The ’90s was a good decade for country music, but some of the era’s most famous acts are long forgotten.

It’s fair to say that the 1990s were a memorable time for country music fans. It was, after all, the decade that spawned numerous crossover superstars including LeAnn Rimes, Shania Twain and Tim McGraw. But while they continue to be household names, there are many other ’90s artists that now seem sadly forgotten about. Here’s a look at some.

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40. Iris DeMent

DeMent was one of the biggest stars of the decade, thanks in part to her 1996 hit “Letter to Mom.” The powerful song, which told the story of a sex abuse survivor, ended up becoming quite the country anthem. However, in the following decades, DeMent was unable to replicate her success. So, while she released music as recently as 2015, she’s no longer as famous as she once was.

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39. Aaron Tippin

In 1991 Aaron Tippin’s debut single “You’ve Got to Stand for Something” coincided with the Gulf War. And so it quickly became popular among soldiers involved in the conflict. The singer remained prominent throughout the ’90s, particularly among the working class in the United States. However, Tippin’s star began to diminish in the 2000s. Since then, he’s worked in a power plant and as a flight instructor.

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38. Trisha Yearwood

Yearwood shot to fame with her first single “She’s in Love with the Boy” in 1991, which topped the Billboard country singles chart. Furthermore, the album that the song appeared on eventually sold over two million copies. Though she enjoyed success for much of the ’90s and the ’00s, Yearwood later took a break from music to concentrate on different ventures. This included her Emmy-award-winning cooking show Trisha’s Southern Kitchen.

37. Martina McBride

Another ’90s country star who’s since found success in the kitchen is Martina McBride. She reached number one in the country charts a number of times during the ’90s. This was with her songs “Wrong Again,” “Wild Angels,” and “A Broken Wing.” And while McBride continues to perform and release music, she also fronts her own cookery program Martina’s Table on Food Network.

36. Vince Gill

Vince Gill enjoyed a string of successful albums in the ’90s, records which showcased his talents as a guitarist. Some of his most memorable tunes include “I Still Believe In You” and “One More Last Chance.” Gill continues to make his own music, but has also toured with the Eagles as their lead vocalist since 2017.

35. Pam Tillis

Having started her career as a demo singer, Tillis’ big break came in 1989 when she signed to the record label Arista Nashville. The subsequent decade saw a string of top-five singles for the singer. Her only number one, though, came in 1994 with the release of “Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life).” Tillis is still making music, and reportedly has a new album in the pipeline.

34. Patty Loveless

Patty Loveless had a total of three number ones in the country charts during the 1990s. However, we may never have known these powerful ballads if it wasn’t for the throat surgery she underwent in 1992. Not only did the procedure save her career, but it also improved her voice. But despite selling 15 million records globally, she hasn’t released any solo material since 2009 and now rarely performs.

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33. SheDaisy

While SheDaisy didn’t enter the country music scene until 1999, the group’s debut album “The Whole SHeBANG” certainly made an impact on the decade. Three songs from that record were particularly popular: “I Will… But,” “This Woman Needs,” and “Little Good-Byes.” But despite their success, members of SheDaisy haven’t gotten together since 2011. On that occasion, though, they covered Linda McCartney’s track “With a Little Luck” for a tribute album.

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32. Brooks & Dunn

Country duo Brooks & Dunn spent three weeks on top of 1996’s country charts with their rendition of B.W. Stevenson’s song “My Maria.” The track became the year’s most successful country tune. Over the course of their career, they’ve enjoyed a further 19 number ones and continue to make music. In 2019 they took a trip down memory lane, rerecording some of their previous hits alongside contemporary country music stars for their album Reboot.

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31. Dixie Chicks

Girlband Dixie Chicks were propelled into the spotlight thanks to the success of their 1997 song “I Can Love You Better.” In ’98 the group had further hits with “Wide Open Spaces” and “There’s Your Trouble.” However, in 2003 the band courted controversy when they denounced George W. Bush’s involvement in Iraq. Their career consequently took a downturn, though they later returned to touring.

30. Jo Dee Messina

Jo Dee Messina’s eponymous debut album was released in 1996 and featured the standout songs “You’re Not in Kansas Anymore” and “Heads Carolina, Tails California.” However, it was the singer’s second record that proved to be her most successful of the decade, spawning three chart-toppers. These were “Stand Beside Me”, “I’m Alright,” and “Bye, Bye.” Messina’s career is still going strong to this day. Her 2018 single “Bigger Than This,” in fact, earned critical acclaim within certain circles.

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29. Wade Hayes

Wade Hayes stormed to number one with his debut single “Old Enough to Know Better” in 1994. He then released a succession of top 10 tracks, including “The Day She Left Tulsa (In a Chevy)”, “I’m Still Dancing With You,” and “On a Good Night.” In 2011 Hayes was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, inspiring his song “Is It Already Time.” Thankfully, though, he started recovering in 2012, releasing his sixth album in 2017.

