Country Music Royalty
Even if you’ve spent the last 25 years on a seashore in old Mexico, or if you’ve been too stressed trying to make Amarillo by morning you’ve likely heard George Strait, the Old Troubadour, referred to as King George.
But if George Strait is the king, then who is the queen? What about the prince and princess? And if there is a king, there needs to be a court. Who’re the Dukes?
There were some tough choices. We reviewed the country music landscape for the last quarter century. Some all time classic performers didn’t make the list, Vince Gill, Clint Black, Travis Tritt, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, and Montgomery Gentry to name a few.
So take a Drive down that Red Dirt Road, maybe on My Big Green Tractor, cause you know She Thinks My Tractors Sexy. Just remember, if You’re Gonna Play In Texas, These Days anyways, try not to get any Mud On The Tires because My Old Friend, I may not be As Good As I Once Was, but it’ll still be a Good Ride Cowboy.
So without further delay, I have the honor of presenting to you the Royal Court of Country Music (of the last quarter century):
KING:
King George of course, George Strait
QUEEN:
Reba McEntire
PRINCE:
Garth Brooks
PRINCESS:
Honestly, she probably should have come in as a duchess… but if Garth is the prince, then Trisha Yearwood has got to be the princess.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH:
Tim McGraw
DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH:
Faith Hill
DUKE OF CORNWALL:
Kenny Chesney
DUCHESS OF CORNWALL:
Martina McBride
DUKE OF ROTHESAY:
Ronnie and Kix will have to time share the title. But Brooks and Dunn surely earned their place in this royal court.
DUCHESS OF ROTHESAY:
Shania Twain
DUKE OF YORK:
Alan Jackson
DUCHESS OF YORK:
LeAnn Rimes
DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE:
Rascal Flatts
DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE:
Sara Evans
DUKE OF GLOUCESTER:
Alabama
DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER:
Wynona Judd
DUKE OF KENT:
Brad Paisley
DUCHESS OF KENT:
Full disclosure, Carrie Underwood got bumped from princess to duchess when I felt obliged to pair Garth with Trisha.
DUKE OF LANCASTER:
Jason Aldean
DUCHESS OF LANCASTER:
Miranda Lambert
COURT JESTER:
Toby Keith
PRINCESS WHO GREW UP IN THE REALM, THEN LEFT TO MARRY A FOREIGN PRINCE, BEFORE BREAKING UP WITH HIM AND WRITING AN ALBUM ABOUT IT:
Taylor Swift
Well, there you have it, the definitive hierarchy of the royal family of Country Music. Who would you have added/left off? Leave a comment, tweet, or re-tweet your thoughts!
- Jason Sullivan
- You can find me on Twitter at @TopDucker
