I'm going to say Hank Williams.I think he was,what country was ALL about.TRUE country,that is. So tell me what you think.

With u on Hank. And most 'country' these days is just pop music with a lil steel guitar added to make it seem like country

hank da **** kool guy but real country is george strait

@MrSupaFreak101: D*MN supa! I'm impressed! George is the MAN. "I was a yooouunng troubador, wen I rode in on a song....an Ill be olllld troubador wen I'm gone" Dang, u got me singin this mornin lol

@Ram318: yeah today's "country" isn't even country.Just a bunch of bubble gum pop bullcrap.When i think of country music,I think of Hank Williams,Johnny Cash,Charley Pride,Faron Young,Ernest Tubb,Patsy Cline,Loretta Lynn,George Jones,Merle Haggard,Conway Twitty,Bobby Bare...and the list goes on,brother lol I just think that Nashville has just become a big city that has sold out to this newer "Country" garbage.

@MrSupaFreak101: yeah George Strait has always kept the traditional sound AND look for a long time.He's one of the few mainstream country singers who are still around that have that traditional thing going on.Although I do think Strait's earlier stuff was WAY more country sounding,but Alan Jackson is starting to come back with his older sound.Check out his new song when you can.It's classic sounding Alan!

Barbra mandrell, crystal gayle, glen campbell, kenny rogers, dolly parton, roy clark, ed bruce, willie nelson, roger miller, george jones, dave dudley, walon jennings, lynn anderson, anne murray, dottie west johnny horton mickey giley, red sovine. All the people above and here were country legends they were what country was about.

If u wanna hear some real country from a newer artist, check out some of Jamey Johnsons stuff. Great soulful voice and he writes his own stuff. Also look into Hank III. Sounds sooo much like his grand dad. Its a dark rock-a-billy sound

@Ram318: Hell yeah,I own all of Hank III's CD's.You're right.He sounds AND looks a whole hell of a lot like his grandfather.Have you ever heard of Joey Allcorn? He sounds alot like Hank III.He's a neo traditionalist too. Has the older sound. He's more of an indie artist though.His 50 YEARS TOO LATE album is great.

Dont know about biggest impact but my fav all time are Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Conway Twitty....those people rock. And Nashville is still home to many ole time country singers as well as newbies. Can visit the Grand ole Opry and see a variety, but it is nothing like u would imagine it to be, didnt impress me a bit. But still love my country music :-)