28. Paul Brandt

In 1996 Paul Brandt became the first Canadian male artist to gain a top-ten single in the Billboard Hot Country chart since 1974. This, of course, was thanks to his single “My Heart Has a History.” Since then, Brandt has won a number of Canadian Country Music Awards and still performs for live audiences.

27. George Strait

By the start of the ’90s, George Strait was already a bonafide country star with nine albums to his name. His tenth record came in 1990 and brought him a pair of number-one singles in the shape of “I’ve Come to Expect It From You” and “Love Without End, Amen.” Strait enjoyed further success throughout the decade, but he’s even continued to release music today. In 2019, in fact, his 30th album Honky Tonk Time Machine came out.

26. Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks entered the ’90s fresh from the strength of his 1989 record No Fences. Some of his subsequent hits included “What She’s Doing Now,” “The River” and his rendition of Billy Joel’s song “Shameless.” Furthermore, he would go on to make history, becoming the first country star to have three records in the Billboard 200’s top 20 during a single week.

25. Sherrié Austin

Sherrié Austin may have come from the land down under, but this Australian songstress sure looked like she could hold her own in the American country music industry. But having said that, her songs “Lucky in Love” and “Never Been Kissed” never quite fulfilled their chart-topping potential in the 1990s. And the nearest she got to a smash hit was in 2003, when “Streets of Heaven” reached number 18.

24. James Bonamy

Bonamy disappeared from the music business following the release of his second album Roots and Wings in 1997. Prior to that, he’d had a number-two hit with his single “I Don’t Think I Will,” which was featured on his first record What I Live to Do. Since leaving show business, Bonamy has turned to religion and is now a pastor living in Longview, Texas.

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23. Lila McCann

Teenage singing sensation Lila McCann made her debut in the music industry aged just 16. Her song “Down Came a Blackbird” reached number 28 in the Billboard country charts, but her second track “I Wanna Fall in Love” shot to number three. What’s more, her first album Lila went platinum, having become the best-selling album for a new country act in 1997.

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22. Shenandoah

Shenandoah enjoyed a series of number one hits in the late ’80s and early ’90s. These included “Next to You, Next to Me” and “If Bubba Can Dance (I Can Too).” Furthermore, their 1994 song “Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart” won them a Grammy Award alongside Alison Krauss, who sang with them on the single. The Shenandoah line-up has changed over the years, but the band are still together.

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21. The Wilkinsons

Brother and sister Amanda and Tyler Wilkinson teamed up with their father Steve to form a band in 1997. Just a year later, The Wilkinsons enjoyed success with their song “26 Cents.” This peaked at number five in the U.S. Billboard Hot Country chart and at number one in their native Canada. Amanda and Tyler have since ditched their dad and formed their new band Small Town Pistols in 2012.

20. Rick Trevino

In 1993 Rick Trevino’s debut single “Just Enough Rope” was the first ever popular country song to be recorded in both Spanish and English. The singer would go on to have 14 singles reach the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. However, his highest entry came in 1996, when his song “Running Out of Reasons to Run” went to number one.

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19. Diamond Rio

Diamond Rio originally got together in 1982 to perform regularly at Nashville’s Opryland U.S.A. theme park. However, it wasn’t until 1991 that the band put out their debut single “Meet in the Middle.” This stormed straight to the top of the Billboard Hot Country chart. Diamond Rio went on to have four more number ones, their last being in 2003.

18. Suzy Bogguss

Suzy Bogguss was big news in the first half of the 1990s, with six top 10 singles to her name, alongside platinum and gold certified records. However, after Bogguss took a hiatus from music to focus on her family, she struggled to return to the dizzying heights she’d reached before. Nevertheless, the songwriter continues to perform her music all over the country.

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17. Toby Keith

After starting his music career as a busker in Nashville, Toby Keith went on to become one of the biggest country stars of the ’90s. In fact, he produced an impressive five gold certified records that decade, with some even going platinum. The ’00s brought a further eight hit albums for Keith. However, his popularity has since waned.

16. Tracy Lawrence

Lawrence began performing as a teenager in Arkansas, before moving to Nashville to pursue a music career. He subsequently joined Atlantic Records and released his first record Sticks and Stones in 1991. His later records Alibis and Time Marches On both became double-platinum, making them Lawrence’s most lucrative releases. He continues to make music, with his latest studio album making an appearance in August 2019.

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15. Mary Chapin Carpenter

While Mary Chapin Carpenter began making country music in the late 1980s, it wasn’t until the ’90s that she enjoyed standout success. That came with the release of her 1992 album Come On Come On, which would go on to become quadruple platinum. For the remainder of the decade, Carpenter’s music continued to be popular among listeners. However, as of the ’00s, her work has become less commercial.

