27 Best 80s Country Artists

21. Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn’s six-decade country music career started in 1960. She had a career total of 70 charting songs and 16 number one songs, such as “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

In the 1970s, Lynn had a string of hits with Conway Twitty. Though she was already wildly popular by 1980, the film Coal Miner’s Daughter, based on her autobiography, kept her in the spotlight.

Lynn received an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988 and was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.

22. Conway Twitty

Conway Twitty started recording rock and roll in the late 1950s and switched to country in 1965. He had several hits from the late 60s onward, including a string of chart-toppers with Loretta Lynn in the 1970s.

Some of his most well-regarded hits through the 1980s included “Tight Fittin’ Jeans” and “Don’t Call Him a Cowboy.” Over his career, Twitty amassed an impressive 55 number one singles. That made him the most successful country singer of all time until George Strait took over the top spot.

Twitty died at age 59 in 1993 when he collapsed on his tour bus due to an aneurysm after a performance.

23. Restless Heart

Restless Heart started singing in 1984 and had multiple songs on the Billboard country songs chart. Their country-pop sound proved particularly popular with listeners, and four singles frequently appeared on country and adult contemporary radio stations in the late 1980s.

Their mainstream success carried on into the 1990s and led to multiple gold albums and six number one hits.

24. Glen Campbell

Most of Glen Campbell’s hits came in the 1970s, with songs like “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Southern Nights,” but he had several popular country songs in the 60s. His popularity kept him as one of the best-selling 80s country musicians.

Campbell’s TV series from 1969 to 1972 featured several other country artists and helped him remain one of the most popular 80s country artists.

He continued to record in the 90s and beyond, with an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Campbell died in 2017 at age 81 after living with Alzheimer’s for several years.

25. The Statler Brothers

The Statlers sang gospel as a group in 1955 and later became backup singers for Johnny Cash. They had four number one songs between 1978 and 1985 and released 40 albums during their career.

The group won three Grammy Awards and became one of the biggest 80s country artists, thanks in part to constant play on The Nashville Network (TNN). They also hosted a weekly variety show, The Statler Brothers Show, on TNN for seven years. The Staler Brothers retired as a group in 2002.

26. Crystal Gayle

Crystal Gayle released “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” in 1978. That won a Grammy Award and helped her become one of the biggest 1980s country artists. The song also topped the easy listening chart, giving her a foundation for crossover success throughout the decade.

Gayle won several country music industry awards, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and still tours today.

27. John Denver

John Denver was one of the best-selling artists of the 70s and one of the most popular 80s country artists, with over 300 recorded songs and a genuine country sound. He had a dozen platinum and gold albums and wrote hundreds of songs for himself and other artists during his career.

In addition, Denver had multiple acting credits in several films and television shows. He died in 1997 at age 53 when the plane he was piloting crashed.

Top 80s Country Artists Final Thoughts

The 1980s was a mix of classic country from older artists and new singers that changed country music. Many of the best 80s country artists still get radio play today, and some like Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson are still as popular and well-known as ever.

Whether you prefer someone with an old-time or modern sound, there’s someone on this list for you to love.