american-country-singers

"[Glen Campbell is] considered one of the finest guitar players to ever front a country band."

"Nobody could have put voice to those great Jimmy Webb-penned tunes like the Rhinestone Cowboy."

"Chet Atkins was the man. Beloved of the generation of guitarists that went on to be the generation of the ‘60s, Chet was the titan of country music whose flatpickin’, acoustic-ripping playing would give anyone pause to stop, listen and admire. Responsible for creating the Nashville sound and bringing country into pop, as a guitarist his influence was felt far and wide. Solid as a rock, technically perfect, and an all-time great without compare."

"[Campbell's] impact as a guitar player, musician, and singer transcended genre categorization. That said, for many, he's considered a country star first and foremost, and one that was a bonafide master of the 6-string."

"Gill says that, after leaving home as a young man, he spent his entire savings on a single guitar. One thing is for certain: It was in good hands. He’s one of the best in the business."

"When Tritt came along, he quickly became Waylon Jennings’ favorite new artist. Is there a bigger compliment?"

"First arriving in Nashville as part of an early '50s incarnation of the Carter Family, Atkins rose to the very apex of the Nashville music scene, helping to architect the "Nashville Sound" as a producer and executive, while recording a large discography of his own guitar work."

"[Campbell] has a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and earned crossover success on the adult contemporary charts, which is no easy task for a country singer. His hits during the 1960s and 1970s earned him status a pop culture fixture."

"Sure, Gill earned initial acclaim for his work with Pure Prairie League in the late 1970s, but when he went out on his own, the Oklahoma native achieved truly tremendous success. Among his many prodigious musical talents—singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, et al.—Vince Gill can play a Telecaster just about any way there is to play one. With his compressed, snappy tone, he’s a master of country Tele techniques and is at home in seemingly any genre, be it traditional country, bluegrass, R&B, country rock and much more."

"Though comfortable playing many styles, Atkins was most often associated with country music and the acoustic guitar. [...] A guitar legend, Atkins was elected to the Country Music Hal of Fame in 1973. His musical contributions inspired artists ranging from Eric Johnson to the late Lenny Breau."

"Much of the session work [Atkins] recorded and/or produced in Nashville with artists like Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers laid the foundation for early rock and roll."

"To any new country fans who think Chris Stapleton is forging new ground by bringing that much soul into country music … where have y’all been?"

"If you can't lose the weight, then you're just fat But if you lose too much, then you're on crack You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't So, you might as well just do whatever you want So, make lots of noise (Hey), kiss lots of boys (Yeah)"

"Bursting with empathy I'm feeling everything The weight of the world on my shoulders Hope my tears don't freak you out They're just kinda coming out It's the music in me and all of the colors"

"There is a light at the end of the tunnel There is a light inside of me Tried not to show it To make you feel good Pretended I couldn't"

"Get a little drunk, get a little loud Stupid me and my rebel mouth Ain't all wrong but I ain't alright Don't see the world in black and white And I ain't good at being careful I just say what's on my mind Like my idea of heaven Is to burn one with John Prine"

"Grew up in the sticks where there ain't no light But the stars were big and bright If they told me no I would always wonder why But I tried to be good And keep my head down But there was too much sky around And my daddy said Keep lookin' up"

"'Cause I heard Jesus, he drank wine And I bet we'd get along just fine. He could calm a storm and heal the blind, And I bet he'd understand a heart like mine."

"At the baggage claim, you got a lot of luggage in your name When you hit the ground, check the lost and found Cause it ain't my problem now I can't carry it on, I've got a lot of troubles on my own It's all over the yard, in the trunk of the car I'm packing' it in, so come and get it."

"I feel like this long string of lights, They lit up our whole house on Christmas day. But now it's January, and the bulbs have all burned out. But still, they hang, Like dead flowers."

"Forgiving you, Well, she's stronger than I am. You don't look much like a man from where I'm at. It's plain to see desperation showed it's truth You love her, and she loves you with all she has I guess I should've been more like that."

"And if the house just keeps on winning, I got a wildcard up my sleeve. And if love keeps giving me lemons, I'll just mix 'em in my drink. And if the whole wide world stops singing And all the stars go dark, I'll keep a light on in my soul, Keep a bluebird in my heart."

"If I was a cowboy, I'd be wild and free, Rolling around these towns like tumbleweeds. I'd be a legend at loving and leaving, Nipping on a whiskey and numbing up my feelings. You thought the west was wild, but you ain't saddled up with me, If I was a cowboy, I'd be the queen."

"But you went away How dare you? I miss you. They say I’ll be OK. But I’m not going to ever get over you."

"'Cause it'll all come out, all come out in the wash. It'll all come out, all come out in the wash. Every little stain, every little heartbreak, No matter how messy it got. You take the sin and the men and you throw 'em all in And you put that sucker on spin."

"I'm a wild child and a homing pigeon, Caravan and an empty kitchen. Bare feet on the tile with my head up in the clouds One heart goin' both directions, One love and a couple of questions: Am I settlin' up or settlin' down? Am I settlin' up or settlin' down?"

