'50s Music Star Ranked 'Best Country Singer' of All Time

Johnny Cash has been named the "best country singer" of all time according to a list compiled by TheTopTens.

The musician, best known for tracks including "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk The Line", had a unique baritone voice that made him one of the most popular singers of his generation and a pioneer of soft country rock.

Johnny Cash Was A Legend of Country Music

When it comes to country music, there are very few people whose influence over the genre is more tangible than Cash. The singer was born in Arkansas and grew up listening to gospel music, before moving to Tennessee and making a name for himself in the growing rockabilly scene.

Cash is credited alongside contemporaries like Elvis Presley for making rock-and-roll music accessible to general audiences and making plenty of money in the process. Almost seven decades after the height of his success, Cash remains one of the best-selling musicians of all time; he reportedly sold over 90 million records worldwide (via NYT).

Although Cash is typically considered a country artist above all else, much of his success stemmed from the fact that he was able to blend genres so effortlessly. He incorporated elements of rock, folk, and even gospel music into his country songs, giving him a very unique sound that remains immediately recognizable even today.

Cash has became an icon of American music in recent decades, with his life being dramatized several times in movies like Walk the Line and A Complete Unknown.

Below Cash on the rankings were artists such as George Strait and George Jones, who were both clearly inspired by Cash and whose careers fall more neatly into the country genre. More modern artists like Waylon Jennings and Garth Brooksalso made their way onto the rankings.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the list was Dolly Parton's placement at No. 10—a decision that many fans have clearly taken issue with. "Dolly should at least be in the top 5. Her voice and songwriting are legendary, as is her longevity. Not to mention what a smart businesswoman she is," one commenter writes.

However, very few can dispute Cash's placement at the top. "The most imposing and influential artist in the history of country music. He created his own genre, consisting of the blunt emotional honesty of folk, the rebelliousness of rock and roll, and the world-weariness of country," says one fan. "Johnny Cash stands alone at the very top."

"A unique, defining voice and sound that no other singer except maybe Elvis comes close to," another writes. "On stage he was remarkable with his stage presence. Modern singers sound plastic and cheap compared to Johnny Cash."