Ranker MusicList RulesOnly artists born or raised in Texas or bands formed in Texas.
Here are the best artists and bands from Texas. Everything's bigger in Texas. Apparently, that also applies to the fame of some of the biggest artists in music over the years. Beyoncé and Willie Nelson are more than just some of the best musical artists from Texas. They are the best musical artists in the entire world, and they are only the tip of some of the singers and bands that got their start in the Lone Star State.
Pop icons like Jessica Simpson and Demi Lovato first crooned their way to success for Texan audiences before finding fame on a larger scale. Some of the heaviest acts in rock have also come out of Texas. Pantera, The Mars Volta, ZZ Top, and plenty of other bands played smaller gigs in Austin, Houston, and Dallas before touring the rest of the United States. Texas has a massive population, so it only makes sense for at least a few global superstars to have been born and raised within its borders. Other popular Texas artists include Destiny's Child, Nelly, Khalid, and the Dixie Chicks.
The most famous Texas musical artists span through every genre and era. No matter what type of music you like, there will be artists on this list you keep in regular rotation. Take your time reading through this list and voting for your favorites.
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741107Stevie Ray Vaughan
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Couldn't Stand the Weather, In Step, Texas Flood, The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, The Sky Is Crying
Stephen Ray Vaughan (October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990) was an American musician, singer,... more on Wikipedia2
343102Buddy Holly
Lubbock sound, Rock musicAlbums: Buddy, 20 Golden Greats, What You Been A-Missin': What You've Been A-Missin', The Buddy Holly Story, That'll Be The Day
Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known professionally as Buddy... more on Wikipedia3
26468Willie Nelson
Outlaw country, AmericanaAlbums: Heroes, Pretty Paper, Countryman, Last of the Breed, The Red Headed Stranger
Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actor,... more on Wikipedia4
24372George Strait
CountryAlbums: Pure Country, The Road Less Traveled, Merry Christmas Strait to You, Fresh Cut Christmas, Merry Christmas Wherever You Are
George Harvey Strait Sr. (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter,... more on Wikipedia5
24676ZZ Top
Blues-rock, Boogie rockAlbums: Tres Hombres, Eliminator, Rio Grande Mud, Greatest Hits, Fandango!
ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. The band has, since 1970,... more on Wikipedia6
16452Roy Orbison
Country pop, Pop musicAlbums: The Essential Roy Orbison, King of Hearts, Mystery Girl, Crying, The Orbison Way
Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and... more on Wikipedia7
255114Janis Joplin
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Pearl, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Greatest Hits, I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!, The Essential Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American rock, soul, and blues... more on Wikipedia8
18672Waylon Jennings
Outlaw country, Country rockAlbums: Dreaming My Dreams, A Man Called Hoss, Good Hearted Woman, White Mansions - A Tale of the American Civil War 1861-1865, This Is Country
Waylon Arnold Jennings (pronounced ; June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American... more on Wikipedia9
14963The Crickets
Lubbock sound, Rock and rollAlbums: 20 Golden Greats, The "Chirping" Crickets, That'll Be The Day, In Style with the Crickets, From Original Masters
The Crickets are an American rock and roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by... more on Wikipedia10
13252George Jones
CountryAlbums: Essential George Jones: The Spirit of Country, Let's Build A World Together, A Picture of Me (Without You), We Go Together, Famous Country Duets
George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American musician, singer and... more on Wikipedia11
10936Charley Pride
CountryAlbums: There's a Little Bit of Hank in Me, Christmas in My Home Town, Best of the Best: Inducted into the Hall of Fame 2000, Charley Pride's Greatest, Comfort of Her Wings
