Saving Country Music’s 85 Greatest Country Songwriters of All Time
The only thing I hate more than lists is the reactions to lists. I started this list some 2 1/2 years ago and then shelved it from concerns of the reactions and criticisms that come with posting a list of this type. But inspired by Rolling Stone‘s recent list of the “100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time” (and disappointed there wasn’t more country music representation), I decided to finish this list and publish it.
The names selected were accumulated and ranked according to a proprietary and completely subjective formula based off of not just commercial success, popularity, or chart performance, but also off of influence, creativity, peer respect, and other factors. If a songwriter also performed their own songs, this was weighted to their benefit, but many behind-the-scenes songwriters were also given top consideration for distinction based off of the strength of their contributions to country music.
GROUND RULES: PLEASE READ
***This is not an exercise for you to rummage through the names quickly, looking for omissions, and complain about who is not here and who deserves to be. The point of this list, just like any list, is to hopefully fill holes in your knowledge base, and turn you on to music, artists, (or in this case, songwriters) who you may have never heard of before, or may have forgotten.
NO – “This list is illegitimate because so and so is NOT on it.” Every list is going to be subject to the perspective of the author. That is why it is called “Saving Country Music’s 85 Greatest Country Songwriters” and in no way claims itself as the be all, end all list that is 100% bulletproof. We are all products of our own perspectives, and this is simply one person’s opinion.
NO- “This list is illegitimate because so and so IS on it.” I don’t care if Earl Thomas Conley once stiffed your brother’s girlfriend for an autograph after a show in 1986. Just because someone’s name that you personally don’t like is here doesn’t mean the entire list is completely bogus.
NO – “This list is illegitimate because so and so is AHEAD or BEHIND so and so.” Again, this is just one person’s opinion. Get over it, and use the list as a resource to hopefully discover new music, not complain because it doesn’t reinforce your already-formulated opinions about music.
PLEASE feel free to share YOUR opinions about your favorite songwriters of all time, your opinions on who should be in which positions, who should be ahead or behind others, or who should have been included or omitted by sharing your thoughts in the comment section below, and in a manner that helps to aid in the discovery process as opposed to impugning others for their opinions. And remember, music is not a competition, and nobody is right or wrong.
Saving Country Music’s 85 Greatest Country Songwriters of All Time
85. Kacey Musgraves – In the future Musgraves might find herself in the Top 25, and maybe her long-term prospects will be hurt by the fact that many of her big songs rely on co-writers. But when talking about important country songwriters, her name deserves to be here.
84. Hank Williams III – The songwriting found on Lovesick, Broke, & Driftin’ and Straight to Hell alone ensure that three generations of Hank make this list.
83. Billy Don Burns – A songwriter lost in time, Billy Don Burns once produced a record for Johnny Paycheck, and had Willie Nelson record one of his songs. Though you may have never heard of him, his songwriting is top caliber, and promises to hold up over time like the work of all great songwriters. Burns was once engaged to Lorrie Morgan.
82. Jim Lauderdale – One of the most prolific recorded songwriters of our time, and one of the founding fathers of Americana.
81. Willy “Tea” Taylor – Underground songwriter from Oakdale, CA, frontman for the Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit, and called by Saving Country Music as one of the greatest songwriters of this generation.
80. Curly Putnam – Wrote “He Stopped Loving Her Today” with Bobby Braddock, as well as “Green Green Grass of Home,” and “D-I-V-O-R-C-E.”
79. Kostas – Greek-born songwriter for Dwight Yoakam, George Strait, Travis Tritt, The Dixie Chicks, Marty Stuart, and many more.
78. Sturgill Simpson – It’s been a combination of style and songwriting in Sturgill Simpson’s short, but storied career so far. He keeps it up, and he’ll be much closer to the bottom of lists like this in the coming years.
77. Gretchen Peters – The woman behind so many great songs, including singles from Patty Loveless, Pam Tillis, Martina McBride, George Strait, and many more. She won the CMA for Song of the Year for “Independence Day” in 1995.
76. Jimmy Webb – Songwriter for “Wichita Lineman”, “Galveston,” “MacArthur Park,” and many more, including many non country songs for artists such as Frank Sinatra, James Taylor, and R.E.M. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1990.
75. Ray Wylie Hubbard – You can’t talk about songwriters without talking about Ray Wylie Hubbard. Even though his career has mostly been on the periphery of country music, his influence within the genre has been grand. “Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother” is a country music cult classic.
74. Roger Alan Wade – A great late career songwriter whose acoustic albums are songwriting treasure troves. He also wrote the hit “Country State of Mind” with Hank Williams Jr.
73. Faron Young – You just get the sense if Faron had lived longer, his career would have been so much more significantly celebrated.
72. Jason Isbell – An artist whose legacy will certainly put him closer to the front of the list as time marches on, but an artist might be held back just slightly on a country list because he’s more Americana. However country should be proud to claim Jason Isbell as its own.
71. Sonny Throckmorton – Wrote more than 1,000 songs that were recorded by artists, including songs for Merle Haggard, The Oak Ridge Boys, John Conlee, and others. Sonny was named Songwriter of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association in 1978, 1979, and 1980.
70. Max D. Barnes – Writer of “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” “Drinkin’ & Dreamin” (Waylon), “Look At Us” (Vince Gill), and many more. He won a total of 42 songwriter awards during his decorated career.
69. Wayne “The Train” Hancock – The King of Juke Joint Swing had superior influence in starting the neotraditionalist revolution in the late 90’s with artists such as BR549 and Hank Williams III. His unique voice and stellar songwriting have some calling him the Hank Williams of our time.
68. Chris Stapleton – For himself, for others, and with the Steeldrivers, Chris Stapleton’s songwriters has been one of the beacons of light in country music in the 2010’s—a few missteps with commercial hits notwithstanding.
67. Chris Knight – Not much cuts like a Chris Knight song. He’s also had his songs recorded by the likes of Randy Travis and Lee Ann Womack.
66. John Hartford – The King of Newgrass had one masterful pen and put a lot of humor into the country music realm, while also penning blockbusters like Glen Campbell’s “Gentle On My Mind.”
65. Jamey Johnson – It’s a rarity that a country music traditionalist of today can say he’s won two separate CMA Awards for Song of the Year. Jamey has accomplished plenty to not allow “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” to hold him back for history.
64. Bob Childers -The father of Red Dirt, in certain circles in Oklahoma and Texas, Bob Childers is considered as influential as Dylan.
63. Tammy Wynette – Not as prolific as other performers of her stature, but her songwriting work on iconic songs such as “Stand By Your Man” make her worthy of inclusion.
62. Webb Pierce – When Hank Williams was fired from the Grand Ole Opry, it was Webb who was hired to take his place. Webb went on to be one of the biggest country stars of the next half decade. Though not nearly the songwriter as Hank, Webb did write some of his own #1 hits including “Slowly” and “I Don’t Care.”
61. George Jones – Not just one of the greatest voices in country music history, but he wrote “The Window Up Above,” “Why Baby Why,” “Take Me,” and many more.
