Many of our favorite country stars over the decades have changed a lot since they first hit the scene. Read about the transformations that have taken place with your favorite musicians in our article.

Vince Gill

Vince Gill's career may have begun in the 1970s as the lead singer of the country rock fusion band Pure Prairie League, but by 1983 he broke off on his own and hasn't looked back. With over 20 albums under her belt, Gill has sold over 26 million units.

His 18 Country Music Awards are merit-based. The list of Gill's accomplishments doesn't end there; he has also broken the record for the most Grammy awards won by a male country musician by winning a record 21 of them.

@rjdiaz2/Reddit.com

Dolly Parton

For more than 50 years, Dolly Parton has been able to maintain her relevance in the country music industry. Since the 1965 publication of her debut album, Hello, I'm Dolly, she has emerged as the sweetheart of country music from her humble beginnings on a tobacco farm.

Parton is a multifaceted artist who has contributed her talents to theater, television, film, and even Broadway in addition to music. However, she is more than just an artist. In order to generate money for the Great Smoky Mountain wildfires assistance in 2016, she assisted with the staffing of a telethon.

@Dolly Parton | Before & After | Her Transformation Over The Years/Famous Luxury/YouTube.com

Keith Urban

Although Keith Urban may appear to be your typical American country guy, he actually has Kiwi roots. After moving to America from New Zealand, he immediately became well-known on the country music scene.

He has most recently served as a judge on the popular reality competitions The Voice and American Idol. His most recent tour, Rhythm and Roots, kicked out in 2016, timed to coincide with the debut of his most recent single, the wrenching ballad Blue Ain't Your Color.

@Keith Urban performs medley of hits on 'GMA' | GMA / Good Morning America / YouTube.com

Gary Allan

After signing with Decca Records in 1996, Gary Allan made a big splash on the country music world. With the tune Her Man, which appeared on his album Used Heart for Sale, Allen became an instant celebrity.

Allan has put out eight more albums, with 26 singles reaching the Billboard charts, including Man to Man, which reached number one on four occasions. His most recent album, which has yet to be given a name, was released in 2013, and a new one is expected this year.

@The Life and Tragic Ending of Gary Allan/Hollywood Star Update/YouTube.com

LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes was the youngest country artist since Tanya Tucker in the 1970s when she won her first two Grammys in 1997 at the age of 14.

Even though her debut album, Blue, hadn't been out for a year, it nevertheless debuted at the top of the Top Country Albums chart and earned multi-platinum status. LeAnn Rimes has lately published two novels and two children's books in addition to her continued success as a performer.

@The Masked Singer Champion LeAnn Rimes on Keeping Her Identity a Secret (Exclusive)/Entertainment Tonight/ YouTube.com

Faith Hill

Since her debut in 1993 with the album Take Me As I Am, which sold over 3 million copies, Faith Hill has become a mainstay of country music. Hill is another performer who has interests outside of music, and in October 2009, she launched a fragrance brand.

Faith Hill Parfums and True, her debut fragrance, are included in the range. Hill and Tim McGraw are now on a world tour together called Soul2Soul The World Tour, which they began in April in New Orleans.

@Actress and singer Faith Hill stars in "Yellowstone" prequel "1883" with husband Tim McGraw/CBS Mornings/ YouTube.com

Miranda Lambert

Another country music superstar discovered during the 2003 season of Nashville Star is Miranda Lambert. The Texas native has developed into a gifted and skilled musician, despite the fact that she was just 19 when she finished third in the competition.

Her marriage to fellow musician Blake Shelton was one of her other country music achievements, though the union was short-lived. She was able to turn her career failure into success, making her first-ever appearance in Europe in 2016.

@scarlettide0965/Reddit.com

Eric Church

In 2005, Eric Church made a big splash when he signed a deal with Capitol Nashville. Since the release of Sinners Like Me, his debut album, in 2006, he has been able to release five albums.

If you're wondering why Eric Church usually wears sunglasses onstage, it's because he wants to keep his contacts from getting dry from the bright theatrical lights. As his most recent tour, Holdin' My Own, gets underway this year, you can hear Church singing all across the nation.

