Not Taylor Swift or Tim McGraw: The best country artist of the 21st century’s was chosen, and the decision left everyone stunned

As we reach the first quarter of the 21 Century, Billboard decided to rank the top country artist of the last 25 years.

Last week, Kenny Chesney began his exclusive, 15-date residency to The Sphere – becoming the first country artist to headline at the iconic Las Vegas venue, and the seventh overall, following U2, Phish, Dead & Company, the Eagles, Anyma, and Lenny Kravitz.

And this week, he has received even more good news.

Billboard recognize Kenny Chesney’s achievements

The Anything But Mine singer has been declared the best country artist of the 21st Century by Billboard.

“Kenny Chesney rules as the No. 1 country act on Billboard’s recap of the first 25 years of the 21st century,” Billboard senior charts manager for country charts, Jim Asker, said. “The ranking is based on performance on the weekly Top Country Albums and Hot Country Songs charts from the start of 2000 through the end of 2024.”

For the past three decades, Chesney has been entertaining his faithful legion of fans dubbed No Shoes Nation – the name alluding to his 2003 hit, No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem. His debut album, In My Wildest Dreams was released in 1994 but it was his follow-up which really got him noticed – All I Need to Know hit stores almost 30 years ago and went gold. His three subsequent releases that decade: Me and You, I Will Stand and Everywhere We Go all went platinum.

He has had 20 Hot Country Songs No. 1s and 17 leaders on Top Country Albums since the start of the new millennium, along with 30 No. 1s on Billboard’s Country Airplay survey.

And he has fended off big stars such as Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban to take the Billboard crown.

Billboard Best Country Artist of the 21st Century

Kenny Chesney

Tim McGraw

Taylor Swift

Toby Keith

Keith Urban

Rascal Flatts

Luke Combs

Jason Aldean

Blake Shelton

Carrie Underwood

“No one gets up to go to the gym and expects to see news like this on their phone,” an elated Chesney said in a statement on his official website. “All I was ever trying to do was find the best possible songs, things that spoke to the heart of how No Shoes Nation lives — and then taking that music, those albums that were slices of my life out of everyone who wanted to come out, be a part of the shows, the moments and the memories we made in every city we played.”