60. Marty Stuart – Don’t think of Marty Stuart as much of a songwriter? Go listen to his concept album The Pilgrim.
59. Paul Overstreet – Writer of “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “When You Say Nothing At All” with Don Schlitz, and performer/writer of “Daddy’s Come Around.” Discounted slightly because he’s also the writer of “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and other unfortunate hits, but still a significant country music songwriter in history.
58. John D. Loudermilk – Writer of “A Rose and a Baby Ruth,” “Break My Mind,” “Indian Reservation,” and so many more. An early collaborator with George Hamilton IV, John had many hits in country, rock, and pop, and is one of the most revered songwriters in all of music.
57. Rosanne Cash – The apple didn’t fall too far from the Johnny Cash tree. In fact the argument could be made from an Americana perspective that the pupil rose to surpass the master when it came to songwriting. Johnny definitely had a greater impact on country music, but some of Rosanne’s compositions are some of the best songwriting you can find.
56. Billy Sherrill – Producer extraordinaire whose songwriting credits include many of Tammy Wynette’s biggest hits including “Stand By Your Man” and “Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad.”
55. Don Schlitz – Writer of “The Gambler,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “When You Say Nothing At All,” and many more.
54. Felice and Boudleaux Bryant – When you wrote many of the big hits for the Everly Brothers, and then turn around and write an iconic country tune like “Rocky Top,” your place in the pantheon of great songwriters is cemented.
53. Hank Williams Jr. – Anyone overlooking Hank Jr.’s songwriting contributions is not paying proper attention. Bocephus isn’t just a big time performer, he wrote some of his biggest songs over his significant career.
52. Mickey Newbury – A songwriter’s songwriter, he was a bit too fey for the mainstream, but his influence over other artists as far ranging as Waylon Jennings to Elvis Presley is undeniable. Though he didn’t officially write the separate parts of “An American Trilogy,” Newbury’s vision for creating legendary moments through music was unmatched.
51. “Cowboy” Jack Clement – The cosmic country music wizard is known mostly for his producer work, but as the writer of “Ballad of a Teenage Queen,” “Guess Things Happen That Way” and many more, he deserves recognition in the realm of songwriting greats.
50. Bobby Braddock – “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” ‘Nuff said.
49. Larry Cordle – The writer of “Against The Grain,” “Highway 40 Blues,” and hits for George Strait, Kathy Mattea, and Trisha Yearwood. But Larry Cordle really made his mark when he penned “Murder on Music Row” with Larry Shell. The song went on to be the 2001 CMA Song of the Year.
48. Dean Dillon – Towering contributions from this mostly behind-the-scenes songwriter, especially contributions to George Strait which include “The Chair,” “Nobody in His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her,” “It Ain’t Cool to Be Crazy About You,” “Ocean Front Property,” “Famous Last Words of a Fool,” and others. He also wrote “Tennessee Whiskey.”
47. Rodney Crowell – Rodney had a string of five #1 songs off of his 1988 album Diamonds & Dirt, and he wrote or co-wrote four of them. His songwriting for others has also resulted in some stellar country music output.
46. Vince Gill – Like a good wine, Vince Gill’s music just keeps getting better over time—songwriting included. “One More Last Chance,” “Go Rest High On a Mountain,” “Tryin’ To Get Over You,” and so many more of his hits were solo writes.
45. Shel Silverstein – That’s right, he didn’t just write A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends. He also wrote “A Boy Named Sue” and other strong country offerings, making Shel one of the quintessential behind-the-scenes songwriting stars.
44. John Prine – Not the commercial powerhouse compared to others on this list, but as respected by his peers as Guy Clark. Like so many great songwriters, Prine has a style of writing all his own. You can say, “That’s a John Prine song,” and it immediately denotes quality.
43. Steve Earle – Steve Earle practically created alt-country with his cutting lyrics and social commentary. His influence still reigns significant in Americana.
42. Don Gibson – “Oh Lonesome Me,” “Blue Blue Day,” and dozens others make Don Gibson one of the greatest ever.
41. Lyle Lovett – “If I had a boat, I’d go out on the ocean. And if I had a pony, I’d ride him on my boat.”
40. Chris LeDoux – Country music’s first independent superstar, if it wasn’t for his songs and success, there may have never been a “Class of ’89” in country music.
39. Dwight Yoakam – It wasn’t just the voice, the tight pants, and the cowboy hat turned down over his eyes. As the songwriter for singles like “Guitars, Cadillacs,” “It Won’t Hurt,” “I Got You” and others, Yoakam showed he was a student of classic country not just in style, but in words and sentiment.
38. Waylon Jennings – Not known as a songwriter first, but some of his biggest hits like “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” and “Don’t You Think This Outlaw Bit’s Done Got Out of Hand” were penned by his own hand. Quantity may put him at a disadvantage to some names, but the quality is unquestionable.
37. Alan Jackson – Never has a songwriter been so successful with his own compositions in the modern era. A commercial superstar who still brought substance to his music, Alan Jackson has the commercial success and the street cred to be considered a superstar no matter who you speak to.
36. Earl Thomas Conley – Between late 1982 and early 1989, Earl Thomas Conley released 19 singles. Out of those 19 singles, 17 went #1. The other two went to #2. Earl Thomas Conley wrote many of them, some with collaborator Randy Scruggs.
35. Johnny Cash – It may be more relevant to explain why Johnny Cash sits so far up on this list as opposed to why he’s included. Though an amazing songwriter in his own right, especially early on, Cash knew how to rely on others to help build his iconic career. When Cash did pick up his pen though, magic happened, and his songwriting contributions can’t be overlooked.
34. Robert Earl Keen – The king of the Texas storytellers, during his prime, nobody could pen a song like Robert Earl Keen.
33. Lucinda Williams – Exhibit #1: “Passionate Kisses.” Exhibit #2: The album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road—possibly one of the best-written albums ever.
32. Jerry Jeff Walker – When you write a song like “Mr. Bojangles” that goes on to be covered by Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan, you know you’re worthy of top songwriting distinction. But Walker’s career post “Bojangles” in Texas proved he was much more than a one hit songwriting wonder. He also deserves kudos for giving exposure to others songwriters after the success of “Mr. Bojangles,” including to Ray Wylie Hubbard, Guy Clark, and Gary P. Nunn on his album Viva Terlingua.
31. Gram Parsons – Scoff all you want at Gram being a rocker turned country star, but his songwriting contributions, specifically in the California country rock scene, turned an entire generation on to the beauty of country music.
30. Cindy Walker – The quintessential unknown songwriter, Cindy Walker swore off the limelight as she penned some of the most iconic songs in country music history, including “Sugar Moon” and “Bubbles In My Beer” for Bob Wills, Webb Pierce’s “I Don’t Care,” and “Blue Canadian Rockies.” Walker was an inaugural inductee of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
29. Bill Monroe – Think of what a different musical world it would be without Bill Monroe. Though a lot of his magic consisted of taking tunes from the past and paying them forward, Bill Monroe’s songwriting also helped form the subgenre of bluegrass where there was no such subgenre before.
