We’ll unveil our big list, the Texas 250, on June 1. Before that, we’re offering a sneak peak by revealing our top-10 in several categories. Today, we’re telling you our top-10 musicians, though in alphabetical order.<\/p>\n
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10. Kenny Rogers<\/p>\n
Bob Riha Jr\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
A legendary singer-songwriter known for his husky voice and expansive career that consisted of many crossover hits in country, jazz, pop, soul and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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9. DJ Screw<\/p>\n
Houston Chronicle\/Hearst Newspap\/Houston Chronicle via Getty Imag<\/p>\n
Houston hip-hop would not be what it is without the legendary work of DJ Screw. Fans would drive hundreds of miles to pick up his mixtapes, and the pioneer of the “chopped-and-screwed” technique and leader of Screwed Up Click has lived long past his too-short life of 29 years. DJ Screw is consistently honored by rap contemporaries, from Megan Thee Stallion to Travis Scott.<\/p>\n
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8. Lyle\u00a0Lovett<\/p>\n
Contributed photo \/ Contributed Photo<\/p>\n
Lovett got his start performing in College Station bars after graduating from Texas A&M University. While Lovett is credited mostly as a country singer, the multi-Grammy winner has embraced gospel music, folk, jazz, swing and blues across 14 albums.<\/p>\n
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7. Waylon Jennings<\/p>\n
Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc\/Sygma via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Jennings was a last-minute scratch from Buddy Holly’s plane who went on to put the outlaw in ‘outlaw country’ and line his pockets as the narrator of the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard.<\/p>\n
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6. Buddy Holly<\/p>\n
Michael Ochs Archives<\/p>\n
A rangy early rock-and-roller, Holly’s geeky appearance belied the wide-ranging influence “Peggy Sue,” the prophetic “Not Fade Away,” and other hits would have.<\/p>\n
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5. Stevie Ray Vaughan<\/p>\n
Paul Natkin\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
The most talented electric guitarist since Jimi Hendrix\u2014Eddie Van Halen included\u2014Vaughan brought authentic Texas blues to millions of MTV viewers before a tragic 1990 helicopter crash.<\/p>\n
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4. George Strait<\/p>\n
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George Strait<\/p>\n
Universal Music Nashville<\/p>\n
At a time when country crossover ruled, Poteet’s own George Strait helped bring older balladry and honky-tonk back into vogue. And boy, the staying power: Strait’s 44 Billboard country No. 1 songs are the most ever. He’s sold 70 million records in the U.S. alone. And the man can draw 110,000 at Kyle Field at age 72.<\/p>\n
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3. Selena Quintanilla<\/p>\n
John Everett \/\u00c2\u00a9Houston Chronicl\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Known for taking Tejano music mainstream, Selena is considered one of the most celebrated Mexican-American artists of all-time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her career began at just eight years old as a performer in the family band Los Dinos. The band eventually went professional, and Selena started becoming known for her Spanish vocals and fashion style by the late 1980s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Her career continued to skyrocket, with Selena y Los Dinos winning their first Grammy in 1994 and selling over 1.5 million records. Her life was tragically cut short at the height of her career; however, her legacy still continues to thrive and reach new audiences.<\/p>\n
2. Willie Nelson<\/p>\n
Rick Kern\/WireImage<\/p>\n
Willie Nelson started making music at age seven and never stopped. Born in Abbott, the dope-smoking, smooth-singing, rabble-rousing Nelson became disillusioned with the Nashville country music scene and joined a rag-tag band of singer-songwriters doing things differently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Leaving Music City for Austin in 1972, Nelson recorded critically acclaimed albums like Shotgun Willie and Red Headed Stranger and became one of outlaw country’s biggest ambassadors. Nelson would join forces with fellow banditos Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash to form the supergroup The Highway Men.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yes, Willie’s still kicking it, touring, and we’re all the better for it.<\/p>\n
1. Beyonc\u00e9\u00a0Knowles<\/p>\n
Justin Sullivan\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Born and raised in Houston\u2019s Third Ward, Beyonc\u00e9 is one of Texas’ most recognizable global ambassadors, consistently spotlighting the state’s culture, style and Black Southern identity on the world stage. From references to Houston landmarks and local slang in her music, to tributes to Texas traditions in projects like Cowboy Carter, Beyonc\u00e9 has helped redefine how the world sees the South.<\/p>\n
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Her philanthropy has also directly impacted Houston communities, particularly after Hurricane Harvey and during the COVID-19 pandemic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For many Texans, Beyonc\u00e9 represents hometown pride, cultural excellence and the power of staying connected to your roots while achieving global success.<\/p>\n
Methodology<\/p>\n
We comprise native Texans, longtime residents of the Lone Star State and newcomers with fresh opinions and insight. We spent months brainstorming, researching, debating and sorting our list, ending up with a ranking we feel represents the last 250 years of life down here in the home we now call Texas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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