Houston, being the fourth-largest city in America, may have its share of famous country musicians—Kenny Rogers, Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, Clint Black, even Beyoncé has dipped her toes into country music, … well, you get the picture.
But East Texas has its own playlist full of country hitmakers dating back to the early days of singing cowboys and rockabilly and spanning all the way to progressive and contemporary country.
The region, with its sprawling pine forests and rich cultural tapestry, has long been a fertile ground for musical talent.
East Texas is home to an array of musicians whose influence stretches across genres and decades, and its vibrant legacy
continues to evolve.
George Jones was known for his soulful, deep voice and songs that resonated with his fans.
Traditional Country
The mid-20th century saw a shift as country music began to dominate the airwaves, and East Texas produced some of the genre’s most iconic figures.
George Jones was born in Saratoga but raised in Colmesneil in the Big Thicket. Known for his deep, resonant voice and emotionally charged performances, Jones’ career spanned over five decades, until he passed in 2013. Jones is credited for numerous hits that remain staples of country music, such as White Lightning, She Thinks I Still Care, Golden Ring, I Always Get Lucky With You and perhaps his biggest hit, He Stopped Loving Her Today.
Due to him missing many performances, he earned the nickname “No-Show Jones.” Jones received the Kennedy Center Honor in 2008 and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
Although he died at the age of 40 in a crash, Carthage native Jim Reeves managed to spread Texas’ country sound throughout the world.
Another East Texan who made an indelible mark on the country music scene was Jim Reeves. Born near Carthage, Reeves was tragically killed in a plane crash at the age of 40, but in his short career, “Gentleman Jim” as he was known, produced chart-topping songs like Welcome to My World, I Guess I’m Crazy, Is It Really Over? and Distant Drums.
Reeves was inducted posthumously into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1967 and into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998.
Each year, the Academy of Country Music awards the Jim Reeves International Award to an artist who has made outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world. The award is derived from Reeves holding scores of concerts overseas, drawing huge crowds and even having several of his songs top the charts in the U.K., Norway and South Africa.
Carthage is also the home of Tex Ritter, another country music legend. A trailblazer in American country music and a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Ritter was a celebrated singer and actor from the 1930s to the 1960s. He excelled academically and attended the University of Texas at Austin to study prelaw. His path shifted when he joined a musical troupe, leading him to Northwestern Law School briefly before pursuing a career in entertainment.
Mount Pleasant’s Ray Price was instrumental in developing the careers of country stars like Roger Miller and Johnny Paycheck.
Local and international country superstar Miranda Lambert showcases the fusion of country and rock and has won multiple Grammy Awards.
His first handful of songs to be recorded all became No. 1 hits: I’m Wastin’ My Tears on You, There’s a New Moon Over My Shoulder, Jealous Heart, You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often and You Will Have To Pay all topped the charts. However, his most famous hit came in 1952 when he recorded the theme song for the movie High Noon. High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling) won an Academy Award for best song.
A star on Broadway and in over 70 motion pictures, Ritter was also the father of Three’s Company star John Ritter and grandfather of actor Jason Ritter.
Another East Texan, Ray Price, was a towering figure in country music, known for hits like Crazy Arms, For the Good Times and Release Me. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996, Price revolutionized honky-tonk with his signature shuffle beat. His legendary Cherokee Cowboys band featured future icons like Willie Nelson, Roger Miller and Johnny Paycheck.
From his early days performing on Texas radio to sharing the stage with Hank Williams, Price’s career spanned decades. He embraced pop influences in hits like Danny Boy while remaining rooted in country traditions. Later, he collaborated with Nelson and Merle Haggard on Last of the Breed. Price also turned to gospel music, releasing a rendition of the heartfelt classic Amazing Grace. Price died of pancreatic cancer in 2013 at his home in Mount Pleasant.
Mineola’s Kacey Musgraves has won seven Grammys to date as well as had several of her songs at the top of the Billboard charts.
Contemporary Country
While the legends above were instrumental in planting the roots of East Texas country music, the 2000s produced an entirely new crop of country singers from the Pineywoods and prairies of East Texas.
Hailing from the town of Lindale, Miranda Lambert is one of the leading female artists in country music today. She is known for her strong voice and hits like The House That Built Me and Mama’s Broken Heart. Lambert’s blend of influences, a fusion of country and rock, has earned her numerous awards, including multiple Grammys.
