5 Artists That Made Country Cool Again in the 2000s

The 2000s was the superera of country-pop music, and it seemed like all non-country fans collectively decided that country was “cool” between 2000 and 20009. These five artists, in particular, made country cool again in the 2000s!

1. Rascal Flatts

When it comes to artists who made country cool in the 2000s, Rascal Flatts was basically all over the place. The trio scored five no. 1 hit albums and over a dozen Top 10 songs during the 2000s, and they had the kind of down-home country boy vibe that made them super popular during that era. One could say they helped their contemporaries and the bands that followed them cross genres between country and rock music.

2. Carrie Underwood

We couldn’t forget the queen of country pop herself! Carrie Underwood shot to fame after winning American Idol back in 2005. She had the perfect image for a country music star: Blonde curly hair, a killer voice, and an adorable accent. She’s still mega-famous today, but we can’t forget how addictive her debut Some Hearts from 2005 was when it was first released. It went platinum seven times for a reason, after all.

3. Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney made a name for himself in the mid-to-late 2000s. He won Entertainer of the Year, from both the ACMs and the CMAs, every consecutive year from 2005 to 2008. He’s still huge today, but he was particularly prominent during that decade of country music. 

Chesney brought the traditional country vibe to airwaves that had previously fallen out of favor to make way for country pop. In a way, he showed similar artists that traditional country music was still cool and that it could be modernized without losing its original energy.

4. Taylor Swift

She may no longer be a country darling, but Taylor Swift was once a mainstay in the country-pop world. By the end of the 2000s she had begun transitioning toward pop, but her debut album had already turned a whole generation of girls into lifelong fans.

5. Keith Urban

He’s a talented guitarist and even better songwriter, so it makes sense why Keith Urban became such a loved artist in the early 2000s. He did things a little differently with a slightly alternative look and unique way of singing. He scored 10 no. 1 hits throughout the 2000s, and virtually every individual song he released during that decade charted into the Top 20. Now that’s talent!

Photo by Amy Sussman

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.