folk music artists

At a glance

624 published folk music artists; 4,559 studio albums have verified cover art.

When they started

Debut decade from each artist's earliest dated release. Most debuts fell in the 2000s (103 artists).

Where they come from

Countries with the most folk music artists. United States leads with 342.

• United States 342
• Canada 92
• United Kingdom 33
• Ireland 20
• France 16
• Australia 9
• Japan 8
• Norway 7

Often paired with

Genres that share artists with folk music. The most shared is country music, with 287 artists in both.

• country music 287
• pop music 106
• rock music 45
• pop rock 34
• traditional folk music 33
• jazz 31
• blues 30
• folk rock 30

Covers from folk music

4,559 studio albums have verified cover art. The 12 shown come from the most famous artists.

Leaders

Madonna has the most release groups (400); Paul Robeson the longest career (96 years); Shakira the most awards (87).

More folk music artists

Showing 1–108 of 108 artists

Dido

United Kingdom · Person · born 1971

pop music, pop rock, folk music

18.4M listeners · 62 wikis · Tier 1

Norah Jones

United States · Person · born 1979

soul, country music, blues, jazz, folk music, smooth jazz

8.7M listeners · 77 wikis · Tier 2

John Denver

United States · Person · born 1943

rock music, pop music, folk rock, traditional folk music, country music, folk music, folk-pop

11.2M listeners · 65 wikis · Tier 2

Sheryl Crow

United States · Person · born 1962

rock music, pop music, country music, blues, country rock, folk music, heartland rock

8.5M listeners · 61 wikis · Tier 2

Birdy

United Kingdom · Person · born 1996

pop music, folk music, indie rock, indie pop, indie folk

11.4M listeners · 52 wikis · Tier 3

Kacey Musgraves

United States · Person · born 1988

country music, folk music

16.6M listeners · 41 wikis · Tier 1

Mumford & Sons

United Kingdom · Group · 2007–present

rock music, folk rock, country music, folk music

13.5M listeners · 44 wikis · Tier 1

Dave Stewart

United Kingdom · Person · born 1952

rhythm and blues, pop rock, folk music, synth-pop, new wave

16.8M listeners · 30 wikis · Tier 1

Nancy Sinatra

United States · Person · born 1940

rock music, pop music, country music, jazz, folk music, country pop, traditional pop

7.5M listeners · 57 wikis · Tier 3

Bon Iver

United States · Group · 2006–present

rock music, folk rock, folk music, art pop, folktronica, indie folk, contemporary folk music

17.6M listeners · 37 wikis · Tier 1

Clairo

United States · Person · born 1998

pop music, folk music, soft rock, synth-pop, electropop, indie rock, indie pop, lo-fi music, bedroom pop

20.5M listeners · 31 wikis · Tier 1

Sophie Ellis-Bextor

United Kingdom · Person · born 1979

pop music, disco, folk music, house music, indie rock

8.8M listeners · 49 wikis · Tier 3

Don McLean

United States · Person · born 1945

rock music, folk rock, folk music

10.2M listeners · 43 wikis · Tier 3

Passenger

United Kingdom · Person · born 1984

folk music, indie folk

13.7M listeners · 36 wikis · Tier 1

Peter, Paul and Mary

United States · Group · 1961–2009

folk music

8M listeners · 46 wikis · Tier 2

Maren Morris

United States · Person · born 1990

folk rock, country music, folk music, country pop, new jack swing

11.8M listeners · 37 wikis · Tier 3

George Ezra

United Kingdom · Person · born 1993

rock music, blues, folk music

12.9M listeners · 35 wikis · Tier 1

LeAnn Rimes

United States · Person · born 1982

pop music, country music, folk music

7.9M listeners · 43 wikis · Tier 3

Bing Crosby

United States · Person · born 1903

pop music, country music, jazz, folk music, traditional pop, big band music, swing, easy listening, Western swing, western music

123 wikis · Tier 2

Miranda Lambert

United States · Person · born 1983

country music, folk music

8.6M listeners · 40 wikis · Tier 3

Leonard Cohen

Canada · Person · born 1934

rock music, pop music, folk rock, blues, pop rock, folk music, soft rock, world music, spoken word, sophisti-pop

131 wikis · Tier 2

Feist

Canada · Person · born 1976

pop music, traditional folk music, pop rock, folk music, indie rock, indie pop, indie folk, anti-folk

