George Strait, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney & More Rank In Billboard’s Top 25 Country Producers Of The 21st Century

As the first quarter of the 21st century comes to a close this year, Billboard has been doing their due diligence and putting together comprehensive “best of” lists throughout the past months. Back in March, they named Kenny Chesney the top country artist of the 21st century before naming Chris Stapleton’s monster debut record, Traveller, the top country record and Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line’s “Meant To Be” the top country song (I wish I was kidding) in May.

For a quick refresher of the Top 10 country artists, songs and albums of the 21st century, they are as follows:

Top 10 Artists

1. Kenny Chesney
2. Tim McGraw
3. Taylor Swift
4. Toby Keith
5. Keith Urban
6. Rascal Flatts
7. Luke Combs
8. Jason Aldean
9. Blake Shelton
10. Carrie Underwood

Top Songs

1. “Meant To Be” – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
2. “Body Like a Backroad” – Sam Hunt
3. “Cruise” – Florida Georgia Line
4. “I Hope” – Gabby Barrett
5. “Tequila” – Dan + Shay
6. “Fancy Like” – Walker Hayes
7. “You Proof” – Morgan Wallen
8. “Wasted On You” – Morgan Wallen
9. “Last Night” – Morgan Wallen
10. “The Bones” – Maren Morris

Top 10 Albums

1. Traveller – Chris Stapleton
2. This One’s For You – Luke Combs
3. Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen
4. If I Know Me – Morgan Wallen
5. What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs
6. Montavello – Sam Hunt
7. Taylor Swift – Taylor Swift
8. Here’s to the Good Times – Florida Georgia Line
9. Fearless – Taylor Swift
10. Crash My Party – Luke Bryan

While, yes, the list (especially the songs) are pretty rough on the surface, this is not a ranking or bias list. Instead, it is based off of each artist and albums performance on both the Hot Country Songs and Top Country Albums chart from January 1, 2000, through December 28, 2024. Simply put, it’s purely data driven.

With artists and albums ranked earlier in the year, today, Billboard has released its newest quarter century ranking: Top Producers. This time around, Billboard has decided to rank producers simply by the most #1 hits on the Hot Country Songs chart throughout the century, with ties broken by most top 10s and most overall chart entries.

Overall, the list comes with a few surprises. Of course, long-time producers such as Keith Stegall, Dann Huff, Byron Gallimore and Buddy Cannon all make appearances in the Top 10. Artists such as George Strait, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney also appear. Notably missing are big names such as Jay Joyce, Dave Cobb, Luke Laird and more.

Here are the Top 25 country producers of the 21st century, according to Billboard.

25. Zac Brown

Appearing as the first of five artists on the list, Zac Brown has scored eight separate #1 hits as a producer. Notably, he co-produced a plethora of the band’s early #1 hits such as “Chicken Fried,” “Colder Weather,” “Highway 20 Ride” and “Knee Deep” along with Keith Stegall. Aditionally, he’d solo produce another one of their breakout hits, “Toes.”

Total #1s: 8

24. Nathan Chapman

Being a driving force behind Taylor Swift’s early success, Chapman co-produced the “Blank Space” singer’s first five albums. Along with Swift’s #1 hits, “Our Song,” “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me,” he also scored hits producing The Band Perry’s “All Your Life” and “If I Die Young” and Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert’s “We Were Us.”

Total #1s: 8

23. Brett Beavers

Best known for his work alongside Dierks Bentley, Beavers has produced nine of the “Sideways” singer’s 11 #1 hits on the Hot Country Songs chart. These hits include early hits such “What Was I Thinkin’,” “Come a Little Closer” and “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)” as well as mid-career #1’s, “Home” and “5-1-5-0.”

Total #1s: 9

22. George Strait

The King himself lands at #22 on the list with nine #1 hits throughout the 21st century so far. Of course, it’s well-known that Strait owns the most #1 hits for any artist in any genre with a staggering 60 (44 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart); however, it’s less known that Strait has been co-producing a bulk of his late-career hits along with long-time collaborator, Tony Brown. Strait’s nine #1 hits this century include “Give It Away,” “I Saw God Today” and “She’ll Leave You with a Smile.”

Total #1s: 10

21. Jeff Stevens

As Luke Bryan’s main producer throughout the 2010s, Stevens was the driving force behind 10 of the “Rain Is a Good Thing” singer’s #1 hits. These hits include the Chris Stapleton-penned, “Drink a Beer,” and other critically-lauded tracks such as “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” “That’s My Kinda Night” and “I Don’t Want This Night to End.”

Total #1s: 10

20. Michael Knox

A long-time collaborator with Jason Aldean, Michael Knox has produced everything from the Georgia native’s highly-controversial all-genre #1, “Try That In a Small Town” to his Grammy-nominated collaboration with Kelly Clarkson, “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” Knox has also worked with the likes of Josh Thompson, Trace Adkins and Montgomery Gentry throughout his career.

