Ranker MusicList RulesOnly artists born or raised in Tennessee or bands formed in Tennessee.
Here are the best artists and bands from Tennessee. For years now, Nashville has been the unofficial capital of country music. Meanwhile, numerous country musicians recognize Bristol, Tennessee as the birthplace of country. There have also been numerous musicians who have come out of Memphis. Whether your favorite bands and singers are in rock, soul, or blues, there is a very good they were influenced by the best musical artists from Tennessee.
Artists from all over the world have flocked to Tennessee to record albums at one of the many recording studios in the state. Additionally, it is considered a rite of passage for country artists to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. While outsiders are welcome, Tennessee has still produced its own musical acts, including Billy Ray Cyrus, Big & Rich, Kesha, and Lady Antebellum. People come to Tennessee to rock, and the state certainly delivers. Other popular Tennessee artists include Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Kings of Leon, and Juicy J.
From Kenny Chesney to Paramore, these are not just the most famous Tennessee musical artists. These are some of the most popular artists in the country. You can finally learn where your favorite bands and singers come from. As you go through this list, vote for the artists you like most to see who can officially be declared Nashville royalty.
1
16033Dolly Parton
Ballad, Country popAlbums: Once Upon a Christmas, The Ultimate Collection, The Grass Is Blue, Home for Christmas, The Right Combination: Burning the Midnight Oil
Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian, known primarily for her work... more2
8035Tina Turner
Rock music, Dance-popAlbums: Private Dancer, What's Love Got to Do With It, Simply the Best, Foreign Affair, Wildest Dreams
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock, November 26, 1939) is an internationally recognized singer, songwriter, and actress. She is originally from the United States, and has been a Swiss citizen since... more- 39158
Justin Timberlake
Pop, Contemporary R&BAlbums: FutureSex/LoveSounds, The 20/20 Experience, Justified, The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2, Justin Timberlake: Live from London
Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981), often known by his initials, JT, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer and record producer. Born and raised in Tennessee, he appeared on... more - 47446
Kenny Chesney
CountryAlbums: Welcome to the Fishbowl, No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates
Kenneth Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has recorded 20 albums, 20 of which have been certified Gold or higher by the... more - 57649
Paramore
Pop punk, Alternative rockAlbums: Riot!, All We Know Is Falling, brand new eyes, Paramore, Ignorance
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro. Williams and... more - 66843
Kesha
Pop, Hip hopAlbums: Animal, Cannibal, TiK ToK, Warrior, Animal + Cannibal
Kesha Rose Sebert (; born March 1, 1987), known mononymously as Kesha (formerly stylized Ke$ha), is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and actress. In 2005, at age 18, Kesha was signed to... more - 75936
Trace Adkins
Blues-rock, Country rockAlbums: Honky Tonk Badonkadonk, Love Will..., Comin' on Strong, Chrome, Dreamin' Out Loud
Tracy Darrell Adkins (born January 13, 1962) is an American country singer and actor. In 1998, Adkins appeared on the PBS music program Austin City Limits (season 23). Adkins made his debut in 1996... more - 86240
Kings of Leon
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Aha Shake Heartbreak, Only by the Night, Youth & Young Manhood, Because of the Times, Come Around Sundown
Kings of Leon is an American rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2000. The band is composed of brothers Caleb Followill, Nathan Followill and Jared Followill, with their cousin Matthew... more - 95337
Three 6 Mafia
Hip hop music, Dirty rapAlbums: Most Known Unknown, When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1, Chapter 2: World Domination, Da Headbusaz – Dat's How It Happen To'M
Three 6 Mafia is an American hip hop group from Memphis, Tennessee formed in 1991. Emerging as a horror-themed underground rap group, they would eventually go on to enjoy mainstream success. The... more - 103922
Gregg Allman
Rock music, Gospel musicAlbums: Laid Back, Just Before the Bullets Fly, I'm No Angel, Duane & Greg Allman, Two the Hard Way
Gregory LeNoir Allman (December 8, 1947 – May 27, 2017) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He was known for performing in the Allman Brothers Band. Allman grew up with an interest in... more - 11227
Bessie Smith
Jazz, BluesAlbums: Squeeze Me, The World's Greatest Blues Singer, 1923-1933 Empress of the Blues, Bessie Smith: The Greatest Blues Singer in the World, The Empress
Bessie Smith (April 15, 1894 – September 26, 1937) was an American blues singer. Nicknamed the Empress of the Blues, she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. She is often... more - 122612
Isaiah Rashad
Hip hop musicAlbums: Cilvia Demo
Isaiah Rashad McClain, better known as Isaiah Rashad, is an American hip hop recording artist from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Rashad began taking rapping seriously in tenth grade, where he and his... more - 133523
Chet Atkins
Folk music, JazzAlbums: East Tennessee Christmas, Chester & Lester, Simpatico, The Day Finger Pickers Took Over the World, Street Dreams
Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), known as "Mr. Guitar" and "The Country Gentleman", was an American musician, occasional vocalist, songwriter, and record producer, who along... more - 146356
Miley Cyrus
Pop, Country popAlbums: Can't Be Tamed, Hannah Montana 2 / Meet Miley Cyrus, Breakout, The Time of Our Lives, Party In the U.S.A.