8.1M listeners · 39 wikis · Tier 3

Monica

United States · Person · born 1980

pop music, contemporary R&B, soul, jazz, folk music, hip-hop, hip-hop soul

8.1M listeners · 34 wikis · Tier 2

Kim Carnes

United States · Person · born 1945

country music, pop rock, folk music, soft rock

6.1M listeners · 38 wikis · Tier 3

Lizzy McAlpine

United States · Person · born 1999

folk music, folk-pop, indie folk

15.4M listeners · 14 wikis · Tier 1

Kelsea Ballerini

United States · Person · born 1993

folk music, country pop

7.4M listeners · 27 wikis · Tier 3

Linda Ronstadt

United States · Person · born 1946

country music, pop rock, folk music

60 wikis · Tier 2

Lainey Wilson

United States · Person · born 1992

country music, folk music

10.2M listeners · 16 wikis · Tier 3

Tyler Childers

United States · Person · born 1991

country music, folk music, neotraditional country, bluegrass music

10.8M listeners · 13 wikis · Tier 3

Person

Megan Moroney

United States · Person · born 1997

country music, folk music

8.6M listeners · 17 wikis · Tier 3

Lila Downs

Mexico · Person · born 1968

folk music, regional Mexican

115 wikis · Tier 2

Joan Baez

United States · Person · born 1941

traditional folk music, country music, folk music, ballad, Afro-Cuban jazz

103 wikis · Tier 2

Janis Joplin

United States · Person · born 1943

hard rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock, soul, country music, folk music, acid rock

100 wikis · Tier 2

Feby Putri

Indonesia · Person · born 2000

pop music, folk music, indie pop

9.4M listeners · 4 wikis · Tier 3

BUNT.

Germany · Person · born 1996

folk music

9.3M listeners · 3 wikis · Tier 3

Kevin Kaarl

Mexico · Person · born 2000

folk music, indie pop, dream pop, indie folk

8.6M listeners · 4 wikis · Tier 3

Harry Belafonte

United States · Person · born 1927

pop music, folk music, world music, calypso

76 wikis · Tier 2

Joni Mitchell

Canada · Person · born 1943

pop music, folk rock, jazz, folk music, art rock, world music, folk jazz

75 wikis · Tier 2

Jessica Simpson

United States · Person · born 1980

pop music, contemporary R&B, country music, dance-pop, folk music

83 wikis · Tier 2

Reba McEntire

United States · Person · born 1955

country music, gospel music, folk music

64 wikis · Tier 2

Woody Guthrie

United States · Person · born 1912

country music, folk music, American folk music

64 wikis · Tier 2

Emmelie de Forest

Kingdom of Denmark · Person · born 1993

pop music, traditional folk music, folk music

66 wikis · Tier 2

Patsy Cline

United States · Person · born 1932

country music, folk music

56 wikis · Tier 2

Paul Robeson

United States · Person · born 1898

folk music

54 wikis · Tier 2

Mandy Moore

United States · Person · born 1984

pop music, country music, pop rock, dance music, dance-pop, adult contemporary music, folk music, country pop, teen pop, folk-pop

63 wikis · Tier 2

Emmylou Harris

United States · Person · born 1947

country music, gospel music, folk music, Americana, world music, bluegrass music, alternative country

44 wikis · Tier 3

Patti Page

United States · Person · born 1927

country music, folk music, traditional pop

53 wikis · Tier 2

Cass Elliot

United States · Person · born 1941

rock music, pop rock, folk music, sunshine pop

52 wikis · Tier 2

Lucy Hale

United States · Person · born 1989

pop music, folk music, country pop

61 wikis · Tier 2

Marianne Faithfull

United Kingdom · Person · born 1946

rock music, pop music, blues, folk music, alternative rock, vocal jazz

51 wikis · Tier 2

Domenico Modugno

Italy · Person · born 1928

pop music, folk music

60 wikis · Tier 2

Connie Francis

United States · Person · born 1937

pop music, rock and roll, country music, jazz, folk music, country pop, traditional pop, vocal jazz

59 wikis · Tier 2

Goran Bregović

Bosnia and Herzegovina · Person · born 1950

hard rock, folk rock, folk music

59 wikis · Tier 3

Loretta Lynn

United States · Person · born 1932

country music, gospel music, folk music, honky tonk

50 wikis · Tier 2

Bobby Darin

United States · Person · born 1936

rock music, pop music, rock and roll, country music, blues, pop rock, jazz, folk music, big band music, swing, novelty music

48 wikis · Tier 2

Zaz

France · Person · born 1980

pop music, jazz, folk music, chanson, Gypsy jazz

57 wikis · Tier 3

Person

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

United States · Person · born 1959

folk music, reggae, music of Hawaii

56 wikis · Tier 2

Glen Campbell

United States · Person · born 1936

rock music, pop music, folk rock, country music, gospel music, folk music

45 wikis · Tier 2

Jewel

United States · Person · born 1974

pop music, country music, folk music

44 wikis · Tier 3

Tom Morello

United States · Person · born 1964

hard rock, folk music, traditional heavy metal, electronic dance music, funk metal, alternative metal, nu metal, rap metal, hardcore punk, crossover

44 wikis · Tier 3

Mercedes Sosa

Argentina · Person · born 1935

traditional folk music, folk music, popular music, trova

53 wikis · Tier 2

Jennette McCurdy

United States · Person · born 1992

pop music, country music, folk music, country pop

52 wikis · Tier 3

Jamie Lynn Spears

United States · Person · born 1991

folk music, country pop

51 wikis · Tier 3

Helene Fischer

Germany · Person · born 1984

pop music, folk music, schlager music

50 wikis · Tier 3

k.d. lang

Canada · Person · born 1961

pop music, traditional folk music, country music, adult contemporary music, jazz, folk music, Americana

