3 Modern Country Artists That Aren’t Considered Outlaws—but Should Be

Listeners have a finite idea of what outlaw country is. It was typified by the likes of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard in the ’70s. All of those artists shared similarities, both in sound and sentiment. But, what if we expounded on the idea of what an outlaw is? If we boiled this sub-genre down to its basic elements, many artists could earn the outlaw badge. Below, find three modern country artists who aren’t considered part of the outlaw movement, but could be if viewed in the right light.

Videos by American Songwriter

Sierra Ferrell

Sierra Ferrell’s music bears no resemblance to Waylon Jennings or Merle Haggard, but her attitude towards her career places her in league with them. Before earning fame, Ferrell was a wayfaring artist, hopping trains and living the vagabond life. That alone denotes a certain amount of outlaw-ness. Taking this argument one step further, Ferrell has a sound all her own. She’s curbed industry conventions and followed only her impulses. That sort of freedom and creative bravery is precisely the kind of thing an outlaw country artist would do. Her Apalachian folk calls to mind the spirit of the wild west in a way none of her peers have managed.

Jelly Roll

In a very different way, Jelly Roll could also be considered an outlaw country artist. Many traditional outlaw artists made their names by discussing topics that no one else dared to broach. Jelly Roll is picking up where they left off, singing about struggles few artists would admit.

Jelly Roll hasn’t been shy about his addictions and missteps. Most of his songs are deeply candid and equally moving. He’s an artist who relates to his audience through shared experiences. Many of the outlaw artists of the 1970s shared similar mindsets when it came to songwriting.

Kacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves is another artist who hasn’t been shy of a controversial topic. From smoking weed to activism, Musgraves was one of the few country artists who preached inclusivity in the mid-2010s. Songs like “Follow Your Arrow” and “Cup of Tea” are bold declarations of a point of view not wholly accepted in the country community. Outlaw artists have always rejected industry norms. Musgraves is the best example of that affinity in modern country.

(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)