Whiskey Riff Ranks the Top 5 States for Country Music Talent—Tennessee Shockingly Snubbed
A new ranking from Whiskey Riff has country music fans buzzing. The site named the top five U.S. states producing the best country music artists, and to many fans’ surprise, Tennessee didn’t make the cut.
The conversation kicked off when Luke Combs recently said he believes the best country music comes out of Kentucky—even though he’s from North Carolina. “I wanted to say North Carolina,” Combs admitted, “but Kentucky just has too much star power.”
And he’s got a point. Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers, and Sturgill Simpson all hail from Kentucky. But the full Whiskey Riff list crowns Texas as the reigning state for country excellence, thanks to legends like George Strait, Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, and Cody Johnson.
Here’s the full top 5:
- Texas – George Strait, Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, Cody Johnson
- Oklahoma – Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton, Toby Keith
- Kentucky – Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers, Keith Whitley, Sturgill Simpson
- Alabama – Jason Isbell, Riley Green, Ella Langley, and the band Alabama
- West Virginia – Charles Wesley Godwin, Sierra Ferrell, Brad Paisley
What’s raising eyebrows? The absence of Tennessee, home to Kenny Chesney, Morgan Wallen, and the capital of country music itself: Nashville.
With such legendary ties to the genre, fans were quick to question the list’s criteria. Still, it highlights how talent is blooming across the country—not just in the expected places.
You can read the full article and rankings from Whiskey Riff here.
Do you agree with the list? Or does Tennessee deserve a place at the top?
