Kentucky Musicians

Classical

John J. Becker (1886–1961), Composer, Born in Henderson

Jazz

Lionel Hampton (1908–2002), Jazz musician, Born in Louisville

Jonah Jones (1919–2000), Jazz trumpeter, Born in Louisville

Les McCann (born 1935), Soul jazz piano player and vocalist, crossover artist into R&B and soul, Born in Lexington

Rock & Alternative

Adrian Belew (born 1949), Guitarist and vocalist for King Crimson, Born in Covington

Will Oldham (born 1970), Songwriter and musician, Born in Louisville

Joan Osborne (born 1963), Singer-songwriter, Born in Anchorage

Hard Rock & Metal

James Kottak (born 1962), Drummer for Kingdom Come, Wild Horses, Warrant, and Scorpions, Born in Louisville

Rick Steier (born 1960), Guitarist for Kingdom Come, Wild Horses, Warrant, Born in Louisville

Artimus Pyle (born 1948), Drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Born in Louisville

Country & Bluegrass

Tanner Adell (born 1996), Country singer, Born in Lexington

David "Stringbean" Akeman (1916–1973), Country and comedy musician, Grand Ole Opry member, Born in Annville

Laura Bell Bundy (born 1981), Country singer and actress, Raised in Lexington

Tyler Childers (born 1991), Country singer, Born in Lawrence County

John Conlee (born 1946), Country singer, Born and raised in Versailles

Billy Ray Cyrus (born 1961), Country singer and actor, Born in Flatwoods

Skeeter Davis (1931–2004), Country singer, Born in Dry Ridge

Jackie DeShannon (born 1941), Singer-songwriter, Born in Hazel

Don Everly (1937–2021), Rock and Country Hall of Fame, Born near Central City

Phil Everly (1939–2014), Rock and Country Hall of Fame, Born near Central City

Red Foley (1910–1968), Country singer, Born in Blue Lick

Crystal Gayle (born 1951), Country singer, Born in Paintsville

Troy Lee Gentry (1967–2017), Country singer, Born in Lexington

Ashley Gorley (born 1977), Country songwriter and record producer, Born in Danville

Tom T. Hall (1936–2021), Country singer-songwriter, Born in Olive Hill

Grandpa Jones (1913–1998), "Old-time" country and gospel musician, Born in Niagara

Naomi Judd (1946–2022), Country singer, Born and raised in Ashland

Wynonna Judd (born 1964), Country singer, Born and raised in Ashland

Patty Loveless (born 1957), Country singer, Born in Pikeville

Loretta Lynn (1932–2022), Country singer, Born and raised in Butcher Holler

Bill Monroe (1911–1996), "Father of bluegrass music," Born and raised in Rosine

Eddie Montgomery (born 1963), Country singer, Born in Danville, raised in Garrard County

John Michael Montgomery (born 1965), Country singer, Born in Danville, raised in Garrard County

Josh Osborne (born 1980s), Grammy-winning country songwriter, Born in Virgie

Kevin Skinner (born 1974), Country singer, winner of America's Got Talent, Native of Mayfield

Sturgill Simpson (born 1978), Grammy-winning country singer, Born in Jackson, grew up in Versailles

Ricky Skaggs (born 1954), Bluegrass and country artist, Born in Cordell

Noah Thompson (born 2002), American Idol winner, Raised in Blaine

Chris Stapleton (born 1978), Country singer, Born in Lexington

David Tolliver (born 1970s), Country singer-songwriter (Halfway to Hazard), Born in Hindman

Merle Travis (1917–1983), Country Hall of Fame, Born in Rosewood

Keith Whitley (1955–1989), Country singer, Born in Sandy Hook

Dwight Yoakam (born 1956), Country singer, Born in Pikeville
Gospel & Christian

Kenny Bishop (born 1966), Gospel and Christian singer, Raised in Richmond

Mark Bishop (born 1965), Southern gospel singer, Raised in Richmond

Steven Curtis Chapman (born 1962), Contemporary Christian musician, Born and raised in Paducah

