With her homespun charm, curly golden locks, and prodigious gift for songwriting, Taylor Swift is one of the youngest Nashville newcomers to capture a national audience in years. When she was just 16, Swift's first big single, "Tim McGraw," peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard country chart and held a spot in the top 10 for months. On the single's success, Swift joined the ranks of teenage country queens like Tanya Tucker, Marie Osmond and LeAnn Rimes, who all charted as teenagers. Unlike those young chart-toppers, Swift wrote the song herself. Born in Wyomissing, Penn., in 1989, Swift began playing guitar at 12, and moved outside of Nashville with her family as a teen, and debuted at the Bluebird Cafe famed songwriter showcase. Her self-titled debut album, issued in October 2006, spawned a handful of radio hits such as "Tim McGraw," "Our Song" and "Picture to Burn," all of which propelled Taylor Swift to triple-platinum status. Not bad for a beginner! Preceded by the hit "Love Story," Swift's sophomore effort, Fearless, was released in November 2008. - NCAVALIERI Se mere

In May of 2005, Carrie Underwood became the fourth winning contestant on the hugely popular TV show American Idol. Seemingly within seconds her first single was released, "Inside Your Heaven." Underwood has all the makings of a classic ballad belter, with an extremely powerful voice and a gift for emotiveness but her music seems geared towards the country crowd more than the teen crowd of fellow winner Kelly Clarkson or the contemporary R&B of Reuben Studdard, the show's second winner. But Idol wasn't Underwood's only outlet for musical championship. Her debut long player Some Hearts went 6X Platinum and broke Nielson SoundScan history as the fastest selling debut country album. She has since taken home five Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, two Grammys and Female Vocalist Of The Year awards for 2006 and in 2007, shortly after the release of her critically acclaimed sophomore album Carnival Ride. - MMCGUIRK Se mere

Not too many people get more than one chance at breaking in the music industry, especially in the overly competitive and unforgiving realm of country music. But after getting dropped from two different labels, Jason Aldean was picked up by Broken Bow records. And it came at quite a crucial time in his life. He and his wife had a new baby, two car payments pending and a mortgage to pay. Not that he's in it for the money, but it sure didn't hurt to be given a third chance. And as the old cliche goes, the third time was the charm. Aldean's 2005 self-titled debut album was rich in twangy, rootsy rock and his songs meshed perfectly into Nashville's return to redneck pride and all things Dukes Of Hazzard. In 2007, Aldean released his sophomore effort, Relentless. Buoyed by the radio hit "Johnny Cash," the album was certified gold in record time. In 2008, he took part in CMT on Tour with Lady Antebellum and Eric Durrance. Aldean went back into the studio later that year to start work on his third release, Wide Open, which was released in 2009. Thanks in part to singles such as "Big Green Tractor," "Crazy Town" and "The Truth," Wide Open achieved platinum status. In 2010, Aldean returned with the rocking, My Kinda Party. - ESHEA Se mere

Eric Church is a North Carolinian country singer with a rich drawl, a louche attitude and a flair for rich sonic detail. - RHARVILLA Se mere

Luke Bryan is a cheerful, wholesomely randy new-country star with a thing for trucks, nubile young ladies and alcohol. - RHARVILLA Se mere

Zac Brown entertained audiences for years as a solo artist, winning people over with his deft flat-picking and original songs. Eventually, Brown added band members John Hopkins (bass) and Jimmy De Martini (fiddle) to form the Zac Brown Band; the trio expanded to a five-piece when Chris Fryar (drums) and Coy Bowles (guitar/organ) joined. The quintet employs an aggressive tour philosophy (often playing upwards of 200 shows a year) and has opened for the Allman Brothers, Willie Nelson, Travis Tritt and Sugarland, among others. Their grassroots approach to music has won them legions of loyal fans throughout the South, especially in Brown's home state of Georgia. The band's self-financed debut, Home Grown, was released at the end of 2005, and the live effort Live From the Rock Bus Tour followed in 2007. The Foundation was released in 2008, producing the Southern celebratory single "Chicken Fried," which made its way to the country charts. - LRYAN Se mere

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If Kenny Chesney's new traditional tinged country style leans toward hard rocking pop, blame it on the '70s FM radio and the country rock music coming out of the radio stations in his hometown of Luttrell, TN, a small place just outside Knoxville (also Chet Atkins' hometown). Chesney wasn't one of those kids who grew up with stage parents in Stetsons. He actually stumbled into the realm of country music by accident while studying marketing at East Tennessee State University. He found a guitar under the Christmas tree and was soon playing country and bluegrass with some college buddies. He's one of those rare musicians who got to where he is without the help of any contacts, hook-ups or any Star Search copycat television shows. Chesney climbed his way to the top in the traditional grass roots fashion of constant playing, demo recording, touring and self-promotion. While Chesney's songs maintain the gritty twang of yesteryear's honky-tonk, he has clearly found a balance that suits his songs well -- the scales are tipped toward high-end radio production and polished song hooks. And he has been known to mix in a little beach-twang here and there, a-la Jimmy Buffett. - ESHEA Se mere

Country trio Lady Antebellum fuse Southern rock, roots pop and Fleetwood Mac soft rock into a harmony-rich boy-girl sound. - LRYAN Se mere

Cousins Jay DeMarcus and Gary LeVox (born Gary Vernon) both nurtured their dreams of musical stardom while growing up in Ohio. When DeMarcus landed in Chely Wright's band, he convinced LeVox to quit his job and join him in Nashville. DeMarcus met Joe Don Rooney through Wright's band, and when their regular guitarist couldn't make a show, Rooney offered to step in and Rascal Flatts was born. The trio signed to Lyric Street, and in 2000 released its eponymous debut, which produced four hit singles. In 2002, they coproduced their sophomore effort, I Melt, which again produced four hit singles -- including two No. 1s. If there was any nervousness about following up a double-platinum seller, it didn't show on 2004's Feels Like Today, which debuted in the top slot on both the pop and country charts. In 2006, Rascal Flatts added another feather to an already heavily decorated cap when their version of "Life Is a Highway," recorded for the Pixar movie Cars, topped the ringtone charts. The single did so well, it was added onto their fourth album, Me and My Gang. Still Feels Good was released in 2007, followed by Greatest Hits in 2008.Bio addendum: In 2009, the band released their sixth studio effort, the aptly titled, Unstoppable. - LRYAN Se mere