"Hey, whatever happened to waitin' your turn? Doing it all by hand?<br?Cause when everything is handed to you, It's only worth as much as the time put in. It all just seemed so good the way we had it, Back before everything became automatic."

"My reputation follows me around, Just makes me wanna give them more to talk about. Let’s go to town for a little while, I’ll be wearing nothin' but a tattoo and a smile.Ain’t no use in tryin' to slow me down, ‘Cause you’re runnin' with the fastest girl in town. Ain’t ya, baby? You're kinda crazy."

"If you borrow dresses like you borrow time, If you dream all day and drink all night, If you're looking for love but willing to fight Over men and mama's and Miller Lites, Well then, we should be friends.I don't know you well but I know that look. And I can judge the cover 'cause I read the book On losing sleep and gaining weight, On pain and shame and crazy trains."

"Hey, white liar The truth comes out a little at a time And it spreads just like a fire Slips off of your tongue like turpentine And I don't know why, white liar."

"So lets shake hands and reach across those party lines You got your friends just like I got mine. We might think a little differently, But we got a lot in common, you will see. We're just like you, only prettier."

"Another vice, another town Where my past can't run me down. Another life, another call, Another bed I shouldn't crawl out of At 7 AM with shoes in my hand. Said I wouldn't do it, but I did it again. And I know I'll be gone tomorrow night. Mm, another vice."

"Hey there, Mr. Tin Man, You don't know how lucky you are. You shouldn't spend your whole life wishin' For something bound to fall apart. Every time you're feeling empty, Better thank your lucky stars. If you ever felt one breaking, You'd never want a heart."

"And I'll grab the wheel and point it west, Pack the good and leave the rest. I'll drive until I find the missing piece. You said I wouldn't get too far on a tank of gas And an empty heart, But I have everything I'll ever need. I got this old guitar and a brand new set of strings."

"I guess if you don’t jump, you’ll never know if you can fly."

"Sweet like a kiss, sharp like a razor blade, I find you when I'm close to the bottom. You can't appreciate the time it takes To kick a love I always knew was kind of wrong. And as I'm putting out the flame, Somebody brings up your name."

"Forget your high society, I'm soakin' it in kerosene. Light 'em up and watch them burn, teach them what they need to learn; ha! Dirty hands ain't made for shakin', ain't a rule that ain't worth breakin'. Well, I'm givin' up on love 'cause love's given up on me."

"So you treat your love like a firefly, like it only gets to shine, for a little while Catch it in a mason jar with holes in the top and run like hell to show it off Oh, promises were made when we'd go walking That's just me and Charlie talking."

"Let's shake hands & reach across those party lines, you got ur friends just like I got mine, we might think a little differently but we got a lot n common u will see, we're just like you....ONLY PRETTIER!!"

"Every last one, route one, rural heart's got a story to tell Every grandma, in-law, ex-girlfriend Maybe knows you just a little too well Whether you're late for church or you're stuck in jail Hey, word's gonna get around Everybody dies famous in a small town."

"I'm going home, gonna load my shotgun, Wait by the door and light a cigarette. If he wants a fight, well, now he's got one. And he ain't seen me crazy yet. He slapped my face and he shook me like a rag doll Don't that sound like a real man? I'm gonna show him what little girls are made of: Gunpowder and lead."

"I know you loved him, a long time ago. Even now in my arms, you still want him I know. But darling this time, let your memories die. When you hold me tonight, don't close your eyes.Don't close your eyes, let it be me. Don't pretend it's him, in some fantasy. Darling just once, let yesterday go, And you'll find more love than you'll ever know. Just hold me tight, when you love me tonight. And don't close your eyes."

"I'm no stranger to the rain. I'm a friend of thunder, Friend, is it any wonder lightning strikes me? I've fought with the devil, Got down on his level, But I never gave in, so he gave up on me."

"It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart Without saying a word you can light up the dark Try as I may I could never explain What I hear when you don't say a thing"

"The smile on your face lets me know that you need me There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall Yeah, you say it best When you say nothing at all"

"I'm no stranger to the rain. But there'll always be tomorrow, And I'll beg, steal, or borrow a little sunshine. And I'll put this cloud behind me, That's how the man designed me To ride the wind and dance in a hurricane. I'm no stranger to the rain."

"Relationships can be so complex, especially during a pandemic."

"When I’m creating music, I don’t have an agenda for a sound or a genre or a message, I just want it to be truthful and representative of the lyrical content that means something to me, and the music that I love."

"Don't tell my heart, my achy breaky heart. I just don't think it'd understand. And if you tell my heart, my achy breaky heart, he might blow up and kill this man."

"Summer's end's around the bend just flyin' The swimmin' suits are on the line just dryin' I'll meet you there for our conversation I hope I didn't ruin your whole vacationWell you never know how far from home you're feelin' Until you've watched the shadows cross the ceilin' Well I don't know, but I can see it snowin' In your car the windows are wide open"