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14. Deana Carter

Probably best remembered for her 1996 number one song “Strawberry Wine,” Carter rose to prominence after her talent was spotted by country music great Willie Nelson. Her debut album proved to be a big hit with audiences, selling over five million copies to become five-times multi-platinum certified. Carter continues to perform music and has also diversified into acting.

13. David Lee Murphy

The year 1995 was a good one for David Lee Murphy. In fact, it saw him release his gold-certified debut album Out with a Bang. This yielded three hit singles, including the chart-topping tunes “Dust on the Bottle” and “Party Crowd.” The decade then brought another two top-five singles. But Murphy had to wait more than 20 years for another number one, which came with 2018’s “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.”

12. Tracy Byrd

Byrd’s breakthrough hit came in 1993 with the release of his number-one single “Holdin’ Heaven.” He enjoyed a series of hits throughout the rest of the ’90s, including “Watermelon Crawl” and the popular wedding song “The Keeper of the Stars.” Furthermore, Byrd closed the decade by releasing his greatest hits in 1999, which became a gold-selling album.

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11. Joe Diffie

Between 1990 and 2004 Joe Diffie had 35 songs reach the Billboard Hot Country charts, five of which were number ones. These included his debut single “Home,” as well as “Third Rock from the Sun” and “Pickup Man.” Alongside enjoying his own success, Diffie has also helped to write songs for fellow country stars. Examples of such artists are Holly Dunn, Jo Dee Messina and Tim McGraw.

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10. Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney released five albums throughout the ’90s, four of which were certified as gold or platinum. His most successful record of the decade was Everywhere We Go, which dropped in 1999 and featured the catchy tune “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.” Chesney continues to release music and tour, albeit playing smaller venues as opposed to selling out stadiums.

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9. John Michael Montgomery

John Michael Montgomery started performing alongside his sibling Eddie in Montgomery Gentry. However, he launched his own career in 1992, much to the delight of country fans. His songs “I Swear” and “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)” became Billboard’s most popular country tunes of ’94 and ’95, respectively. Moreover, Montgomery later enjoyed crossover success, with several of his songs ranking on the Billboard Hot 100.

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8. Trace Adkins

Trace Adkins made his debut on the country music scene in 1996 with his first album Dreamin’ Out Loud. The following year, he had a number one hit with his song “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” though this was to be his only chart-topper of the decade. He continues to make music, and has also appeared on a number of TV shows including Hollywood Squares and Celebrity Apprentice.

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7. Daryle Singletary

From1995 to 1998 Daryle Singletary released a total of five top 40 country songs. These included “Amen Kind of Love” and “I Let Her Lie” – both of which peaked at number two. Singletary continued to release music in the subsequent decades, but failed to replicate the success he’d experienced in the ’90s. Sadly, he died in 2018 after reportedly suffering from a blood clot.

6. Travis Tritt

The 1990s were a busy time for Tritt, given that the singer released six studio albums. During the decade, Tritt also had four Billboard number one singles, including “Can I Trust You with My Heart,” “Anymore,” and “Help Me Hold On.” In recent years, Tritt has opened up about his supposed experiences of paranormal activity at his “haunted” vacation home. Meanwhile, he continues to make music and gig around the country.

5. Lee Roy Parnell

The songs of country and blues star Lee Roy Parnell dominated the airwaves throughout the ’90s, thanks in part to his hits “What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am,” “Tender Moment” and “On the Road.” A talented guitarist, Parnell has played on a number of tracks by a variety of artists. And in 2019 the musician was even given his own line of guitars by Gibson.

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4. Carlene Carter

As the daughter and stepdaughter of country idols June Carter and Johnny Cash, it was perhaps expected that Carlene Carter would choose music as her calling. And so the singer-songwriter proved herself as a talent in her own right during the 1990s. This was thanks to the success of her Grammy-nominated song “I Fell in Love” and her subsequent hit “Every Little Thing.” She continues to write and perform to this day.

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3. Lonestar

Country group Lonestar was founded in 1992, going on to have four chart-topping country singles in the 1990s. This included the 1999 hit “Amazed,” which became a crossover success and the first country tune to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart since 1983. The Lonestar line-up has varied since bassist John Rich left in 1998, though the group was releasing new music as recently as 2016.

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2. Lee Ann Womack

When Womack burst onto the music scene in 1997, her style was compared to Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton. However, Womack’s mix of classic and contemporary country elements was completely different, earning her a pair of number two singles and the Favorite Country New Artist award at 1999’s American Music Awards. The following year, Womack released her song “I Hope You Dance,” which remains her biggest hit to date.

1. Doug Supernaw

In 2017 the country music website Wide Open Country described Supernaw as “one of the most underrated voices in early ’90s country.” He is probably best remembered for his 1993 chart-topper “I Don’t Call Him Daddy,” and his top-five single “Reno.” After taking some time out from music, Supernaw started gigging once more in his native Texas in 2016. Sadly, in 2019 he announced to fans that he had cancer in his bladder and lungs.