Larnelle Harris (born 1947), Gospel singer, Born in Danville

Dottie Rambo (1934–2008), Gospel Hall of Fame, Born in Madisonville

Mark Stuart (born 1968), Member of Christian band Audio Adrenaline, Born in Owensboro

Pop

Nick Lachey (born 1973), 98 Degrees member, Born in Harlan

Brian Littrell (born 1975), Backstreet Boys member, Born in Lexington

Kevin Richardson (born 1971), Backstreet Boys member, Born in Lexington

Nicole Scherzinger (born 1978), Pop singer, former Pussycat Dolls member, Raised in Louisville

Jordan Smith (born 1994), The Voice winner, Born in Harlan

Folk

Jean Ritchie (1922–2015), Folk singer, Born in Viper

Mary Travers (1936–2009), Folk singer (Peter, Paul and Mary), Born in Louisville

Hip-Hop & Rap

EST Gee (born 1994), Rapper, Born and raised in Louisville

Jack Harlow (born 1998), Rapper, Born and raised in Louisville

Tinashe Jorgensen Kachingwe (born 1993), Singer-songwriter, rapper, Born in Lexington

Rubi Rose (born 1997), Rapper, Born in Lexington

Bryson Tiller (born 1993), Rapper, Born and raised in Louisville

Kentucky Songwriters

Most-well known for their writing although some do perform on stage

Marty Brown (born 1965, Maceo, KY)
I’m From the Country (Tracy Byrd)
When I Stop Loving You (Trace Adkins, co-written with Chris Stapleton)
Kent Blazy (born in Lexington, KY)
If Tomorrow Never Comes (Garth Brooks)
Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up) (Garth Brooks)
Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song) (Chris Young)
Ashley Gorley (born 1977, Danville, KY)
Play It Again (Luke Bryan)
Dirt on My Boots (Jon Pardi)
You Should Be Here (Cole Swindell)
I Lived It (Blake Shelton)

Fun Fact: One of the most successful modern songwriters, with over 60 No. 1 hits.

Haven Gillespie (1888–1975, Covington, KY)
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (recorded by various artists)
You Go to My Head (recorded by numerous jazz artists)
That Lucky Old Sun (recorded by Frankie Laine, among others)
Fun Fact: Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.
Hugh X. Lewis (1932–2022, Yeaddiss, KY)
Take My Ring Off Your Finger (Carl Smith)
B.J. the D.J. (Stonewall Jackson)
Brice Long (born in Hopkinsville, KY)
Heartache on the Dance Floor (Jon Pardi)
Nothing on but the Radio (Gary Allan)
Like a Cowboy (Randy Houser)
Lee Thomas Miller (born in Nicholasville, KY)
The Impossible (Joe Nichols)
You're Gonna Miss This (Trace Adkins)
In Color (Jamey Johnson)

Fun Fact: Multiple Grammy nominee and former NSAI president.

Billy Montana (strong Kentucky ties)
Suds in the Bucket (Sara Evans)
More Than a Memory (Garth Brooks)
Bring on the Rain (Jo Dee Messina)

Fun Fact: "More Than a Memory" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Mark Nesler (born 1961, Paducah, KY)
Just to See You Smile (Tim McGraw)
Living and Living Well (George Strait)
You Look Good in My Shirt (Keith Urban)
Josh Osborne (born 1980s, Virgie, KY)
Body Like a Back Road (Sam Hunt)
Drinkin’ Problem (Midland)
Take Your Time (Sam Hunt)
Sangria (Blake Shelton)

Fun Fact: Grammy-winning songwriter for top country artists.

Wayne Perry (born in Kentucky)
The Heart Won't Lie (Reba McEntire)
That's My Kind of Night (Luke Bryan)
I Can Still Make Cheyenne (George Strait)
Dottie Rambo (1934–2008, Madisonville, KY)
He Looked Beyond My Fault (recorded by various gospel artists)
I Go to the Rock (recorded by Whitney Houston)
Kent Robbins (1947–1997, Mayfield, KY)
Straight Tequila Night (John Anderson)
Write This Down (George Strait)
Every Light in the House (Trace Adkins)

Fun Fact: Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1998.

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