Charley Frank Pride (March 18, 1934 – December 12, 2020) was an American singer, musician,... more on Wikipedia12
12048Freddie King
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: I Love the Woman / Hide Away, Getting Ready..., Live at the Electric Ballroom, 1974, King of the Blues
Freddie King (September 3, 1934 – December 28, 1976) was an American blues guitarist and... more on Wikipedia13
11953Kris Kristofferson
Outlaw country, Rock musicAlbums: Kristofferson, Full Moon, A Star Is Born, Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends: The Publishing Demos 1968-72, The Silver Tongued Devil and I
Kristoffer Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936) is an American singer-songwriter and actor.... more on Wikipedia14
10947Kenny Rogers
Country pop, Pop musicAlbums: Christmas, Once Upon a Christmas, Christmas in America, Christmas From the Heart, Christmas Greetings
Kenneth Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – March 20, 2020) was a retired American singer,... more on Wikipedia15
9742Gene Autry
Western music, CountryAlbums: His Christmas Album, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Other Christmas Classics, A Gene Autry Christmas, Blues Singer 1929-1931, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed The Singing... more on Wikipedia16
8231Townes Van Zandt
Outlaw country, Folk musicAlbums: The Late Great Townes Van Zandt, A Far Cry From Dead, For the Sake of the Song, Sunshine Boy: The Unheard Studio Sessions & Demos 1971 - 1972, Delta Momma Blues
John Townes Van Zandt (March 7, 1944 – January 1, 1997), better known as Townes Van Zandt, was... more on Wikipedia17
9340Albums: Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, Volume 1: 1925–1926, Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, Volume 4: 1929, Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order
Lemon Henry "Blind Lemon" Jefferson (September 24, 1893 – December 19, 1929) was an American... more on Wikipedia18
10553Boz Scaggs
Blues-rock, Blue-eyed soulAlbums: Middle Man, My Time, Silk Degrees, Other Roads, Down Two Then Left
William Royce "Boz" Scaggs (born June 8, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, and... more on Wikipedia19
8940Barry White
Disco, Rhythm and bluesAlbums: Can't Get Enough, Una serata con, Back to Back: Their Greatest Hits, In Your Wildest Dreams, Adagio - Your Heart And Soul
Barry Eugene Carter (September 12, 1944 – July 4, 2003), better known by his stage name Barry... more on Wikipedia20
167109Selena
Mexican cumbia, Pop musicAlbums: Dreaming of You, Amor Prohibido, The New Girl in Town, Preciosa, Momentos intimos
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995) was an American singer, songwriter,... more on Wikipedia21
170116Pantera
Glam metal, Thrash metalAlbums: Vulgar Display of Power, Cowboys From Hell, Far Beyond Driven, The Great Southern Trendkill, Reinventing the Steel
Pantera () was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. The group was formed in... more on Wikipedia22
6121Freddy Fender
Rock music, CountryAlbums: Merry Christmas / Feliz Navidad, Rock 'n' Country, Before the Next Teardrop Falls, La Música de Baldemar Huerta, The Texas Balladeer
Freddy Fender (born Baldemar Garza Huerta; June 4, 1937 – October 14, 2006) was an American... more on Wikipedia23
7938Scott Joplin
RagtimeAlbums: Scott Joplin: The Easy Winners & Other Rag-Time Music / André Previn: A Different Kind of Blues, Original Rags, Greatest Hits, Scott Joplin's Greatest Hits, Scott Joplin Piano Favourties (feat. piano: William Conley)
Scott Joplin (c. 1867/68 or November 24, 1868 – April 1, 1917) was an American composer and... more on Wikipedia24
7938Lyle Lovett
Americana, Country popAlbums: Step Inside This House, I Love Everybody, It's Not Big It's Large, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, Pontiac
Lyle Pearce Lovett (born November 1, 1957) is an American singer, songwriter, actor and record... more on Wikipedia25
8042Ernest Tubb
Honky-tonk, CountryAlbums: Waltz Across Texas, Merry Texas Christmas You All, Golden Favorites, Country Hit Time, On Tour
Ernest Dale Tubb (February 9, 1914 – September 6, 1984), nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, was... more on Wikipedia
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