28. Johnny Paycheck – His checkered past and super hit with a David Allan Coe song shade the fact that Johnny Paycheck was a master songwriter, and a prolific one at that.
27. Bill Anderson – “Mama Sang A Song,” “Still,” “I Get The Fever,” and Bill is still writing songs today and as prolific as ever. There’s few living songwriters as well-respected as Bill Anderson.
26. Loretta Lynn – Sometimes it’s hard for us to think of iconic singers and performers as songwriters too, but if there was ever a performer who deserves her own kudos for penning songs, it’s Loretta Lynn. “Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’,” “Fist City,” “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” and so many of her other signature tunes were self-penned.
25. Harlan Howard – Writer of “Heartaches By The Number,” “I Fall To Pieces,” “Life Turned Her That Way,” “Streets of Baltimore,” and so many more. One of the truly great behind-the-scenes country songwriters of all time.
24. Jerry Reed – Jerry Reed could do it all, and did do it all, including writing some of the most iconic songs in country music history. You know that feeling that comes over you when you first hear “East Bound and Down” after you haven’t heard it in a while? Jerry Reed made country funky and cool, and his wordplay put him in an elite company of country songwriters.
23. Hank Cochran – This Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter once had Jamey Johnson record an entire album of his songs—the ultimate compliment from one songwriter to another. Cochran’s career was relevant for an incredible span of time. He wrote songs for Patsy Cline and Ray Price, and later for George Strait and Lee Ann Womack. You will be hard pressed to find another songwriter as respected as Hank Cochran.
22. Fred Rose – The often-unheralded co-songwriter behind so many of Hank Williams’ biggest songs, and the songs of other early country stars, Fred’s pen was one of the forces that made country music into a major American music genre. His work behind-the-scenes to make sure songwriters get paid their due through Acuff/Rose was also a significant contribution to the songwriting realm.
21. Marty Robbins – With a songwriting arsenal that includes “El Paso,” “White Sport Coat,” and “Big Iron,” Marty Robbins deserves to be considered as a member of the top class of country music scribes.
20. Billy Joe Shaver – Few songwriters can gloat that Waylon Jennings once recorded an entire album of his songs (Honky Ton Heroes). Billy Joe Shaver embodies the timeless songwriter whose biggest hits are known through performers of another name.
19. David Allan Coe – The gruff exterior, the crude language found in some of his songs might make some think there was never any substance to Coe or that he’s not worth any recognition. But there are few that were as prolific, and as potent as David Alan Coe in his prime.
18. Roger Miller – What would country music be without the songwriting of Roger Miller? A little less fun and a lot less cool. From a creativity standpoint, it can be argued he’s one of the greatest of all time.
17. Tom T. Hall – The name “Tom T. Hall ” is synonymous with master songwriting. They didn’t call him “The Storyteller” for nothing. “Country Is,” “I Care,” “I Love,” “Faster Horses,” and so many other were attributed to Tom T. Hall. He also authored several books on songwriting.
16. Ernest Tubb – A pioneer of country music songwriting, tunes like “Walking The Floor Over You” remain relevant today, and will remain timeless 100 years from now.
15. Buck Owens – Would there even be a thing called “The Bakersfield Sound” if it wasn’t for Buck Owens? And it wasn’t just the loud Telecasters and thumping bass drums that went into the sound. It was the words of Buck and frequent collaborator Harlan Howard that defined the hard times and honky-tonk moods that made Bakersfield such a different flavor from Nashville, and a style that still resonates in the hearts of country music fans today.
14. Jimmie Rodgers – As the father of country music, without the songwriting of Jimmie Rodgers and the recording equipment of Ralph Peer, country music may have never come into being as a commercial enterprise.
13. The Carter Family – Without the Carter Family, there arguably is no such thing as country music. Their primitive country songs were the bridge between country music’s back porch past and its commercial present, and the influence of their songwriting can still be heard in traditional country, folk, bluegrass, and Americana today.
12. Hank Snow – Whenever someone tells you that a Canadian can’t write country music, you just mention these two words: Hank Snow. Sometimes overshadowed by the other Hank’s of the genre, Hank Snow had a huge impact on country music with his songwriting and other contributions, including giving hands up to Hank Williams and Elvis during his storied career.
11. Bob Wills – The King of Western Swing was responsible for creating his own subgenre and inspiring countless others to carry on the legacy that is still alive today. Songs like “New San Antonio Rose” are just as valuable to the country songbook as they are to the landscape of all American music. Few left as wide a footprint as Bob Wills.
10. Lefty Frizell
Always seeming to be overshadowed in his era by Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell gives up nothing to his contemporaries, and his credits are some of the most important compositions in the history of country music. What would country music be without “If You’ve Got The Money (I’ve Got The Time)”?
9. Roy Acuff
Some people think the king of country music is Hank Williams. Others believe the king of country music is George Strait. Still others believe it is A.P. Carter, or Jimmie Rodgers. In truth, it was Roy Acuff, or so he called himself. And with the impressive songwriting catalog he amassed over his legendary career, and his work with Acuff/Rose to make sure songwriters got their due in the recording process, his career was one of the pillars the country music songwriting industry was built upon.
8. Dolly Parton
Appreciate that Dolly Parton’s name is officially attributed to over 3,000 songs. Now think for a second about some of the songs she’s responsible for; songs like “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene” that have become some of the most beloved songs the world has ever heard.
7. Guy Clark
There are many more popular, and there’s some more poetic. But few know how to “craft” a song like Guy Clark. Take a survey of songwriters themselves, and Guy would be at the top of nearly everyone’s list as the best ever.
6. Merle Haggard
The poet of the people, Merle Haggard’s songs speak to the American experience like none other, and he defined what a country song was for a generation.
5. Townes Van Zandt
There is no more revered and mythical name in songwriting than Townes Van Zandt. His life was like a song itself—so touching yet so fleeting. No other songwriter has made people feel as much emotion as Townes Van Zandt.
4. Kris Kristofferson
A Renaissance man, a military officer, an actor, a performer. But when you boil it all down, the foremost thing Kris Kristofferson may be known for is his songwriting. As influential and lasting as anyone, Kris revolutionized country music songwriting in the 70’s, and had everyone else stepping up their game to meet the high bar he set. It’s a bar that is still trying to be met by songwriters today.
3. Woody Guthrie
Though you can certainly make the case that Woody Guthrie was just as much a folk singer, without Woody, arguably the legacy of the singer/songwriter does not exist. Woody set the mold for songwriting as we know it today, and did it by championing the agrarian themes at the heart of country music.
2. Willie Nelson
For a man who has such a distinct voice and guitar tone and has spent 60+ years as an entertainer, Willie’s songwriting still remains his signature. From “selling” songs for as little as $20 to buy his young family bread, to writing hits for Faron Young and Patsy Cline, to becoming one of the songwriters on the first platinum record in country music history in Wanted: The Outlaws and arguably the greatest country record of all time in Red Headed Stranger, it is hard to top Willie Nelson, and in my book there’s only one that does.
