Legacy of Merle Haggard
Artists and genres Merle Haggard directly influenced — one hop forward on the family tree of music.
Garth Brooksartist
John AndersonartistJohn David Anderson is an American country singer. Starting in 1977 with the release of his first single, "I've Got a Feelin' ", Anderson has charted more than 40 singles on the Billboard country music charts, including five number ones: "Wild and Blue", "Swingin'", "Black Sheep", "Straight Tequila Night", and "Money in the Bank". He has also recorded 22 studio albums on several labels. His latest album, Years, was released on April 10, 2020, on the Easy Eye Sound label and was produced by Nashville veteran producer David Ferguson and Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys.
Marcus Kingartist
Cody Jinksartist
Craig MorganartistCraig Morgan Greer is an American country music singer. Morgan began his musical career in 2000 on Atlantic Records, releasing his self-titled debut album for that label before the closure of its Nashville division in 2000. In 2002, Morgan signed to the independent Broken Bow Records, on which he released three studio albums: 2003's I Love It, 2005's My Kind of Livin', and 2006's Little Bit of Life. These produced several chart hits, including "That's What I Love About Sunday", which spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard country charts while also holding the No. 1 position on that year's Billboard Year-End chart for the country format. A greatest hits package followed in mid-2008 before Morgan signed to BNA Records and released That's Why later that same year. After exiting BNA, Morgan signed with Black River Entertainment and released This Ole Boy in 2012, followed by A Whole Lot More to Me in 2016.
Joe Nicholsartist
Gene WatsonartistGary Gene Watson is an American country music singer. He is most famous for his 1975 hit "Love in the Hot Afternoon", his 1981 number-one hit "Fourteen Carat Mind", and his signature 1979 song "Farewell Party". Watson's long career has included five number-one hits, 21 top 10s, and 48 charted singles.
Aaron WatsonartistJames Aaron Watson is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since 1999, Watson has recorded several independent albums in his career. His 2015 album The Underdog reached No. 1 on Top Country Albums that year, and in 2017, Watson had his first major radio airplay hit with "Outta Style", which reached top 10 on Country Airplay.
Earl Thomas ConleyartistEarl Thomas Conley was an American country music singer-songwriter. Between 1980 and 2003, he recorded ten studio albums, including seven for RCA Records. In the 1980s and into the 1990s, Conley also charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, of which 18 reached Number One. His 18 Billboard Number One country singles during the 1980s were the third most by any artist in any genre during that decade, after Alabama and Ronnie Milsap.
Brent CobbartistBrent Cobb is an American country music singer-songwriter and artist. Cobb has released six studio albums and one EP. His most recent album, Southern Star, was released on September 22, 2023. Providence Canyon was his second major-label LP with Low Country Sound, an imprint of Elektra. His previous album Shine On Rainy Day peaked at number 17 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. Cobb also received a 2018 Grammy Award nomination for this album. Cobb has written songs for a variety of country artists, including Luke Bryan, Kellie Pickler, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, the Oak Ridge Boys as well as many others.
Johnny Blue SkiesartistJohn Sturgill Simpson is an American country music singer-songwriter and actor. Simpson's style has been met with critical favor and frequent comparisons to outlaw country.
Bettye Swannartist
Whitey Morgan and the 78'sartistWhitey Morgan and the 78's are an American country band based in Flint, Michigan. In 2010, they signed a recording contract with Chicago-based Bloodshot Records.
Red SimpsonartistJoe Cecil "Red" Simpson was an American country music singer and songwriter best known for his trucker-themed country songs.
Bonnie 'Prince' BillyartistJoseph Will Oldham is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded in collaboration with dozens of other musicians under variations of Palace. After briefly publishing music under his own name, in 1998 he adopted Bonnie "Prince" Billy as the name for most of his work.
Sturgill Simpsonartist
Chris Stapletonartist
Cory MarksartistCory Gerald Joseph Marquardt is a Canadian country rock singer-songwriter better known by his stage name Cory Marks. He is signed to Better Noise Music. He has released four albums, This Man in 2015 under Big Star Recordings, then Who I Am in 2020, Sorry for Nothing in 2024, and Sorry for Nothing Vol. 2, all under Better Noise. Marks has accumulated over 450 million global streams with his debut single "Outlaws & Outsiders" being certified Platinum in Canada, Gold in the US and reaching top 10 at US rock radio and #3 in Germany, making Marks the first to ever do so as a Canadian country act. Marks' 2024 hit "(Make My) Country Rock" featuring Travis Tritt, Mick Mars formerly of Mötley Crüe and Sully Erna of Godsmack earned him his second top 20 single at US Rock radio.
Vendetta Redartist- Dean Martinartist
Rob Thomasartist
Phil Ochsartist
Emmylou Harrisartist
George Straitartist