice. “I Guess I’m Crazy,” “Billy Bayou,” and “This Is It” were among his hits. Such was his popularity that six of Reeves’ No.1 hits topped the country chart after his death in an airplane crash in 1964.

The duo of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have sent a total of 57 songs to the Hot Country Songs chart since the early 1990s, with 20 singles hitting No. 1. Among these hits are country radio classics such as “Red Dirt Road,” “Brand New Man,” and “Neon Moon.” Numerous songs from their recent “Reboot” album — which features classic songs performed with newer country musicians — have charted over the past year, including collaborations with Luke Combs, Kacey Musgraves, and Kane Brown.

Baritone-voiced country singer Charley Pride embarked on his solo music career in 1958, recording a demo at the famous Sun Studio in Memphis. It was not until 1966 that he signed to RCA Records, however, and saw his career begin to take off. Over the following decades, Pride would release 52 Top 10 hits, 29 of which topped the Hot Country Songs chart. Among his No. 1 songs are “Night Games,” “Mountain of Love,” and “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’.” Pride is the most successful black country singer of all time.

The country singer-songwriter from Ironton, Ohio, weathered adversity in his youth to create a durable career. Bobby Bare shifted from country to folk to pop and back to country. He was influenced by Bob Dylan and recorded music in England with Liverpool country acts. “Detroit City” was his highest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 16 in August 1963. Bare had 13 Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, with “Marie Laveau” his lone No. 1 in July of 1974.

Bare, who was respected by musicians in various genres, continued to record into the 21st century.

Eddy Arnold took cowboy music and gave it a sleek sound that appealed to the masses, helping take the genre mainstream. Of his 59 songs to appear on the Hot Country Songs chart, seven hit No. 1, including “Make The World Go Away” and “What’s He Doing In My World.” Though the majority of Arnold’s hits charted during the 1960s, he continued to release popular singles through the 1970s and even the early ’80s. His last song to appear on Billboard’s country songs chart was “To Life,” which peaked at No. 49 after RCA re-released it as a single following the singer’s death in 2008.

Faron Young grew up on a dairy farm in Shreveport, Louisiana. He learned to play guitar and eventually became one of the famous honky-tonk practitioners of country music. Young’s career took off after he was discharged from the Army in 1954 and made frequent appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. Young had three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list — “Country Girl,” “It’s Four in the Morning,” and “Hello Walls.” The latter was written by Willie Nelson and was Young’s biggest crossover hit, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961.

The Statler Brothers, who weren’t actual brothers, recorded religious and inspirational songs besides country music. They got their big break when they were asked to tour with Johnny Cash. They toured with the Man in Black from 1963 to 1971. The Statler Brothers released 33 country Top 10 hits, including four No. 1 songs on the Hot Country Songs chart, including “Too Much On My Heart” and “Elizabeth.” Their biggest single on the Billboard Hot 100 was “Flowers on the Wall,” which rose to No. 4 in August of 1966. Over the years, illnesses and death caused changes in the lineup, and they finally retired in 2002.

Garth Brooks succeeded in bringing country music to a new and larger audience by merging traditional country music with the theatrics of arena rock and roll. Brooks created a new level of country popularity in 1991 with his second album “No Fences,” and he followed that success with the precedent-setting “Ropin’ the Wind,” the first country album to debut at the top of the Billboard 200. Brooks became a hit-making conveyor belt with 19 chart-toppers, starting with “If Tomorrow Never Comes” in 1989. The “No Fences” record produced four No.1’s — “Friends In Low Places,” “Unanswered Prayers,” “Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House,” and “The Thunder Rolls.”

Don Gibson was a well-respected country singer from Shelby, North Carolina, whose songs about heartbreak were covered by a variety of artists, including Patsy Cline, Ray Charles, Emmylou Harris, and Neil Young. Gibson churned out 14 Hot Country Songs from 1958 through 1961, including “I Can’t Stop Lovin’ You,” “Blue Blue Day,” and “Lonesome Number One.” He notched his lone country No. 1, “Woman (Sensuous Woman),” in 1972. “Sea Of Heartbreak” was his biggest crossover success, reaching No. 21 in August 1961.

Glen Campbell is one of the most successful country crossover artists in history. He hosted his own variety series, “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,” from 1969 to 1972. The guitar-strumming singer from Delight, Arkansas, had 26 Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including five that reached No. 1. Among those chart-toppers was the massive crossover hit “Rhinestone Cowboy.” Other No.1 songs include “Southern Nights” and “Wichita Lineman.” The multiple-Grammy winner died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease in 2017.