40 wikis · Tier 3

Burl Ives

United States · Person · born 1909

folk music

49 wikis · Tier 2

Michelle Branch

United States · Person · born 1983

pop music, folk music

49 wikis · Tier 3

Sasha Pieterse

South Africa · Person · born 1996

country music, folk music, Southern rock

49 wikis · Tier 3

Tammy Wynette

United States · Person · born 1942

country music, folk music

39 wikis · Tier 2

June Carter Cash

United States · Person · born 1929

traditional folk music, country music, folk music

47 wikis · Tier 2

Kristin Chenoweth

United States · Person · born 1968

pop music, gospel music, jazz, folk music, opera, musical play

47 wikis · Tier 3

Person

Nick Drake

United Kingdom · Person · born 1948

traditional folk music, folk music, baroque pop

47 wikis · Tier 2

Yma Sumac

Peru · Person · born 1922

rock music, pop music, jazz, folk music, electronic dance music, big band music, opera, lounge music, Latin jazz, ballade, exotica, music of Peru, mambo

46 wikis · Tier 2

Gordon Lightfoot

Canada · Person · born 1938

rock music, pop music, folk rock, country music, folk music

44 wikis · Tier 2

Mykola Lysenko

Russian Empire · Person · born 1842

folk music, opera, symphonic music, art song

44 wikis · Tier 2

Arlo Guthrie

United States · Person · born 1947

folk music

33 wikis · Tier 3

Jill Johnson

Sweden · Person · born 1973

country music, folk music, schlager music

41 wikis · Tier 3

Ry Cooder

United States · Person · born 1947

rock music, blues, folk music, Americana, world music

40 wikis · Tier 3

Mickie James

United States · Person · born 1979

country music, folk music

39 wikis · Tier 3

Reinhold Glière

Russian Empire · Person · born 1874

folk music, classical music, opera, symphony, ballet

38 wikis · Tier 2

Kitty Wells

United States · Person · born 1919

country music, folk music

28 wikis · Tier 2

Bob Weir

United States · Person · born 1947

rock music, rock and roll, psychedelic rock, country music, blues, folk music

27 wikis · Tier 2

Denny Doherty

Canada · Person · born 1940

pop music, folk music

27 wikis · Tier 2

Laura Benanti

United States · Person · born 1979

folk music

36 wikis · Tier 3

Judy Collins

United States · Person · born 1939

folk music

36 wikis · Tier 3

Julianne Hough

United States · Person · born 1988

country music, folk music

36 wikis · Tier 3

Phil Ochs

United States · Person · born 1940

folk rock, folk music, baroque pop, singer-songwriter music, protest song

36 wikis · Tier 2

Tanita Tikaram

United Kingdom · Person · born 1969

pop music, folk music, folk-pop, indie folk

36 wikis · Tier 3

Garth Hudson

Canada · Person · born 1937

rock and roll, country music, jazz, folk music, roots rock

26 wikis · Tier 2

Doc Watson

United States · Person · born 1923

country music, gospel music, blues, folk music, bluegrass music

26 wikis · Tier 2

Đorđe Balašević

Serbia · Person · born 1953

rock music, folk rock, pop rock, folk music

35 wikis · Tier 2

Rita Coolidge

United States · Person · born 1945

pop music, country music, folk music

34 wikis · Tier 3

Lucinda Williams

United States · Person · born 1953

blues, pop rock, folk music, alternative country

34 wikis · Tier 3

Buffy Sainte-Marie

United States · Person · born 1941

rock music, country music, electronic music, folk music

34 wikis · Tier 3

The Dubliners

Ireland · Group · 1962–2013

folk music, Irish folk music

34 wikis · Tier 2

John Prine

United States · Person · born 1946

country music, folk music, comedy song

25 wikis · Tier 2

The Chieftains

Ireland · Group · 1963–present

folk music

24 wikis · Tier 3

Martina McBride

United States · Person · born 1966

country music, folk music, country pop

33 wikis · Tier 3

Trisha Yearwood

United States · Person · born 1964

country music, folk music

33 wikis · Tier 3

Damien Rice

Ireland · Person · born 1973

folk rock, folk music

33 wikis · Tier 3

Gustavo Cerati

Argentina · Person · born 1959

pop rock, electronic music, folk music, alternative rock, art pop, indie rock, Britpop, symphonic rock, Argentine rock

33 wikis · Tier 2

Eivør Pálsdóttir

Kingdom of Denmark · Person · born 1983

rock music, country music, folk music

33 wikis · Tier 3

Shane MacGowan

Ireland · Person · born 1957

folk music, Q3071

33 wikis · Tier 2

Joan Osborne

United States · Person · born 1962

pop music, folk music

33 wikis · Tier 3

Elisabeth Andreassen

Norway · Person · born 1958

country music, folk music

32 wikis · Tier 3

Amandine Bourgeois

France · Person · born 1979

pop music, soul, pop rock, folk music

32 wikis · Tier 3

Cœur de pirate

Canada · Person · born 1989

pop music, folk music

32 wikis · Tier 3

Joaquín Sabina

Spain · Person · born 1949

rock music, pop music, folk music, trova

31 wikis · Tier 3