1. Hank Williams
The Hillbilly Shakespeare
***Honorable Mention: Bob McDill, who somehow got looked over, but certainly deserves to be on this list somewhere.
August 19, 2015 @ 10:02 pm
Its Triggers list. that much should be clear to anyone. It isnt yours. Mine would put Corb Lund in the number one spot on the strength of Horse Soldier alone, but i bet that I am the only one whose list would look like mine, and everyone would bitch about mine as well. (number 2 spot would be Leroy Virgil Bowers, and then Steve Earle, or maybe vice versa. Depends on the mood I was in) but for the most part, I could get behind his picks.
August 9, 2016 @ 10:11 pm
Townes should be number 1. No offense Hank
August 10, 2016 @ 8:09 pm
I think it’s only missing Paul Craft…otherwise looking good!
August 19, 2015 @ 10:16 pm
Here’s hoping JTE manages to join his dad on your next list!
August 19, 2015 @ 11:01 pm
Bro u 4got sam hunt!! Take ur time is the deepest country song everrr
(the sad thing is lots of people actually think that…)
January 27, 2016 @ 8:39 am
Saying that sam hunt is a great song writer is an insult to everyone on this list. Sam Hunt will never make a list like this, these are true country singers and as far as the deepest country song ever, son you’ve obviously never listened to”he stopped loving her today”, “grand tour'”, “there’s a tear in my beer” or any other classics. might want to check whats coming through your speakers before you say something silly like that.
August 20, 2015 @ 12:47 am
Being fairly new to the brilliant world of (real) Country Music, there are a lot of names I know (even if only by name), and a lot I don´t. As always, Trigger gave me much to discover.
From a personal point of view, I would love to see Pinto Bennett on such a list, just because it was Reckless Kelly´s album of his songs that got me hooked on Country Music.
August 20, 2015 @ 5:27 am
Great list! I’m glad to see outlaws like Willie, Townes, Billy Joe Shaver, Guy Clark, Shel Silverstein and David Allen Coe named and all listed so close to the top. One songwriter I love who is also often forgotten is Lynn’s mom Liz Anderson. She wrote Merle Haggard’s theme song “All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers” and the classic duet tune “Just Between the Two of Us.”
August 20, 2015 @ 6:00 am
Great list! i totally agree with it ! especially because there”s all my favs: Dwight Yoakam, Woody Guthrie, Willie Nelson, Buck Owen, Merle Haggard ….
yes Woody Guthrie is more folk singer than country singer but is really there a difference between the both ???? may be but very subtle though!
on my own point i’d have put Dwight first, in the middle and in the end LOL
sorry i’m jokking!! thnks for your great job !
August 20, 2015 @ 6:56 am
If Roger Miller is there, then Mac Davis needs to be there. Maybe in the 60s or 70s.
August 20, 2015 @ 7:22 am
Really great list and I love that I do know all the names to some degree! I’m a little sad not to see Matraca Berg make the list but otherwise I’m very happy with the list and it’s hard to argue.
August 20, 2015 @ 8:17 am
Congrats on a list that’s much better than the usual “greatest songwriters” lists, particularly the lower portion of your list where you include some notable modern songwriters. I’ll add one you should definitely put on your next list: Sam Baker. He’d be near the top of any list of modern songwriters, country or otherwise, that I’d care to make, just for songs like “Waves”, “Truale”, “Baseball” and “Iron” from of his debut album ‘Mercy’. His follow-up albums all have some excellent songs as well.
August 20, 2015 @ 10:05 am
A great list, and welcome after the RS list which left out so many. To not include Townes was criminal. I would rearrange a few, but I think you covered it well. One name I would definitely say is missing, though, is Ian Tyson. Summer Wages is my absolute favorite song, and even though it is about cutting timber and working the boats on the west coast, Tyson was a former rodeo rider and knew the prairie. And I am not even Canadian. Great version with Emmy Lou.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65CL9NrlL5I
August 21, 2015 @ 8:06 pm
Tyson also wrote “Four Strong Winds”–a big country hit for Bobby Bare, and later revived and brought to the rock world by Neil Young. A great song.
August 22, 2015 @ 4:44 am
I think his highest charting may have been “Someday Soon,” which Judy Collins made a minor hit. I love “Four Strong Winds” as well.
August 28, 2015 @ 7:45 pm
Sorry if I’m a little late here–I hadn’t been checking this thread, but I have to comment on your post.
I first heard “Someday Soon” from Suzy Boguss. And then I heard the earlier version from Moe Bandy. I thought, Wow, Suzy Boguss really gave this song a fresh interpretation!
Some year’s later, I finally heard the older Judy Collins recording and I thought: Wow, Suzy’s version came straight from Judy!
August 28, 2015 @ 8:10 pm
I have never heard the other covers. Funny how we know such different versions. As a 70s kid, I can’t imagine not knowing Judy’s as the primary. I will have to check out the others.
August 12, 2016 @ 9:32 pm
If you don’t think Ian Tyson is a great country/western artist and songwriter, check out his rancher themed songs like Navajo Rug, Cowboy Pride, The Gift, Cowboys Don’t Cry, This Is My Sky, I Outgrew The Wagon, and of course “Somed Soon,” as well as albums like Old Corrals and Sagebrush, Cowboyography, and From Yellowhead to Yellowstone and Other Love Stories.
Tyson is a wonderful and prolific country songwriter.
New Donnie Fritts Music Coming in October; Will Hoge Talks Ray Charles; Maddie & Tae Album Stream | Country California
August 20, 2015 @ 10:20 am
[…] Country Music waded into murky waters by attempting a ranking of the 85 greatest country songwriters of all time. Forgot to include Skrillex, though, so the whole list is […]
August 20, 2015 @ 1:41 pm
A great list although many of personal favourites should be higher placed. A couple of names are unfamiliar so I need to check them out. However I don’t think The Carters belong here. Their historical signifcance is beyond reproach, but they mostly collected songs and claimed the publishing on what was public domain material. Otherwise a first class listing.
March 8, 2016 @ 7:47 am
Well, using commercial success as criteria can be misleading because it is called the Nashville Music Machine for a reason. For example,
50. Bobby Braddock ”“ “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” ”˜Nuff said.
That is a formulaic, sentimentality piece that got old pretty quick. It isn’t even a good dance tune & George hated it until it won Song of the Year. There is nothing real in it like Sunday Morning Coming Down or LA Freeway. I am going to get blasted for that, ha ha ha.
Time and how well they stand up over time is the big criteria for me and most in this list meet that. This is a fun list.
July 13, 2016 @ 9:38 pm
I think many people have had a breakup that just killed them inside, and resolved to take it to their grave. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” expresses a real feeling, even if that feeling seldom comes to fruition. So yes there is is something real in it.