Her authenticity and raw lyrical content resonate with a wide audience, proving that East Texas remains a powerhouse in producing influential musicians.
Livingston’s Laci Kaye Booth garnered national attention with her appearance on American Idol. She now records for the prestigious label Geffen Records.
Just 12 miles from Lambert’s hometown, Mineola is home to Kacey Musgraves, a luminous figure in country music. Her journey began in the early 2000s with the self-release of three solo albums. Musgraves’ breakthrough came in 2012 after signing with record label Mercury Nashville, marked by the release of the hit single Merry Go ’Round, her major-label debut.
During her illustrious, yet young, career, Musgraves has won seven Grammy Awards, seven Country Music Association Awards and four Academy of Country Music Awards, a testament to her talent and influence in the music world.
The Trinity County community of Sebastopol only boasts a population of about 120, but one of today’s brightest country stars is counted among them.
Cody Johnson has become a powerhouse in country music, celebrated for his electrifying live performances and devoted fan base. A platinum artist with his own record label, COJO (as he’s known to his fans) boasts an impressive catalog, with five acclaimed albums, including Leather and Human: The Double Album. He is the subject of the award-winning documentary Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story.
Banita Creek Hall in Nacogdoches holds regular concerts featuring East Texas musicians, continuing the tradition of giving area musicians a chance to display their talents.
Courtesy Banita Creek Hall
His career accomplishments include 47 gold or platinum certifications and nearly 7.5 billion global streams. In addition, two of his releases hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
He has received numerous awards, including a Pandora Billionaire Award; three CMT Music Awards, including Artist of the Year; two CMA awards and iHeart Music’s 2023 Best New Country Artist award in 2023.
Currently on his record-breaking Leather Tour, Cody’s latest single, Dirt Cheap, climbed as high as No. 5 on Billboard’s Country Airplay charts, solidifying his place as a torchbearer of authentic country music and making the other 119 residents of Sebastopol very proud.
Laci Kaye Booth is a singer-songwriter from Livingston. She gained national recognition as a contestant on Season 17 of American Idol in 2019, when she finished in the top five. Booth is known for her distinctive, smoky voice and her blend of traditional country with modern influences.
On American Idol, Booth impressed audiences with her renditions of songs such as Miss Me More by Kelsea Ballerini and Georgia on My Mind by Ray Charles. Booth continues to pursue her music career, having just signed a deal with world-famous Geffen Records. Venues and Festivals
The East Texas country music scene thrives not just through its artists but also through its vibrant live music venues and festivals. Cities like Tyler, Nacogdoches and Longview host numerous events that celebrate local talent. The Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival in Tyler, for instance, has become a major event, attracting regional and national acts.
Local venues like the Liberty Hall in Tyler and Banita Creek Hall in Nacogdoches provide intimate settings for live performances, fostering a close-knit community of musicians and fans. These venues play a crucial role in sustaining the region’s musical ecosystem, offering platforms for emerging artists to hone their craft and reach new audiences.
Sebastopol’s Cody Johnson, known to his fans as COJO, has taken the country music world by storm, with numerous awards and nearly 7.5 billion streams.
Looking ahead, East Texas musicians are likely to continue pushing the boundaries of the genre. The region’s rich musical heritage provides a solid foundation for innovation. Artists are increasingly blending elements from different genres to create fresh, unique sounds.
Additionally, the growing popularity of country-based genres like Americana and roots music suggests a renewed interest in traditional sounds, albeit with a modern twist. East Texas musicians are at the forefront of this movement, drawing on the region’s deep musical roots while incorporating contemporary influences.
From the legends of the early 20th century to today’s genre-defying artists, East Texas has consistently produced country musicians who leave an indelible mark on the musical landscape. The region’s rich cultural heritage, combined with a supportive community and evolving technology, ensures that East Texas will remain a vital and dynamic force in the music world for years to come.
As we celebrate the past and present of East Texas music, we also look forward to the future with excitement and anticipation. The next generation of musicians, armed with innovative tools and a deep respect for tradition, is poised to continue the region’s legacy of musical excellence.
In East Texas, the music never stops—it only gets better.
