Didn't George Strait kind of start the "neo-traditional" country trend? Or is that credited to Keith Whitley?
Booo... go back to "Fool-Hearted Memory" or "Amarillo By Morning". His newer stuff is okay, but George Strait is at his best when he does old school country music style. "Murder On Music Row" with Alan Jackson is probably the best country song of the last decade.
By the way, I wouldn't call him the best ever because country as a genre is very past it's prime now. But best of the last 20 years, almost certainly. Alan Jackson is pretty great, too, but he has a few too many gimmicky songs to come out on top.
Hank Williams Johnny Cash Merle Haggard George Jones George Strait Rank 'em however you want, it's pretty much those five and everybody else when it comes to country music
I'm not attacking you but where's Willie, those guys merit being in the discussion but so does Willie.
I wish country music today sounded more like this <div><object width="425" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/IWIO7p8Joniisa0eU"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/IWIO7p8Joniisa0eU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="364" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1f3nw_black-rebel-motorcycle-club-aint-no_music">Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Ain't no</a></b><br /><i>Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/bebepanda">bebepanda</a></i></div>
to me this discussion begins and ends with Willie. you could argue Williams and/or Cash and I'd listen but in my book Willie is the KING!
George Strait is not in the top 10. Here is the top 10 ( in no order) Johnny Cash Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Hank Williams Lefty Frizzell Webb Pierce Conway Twitty Buck Owens Marty Robbins Waylon Jennings
