From soulful blues and twangy outlaw anthems to genre-bending pop and hard-hitting hip-hop, Texas has long been a powerhouse of musical innovation. The Lone Star State’s vast geography mirrors the diversity of its talent—home to legends like Willie Nelson, Selena, and Beyoncé, as well as rising stars who continue to push boundaries across global charts.
Whether born on Texas soil or musically shaped by its cities, these artists represent a sonic legacy as big and bold as the state itself.
Pop & R&B Icons
Beyoncé
Selena Gomez
Born on July 22, 1992, in Grand Prairie, Gomez found early fame on Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place and later launched a successful music career with hits like Come & Get It and Lose You to Love Me.
Kelly Clarkson
A Fort Worth native, Clarkson became a household name after winning the first season of American Idol in 2002. She has since released numerous platinum albums and hit singles, including Since U Been Gone and Stronger.
Demi Lovato
Raised in Dallas, Lovato first gained popularity through Disney projects before transitioning to a powerful pop career with emotionally raw songs like Skyscraper and Sorry Not Sorry.
Solange
Born in Houston on June 24, 1986, Solange has built a critically acclaimed solo career with albums like A Seat at the Table and When I Get Home, blending R&B, funk, and avant-garde influences.
Destiny’s Child
Formed in Houston, Destiny’s Child featured Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. With hits like Say My Name and Survivor, the group helped define late ’90s and early 2000s pop and R&B.
Alaina Castillo
This bilingual rising star from Houston blends English and Spanish lyrics with dreamy pop and R&B soundscapes. Her debut album Parallel Universe showcases her dynamic vocal style and Gen Z appeal.
Leon Bridges
Hailing from Fort Worth, Bridges is known for his modern take on classic soul, with albums like Coming Home and Gold-Diggers Sound earning critical praise and Grammy nominations.
Erykah Badu
Born in Dallas, Erykah Badu is considered the “Queen of Neo-Soul.” Her debut album Baduizm introduced a genre-defying blend of R&B, jazz, and hip-hop, earning her multiple Grammys and a devoted global following.
Norah Jones
Raised in Grapevine, Jones rose to fame with her debut album Come Away with Me, which won five Grammy Awards. Her smooth vocals and blend of jazz, pop, and soul made her one of the best-selling artists of the 2000s.
Barry White
Born in Galveston, Texas, on September 12, 1944, Barry White became one of the most recognizable voices in soul and R&B. Known for his deep, velvety tone and romantic ballads, he delivered timeless hits like Can’t Get Enough of Your Love. Over his career, White sold more than 100 million records worldwide, leaving an enduring mark on love songs and lush orchestral arrangements in popular music.
Country Legends
George Strait
The “King of Country” was born in Poteet, Texas, and is credited with bringing traditional country music back to the mainstream. With over 60 number-one hits, his influence on the genre is immeasurable.
Willie Nelson
Born in Abbott in 1933, Nelson helped pioneer the outlaw country movement. Known for songs like On the Road Again and Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, he’s also a dedicated activist and cultural icon.
Ernest Tubb
Born in Crisp, Texas in 1914, Ernest Tubb was a pioneering figure in honky-tonk country music. Known for his warm, straightforward singing style, Tubb helped shape the sound of post-war country. He became a Grand Ole Opry mainstay and inspired generations of country artists, earning the nickname “The Texas Troubadour.”
Kenny Rogers
Born in Houston in 1938, Rogers achieved crossover fame with hits like The Gambler and Islands in the Stream. His smooth storytelling and signature voice made him a country-pop legend.
Waylon Jennings
This Littlefield native was a cornerstone of outlaw country alongside Nelson and Kristofferson. Known for Luckenbach, Texas and Good Hearted Woman, Jennings embodied musical rebellion.
Kris Kristofferson
Born in Brownsville in 1936, Kristofferson is a legendary songwriter whose compositions—like Me and Bobby McGee—became iconic. He’s also a celebrated actor and Rhodes Scholar.