Tanya Tucker was only 13 years old when she scored in 1972 her first hit, “Delta Dawn,” which peaked at No. 6 on the Hot Country Songs charts. Her career continued into adulthood, with the singer releasing 40 Top 10 hits, 10 of which hit No. 1, including the ’80s hits “Just Another Love” and “Strong Enough To Bend.” The oft-times controversial outlaw country figure released a new album last year titled “Bring My Flowers Now,” and the single of the same name hit No. 47 on the country chart.

Before striking out on his own as a performer, Bill Anderson penned the No. 1 hit “City Lights” — performed by Ray Price — at just 19 years of age. He would soon begin his hugely successful career as a singer, eventually accumulating 37 Top 10 hits, seven of which topped the Billboard country chart. He also helped pioneer country-disco in the ’70s. Of all the South Carolina native’s hits, none spent more time on the chart than 1962’s “Mama Sang a Song” — his first single to reach the chart’s top spot.

Porter Wagoner was known for his trademark pompadour hairstyle, rhinestone-studded outfits, and successful partnership with Dolly Parton. Wagoner came from West Plains, Missouri, and built his career singing on local radio stations. He hosted a syndicated TV show in 1960 that ran for about two decades. As the show expanded into about 100 markets, Wagoner scored a series of hits starting in 1962 such as “Misery Loves Company,” “Skid Row Joe,” and “The Carroll County Accident.” Wagoner teamed with Parton in 1968, and they scored 15 Hot Country Songs Top 10 hits, including the No. 1 “Please Don’t Stop Lovin’ Me” in 1974. The three-time Grammy winner released his final album “Wagonmater,” in 2007 and died later that year.

Toby Keith cultivated a swaggering cowboy persona while deftly blending country music with other genres to create a successful career. Keith began playing guitar at 8 years old and was influenced by the country artists who performed at his grandmother’s supper club in Oklahoma. Keith has released 20 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, with his most recent chart-topper, “Made In America,” reaching No. 1 in 2011. Keith tapped into the nation’s anger and patriotism following the 9/11 terrorist attacks with his single “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” in the summer of 2002, though some considered it hostile. The song went to No. 1 on the country chart and crossed over to No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Known as the First Lady of Country Music, Tammy Wynette was among the genre’s most popular singers throughout the 1970s. She had a total of 20 No. 1 hits during her career, including “I Don’t Wanna Play House,” “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” and — perhaps her best known song — “Stand By Your Man,” which spent a total of 22 weeks on the country charts. Wynette also released nine albums with country crooner George Jones, producing major hits such as “Golden Ring” and “We’re Gonna Hold On.”

Country-rock band Alabama are one of the few major hit-makers of the genre to market themselves as a group rather than a vocalist. The band has had 33 No. 1 country singles, including “High Cotton,” “Song of the South,” and “Mountain Music.” The band has reportedly sold 73 million albums and continues to tour.

Ray Price redefined country music with a relentlessly rhythmic sound that is still called the “Ray Price beat.” Price had six chart-toppers on the Hot Country Songs chart and sang some of the most recognizable songs in country music, such as “City Lights,” which went to No. 1 in 1958, “The Same Old Me,” in 1959, and “For the Good Times/Grazin’ in Greener Pastures,” a country No. 1 in 1971 that reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

A native of Perryville, Texas, the Grammy winner’s later career included collaborations with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard and spanned from the early 2000s until his death in 2013. His final album, “Beauty Is… The Final Sessions,” was released posthumously in 2014.

Despite his reputation for shunning the spotlight, Alan Jackson has obtained superstardom in the world of country music with 67 songs reaching the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart’s Top 50, 51 of which entered the Top 10. Jackson began his career working in the new traditionalist style and scored a string of No. 1 hits in 1991 with “I’d Love You All Over Again,” “Don’t Rock the Jukebox,” and “Someday.” His longest-charting single, “Drive (For Daddy Gene),” stayed on the charts for 31 weeks in 2002.

Blake Shelton’s breezy demeanor helped him gain crossover appeal as well landing him a gig as a judge on the musical competition television show “The Voice.” Shelton played the bar circuit in his native Oklahoma before going to Nashville in the 1990s. He got the attention of noteworthy songwriter Bobby Braddock, thus putting him on the trajectory to fame. Shelton scored the first of his 14 Hot Country Songs chart-toppers in 2001 with “Austin.” Other No.1 hits include “Some Beach,” “Home,” and the recently released “God’s Country.”