August 20, 2015 @ 2:47 pm
Great list but age discrimination in full effect. I agree with the top but the meaning and depth by which Sturgill and Isbell write, and sing with, is much richer than 95% you rank ahead of them. I respect the list and all on it
August 20, 2015 @ 3:29 pm
Sturgill is overrated. Even after he explained what turtles was all about it was still a silly song to me. Number 3 is a pretty awesome song writerAnd in my opinion better than Sturgill Simpson. True, his writings have not been excellent lately, His writing is almost perfect in love sick, broke, and driftin. Rebel within same thing. Straight to hell same thing.Let me see Sturgill produced three excellentCD and then we can talkIt would have to start with his next CD.Because I gotta tell you this one is just ok. All Sturgill Simpson is for you trigger is just your new obsession.
August 20, 2015 @ 4:22 pm
Maybe Sturgill is Trigger’s obsession right now, but you would benefit from obsessing over proper grammar and spelling.
More importantly, why is so hard for you to accept other people disagreeing with you?
is it really that big a deal that somebody else has a different opinion?
You’re probably not going to answer my questions, though. I fully expect you to start insulting me.
August 20, 2015 @ 4:45 pm
Hey fuzz boy, So you know I am writing on my cell phone. You would think that a website that gets over a hundred comments on any given article, should be used to poor grammar. Yet just about every one of you are always complaining about my grammar. Just so you know, I know I have been cyber stalked. You mean, why else would you keep harping on how poorly I write. But I am NOT biting.
.You know, what’s even more amazing, is how Is it that someone who gets over a hundred comments per article find it so difficult to deal with poor grammar. What’s even more shocking than that is, how is it that someone who is so controversial, So insulting in their writing, so brutal, think that they have the lee way to be sensitive, To be thin skinned? Amazing!
August 20, 2015 @ 4:53 pm
Okay folks, enough on this thread. Everyone has a right to their opinion. Sonas said her peace, let’s not make this personal with each other. Let’s move on.
January 21, 2016 @ 8:50 pm
Any thought on Chris knight? I feel like he could give Hank a big run for his money!
January 21, 2016 @ 9:01 pm
Chris Knight is excellent!
August 20, 2015 @ 3:48 pm
Bob Dill isn’t on this list? Really?
August 20, 2015 @ 5:05 pm
Actually, that’s Bob McDill. And I agree. Overlooked,
August 20, 2015 @ 6:02 pm
Trigger,
Did you evaluate ketch secor? If so what made you leave him off?
August 20, 2015 @ 7:29 pm
I think Ketch is a good songwriter and I did consider him. If this list was a little longer, he likely would have been there.
August 20, 2015 @ 8:17 pm
Thanks Trigger. One of the things I love about this site is finding artists and songwriters I’ve never heard before. There are a bunch of names on this list I’m going to have to check out. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually think it would’ve been cool to publish this list ten names at a time in a countdown format. I usually hate it when websites do that, but there’s almost too much good stuff here to take in at once! I’ll just have to bookmark this one.
August 20, 2015 @ 8:25 pm
When I saw this list Bob McDill came to mind. I’m glad to see Hank Cochran. I’ve loved catching little stories of his songwriting process with Vern Gosdin. Would have loved to been a fly on the wall in those days.
August 20, 2015 @ 8:49 pm
Fun list and I have no problem with any of the selections. I would have liked to seen Hank Thompson in there somewhere. Also, I think Bobby Bare jr is one of the greatest writers out there today. Problem is nobody, himself included, know exactly where the he’ll to put him. Country? Rock? Great writer who learned from his dad and his godfather Shell Silverstien. Anyway, I thought it was a nice list.
August 20, 2015 @ 9:40 pm
Whitey Shafer, Boudreaux Bryant, Felice Bryant, Hank Cochran, Don Schlitz, JJ Cale?
August 20, 2015 @ 10:36 pm
The Bryants are on there, Hank Cochran is on there (though maybe you’re agreeing), JJ Cale I would say is more blues and rock for a list like this, but I’m a huge fan of his songwriting.
August 21, 2015 @ 9:51 pm
Agree a 100% on Sangar D. Shafer. Keith Whitley’s favorite writer also!
August 21, 2015 @ 1:20 am
I think the list is great and im glad to see Wayne The Train on there. I feel like his songwriting abilities get overlooked all too often.
August 21, 2015 @ 1:48 am
1000% agree with #1, and all but 2 of the 15 songwriters (Bobby Bare & Justin Tubb) that came to my mind immediately when I saw the title of this list were included (as were several that I love yet forgot).
While I don’t necessarily agree with the order (subjective, I know), serious compliments for including almost all my essentials and for all the time and effort I know had to have gone into this. May I suggest including I Can’t Stop Loving You and You Don’t Know Me in Don Gibson and Cindy Walker’s descriptions, respectively? I think those were probably their biggest contributions to music, and probably those which had the most influence on other artists, given how often they’ve been recorded ( though, I completely understand if you disagree).
Major kudos for including Faron, all too often ALL of his contributions to Country Music are forgotten and ignored. A sad irony considering his larger than life presence and indelible talents.
August 21, 2015 @ 6:14 am
This guy’s catalog was left off the greatest albums list a while back, and I think it was an error. As far as songwriting goes, he’s written some all-time classics: Charlie Daniels.
August 21, 2015 @ 8:13 am
Steven Tyler has more #1 hits than most of these people. Get a grip Trigger!!!!
August 21, 2015 @ 8:41 am
A very cool list, and a starting point for all to delve deeper into the history of country music.
However: Buddy and Julie Miller should be on this list. Really, really high on this list. And I would have added Charlie and Ira Louvin as well. My $0.02 there.
August 21, 2015 @ 8:54 am
First off, just want to say thank you to Trigger for even attempting to tackle a list like this. Incredibly difficult thing to do – and it takes a stunning amount of musical/historical knowledge.
My only two thoughts are these:
1.) Taylor Swift has to be on this list. And probably in the top 10, if we’re being honest. One may not like her style of music, but she is a GREAT songwriter and probably the most influential country music artist since Garth Brooks in the early to mid nineties. Her ability to connect with “her” audience is incredible and I don’t think she’s had a misstep along the way.
2.) I know everyone loves Johnny Cash. He’s arguably the only man in country music that NO ONE is allowed to criticize. Personally, he’s my favorite to ever do it – but I understand how cliche that is. It can become a bit much. 100% approval rating can be annoying and I understand just skimming over him due to the sheer amount of Cash coverage we get on a daily basis. With all that said, he’s got to be higher than #35. The man wrote “Big River”, “Cry! Cry! Cry!”, “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town”, “Folsom Prison Blues”, “Flesh and Blood”, “The Man Comes Around”, “Man in Black”, “Get Rhythm”, “I Walk the Line”, and my personal favorite, “What is Truth?” The argument can be made that these are simple, rudimentary songs, but if that’s the case, a ton of the people listed ahead of him should be knocked down as well. Country music is simple. Country music is rudimentary. And that’s what makes it great. Cash hit that nail on the head better than almost anyone. I don’t think he should be ahead of people like Willie or Dolly, but top-10 is right where he needs to be.