Pat Green
San Antonio-born and Waco-raised, Green brought a youthful, energetic vibe to Texas country music with hits like Wave on Wave and Carry On.
Clint Black
Though born in New Jersey, Black was raised in Katy, Texas. He became one of the biggest names in ’90s country with hits like A Better Man and Killin’ Time.
Mickey Gilley
Raised in Houston, Gilley fused country and honky-tonk piano styles, becoming a major star with Room Full of Roses. His nightclub inspired the movie Urban Cowboy.
Parker McCollum
Born in Conroe, McCollum is a rising force in modern country, blending heartland storytelling with a smooth, radio-ready sound. His hits include Pretty Heart and Handle on You.
Miranda Lambert
Born in Longview and raised in Lindale, Lambert is a modern country powerhouse with multiple CMA and Grammy wins. Known for hits like The House That Built Me and Gunpowder & Lead, she champions strong, independent storytelling.
Ray Price
From Perryville, Price was a country music innovator who helped shape the Nashville sound in the 1950s and ’60s. His rich baritone and hits like For the Good Times earned him a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Jimmy Dean
Born in Olton in 1928, Dean had a major crossover hit with Big Bad John before becoming a businessman and television personality—founding the Jimmy Dean sausage brand.
Rock & Blues Trailblazers
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Born in Dallas in 1954, Vaughan redefined blues-rock in the 1980s with blistering guitar work and passionate performances. Songs like Pride and Joy cemented his legacy before his tragic death in 1990.
Scott Joplin
Dubbed the “King of Ragtime,” Scott Joplin was born around 1868 in Texarkana, Texas. His piano compositions defined the ragtime era and laid the groundwork for early American jazz. Joplin’s innovative blend of syncopated rhythms and melodic charm earned him posthumous recognition as one of the most influential composers in U.S. music history, with his works still performed over a century later.
Janis Joplin
The soulful voice of a generation, Joplin was born in Port Arthur in 1943. As the frontwoman of Big Brother and the Holding Company, her raw energy and vocals on Piece of My Heart remain legendary.
Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
Born in Houston in 1949, Gibbons is the bearded frontman of ZZ Top. Known for hits like Sharp Dressed Man and La Grange, the band’s blues-infused rock left an indelible mark.
Buddy Holly
Lubbock-born Holly helped invent rock ’n’ roll as we know it with timeless tracks like That’ll Be the Day and Peggy Sue. His influence on The Beatles and other legends is still felt today.
Roy Orbison
Born in Vernon, Texas, in 1936, Orbison became known for his soaring voice, haunting ballads, and dramatic songwriting style. With classics like Oh, Pretty Woman and Crying, he helped shape early rock ’n’ roll and inspired artists from Bruce Springsteen to Elvis Presley.
Don Henley
Born in Gilmer in 1947, Henley is the drummer and co-lead singer of The Eagles. With classics like Hotel California and Desperado, his impact on soft rock is massive.
Gary Clark Jr.
Austin-based and genre-defying, Clark blends blues, rock, R&B, and hip-hop. His virtuosity and socially conscious lyrics shine in songs like Bright Lights and This Land.
Boz Scaggs
Born in Canton, Texas, Scaggs rose to fame in the ’70s with his smooth blend of rock, soul, and R&B. His album Silk Degrees produced hits like Lowdown and Lido Shuffle.
The Toadies
This alternative rock band from Fort Worth gained cult status in the ’90s with their grunge-era hit Possum Kingdom. Their gritty Texas sound helped define the post-grunge landscape.
Pantera
Formed in Arlington, Pantera became one of the most influential heavy metal bands of the 1990s. With albums like Vulgar Display of Power, they helped pioneer groove metal with a Texas-sized punch.
England Dan & John Ford Coley
This soft rock duo from Dallas enjoyed chart success in the 1970s with mellow, harmony-rich hits like I’d Really Love to See You Tonight. Their sound blended pop, country, and easy listening.
