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50 Greatest Alt Country Music Artists

Criteria: Popularity, influence and critical acclaim. The lists includes artists in the genres alternative country (ie. Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams), Alternative country-rock or "alt country" (ie. Drive-By Truckers, Uncle Tupelo), Cowpunk (ie. Meat Puppets, Mekons) and other related genres. Does NOT include Outlaw Country (ie Willie Nelson) or certain artists labeled as "Country Rock" (ie. Gram Parsons, Dwight Yoakam).

Last Updated: 2012-07-09
Greatest Alt Country Music Artists
  1. Lyle Lovett
  2. Meat Puppets
  3. Uncle Tupelo
  4. Jason & The Scorchers
  5. Wilco
  6. Whiskeytown
  7. The Mekons
  8. Lone Justice
  9. Cowboy Junkies
10. Lucinda Williams
11. Jeffrey Frederick
12. Steve Earle
13. Johnny Cash (1990's-2000's work)
14. Blue Rodeo
15. 16 Horsepower
16. Drive-By Truckers
17. Ryan Adams
18. My Morning Jacket
19. The Beat Farmers
20. Son Volt
21. Hank Williams III
22. The Jayhawks
23. Old 97's
24. Southern Culture on the Skids
25. Band of Horses
26. BR5-49
27. Robbie Fulks
28. kd lang
29. Will Oldham / Palace / Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
30. Calexico
31. Mojave 3
32. Shelby Lynne
33. Grievous Angels
34. Victoria Williams
35. The Refreshments
36. The Long Ryders
37. The Bottle Rockets
38. Maria McKee
39. Califone
40. Mojo Nixon
41. Lucero
42. Golden Smog
43. John Hiatt
44. Blue Mountain
45. Richard Buckner
46. Lambchop
47. Vic Chesnutt
48. Neko Case
49. Shooter Jennings
50. Gillian Welch




Honerable Mentions
51. Freakwater
52. The Blood Oranges
53. Jimmie Dale Gilmore
54. The Waco Brothers
55. The Handsome Family
56. Schramms
57. Jenny Lewis
58. Wovenhand
59. Jason Isbell
60. The Civil Wars
61. Sparklehorse
62. Giant Sand
63. Dash Rip Rock
64. The Avett Brothers
65. The Honorary Title



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