August 21, 2015 @ 9:15 am
Believe it or not, I did consider Taylor Swift for this list, and even had her in one of the slots before she got bumped off by other names I felt were more worthy. Plus with all the hand wringing over Kacey Musgraves, I can only imagine what would have happened if Taylor was here. But it’s only fair to recognize she is a songwriter, and one who early in her career had a lot of solo writes that became blockbusters.
August 21, 2015 @ 8:58 am
James Slim Hand deserves a spot on any songwriters list, did you consider him? Otherwise, great list… Aside that… Haha – thanks for write up.
August 21, 2015 @ 9:06 am
Well done….Phil Vassar’s name comes to mind as well as Ray Scott…But all in all a good list
August 21, 2015 @ 9:33 am
Kacey Musgraces writes the same song over and over..doesn’t belong
August 21, 2015 @ 1:44 pm
I am surprised Shane McaNallay or Luke Laird did not make this list, maybe in the future if they keep up their good songwriting
January 10, 2016 @ 8:59 pm
Speaking of McAnally, why is six-time CMA Musician of the Year Mac McAnally not on the list? His body of work is amazing!
August 21, 2015 @ 3:30 pm
What about Randy Owen of Alabama, was he considered?
August 21, 2015 @ 6:46 pm
I think you forgot about Mel Tillis. Todd
August 21, 2015 @ 6:55 pm
As a guy who loves country music, but isn’t as knowledgeable about the history of the genre as I want to be, these lists are a great reference. I dicovered about 10 songs off your “greatest country songs list” that I had never heard, but now love. I’m sure I’ll find somebody new off this list, too. Keep the lists coming Trigger!!!
August 22, 2015 @ 4:22 am
Garth shouldve been on the list for “If Tomorrow Never comes”
August 22, 2015 @ 9:27 am
Though Garth does have a credit on the song, “If Tomorrow Never Comes” is pretty recognized as the masterpiece of songwriter Kent Blazy. I did consider including him here, but then I remembered the Todd Snider story of how Kent pretty much ripped of his “Beer Run” song and then tried to sue Todd saying it was vice versa.
August 22, 2015 @ 8:03 am
Good list overall though I disagree with a few inclusions like Kacey Musgraves. Really glad to see Robert Earl Keen and Ray Wylie on there. Would have liked to see the extremely underrated Todd Snider on there though.
August 22, 2015 @ 8:39 am
Another honorable mention… Russell Smith (Third Rate Romance fame and many others).
August 22, 2015 @ 8:42 am
Great list! One of the most impressive things about Roger Miller is how he wrote all of the music and lyrics for Big River, the Broadway musical based on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, with no prior experience in Broadway. He won the 1985 Tony for Best Original Score and is still the only country artist to win a Tony. What an amazing feat!
August 22, 2015 @ 1:36 pm
Impressive list…. well done! Glad to see Chris Knight & Rosanne Cash on there. But why stop at 85? Needs an addendum to make it an even 100. I would add Robbie Fulks to the list… take another listen to his “Georgia Hard” album. Also Hayes Carll writes some pretty memorable tunes.
August 22, 2015 @ 3:49 pm
A great list, and refreshing to see the great Robert Earl Keen so high up. But wither Dean Dillon, author of so many classic songs for King George?
August 22, 2015 @ 8:04 pm
Mae Boren Axton was known as the Queen Mother of Nashville. ’nuff said
Your rules of ‘no criticism’ are so ridiculous they are laughable.
August 22, 2015 @ 11:57 pm
I never said there were any rules against criticism. I said let’s not do the stupid thing that happens with every list, where everyone shows up to see what’s wrong with it as opposed to using it as a resource to discover new music as it is intended to be. The reason I prefaced it so heavily is because I knew this was going to happen. It doesn’t matter whose names were or were not on the list, the same achingly predictable behavior was going to transpire, and that’s exactly what happened.
August 22, 2015 @ 9:00 pm
Great list. Shane McAnally, Kelley Lovelace, Brandy Clark and Brad Paisley would make great additions though.
August 23, 2015 @ 4:02 am
How the hell is Kacey Musgraves on here but emmylou Harris isn’t?!
August 23, 2015 @ 8:15 am
This list brought me back to Merle Haggard and the album “If I Could Only Fly” this morning and it dawned on me that Trigger didn’t list Blaze Foley in there. But anyhow, it did bring me back to some awesome artists I haven’t listened to in a while… and a few new ones.
One I really think would deserve a place on any list in country music is Fred Eaglesmith and I can’t wait for SCM to do a story on him.
Tadaa, now off to the list for more discoveries….
August 23, 2015 @ 4:22 pm
Great list and will have to check out some of the ones I haven’t heard of. Some of my favorites were left off but I can see arguments of why they did’t. Charlie/Bruce Robinson Holly Williams Jeffrey Steele especially back in his Boy Howdy days and Bob DiPiero
August 23, 2015 @ 6:52 pm
#86- Sweet GA Brown. … everybody knows that. Enjoyable list, my favorite part was the disclaimer at the beginning.
August 25, 2015 @ 6:32 am
I’d put Ira Louvin and Carter Stanley on this list.
August 25, 2015 @ 6:38 am
I’d consider Bob Dylan for the list as well. Cash, Haggard, Willie, The Country Gentlemen, Ronstadt, Harris, and countless others have covered his work down through the years.
August 25, 2015 @ 9:53 am
Dylan isn’t falling short on attention for his songwriting. He was #1 on Rolling Stone’s list. I thought I would give the distinction to someone who was more prolific in the country realm.
August 25, 2015 @ 10:00 am
I agree Bob’s never lacked attention for his songwriting but his stuff is adaptable to so many styles, including country and bluegrass. Regarding his receiving the top spot on the Rolling Stone list, I thought that list was woefully inadequate so I don’t think it truly carries much weight.
August 25, 2015 @ 6:43 am
Good list. The only person I thought was missing was Hayes Carll.
August 25, 2015 @ 7:17 am
Given that there are more than a few “Americana-ish” songwriters on this list, one songwriter that I would have liked to have seen on it is Patty Griffin. I would have to say that she’s my favorite female songwriter. I love Lucinda Williams and her Car Wheels on a Gravel Road might be my favorite album of the last 25 years or so, but I think Patty has been much more consistent. The only album of hers that I wouldn’t give an A to would be Flaming Red and that’s more because of the production than the songs. Also, I’ve been an Isbell homer pretty much from the start, but he would have to put out a few more grade A albums before I would consider ranking him ahead of Patty Griffin.
August 25, 2015 @ 10:21 am
I hate lists too, but Billy Don Burns belongs MUCH higher up on your list, in my opinion. BD’s songwriting capability far surpasses many on this list, even the so-called legends. BD is a legend!
August 25, 2015 @ 1:04 pm
You pretty much nailed it. I personally think Freddy Powers deserves a spot on this list.
I always get lucky with you
Let’s chase each other around the room
Natural High
A place to fall apart
A friend in California
August 25, 2015 @ 7:38 pm
great list …glad to see John Prine on there…I could have missed them, but if you decide to expand it, I’d like to give a shout out to Dallas Frazier and Larry Gatlin ….