Johnny Winter
Born in Beaumont, Winter was a blues-rock guitar virtuoso who rose to fame in the late 1960s. Known for his high-energy performances and fiery slide guitar, he influenced generations of blues musicians.
Edie Brickell
A Dallas native, Brickell gained fame in the late ’80s with her band Edie Brickell & New Bohemians. Their hit What I Am blended folk-rock and alternative pop, making her a key figure in Texas’s indie music scene.
Rap & Hip-Hop Stars
Megan Thee Stallion
Born Megan Jovon Ruth Pete in Houston, Megan exploded onto the rap scene with Hot Girl Summer and Savage. She’s a Grammy winner, outspoken feminist, and role model for authenticity.
Post Malone
Raised in Grapevine, Texas, Post Malone is a chart-topping artist whose genre-blending style spans hip-hop, pop, rock, and folk influences. Known for his melodic hooks and emotional lyrics, Post Malone has become one of the most streamed artists in the world.
Travis Scott
Born Jacques Webster II in Houston, Travis Scott rose to global stardom with chart-topping albums like Astroworld and Utopia. Known for his genre-bending sound and surreal live shows, he’s one of the most influential rappers of his generation.
The Geto Boys
Formed in Houston, this pioneering rap group, including Scarface and Bushwick Bill, brought Southern hip-hop to national attention with gritty, introspective tracks like Mind Playing Tricks on Me.
Mike Jones
A key figure in Houston’s chopped-and-screwed scene, Mike Jones found fame in the mid-2000s with hits like Back Then and Still Tippin’, famously promoting his actual phone number in his lyrics.
Paul Wall
Hailing from Houston, Paul Wall gained popularity with his laid-back Southern drawl and shiny grills. His hit Sittin’ Sidewayz remains a Houston rap anthem.
Chamillionaire
Also from Houston, Chamillionaire shot to the top of the charts with Ridin’, which earned him a Grammy and cemented his place in 2000s hip-hop culture.
Bun B & Pimp C (UGK)
Hailing from Port Arthur, Bun B and Pimp C formed UGK, a duo that brought Southern rap to the mainstream. Their feature on Big Pimpin’ and hits like International Players Anthem cemented their legacy in hip-hop history.
DJ Screw
Born in Smithville and based in Houston, DJ Screw created the chopped-and-screwed sound that defined a generation of Texas rap. His influence is foundational to Houston’s hip-hop identity.
Slim Thug
From Houston’s Northside, Slim Thug made his mark with hits like Like a Boss and collaborations with Beyoncé and Mike Jones. His deep voice and laid-back flow helped define early 2000s Southern rap.
Tejano & Latin Artists
Selena Quintanilla
Born in Lake Jackson in 1971, Selena was the undisputed Queen of Tejano Music. Her songs like Bidi Bidi Bom Bom and Como La Flor made her a global icon before her tragic death at 23.
Little Joe y La Familia
A trailblazer of Chicano music, Little Joe (from Temple, Texas) fused Tejano with jazz, R&B, and conjunto, helping elevate Latin music’s influence in Texas and beyond.
Flaco Jiménez
Born in San Antonio, Jiménez is an accordion virtuoso and one of the most celebrated conjunto and Tejano musicians in history. He’s collaborated with everyone from the Texas Tornados to the Rolling Stones.
Jay Perez
Known as “The Voice,” this San Antonio native brought a soulful edge to Tejano with his smooth vocals and modern arrangements, earning him numerous Tejano Music Awards.
Grupo Mazz
Founded in Brownsville, Grupo Mazz became one of the most influential Tejano bands in the ’80s and ’90s, known for romantic ballads and danceable cumbias.
Emilio Navaira
Born in San Antonio, Navaira was known as the “King of Tejano” and helped bridge Tejano and country music. His bilingual appeal and crossover hits brought Tejano music to a broader audience.
Shelly Lares
A longtime Tejano performer from San Antonio, Lares is known for her powerful vocals and loyal fan base. With a career spanning over three decades, she’s one of the genre’s most enduring female voices.
