ROOTS of Country Music

25 All-Time Worst Singers in Country Music

 Country music began to drift away from its traditional roots and transition toward a soft pop sound (commonly referred to as alternative country) by the late-1980s. By the early-1990s, a flurry of new artists such as The Judds, Garth Brooks, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sawyer Brown and Clint Black were among several who helped transform country music beyond its original identity. There have been many great country music singers through the years and some who were marginal at best.

Today there is a couple of fairly decent country acts out there but overall country music is an irreversible tailspin and some of the following artists are responsible for a big part of it. Some of these are artists who despite being awful singers managed to make a lucrative living singing. If I was at the music store and had five hundred dollars to blow, I would pass on most of these artists. The following top-5 worst singers, ever, are ranked in order with a brief description of the artist. The remaining artists are ranked in alphabetical order. 

1) Audrey Williams: The Original Drifting Cowgirl: Audrey Williams’ claim to fame was her marriage to country music legend Hank Williams. She also longed for a music career of her own and being the wife of Hank opened doors for her. Her desire for fame led to a series of unsuccessful duets with Hank. Audrey also embarked on a solo career in the 1950s with a backing vocal group called the Cold, Cold Hearts. She played a small role in her husband's rise to fame and a central role in launching the career of her son, Hank Williams Jr. 

2) Garth Brooks: Garth Brooks played a key role in reshaping country music by setting records for both sales and concert attendance throughout the 1990s. He also had a role in altering the untainted image of country music when he began swinging from ropes and busting up expensive guitars during his act. I keep thinking his legions of fawning women will wake up some day and realize how bad a singer this dude is. All show and no talent! 

3) Billy Ray Cryus: Cyrus is a singer songwriter and actor who helped in the transformation of country music during the 1990s. Loved by fans, loathed by critics, Cyrus rose from obscurity to fame in 1992 following the release of his debut album, Some Gave Al, featuring the monster single, Achy Breaky Heart. Cyrus was more pop-oriented than country, more a product of shrewd marketing than genuine talent. Travis Tritt publicly denounced Cyrus for “reducing country music to an ass wiggling contest.” 

4)  "Mother" Maybelle Carter: Maybelle Carter (May 10, 1909 – Oct. 23, 1978) was a talented country musician. She is best known as a member of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s and also as a member of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters. She was a member of the original Carter Family, which was formed in 1927 by her brother-in-law, A. P. Carter, who was married to her cousin, Sara, also a part of the trio. It was perhaps the first commercial rural country music group. Maybelle was the guitarist and also played autoharp and banjo. Perhaps the most remarkable of Maybelle's many talents was her skill as a guitarist. Unfortunately her voice didn’t parallel her talents as a musician. 

5) The Judds: They had a few minor hit songs and then became one of the longest running and most popular soap operas in Nashville, Tennessee. Daughter Ashley says mommy Naomi wasn't very good at parental guidance. Wynona has had her problems with the bottle and failed to launch a successful solo career and they're just not very good singers. 

• Barbara Fairchild
• Billy Edd Wheeler
• Carl Sprague
• Con Hunley
• Frankie Miller
• Goldie Hill
• Jim Nesbitt
• John Wesley Ryles
• Johnny Dollar
• K. D. Lang
• Lee Ann Rimes
• Lyle Lovett
• Margo Smith
• Merle Travis
• Pam Tillis
• Razzy Bailey
• Travis Tritt
• Trisha Yearwood
• Vernon Dalhart
• Wilma Burgess