Mel Tillis was one of country’s most engaging personalities, a performer who used his speech impediment as part of his act and referencing it in his autobiography “Stutterin’ Boy.” The Tampa, Florida, native gained songwriting success in the 1950s, authoring the country chart-topper “Honky Tonk Song” for Webb Pierce. Tillis had six No. 1 songs, including “Southern Rains,” “Good Woman Blues,” and “It Ain’t Over.” He had 36 Top 10 hits.

Marty Robbins (born Martin David Robertson) had a string of hits beginning in the 1950s and leveraged his country music fame to star in western movies in the 1950s and 1960s. Robbins’ early life sounds like a country song about adversity. He never graduated from high school and as a youth committed petty crimes. He learned to play guitar and developed his musical reputation at clubs and bars in his native Arizona. After some chart success, the Grammy winner shot to stardom with the release of “Singing the Blues” in 1956 that was No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart for 13 weeks. Robbins had 11 country chart-toppers, including “El Paso,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. The success of “El Paso” was bolstered by the visibility of the 1959 film “The Hanging Tree,” with Robbins singing the movie’s theme.

Kenny Rogers died on March 20 at age 81. He was one of the most prolific country singers of all time. The Houston native released 21 No. 1 songs on the Hot Country Songs chart, including duets with Dolly Parton — “Islands in the Stream” and “Real Love.” The former song and “Lady” both went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Library of Congress added Rogers’ signature song “The Gambler” to its National Recording Registry in 2018. Other honors included three Grammys and six CMA Awards. Country music historian Bill C. Malone called Rogers the “consummate storyteller, with an intimate and compelling style that almost demands the listener’s concentration.”

It’s been 60 years since Loretta Lynn — now 87 years old — released her debut single “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl.” The song peaked at No. 14 on the country music charts and paved the way for an exceptional career, which has so far seen 72 songs make the charts and 51 reach the Top 10. These songs range from boundary-pushing singles like “Rated X” and “The Pill” to Lynn’s many collaborations with Conway Twitty, including “Lead Me On,” to the beloved, autobiographical No. 1 hit “Coal Miner’s Daughter” which was buoyed by the biopic of the same name.

Waylon Jennings played bass guitar for Buddy Holly’s band the Crickets before embarking on his solo career, which eventually led to his becoming a key figure in the outlaw country movement. Over the course of his career he had 53 Top 10 hits and 15 chart-toppers. Among the Texan’s No. 1 songs are “Luckenbach, Texas,” “Just To Satisfy You” (performed with Willie Nelson), and the toe-tapping “Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys).”

Tim McGraw overtook Garth Brooks as the face of country music in the late 1990s. McGraw’s slickly produced, hooky songs crossed into the adult contemporary genre and he developed a strong female following. His profile was further raised with his marriage to fellow country superstar Faith Hill. The Louisiana native has had 26 Hot Country Songs chart-toppers, among them the monster hit “My Next Thirty Years.”

McGraw began his rise in 1994 with a bit of controversy over the song “Indian Outlaw,” a novelty tune that some found offensive to Native Americans. That single reached No. 8 on the country chart in April 1994, and McGraw landed his first No. 1 the following month with “Don’t Take That Girl.”

Kenny Chesney’s emotionally honest ballads have made him popular among female fans. Chesney grew up in the rural town of Luttrell, Tennessee, famous as the home of country legend Chet Atkins.

Chesney’s career took off in 1997 with his first No. 1 “She’s Got It All,” and he then landed two No. 1 hits with “You Had Me from Hello” and “How Forever Feels” off the multi-platinum album “Everywhere We Go” in 1999. Chesney has had 23 Hot Country Songs chart-toppers and 52 Top-10 hits. Crossover success, however, has been more elusive. Chesney’s highest-performing song on the Billboard Hot 100 has been “Out Last Night,” which climbed to No. 16 in 2009.

The only son of country legend Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr. — also known as Bocephus — has been releasing records of his own since the early 1960s. His first single, a cover of his father’s “Long Gone Lonesome Blues,” peaked at No. 5 in 1964, when the singer was only 15 years old. Bocephus developed his own distinct sound, particularly after a 1975 accident in which he fell down a mountain. Among his biggest hits are “Family Tradition”, “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound”, and “Old Habits.”