August 25, 2015 @ 8:11 pm
I think Robbie Fulks should be somewhere in the top 85.
August 28, 2015 @ 9:45 am
I would say Mary Chapin Carpenter very much belongs on the list. And Nanci Griffith.
September 1, 2015 @ 9:19 pm
I know you have to stop somewhere. I wish there had been more females but your list pretty accurately depicts the ratio. Leona Williams? , Emmylou? Matraca Berg? I also missed seeing Whitey Shaeffer, Tom Douglas ands a few others.
September 2, 2015 @ 11:16 am
I like this list overall, but it’s very American-centric; I’d have included Canadians like Fred Eaglesmith, Corb Lund, Ian Tyson and kd lang over a lot of people who made the list, as well as Kasey Chambers over Kacey Musgraves. As for Americans, I’d have included Jason Eady, Emmylou Harris, Brandy Clark, and Don Williams. And I know Justin Townes Earle has categorized himself as Americana, but he’s as country as some of people on here.
Those are the main omissions that jumped out at me, but as you said, this list is just one person’s opinion and it’s a damn impressive collection of talent. And while I had ideas for more people who should have been on there, I can’t point to a lot of people who did make the list and should be taken out in favour of the names I suggested.
March 29, 2018 @ 12:32 am
Your post is excellent and well taken…Perhaps JT Earle will be on a list like this someday, but I feel he is still too young, still developing his craft and therefore does not have nearly the body of work that is represented by this list…we’ll has etc keep listening!
September 2, 2015 @ 2:54 pm
I love the list, and I love that the old writers of the 40s and 50s were included. I personally think that Robert Earl Keen is going to step into Willie’s shoes as the number 1 Texas songwriter,
Todd Snider is awesome in my opinion. Corb Lund deserves to be in the top ten I think, and my list would have put Townes at number one, with Guy Clark right behind him. Also, I agree with some of the other commenters that Nanci Griffith should be on the list in a low position. Of course, everyone has their faves, but I think Trigger did a great job and I’m in agreement with most all of his choices. It’s really hard just listing 85! I messed up this comment, but i’m used to a desk top and I’m pitiful on my laptop. Sorry.
September 2, 2015 @ 3:03 pm
I meant Robert Earl will be the Father of Texas music AFTER Willie, who will live forever. I hope. I also meant to include Susanna with Guy. Her songs by Emmylou are so great. Now I will shut up.
September 4, 2015 @ 6:12 am
Speaking of GREAT songwriters, a few more names worth looking up… name that I don’t believe are on your list: RED LANE, DOODLE OWENS, DALLAS FRAZIER, BILL RICE, JERRY FOSTER, and MICKEY NEWBURY…
September 14, 2015 @ 10:28 am
SQUELCH
December 9, 2015 @ 11:06 am
What’s your opinion on EmmyLou Harris as a songwriter? Was she considered for the final cut? As an artist she literally revived the names of the Louvin Brothers and a man whom you have on this list, Gram Parsons. As a songwriter she’s had a hand in writing some of country music’s deepest, most thoughtful material.
This is a really terrific list though. I look forward to turning this list into a Spotify playlist at some point. Great work Trigger!
January 25, 2016 @ 2:37 pm
You had me with your top 8. Any list with Townes Van Zandt in the top 5 has to be considered credible though I’m sort of surprised to see John Prine so low, but you can’t win them all. I like what you say about him, you can always tell a John Prine song. I like your mix of old school and new. Gram Parsons – no scoffing here. This list definitely reflects my country music songwriting taste and appreciation. Thanks.
February 12, 2016 @ 10:37 am
Dave Kirby
March 2, 2016 @ 2:04 pm
I think this is a great list, and I’m not going to complain about it, but i think Evan Felker deserves to be on it more than a few of the artist that were.
March 16, 2016 @ 5:18 am
Fun list, but I think Gillian Welch deserves a mention. Surprised nobody hasn’t brought her up already.
March 23, 2016 @ 5:20 pm
Liz Anderson is not even on your list and she should be at least in the top 40. How many of these people here have written such unforgettable, iconic songs as “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive”, “Strangers”, or the other two dozen songs from her pen that were big hits in the 1960’s? She’s not in the songwriter’s hall of fame either but then neither are quite a few important female songwriters from the past.
April 6, 2016 @ 9:07 pm
Bob Nolan
April 22, 2016 @ 9:24 am
Dolly Parton should be number1
May 17, 2016 @ 1:20 pm
I just scanned the list quickly so maybe I missed them, Bob Nolan, Smiley Burnette
June 3, 2016 @ 9:33 pm
Still circle back to the list from time to time. Did you consider Ben Peters? I didn’t know who he was until I went down a Charlie Pride wormhole. Fun excercise.
August 9, 2016 @ 1:28 pm
Right now I can’t rank the top 5 in any particular order but
Townes Van Zandt has got my number. It doesn’t get any better.
August 9, 2016 @ 10:16 pm
Dennis Linde and Hugh Prestwood deserve to be on this list. Hugh never co-wrote with anyone and Dennis rarely did and both still had a lot of sucess. That just doesnt happen anymore, in Nashville at least.
August 10, 2016 @ 6:48 am
Hank Williams is the greatest American poet of the 20th century and I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise.
August 12, 2016 @ 5:25 am
Gene Clark???
August 12, 2016 @ 1:13 pm
No Tom Russell???
August 13, 2016 @ 9:43 am
Jimmie Rogers, Buck Owens, and ESPECIALLY Merle Haggard, should be higher up, bumping people like Kris K. Towns Van Zandt, etc.
September 12, 2016 @ 9:25 am
Understandably you could never get them all, and you did get the most even those known only to artists and DJ’s. I would think Jerry Chestnut would fall in somewhere with his songs for Jerry Lee, George Jones, Elvis and as they say in every concert ad, ” Many More.”
October 18, 2016 @ 8:44 pm
Great list! I do believe Merle Travis deserves a spot on here for his incredibly influential guitar picking and writing on songs like Sixteen Tons and Dark as a Dungeon. Other candidates, in my opinion, would be Blaze Foley, Steve Goodman, Iris DeMent, Brad Paisley, Darrell Scott, and Keith Sykes.
February 4, 2017 @ 7:26 pm
Rhett Akins, Ashley gorley, phil vassar, and the guy who wrote for Kenny Chesney are all missing.
February 19, 2017 @ 9:32 pm
Just thought I would mention a couple that I find pretty good are EmmyLou Harris and Don Williams.
April 24, 2017 @ 3:42 pm
I love Willie and always will, but if he is 2nd, Merle has to be a very close 3rd….. I agree with #1,,,, but those three just are too close to call,,,so Merle needs to be moved up just behind Willie,,,only giving the edge to Willie because his writing career was about 10 years before Merle’s,,,,,commercially anyway!
August 29, 2017 @ 11:48 pm
Bob McDill scores 30 number 1 hits by slaving away at his craft and gets added as a footnote while Hank III (worthless druggie) makes the list?