Hank Williams Jr.

Hank Williams Jr. was born into a family of country musicians. Hank Williams, Jr., who did not like being overshadowed by his famous father, had a terrible mountain climbing accident in 1975 that nearly completely ended his career.

Fortunately for his career, Williams Jr. bounced back, and as his songs climbed the charts in the 1980s, he became a legitimate country star in his own right. More than 40 years after his debut, he is still putting out music. His most recent album, It's About Time, was released in 2016.

@David Redfern/Getty Images; Scott Legato/Getty Images/mns.com

Billy Ray Cyrus

Billy Ray Cyrus, who is frequently seen as a one-hit wonder by those outside the music industry, has been releasing albums since his initial success in the 1990s, when Achy Breaky Heart rocketed to the top of the charts.

But Cyrus wasn't willing to limit himself to simply music; he has also made countless television appearances, most notably as Hannah Montana's father in the sitcom Hannah Montana, which starred his more well-known daughter Miley in the lead role. Billy Ray, who is still active in acting, was recently spotted sporting his recognizable mullet at the 2017 VMAs.

@Billy Ray Cyrus | Before They Were Famous | Old Town Road Remix/BeforeTheyWereFamous/YouTube.com

Shania Twain

Despite being Canadian, Shania Twain has managed to become the face of country pop. She is the best-selling female country musician in history and one of the top-selling artists of all time, with over 85 million records sold.

She really catapulted to fame with the 1995 publication of her second album, The Woman in Me. Her most recent accomplishments include the release of a new album, Triumphant, in May and appearances at the Stagecoach Festival in April.

@Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage/Getty Images; Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Billboard Magazine/mns.com

Jake Owen

In 2006, Jake Owen, whose real name was Joshua Ryan, was able to sign a record deal with RCA Nashville. Later that year, his debut album, Starting with Me, was published, but it would take him another five years to achieve the top spot on the country music charts.

The music? Blue Jean Night in sandals. Even though he continues to release albums, most recently 2016's American Love, which he also produced, it is his recent divorce that has been making news lately.

Sara Evans

Even though she was born in Missouri, Sara Evans quickly made friends and signed a record deal with RCA Nashville after moving to Nashville in 1991. Shortly after signing with Sony Music Nashville, she parted ways with the label and joined Concord Music Group in August 2016.

Evans took a break from music in the interim to concentrate on raising her family with husband Jay Barker. She also appeared on Chrisley Knows Best in 2016, where she sang a duet with Todd Chrisley.

@Sara Evans interview at Country In The Burg 2023!/ Country In The Burg/YouTube.com

Trace Adkins

Trace Adkins has never failed to make his trademark cowboy hat appear stylish, and he is rarely seen without it. After signing with Capitol Records Nashville in 1995, Adkins released his debut album, Dreaming Out Loud, and thus began his career.

Since his debut 22 years ago, Adkins has continued to make music; he now has over 10 studio albums to his credit. Adkins published an autobiography in 2007, titled A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Free-Thinking Roughneck. His most recent album, Something's Going On, was released in 2017.

@Trace Adkins - Mind On Fishin' (Official Video)/ Trace Adkins/YouTube.com

Brad Paisley

Who Needs Pictures, Brad Paisley's 1999 album, completely upended the country music industry. He has recorded 10 albums since his debut, all of which received certifications of at least gold, if not higher.

He received the Grand Ole Opry membership in just two years, a feat that takes many stars a lifetime to accomplish. As his most recent album, Love and War, was published in April, Paisley, who served as the inspiration for several songs in the Pixar picture Cars, shows no signs of slowing down.

The Dixie Chicks

Even though we'd prefer to forget the Dixie Chicks' early wardrobe choices, their musical prowess was enough to get them by. The original founding members of the all-female country trio are Emily Erwin Robison and Martie Erwin Maguire, who are now joined by Natalie Maines on lead vocals.

Despite having begun as a Dallas bluegrass band, they now regularly sell out stadium gigs and continue to tour abroad due to their immense success. They became the most successful all-female band in the US in 2015.

