In a recent CMT special, Alan Jackson was named the top male country artist. The country music veteran, who released his first single in 1989, ranked No. 1 on CMT‘s ’20 Greatest Men’ special. A accolade which is hard to disagree with given his over quarter century of music, which includes 50 Top 10 hits since 1990.
Country artists of yesterday and today had a chance to talk about Jackson during the special. “Just as far as the modern era goes, I don’t think there’s a more perfect traditional country singer or writer,” Joe Nichols says. “I think he’s a great country singer in that he doesn’t do too much. He does enough to deliver a song and does it with a very good, honest traditional country twang.”
George Stait came in second behind Jackson, followed by Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban. Trace Adkins made the list at No. 12, and also had nothing but kind words for the Georgia born singer.
“What I’ve always known about Alan is he is able to focus like a laser on his audience,” Adkins says. “He knows exactly what Alan Jackson fans want to hear and he has kept the crosshairs on that his entire career.”
The 20 Greatest Men in Country Music, According to CMT:
1. Alan Jackson
2. George Strait
3. Tim McGraw
4. Kenny Chesney
5. Keith Urban
6. Toby Keith
7. Brad Paisley
8. Blake Shelton
9. Jason Aldean
10. Garth Brooks
11. Rascal Flatts
12. Trace Adkins
13. Johnny Cash
14. Vince Gill
15. Brooks and Dunn
16. Willie Nelson
17. Hank Williams Jr.
18. Dierks Bentley
19. Randy Travis
20. Zac Brown Band