PATHETIC to say the least
August 30, 2017 @ 8:06 am
Any list that has ever been made in the history of listing can be torn apart by one name that is included on it, or one name that is left off. Anyone can do this exercise, and it always violates the spirit of any list, which is to fill in holes of people’s knowledge base to help expand the gift of music. Bob McDill was a great songwriter, and it sounds like you already know that. So offer him up as a suggestion, as opposed to screaming at people about how PATHETIC something is.
August 29, 2017 @ 11:52 pm
Let me just add for the sake of comparison: Bob McDill scored nearly as many number 1 hits as Lennon & McCartney as a team. Hank Williams (with Fred Rose’s extensive editing) scored 11. You may also be interested in the fact several of his number 1 tunes were borrowed tunes.
November 21, 2017 @ 12:44 pm
Humm,
No doubt there are many, many great country songs and accomplished songwriters over the years. Possibly the most intriguing country song I have ever heard is HEART OVER MIND, recorded by Ray Price and written, I believe by Mel Tillis. My Artist of the Century, Webb Pierce wasn’t much of a songwriter and one time said he didn’t write any songs but I believe did take credit for It’s Been So Long but put Audrey Ghrisham’s name on the credits. Too many great songs or songwriter’s to name. You can listen to a few of my songs under Rays Music on the posted Web Site.
December 1, 2017 @ 11:31 pm
Um, despite your little footnote at the bottom, how in the world could you have a list of great country songwriters without Bob McDill? Seriously. Amanda? Good Ol Boys Like Me? If Hollywood Don’t Need You? Louisiana Saturday Night?
Whoever composed this list must have been high.
December 16, 2017 @ 10:43 pm
Who was a songwriter that I think wrote a country song for Charlie Rich. I think his first name is Wayne.
February 21, 2018 @ 1:31 am
Uh oh! No Tommy Collins (Leonard Raymond Sipes)!
February 21, 2018 @ 1:39 am
At least all the big ones are here! I mean you have all of the major league all stars. I’m still fuming over the top 500 country hits of all time that did not have one single Moe Bandy or “gasp!” Johnny Rodriguez song – yet had Daddy’s Money by Ricochet! Now that’s some serious mezcal use there!
March 29, 2018 @ 9:20 am
Blaze, Blaze and Blaze…
June 2, 2018 @ 11:36 pm
Thanks for all your work and effort to keep country music alive! I personally love the compositions of country song writers. I’ve often wondered if some of the great country songwriters are tormented souls writing about their life or just great storytellers and wordsmiths….or maybe both. Everyone has their favorites and I’m no exception. Although I’m sure I’m forgetting some of my own favorites, I’d like to submit a few names that I think deserve consideration. First, Lawton Williams wrote songs as a sideline to his regular job and didn’t have dozens of hit songs, but some of his compositions are as pure country as they come. Not only did he write two of the most recognized country hits of all time….”Fraulein” and” Farewell Party”, he also wrote or co-wrote a number of charted songs for artists like Hank Locklin, Bobby Bare, Jim Reeves, and Floyd Tilman. His songs were covered by Elvis Costello, Bob Luman, Eddy Arnold, Roy Drusky and Little Jimmy Dickens. My other choice is Mel Tillis. Besides being a great performer, Mel wrote or co-wrote songs like “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town”, “Detroit City” with Danny Dill, “Burning Memories”, Honey (Open That Door) Number 1 hit by Ricky Scaggs. Maybe you might consider expanding the list to the 100 greatest country songwriters.
June 23, 2018 @ 6:48 am
The list is awesome, but not complete. Aren’t you forgetting the history of Country Music. With the Original Carter Family. A.P. Carter is a must as a songwriter and singer. His songs include, “Keep on the Sunnyside,” and “Can the Circle Be Unbroken” among others. The song Keep on the Sunnyside has been rerecord by many artist over the years, most notably, Brad Paisley and it was used in the movie O Brother Where Art Thou, with George Clooney and John Goodman, also Can the Circle Be Unbroken is used as the motto at the Country Music Hall of Fame written on the wall in the room where they hang the plaques in Nashville TN. Maybelle Carter of the Original Carter Family is also a wonderful choice as a singer/songwriter as well. If this is Saving Country Music, then start with The First Family of Country Music, The Original Carter Family. GET WITH THE PROGRAM YA’LL!!
September 30, 2018 @ 6:40 am
Great list! Was disappointed not to see Kim Williams, Pat Alger, Paul Siebel, Lee Clayton and Larry Jon Wilson on the list…and perhaps most importantly, there should have been mention in the “Carter Family” listing of the significant contribution of Lesley Riddle. A.P. Carter’s song gathering would not have been as successful without Lesley and Mabelle’s “Carter Scratch” guitar technique might not have occurred without Lesley’s example.
October 15, 2018 @ 4:10 pm
Chris “MOONDAWG” Hall isn’t on this list??? You guys really need to check him out. He’s a real country music singer troubadour!!! He’s been traveling spreading his talent, ya’ll are missing out on true country music talent. He’s a must see, check out his videos on YouTube. He has made several highly desirable CD’s and all proves his true country roots. A real down to earth honest hard working gentleman. So disappointed that ya’ll haven’t taken the time to recognize a real country music writer and singer. Not everybody likes the hip hop country that is commercialized today. Let’s take a look back of what started country music and make it real again!! Thanks for your time in reading my post and again definitely check out Chris “MOONDAWG” Hall, please don’t deprive yourself.
October 15, 2018 @ 6:11 pm
MOONDAWG Hall will be at Florabama in November 2018, come check him out for yourself. He writes and sings all of his own music, straight from his heart and mind you’ll see that in his performances!! I honestly have to say he truly ranks up with the best of them, (Hank, Willie and Johnny) Chris “MOONDAWG” Hall the world has to see this guy!!! Thanks MOONDAWG for keeping country music real, much RESPECT and LOVE to you!
November 4, 2018 @ 9:50 am
Cody Canada.
November 11, 2018 @ 8:32 pm
It’s hard to not mention The Voice; Vern Gosdin. He wrote and cowrote great stuff . CHISLED IN STONE! I’ll just leave it right there !
December 6, 2018 @ 11:40 am
I love lists. This one is a great opportunity to learn about writers. Linda Hargrove never got the recognition she deserved. “All Alone in Austin” is a perfect song.
December 8, 2018 @ 8:22 pm
I can’t believe Leon Russell didn’t even get a mention by one person!
March 8, 2019 @ 9:14 pm
No Dylan?
No Eric Church?
*raised eye brow*
April 8, 2019 @ 1:17 pm
I’m a very late comer to this discussion, and I apologize for not taking the time to read all through the hundreds of comments. However, I wonder how would John Denver fit on this list? I consider him a country singer, but some would classify him as only folk singer or even bordering on pop music back in the day. He wrote around 200 songs and recorded them all in addition to songs written for him by others. Not nearly as impressive as the gracious Miss Dolly Parton, whom I adore, but I feel John Denver is worth an honorable mention at least.