@The Chicks' Natalie Maines & Martie Maguire Became Divorce Buddies On Early Tour/The Kelly Clarkson Show/ YouTube.com

Wynonna Judd

When Wynonna Judd and her mother Naomi formed a country music partnership in the first half of the 1980s, Wynonna Judd began singing. 14 of the tracks from their debut album peaked at number one on the charts, guaranteeing the ladies a permanent place in country music history.

Even though the band split up a decade later, Judd was able to use their fame to launch a lucrative solo career. Despite being one of the first couples eliminated, she competed on Dancing With the Stars in 2013 and released a new album in 2016.

@singleguy79/Reddit.com

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson had a lengthier career in the music industry than others, and his catalog is proof of that. Although he initially found it difficult to get into the business, the passion of music that his family had instilled in him helped him succeed.

Even though he changed careers frequently before becoming successful. Since then, he has released more than 68 albums, acted in a number of movies, and started a number of businesses, including his biodiesel fuel firm. In 2017, he published God's Problem Child.

@Willie Nelson's Lifestyle 2022 / Lifestyle & Net Worth / YouTube.com

Kacey Musgraves

Another performer who performed on Nashville Star was Kacey Lee Musgraves, albeit by the time of her appearance, she had already put out three of her own albums. Although it took her several more years to finally sign with her company, Mercury Nashville Records, she finished seventh on the show's fifth season.

Because she doesn't avoid contentious subjects like other conservative country stars do, Musgraves' music stands apart in the genre. Musgraves and Rustin Kelly became engaged on Christmas Eve in 2016.

@Simp4kacey/Reddit.com

Kris Kristofferson

In addition to becoming a great country star in his own right throughout the 1970s, Kris Kristofferson was such a prolific songwriter that he was able to take home nearly every 1972 Grammy for songwriter on his own.

Kristofferson frequently recounts his antics with other country music greats like Johnny Cash. Although Kristofferson has another tour in the works, it has been considerably delayed by his struggle with Lyme illness, which at the age of 80 was initially mistaken for the beginning stages of Alzheimer's.

@A Star Is Born (1976) Cast | Then And Now 1976-2021/The UK NEWS 1/YouTube.com 

Rascal Flatts

Rascall Flatts may have begun in Columbus, Ohio in the late 1990s as a country three, but boy have they changed since then!

Gary LeVox, his second cousin Jay DeMarcus, and their friend Joe Don Rooney make up the group. The band was signed thanks to their 2000 demo, and ever since then, they've dominated the country charts. After the release of the well-known hit "I Like the Sound of That," they recently began touring the nation.

Loretta Lynn

The country music industry has known Loretta Lynn long enough for her to be considered a living legend. As the most-awarded female country musician in history, she also holds the distinction of being the only female to receive the Academy of Country Music's Artist of the Decade award for the 1970s.

President Obama presented Lynn with the Presidential Medal of Honor in 2013. Other greats like Willie Nelson and Elvis Costello are on her most recent CD, which was published in March 2016.

@Waring Abbott/Getty Images; Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images/mns.com

Jason Aldean

Beginning his musical career by playing in Atlanta-area nightclubs, Jason Aldean eventually managed to secure a record deal with Broken Bow Records. Even though he didn't stay in touch with Broken Bow, it was for the best because he flourished thanks to his contract with Capitol Records.

My Kinda Party, Night Train, and Burning It Down are some of his best-known songs. In 2016, Aldean started the Six String Circus national tour, and at the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards, he was ultimately named Entertainer of the Year.

@Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage/Getty Images; Taylor Hill/Getty Images/mns.com

Lee Ann Womack

Even though Lee Ann Womack's single I Hope You Dance is her most well-known work, the blue-eyed beauty is hardly a one-hit wonder. She spent a few years experimenting with pop music, but in 2005, with the release of There's More Where That Came From, she went back to her country origins.

With the upcoming release of her most recent album The Lonely, the Lonesome & the Gone, Lee Ann will have sold over 6 million albums globally.

