The 23 biggest country crossover artists

In 1997, Shania Twain shattered the lines between country and pop with her wildly popular album "Come On Over." Thanks to tracks like "You're Still The One." Co-written by Twain, the song hit #2 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, and earned Twain two Grammy awards for Best Country Song and Best Female Country Performance. 

Even though his brooding, rock-influenced alter-ego Chris Gaines never really took off, audiences well outside of country music found much to like in Garth Brooks's distinct sound. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Brooks is the single most successful solo artist of all time when it comes to albums, with more than 180 million records sold. 

Kane Brown's sound has always fused R&B, pop, and country, but he notched his first official crossover success in 2022 with "Grand," a song released directly to the pop charts. He's also collaborated with pop artists like Camilla Cabello, Khalid, and Marshmello. 

Even though her first album was firmly rooted in the world of country, pop superstar Taylor Swift gradually began making a shift to the world of bubblegum in 2008 with "Love Story" a mega-hit that remains one of the best-selling singles of all time with more than 18 million copies sold. 

Though most of his music is squarely in the hip-hop category, there's no denying the phenomenon that was Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road." It was a slightly controversial inclusion on the Billboard charts, but pretty much everyone agreed that this countrified banger was moving the yeehaw agenda forward. 

Plenty of country fans accused this bro-country duo of being "too pop," and collaborations with artists like Bebe Rexha and the Backstreet Boys certainly didn't make those accusations go away. 

Faith Hill began ruling the country airwaves in 1993, and her entree into the world of pop came in 1997 with the wildly popular "This Kiss." Bolstered by an endlessly charming music video and Hill's upbeat vibe, the song marked Hill's first top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

For '90s music fans who grew up listening to Hootie and the Blowfish's distinct alt-rock sound, it was probably a bit surprising when frontman Darius Rucker popped up as one of the hottest new things in country music in 2009 with the hit single "Don't Think I Don't Think About It." Later, he earned cult favorite appeal with his version of "Wagon Wheel," an Old Crow Medicine Show tune that was originally written by Bob Dylan. 

She's a universally beloved icon now, but Dolly Parton's beginnings in the music business were firmly country. After trying throughout the '70s to score crossover success, she became a mainstream pop culture figure in 1981, when her iconic song "9 to 5" hit #1 on the pop charts. The following year, Parton would release the legendary "Islands In The Stream" alongside Kenny Rogers, cementing her place in the world of pop. 

Thanks to her win on the fourth season of singing competition show "American Idol," Carrie Underwood was primed for crossover success. Her debut album was decidedly a country record, but thanks to massive crossover successes like "Before He Cheats" and "Jesus Take The Wheel," Underwood is widely considered to be the most successful contestant in the show's history. 

Seamlessly blending rock, blues, country, and soul, Ray Charles's talents could not be restrained by genre definitions. His 1962 album "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" was a hit on both the country and R&B charts, and is credited with advancing the cause of integration in a music world that was extremely segregated among racial lines. 

Sheryl Crow has always sort of straddled the lines between pop, rock, country, and folk, but she became a bonafide country artist in 2002 with the release of "Picture," her genre-blending duet with Kid Rock. The following year, the song won Music Event of the Year at the CMA Awards and was a top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Adult Contemporary charts. 

In the early 1970s, UK native Olivia Newton-John created a stir in the world of country music with her song "I Honestly Love You." The country-inflected tune earned Newton-John the CMA Award for Female Vocalist of the Year in 1974, causing consternation among country traditionalists trying to resist the creeping influence of pop on the genre. 

He may have proudly been the "Rhinestone Cowboy," but Glen Campbell also attracted the attention of music fans who weren't really into country. Starting in the 1960s, Campbell was one of the first country artists to go mainstream, with breezy hits like "Wichita Lineman" and "Galveston," both of which earned Campbell commercial success and critical acclaim. 

Notching hits on the Christian, country, and pop charts, BJ Thomas was a smooth-voiced renaissance man. The Texas native scored his first hit with a Hank Williams cover in 1966, then went on to earn crossover success thanks to songs like "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head." 

"The Gambler," arguably Kenny Rogers's most well-known song, is also the one that put him on the mainstream map. Originally recorded by fellow country artist Bobby Bare, Rogers took it to #1 in 1978. Two years later, the song earned Rogers the Grammy Award for Best Male Vocal Country Performance. 

Now known simply as "Lady A," this wildly successful country trio has notched multiple crossover hits, including "I Run to You" and "Need You Now." 

From the beginning of her career, Maren Morris had the makings of a crossover star. Her self-titled debut was a hit on both the country and pop charts, thanks to tracks like "My Church" and "80s Mercedes," both of which were heavily influenced by pop. The crossover was complete in 2018 with "The Middle," her wildly popular collaboration with DJs Zedd and Grey. 

After she performed "Walkin' After Midnight" on a television program in 1957, people started paying attention to Patsy Cline. Selling more than a million copies and marking Cline's entrance into the world of country stardom, the song was a major hit on both the country and pop charts. 

The sister of country legend Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle found crossover success in 1977 with the release of "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," a dreamy ballad that hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Fun fact: even though this is Gayle's most recognizable tune, her eyes were actually blue all along. 

John Denver's sound always had a little bit of twang, but songs like "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Rocky Mountain High" had universal appeal. His tunes charted on the country, folk, and adult contemporary charts, even though some country artists didn't exactly welcome the presence of a mainstream superstar in their genre. In 1975, country artist Charlie Rich lit the envelope announcing Denver as the CMA Awards' Entertainer of the Year on fire, causing a controversy that still raises eyebrows today. 

Boasting one of the most powerful voices in music history, it's no wonder that Linda Ronstadt has found success in a variety of musical genres. She's worked with legends like Johnny Cash and Neil Young, while releasing all-genre hits like "When Will I Be Loved" and "Blue Bayou," along with recording traditional Mexican music. 

Kacey Musgraves may have gotten her start on the reality singing competition "Nashville Star," but there's no denying that she's made the crossover to pop success. Musgraves's music boasts pop, disco, and dance influences, and many fans expect her forthcoming album, set for release sometime this year, will only continue her march toward a more diverse musical sound.