Miley Ray Hemsworth (née Cyrus, born Destiny Hope Cyrus; November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. After playing minor roles in the television series Doc and the film Big... more - 155041
Billy Ray Cyrus
Country pop, Country rockAlbums: Achy Breaky Heart, Some Gave All, Change My Mind, Time Flies, Storm in the Heartland
Billy Ray Cyrus (born August 25, 1961) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. He has released 16 studio albums and 53 singles since 1992, and is known for his number one single "Achy Breaky... more - 164637
Skillet
Nu metal, Rock musicAlbums: Stronger, Awake, Rise, Comatose, Alien Youth
Skillet is a Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996 and based in the United States. The band currently consists of husband and wife John and Korey Cooper, along with Jen Ledger and... more - 174231
Diamond Rio
Christian country music, CountryAlbums: One More Day, A Diamond Rio Christmas: The Star Still Shines, All American Country, Completely, Diamond Rio
Diamond Rio is an American Country music/Christian music band formed in 1984 in Nashville, Tennessee. The band consists of Gene Johnson, Jimmy Olander, Brian Prout, Marty Roe, Dan Truman, and Dana... more - 182917
Kitty Wells
Nashville sound, Honky-tonkAlbums: The Collection, God's Honky Tonk Angel: The First Queen of Country Music, 20 Greatest Hits, Kitty Wells' Country Hitparade, Lonely Street
Ellen Muriel Deason (August 30, 1919 – July 16, 2012), known professionally as Kitty Wells, was an American pioneering female country music singer. She broke down a female barrier in country music... more - 193423
Duane Allman
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Duane Allman: An Anthology, Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective, Ton-Ton Macoute!, Duane & Greg Allman, Duane Allman: An Anthology
Howard Duane Allman (November 20, 1946 – October 29, 1971) was an American guitarist, session musician, and founder and leader of the Allman Brothers Band. The Allman Brothers Band was formed in... more - 203221
10 Years
Post-grunge, Alternative rockAlbums: Killing All That Holds You, The Autumn Effect, Division, Into the Half Moon, Minus the Machine
10 Years is an American alternative metal band, formed in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1999. The band consists of Jesse Hasek, Ryan Johnson, Brian Vodinh, and Lewis Cosby. The band's original lead singer,... more - 214234
Big & Rich
Rock music, Country rockAlbums: Hillbilly Jedi, Horse of a Different Color, Comin' to Your City, Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace, Big & Rich's Super Galactic Fan Pak
Big or BIG may refer to: Big, of great size ... more - 224740
Lady A
Country, PopAlbums: Need You Now, Lady Antebellum, A Merry Little Christmas, Need You Now, Own the Night
Lady A (formerly known as Lady Antebellum) is an American country music group formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. The group is composed of Hillary Scott (lead and background vocals), Charles... more - 233222
Dustin Lynch
CountryAlbums: Dustin Lynch, Where It's At, Cowboys and Angels
Dustin Charles Lynch (born May 14, 1985) is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Broken Bow Records. Lynch has released three albums for the label: a self-titled album in 2012,... more - 243425
Rhett Akins
CountryAlbums: Somebody New, Friday Night in Dixie, A Thousand Memories, Career Sampler, What Livin's All About
Thomas Rhett Akins Sr. (born October 13, 1969) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Decca Records between 1994 and 1997, he released two albums for that label (1995's A... more - 253426
Lonestar
Country pop, CountryAlbums: Amazed, I'm Already There, This Christmas Time, From There to Here: Greatest Hits, Lonely Grill
Lonestar is an American country music group consisting of Richie McDonald (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Michael Britt (lead guitar, background vocals), Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar,... more