@Lee Ann Womack Performs Willie Nelson's "Three Days" (Live) / LeeAnn Womack / YouTube.com

Crystal Gayle

Crystal Gayle made the decision to emulate her sister Loretta Lynn and also become a country music superstar. She is another singer who, in the 1970s and 1980s, managed to carve out a niche for herself as a crossover pop-country performer by putting out no less than 20 number-one singles.

Gayle became the first female vocalist to achieve platinum sales for a record, despite the fact that her sister may be a little more well-known. In 2016, Gayle got admitted to the Grand Ole Opry.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift may have become a full-fledged pop sensation in recent years, but she wouldn't have taken off without her early country successes. Since teens connected with Taylor's songs about young love and heartbreak, she quickly gained a sizable teen fan base after the release of Teardrops on My Guitar in 2007.

Since then, Taylor's reputation has seen a number of changes. Her most recent makeover was announced at the same time as the release of her most recent single, Look What You Made Me Do.

@Taylor Swift 2022 Transformation - 0 To 30 Years Old/TOP TRANSFORMATIONS/YouTube.com

Alan Jackson

A true "rags to riches" tale, Alan Jackson began his career at The Nashville Network in the mailroom. His wife, Denise Jackson, was able to connect him with executives in the country music industry.

Since signing with Arista Nashville in 1989, Jackson has released a ton of music. Jackson has published more than 16 albums and has sold 80 million records, making him a true icon of country music. Jackson's induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame was announced in 2017.

@Alan Jackson - The Older I Get (Official Music Video)/ Alan Jackson/YouTube.com

Randy Travis

Since he began making albums in the 1980s, Randy Travis's voice has captured the attention of the country music community. In addition to his six Grammys and six Country Music Awards, he has had 16 tracks reach the top spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Travis, a baritone vocalist, unfortunately experienced a stroke in 2013, but because to a group of skilled therapists, he was able to sing Amazing Grace at his 2016 Country Music Hall of Fame induction.

@How Great Thou Art / Randy Travis / YouTube.com

Toby Keith

Toby Keith, who is from Clinton, Oklahoma, had his country music debut in 1993 with Should've Been A Cowboy, a song that managed to reach the top spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list.

Keith decided to start Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill in Oklahoma City because he wasn't satisfied with being merely a musician. The bar was a hit, and it has since grown along with Keith's commercial ventures. As one of the richest American celebrities by 2017, he was given the moniker Country Music's $500 million guy.

@Shynailgirl/Reddit.com

Josh Turner

Josh Turner hasn't been afraid to discuss the impact that his faith has had on his music, asserting that he is a Christian musician even if he doesn't sing gospel music.

In 2003, Turner signed a recording contract with MCA Nashville Records, and his debut album, Long Black Train, was made available. However, it was his second album, Your Man, which had the number-one songs Would You Go With Me and Your Man. Deep South, his most recent album, was released in March 2017.

Luke Bryan

Luke Bryan is another artist on our list whose musicianship is much greater than his sense of style. It's no surprise that he started out creating songs for more well-known musicians before getting signed himself because he possesses the voice of an angel and an unmatched gift for songwriting.

He has since sold more than 7 million albums abroad. Bryan is a guest judge on The Voice and was picked to perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl in Houston, Texas, in 2017.

@Scott Gries/Getty Images; Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM/mns.com

Dierks Bentley

In 2003, Capital Nashville signed Dierks Bentley, who later released his debut album on their label. His first and second albums later received platinum certification.

Although Bentley's appearance has changed frequently throughout the years, he has continued to produce successful singles, with over 15 of them reaching the top spot on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. Bentley's 2010 bluegrass album deviated slightly from the country genre, but his 2016 album, Black, was entirely country.

@Dierks Bentley - Gone (Official Music Video)/ Dierks Bentley/YouTube.com

Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw has a successful country career and is one half of a power couple in the genre. His wife, Faith Hill, may be the key to his success, as seen by his fourteen LPs, nine headline tours, and numerous acting parts.

In addition to his fame in the country music industry, McGraw has appeared in the films Friday Night Lights and The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock. McGraw joined a new label, Arista Nashville, a division of Sony Music Nashville, in 2017.

