The 1990s Ruled Country Music—And These Iconic Photos Prove It

The 1990s are known for a lot of things: the rise of the internet, the fall of the Soviet Union, and, of course, killer country music. It was a golden era for the genre—so golden, in fact, that we couldn’t resist putting together a round-up of iconic photos of country stars in the 1990s. How could you not want to relive the decade that brought us both hugely popular female country performers (hellllo Shania!) and “hat acts”—men who were about a more modern sound as much as cowboy chapeaus?

Country songs in the 90s hit the mainstream thanks to folks like Garth Brooks, Faith Hill (and her hubby Tim McGraw), and The Dixie Chicks. They were at their peak, dropping smash hit after smash hit, and the photos we’ve gathered below capture them in all their big-haired, be-hatted, bedazzled glory. But the 90s were not just about new acts—current and future Hall of Famers like Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, and Loretta Lynn were still making waves in the music world. And so were more traditional male performers like Mr. Hottie McHotterson, George Strait.

So sit back, relax, and get set to get seriously nostalgic with these pics of your fav 90s country stars in their prime. We can just about guarantee they’ll inspire you to start a new 90s country playlist!

Garth Brooks

This shot documents a baby-faced Garth in 1990, right around the time No Fences was released. He might even be performing “Friends in Low Places” (cue the sing-along). The album would spend nearly six months atop the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and Garth would go on to become the best-selling solo artist in American history.

But Garth would pretty much remain reliably Garth, in his trademark black Stetson hat, Wrangler jeans, and button-down shirt. (Except, of course, during the whole Chris Gaines thing, of which the less is said, the better.)

Ebet Roberts

Billy Ray Cyrus

He might be best known nowadays for being Miley’s dad, but back in 1992, this man had a little hit song called “Achy Breaky Heart” (and good luck getting it out of your head now). There’s no denying the Fabio-like magnetism of the 90s version of Billy Ray…even with that mullet. Maybe especially with that mullet.

Alan Jackson

Besides his music, Alan Jackson was famous for two things in the 90s: his white cowboy hat and his ‘stache. Here, he’s seen with both at the 27th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in 1992, when his effort Don’t Rock the Jukebox managed to beat Brooks’ No Fences AND Ropin’ the Wind for Album of the Year.

Tanya Tucker

By 1993, when this photograph was taken, Tanya had been making hit music for more than two decades (she had her first success in 1972 at just 13 with “Delta Dawn”). The first half of the decade was particularly good to Tanya: she was named “Female Vocalist of the Year” by the CMA, had a string of 8 top ten hits, and played the Super Bowl halftime show (more on that below).

Even if she calmed down a bit after getting sober in the 80s, our girl kept it real in the 90s with her typically wild western wear, like this starry, spangly jacket and pant combo.

tanya tucker is shown performing on stage with mic in hand and wearing black pants and jacket with fringe and big silver and copper colored stars on it — John Atashian

The Judds

Although The Judds had disbanded in 1991 due to Naomi’s health issues, they made music history in 1994 when they appeared with Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, and Travis Tritt at Super Bowl XXVIII in Atlanta. It was the very first time country music took center stage on its own at the halftime show. The finale, seen here, brought everyone together to perform The Judds’ hit “Love Can Build a Bridge.” We still get goosebumps thinking about it.

wynonna judd and naomi judd on stage holding hands and singing, naomi is in a white dress, wynonna is in a black corset laced jacket and white shirt — George Rose

Reba McEntire

This just might be the most honestly Reba McEntire photo ever taken of Reba McEntire. Reclining back on a white piano in an all-white room in her home, she’s got that gleeful, slightly goofy grin we all know and love, not to mention the long, curly, sky-high hair she wore in the mid-90s. But instead of sporting the sparkle and fringe we got used to seeing her in onstage, here Reba’s chillaxing in blue jeans. It just makes her all the more real. And adorable.

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw

Snapped at the 1996 Andre Agassi Grand Slam For Children event in Las Vegas, this photo documents our favorite country couple just three weeks before they got hitched. They’d broken up with their partners earlier in the year, gotten engaged in June, and on October 6, they were wed.

Seems fast, but when you know, you know. And judging by Faith’s MASSIVE grin on display in this image (and their nearly three-decades-long marriage), Faith and Tim sure did know.

faith hill and tim mcgraw standing together she is in a black dress and smiling and he is in a black hat and jacket — KMazur

LeAnn Rimes

Remember when cute-as-a-button LeAnn Rimes snared two Grammys in 1997, for Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal? History does: She was the youngest person ever to win the award. That same year, her single, “How Do I Live,” became a massive crossover hit, selling 4 million copies. Not bad for a 14-year-old.

Trisha Yearwood

In 1997, Trish Yearwood and Garth Brooks visited The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, dueting for the first time on the small screen with the tender ballad, “In Another’s Eyes.” Their off-the-charts chemistry made real music (and television) magic, even if they were strictly friends at the time. Was anyone who saw that performance really surprised when, five years later, they began dating? Nahhhhh.

Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn

We can’t get enough of this shot of two of country’s brightest luminaries fangirling all over each other. It was snapped backstage at the Grand Ole Opry in 1997, four years after Loretta returned to the music scene with Honky Tonk Angels, her collaboration with Dolly and Tammy Wynette. But Dolly and Loretta were more than colleagues. They were close friends for decades, often calling each other “sister,” and this beautiful image is a testament to their love for each other.

dolly parton in a tight white dree with sequins hugs loretta lynn in a red pant suit and jacket both are smiling — Ron Davis

George Strait

The 1990s sure were good to King George. He won awards by the truckload; starred in a 1992 movie, Pure Country; and sold millions of albums (his 1995 career retrospective box set, Strait Out of the Box, sold over 8 million alone). He was so big, he even hosted the George Strait Music Festival at California’s Oakland Coliseum in 1998. He performed at the festie, as this pic shows, flashing his pearly whites to his no-doubt swooning fans.

The Dixie Chicks

Before all the controversy (and the name change), The Dixie Chicks were the beloved cutie pies of country. The release of Wide Open Spaces in 1998, followed by Fly a year later, scored them Grammys galore and 10 million-plus sales for each album. They’re seen here in their heyday at the 1999 American Music Awards, killing it with the decade’s classic wispy updo and side-swept bangs.

Shania Twain

Shania pretty much owned country music from the mid-1990s through at least to the decade’s end, releasing Come On Over in 1997. It became the biggest-selling studio album by a solo female artist ever, with more than 40 million copies sold.

Shania’s look evolved with her success, becoming riskier and much more glam, culminating in this white bedazzled turtleneck dress she legendarily rocked at the 1999 Grammys, where she scored two awards.

She might be best known style-wise for her signature leopard print, but there’s no denying the power of this iconic pic, which captures Shania at the height of her success, fame, and beauty.