A product of the Depression-era Dust Bowl, Buck Owens is considered the leader of the rock-influenced Bakersfield sound. He released 47 Top 10 hits throughout his career, 21 of which topped the charts. Owens’ popularity peaked during the mid-1960s, during which time he released his most famous songs, including “Act Naturally” and “My Heart Skips a Beat.”

The pony-tailed, pot-smoking 86-year-old country legend who cultivated an anti-establishment image has been writing and singing professionally since the 1950s. Nelson wrote hits for country icons Ray Price (“Night Life”), Patsy Cline (“Crazy”), and Faron Young (“Hello Walls”). The 10-time Grammy winner teamed with Waylon Jennings to launch outlaw country music further helping his wildly successful career.

Nelson has had 20 No. 1 songs top the Hot Country Songs chart, among them “Living In The Promised Land,” Townes Van Zandt cover “Poncho and Lefty” (with Merle Haggard), and “Beer For My Horses” (with Toby Keith). He’s also had crossover success with songs such as “Always On My Mind,” “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before,” and “On The Road Again,” all of which climbed into the Billboard Hot 100 Top 20.

Nashville staple Conway Twitty had an astounding 75 Top 10 hits on the Hot Country Songs chart throughout his career, 40 of which hit No. 1. Having started his musical career during the 1950s, Twitty enjoyed a fresh jolt of popularity during the ’70s following a musical relationship with beloved singer Loretta Lynn. He would continue to release popular songs into the 1990s (“Crazy In Love” hit No. 2 in 1990 and “I Couldn’t See You Leavin'” reached No. 3 in 1991) up to his death from an abdominal aneurysm in 1993.

Dolly Parton has released 93 songs to the Hot Country Songs chart’s Top 50, 54 of which reached the Top 10, and 25 of which hit No. 1. Among her biggest hits are “Jolene,” “Think About Love,” and her duet with Kenny Rogers, “Islands in the Stream.” The Tennessee-born Parton is not only a singer, however. The highly prolific artist has written more than 700 songs for both herself and others throughout her career.

Reba McEntire was one of country music’s biggest stars during the 1980s, a decade during which she released 14 studio albums. While this period produced many of her biggest hits — including “Consider Me Gone,” “Whoever’s In New England,” and “Little Rock” — she has continued releasing hugely popular singles in the years since, including the chart-topping track “Somebody” in 2004, which stayed on the Hot Country Songs chart for a total of 32 weeks. Out of McEntire’s 94 songs to reach the chart, 59 reached the Top 10, and 24 hit No. 1.

The Man in Black is one of country music’s most widely recognized superstars thanks to his late-career resurgence and the 2005 musical biopic “Walk the Line,” in which the singer is portrayed by actor Joaquin Phoenix. The singer who has come to represent a certain brand of rebelliousness had a massive career dating back to the 1950s, over which time he had 40 Top 10 hits and nine chart-toppers. Among his most memorable singles are “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Daddy Sang Bass,” and “Ring of Fire,” which was co-written by his wife June Carter.

More than one-third (or 38) of the 96 songs by Bakersfield legend Merle Haggard to appear on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart reached No. 1. Among these are the beloved country anthems “Mama Tried,” “Okie From Muskogee,” and “Fightin’ Side of Me” — all No. 1 hits. Haggard — who migrated to California from Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl, rode the rails as a youth, and served time in prison — is remembered for his songs about the common man.

Nicknamed the “King of Country Music,” George Strait has had a stunning 44 songs reach the No. 1 position on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. He’s had nearly twice this amount reach the Top 10, totaling 86 songs. Strait is also the only musical act in history to have a Top 10 hit every single year for more than three decades. Among his best performing singles on Billboard’s country chart are “Write This Down,” “Living and Living Well,” and “You Look So Good In Love.”

George Jones is considered by many to be the greatest country singer of all time. While his career began prior to the launch of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in 1958 — his first single “No Money in This Deal” was released in 1954 and was followed up by the hit “Why Baby Why” in 1955 — he managed to send 131 songs to the chart’s Top 50 over more than 50 years.

“White Lightning” hit No. 1 on the chart in April 1959 and introduced the theme of drinking that would recur — along with the theme of heartbreak — in Jones’ music until at least the release of his single “Choices,” which peaked at No. 30 in 1999. Other notable singles include “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “She Thinks I Still Care,” and “The Grand Tour,” all of which are among the singer’s 13 songs to top the charts.

George Jones died on April 26, 2013, at the age of 81.