@Luizblog/Reddit.com

Blake Shelton

Country music, a kind of music that originated in the American South, has given rise to some of the greatest performers in history and continues to hold a strong following. The genre, which has Applachian folk music roots, gained prominence in the early 20th century and was most frequently referred to as "hillbilly music." But because the phrase had a somewhat negative connotation, the genre came to be known as "country music" in the 1940s. See how our favorites appeared back then and what they are doing now by taking a peek.

Barbara Mandrell & The Mandrell Sisters

There's a good reason why Barbara Mandrell is referred to as the Sweetheart of Steel. She has been recognized for her skill on the pedal steel guitar since she was just 11 years old.

Barbara and her sisters continued to learn from their parents, formed a family band with them, and for a while, the Mandrell Family Band toured the United States. Mandrell was able to recover from a terrible vehicle accident that nearly ended her career in 1984, but she nevertheless made the decision to stop making music in 1997.

@Mattjshermandotcom/Reddit.com

Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker has succeeded as a solo artist despite having begun as the lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish. In the 1980s, when the four of them were students at the University of South Carolina, he first met his bandmates.

After 22 years together, Rucker left the group in 2008, but it was worth it when Rucker became the first black singer to top the Hot Country Songs chart since 1983. At the recent County to Country festival in Europe, Rucker performed.

@Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel (Official Music Video)/ Darius Rucker/YouTube.com

Carrie Underwood

When she won the fourth season of American Idol, Carrie Underwood may have been a small-town kid from Oklahoma, but she is now a genuine country superstar.

She has more than 65 million record sales and a long list of honors, including 11 American Music Awards, 17 Billboard Music Awards, and 7 Grammys. Carrie does appear to be the "reigning queen" of the nation.

@Carrie Underwood Then and Now: Watch Her 2005 'American Idol' Coronation Performance/Entertainment Tonight/YouTube.com

Reba McEntire

The feisty country diva, who is known for her iconic amber hair, has been around for a while. She managed to land a self-titled sitcom in the early 2000s after being well-known as a country singer. It ran for seven seasons before being cancelled in 2007.

McEntire is now a guest judge on America's Got Talent, but she is making a comeback to scripted television with a leading role as Ruby Adair in a new ABC series called Bluegrass Blood Red.

@Barry King/WireImage/Getty Images; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night/mns.com

Martina McBride

Martina McBride, who has been compared to Celine Dion in terms of the width of her vocal range, debuted on the country music scene in 1991 after being signed by RCA Records. The following year saw the publication of her debut hit, The Time Has Come, and McBride hasn't looked back since.

It is amazing that the country singer, who has 14 Grammys to her name, has found the time to engage extensively with the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

@Itsjustme7501/Reddit.com

Tanya Tucker

Another country music diva who made her debut when she was just a tween—at around 13 years old—is Tanya Tucker. The success of Tucker's 1972 single "Delta Dawn," which peaked at number six on the country charts, ensured the continuation of her career.

Tucker has maintained her fan base for more than 40 years, unlike most child stars, whose fan bases dwindle as they become older. Following Glen Campbell's passing in August, Tucker released her first single since 2009 and is currently on tour.

@Chris Walter/WireImage/Getty Images; Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic/Getty Images/mns.com

Alison Krauss

As one of the few artists whose specialty is more bluegrass than country, Alison Krauss has set herself apart from many of her contemporaries. When she was just 14 years old, her debut album was released, demonstrating her prowess as a genre expert.

Due to her talent, Krauss has won 27 Grammys in addition to numerous other accolades in the country music industry. The movies O' Brother Where Art Thou and Cold Mountain also used her hits. In February 2017, she released Windy City, her most recent album.

@Alison Krauss & Union Station - Baby Now That I've Found You (Live in Concert)/ In Concert/YouTube.com

Patty Loveless

After releasing her debut self-titled album in the 1980s, Patty Loveless's fame has continued to grow. A decade later, she had her professional zenith as she managed to put out track after single that debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Loveless has semi-retired from playing and now only occasionally appears at the Grand Ole Opry and on a country music cruise. She does this because she would rather put all of her energy into taking care of her family, which includes her husband and kids.

@What Really Happened to Patty Loveless/Hollywood Star Update/YouTube.com

Kelly Clarkson

Since Kelly Clarkson was the first American Idol winner, the country has adored her. A record-selling artist with more than 100 number-one singles on the Billboard charts, the Nashville belter dominated both the pop and country charts at the age of just 20.

Although Clarkson has dabbled in a number of musical genres, such as pop and rock, her roots remain in country music. This October, she's scheduled to release Meaning of Life, her most recent album.
@Then and Now: Kelly Clarkson's First & Last Appearances on The Ellen Show/TheEllenShow/YouTube.com

Kenny Rogers

For more than 60 years, Kenny Rogers has been a household name in country music, and the Country Music Hall of Famer is still active today.

With over 100 million albums sold, Rogers is one of the best-selling artists in history. He thought about retiring in 2015, but he couldn't resist the allure of the stage. Rogers has been married five times in all, and like fellow country icon Wille Nelson, he has had kids with the majority of them.

@Thesuavedog/Reddit.com

Emmylou Harris

Before becoming a country star, Emmylou Harris first made her debut in the 1960s as a folk singer in Greenwich Village. She has won 13 Grammy Awards over her career in addition to numerous other accolades for her country singles.

She has collaborated expertly with many of the best country musicians, including Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton. She is a singer-songwriter in her own right. A tribute concert for Harris was organized in 2016 by a number of her friends.

@Richard McCaffrey/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Rick Diamond/Getty Images/mns.com

Clint Black

Killin Time, Clint Black's debut album, was released in 1989 and immediately became a hit. Five of its singles reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks list.

The 1998 movie Still Holding On: The Legend of Cadillac Jack gave Black his acting debut since he wasn't willing to be a one-trick pony. Black took a break from performing in the early 2000s to devote more time to his family, but he came back in 2013 and released his most recent album in 2015.

@SGranitz/WireImage/Getty Images; Michael Loccisano/Getty Images/mns.com

Trisha Yearwood

Early in the 1990s, Trisha Yearwood's country career took off as she established a reputation for herself with her songs that focused primarily on women. Even though she is most known for her music, Yearwood has been a bit of a jack of all crafts while married to another country great, Garth Brooks.

Trisha has worked as an author, singer, actress, and even a chef. She currently hosts Trisha's Southern Kitchen, an Emmy-winning cooking program, on the Food Network. She part in The Passion, a live TV musical, in 2016.

@The Life and Tragic Ending of Trisha Yearwood/Hollywood Star Update/YouTube.com

George Strait

George Strait, a Texas native who started his country music career 30 years ago, appears to have barely aged throughout that time. Being a cowboy at heart, Strait is known as the "King of Country" due to the fact that, to date, he has had more number one singles than any other artist in any musical genre, totaling over 60.

Strait has a discography of more than 28 albums, thus it is obvious that he deserves the title. 2012 saw the birth of Strait's first grandchild, who was given the name of his well-known grandfather. 2015 saw the release of Cold Beer Conversations, his most recent CD.

@Kirk West/Getty Images; Rick Diamond/Getty Images for T.J. Martell Foundation/mns.com

Rhett Akins

With the 1995 single That Ain't My Truck, which peaked at number three on the Billboard Country Charts, Rhett Akins initially gained notoriety in Nashville.

Akins became a recognized country star thanks to the other successes from his debut album, A Thousand Memories. Akins is still active and has recently had success creating songs for other country musicians, earning co-writing credits on songs like Blake Shelton's Boys 'Round Here and Chris Young's I Can Take It From There.

@Rhett Akins | 2022 Lyric Contest Judges/American Songwriter/YouTube.com

Ty Herndon

After its 1995 release, Ty Herndon's debut single What Mattered Most catapulted him to fame and peaked at number one on the Billboard charts. In the subsequent years, Herndon has continued to produce a number of other top singles.

Herndon came out as homosexual when touring on his press tour following the release of his album Lies I Told Myself in 2013, revealing that both of his ex-wives were aware of his sexual preferences. 2016 saw the release of his most recent album, House on Fire.

@Sporkicide/Reddit.com