Total #1s: 10

18. Joe Don Rooney/Gary LeVox (tie)

As two-thirds of Rascal Flatts, Rooney and LeVox are responsible for 12 of the band’s #1 hits. These hits include “Bless the Broken Road,” “Fast Cars and Freedom” and “My Wish,” all of which were co-produced by Dann Huff, who appears later in this list.

Total #1s: 12

17. Jay DeMarcus

The final member of Rascal Flatts, Jay Demarcus, just edges out his bandmates due to his involvement in various projects from other artists. Despite also having 12 #1 hits with Rascal Flatts, DeMarcus scored higher than Rooney and LeVox due to his production on hits from Kix Brooks, Jessica Andrews, Shenandoah and James Otto.

Total #1s: 12

16. Mark Wright

Working with everyone from Mark Chesnutt, Gary Allan and Lee Ann Womack to Gretchen Wilson and Brooks & Dunn, Mark Wright has had his fingerprints on a plethora of 2000s hits. Notable #1s include Brooks & Dunn’s “Red Dirt Road” and “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You,” Wilson’s “Redneck Woman” and “Here for the Party” and Allan’s “Right Where I Need to Be.”

Total #1s: 12

15. Tony Brown

As previously mentioned, Tony Brown is a long-time collaborator with George Strait, producing hits like “The Best Day,” “Living and Living Well” and the aforementioned “Give It Away” and “She’ll Leave You With a Smile.” Additionally, he’s worked with the likes of Reba, Brooks & Dunn and Sara Evans on #1s such as the now-TikTok famous, “I’m a Survivor,” “Play Something Country” and “A Little Bit Stronger.”

Total #1s: 12

14. Scott Hendricks

Nothing short of a musical giant, Scott Hendricks began producing records in the ’80s, later working with the likes of Restless Heart, Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill and Alan Jackson. In the 2000’s and 2010’s, Hendricks helped shaped massive singles from Blake Shelton and Dan + Shay such as “God Gave Me You,” “God’s Country,” “Speechless” and “Tequila.”

Total #1s: 13

13. Paul Worley

Producing a wide variety of artists throughout the 21st century, Worley has scored #1 hits with the likes of Sara Evans, Martina McBride, Lady A, The Band Perry and Big & Rich. Also known as being a driving force behind the Chicks’ success in the 90s, notable #1 hits from Worley include “Need You Now,” “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy),” “Suds in the Bucket” and “If I Die Young.”

Total 1s: 13

12. Keith Urban

Undeniably one of the most talented guitarists in country music history, Urban has also been responsible for the production of 14 of his #1 hits throughout the 21st century. These hits include his 12-week #1, “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” the aforementioned Miranda Lambert collaboration, “We Were Us” and the severely underrated, “You’ll Think of Me.”

Total #1s: 14

11. Joey Moi

After getting his start in rock producing records for Nickelback and Daughtry, Joey Moi quickly became synonymous in country music with the rise of bro-country. Producing smash hits for Florida Georgia Line with “Cruise” and “This Is How We Roll,” Moi would then form a partnership with Morgan Wallen. Having album cuts on each of Wallen’s four studio albums, Moi has produced megahits for the Tennessee native such as “Whiskey Glasses,” “Last Night,” “Lies Lies Lies” and his cover of Jason Isbell’s “Cover Me Up.”

Total #1s: 16

10. Toby Keith

The late, great Toby Keith’s legacy simply cannot be understated. Though many recognize the fact that he was a prolific songwriter throughout his career, plenty of people didn’t know that Keith was also involved in the production of many of his hits. In the 21st century alone, he produced a staggering 17 of his #1s. These hits include “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” “American Solider,” “I Love This Bar” and the iconic Willie Nelson collaboration, “Beer for My Horses.”

Total #1s: 17

9. Mark Bright

Mark Bright had his hand on a wide variety of smash hits in the 2000s. Known primarily for his work with Rascal Flatts on smash hits such as “Bless the Broken Road,” he was also heavily involved in some of Carrie Underwood’s career-defining songs such as “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “Before He Cheats” and “Cowboy Casanova.” Other notable hits produced by Bright include Reba’s “Consider Me Gone,” Luke Bryan’s “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” and Sara Evan’s “A Real Fine Place to Start.”

Total #1s: 18

8. Tim McGraw

As the second-highest ranking artist on the list, McGraw has notched 18 career #1s in the 21st century so far. The future Country Music Hall of Fame member has co-produced his staples such as “Live Like You Were Dying,” “Humble and Kind,” and “Angry All the Time” as well as Jo Dee Messina’s “My Give a Damn’s Busted” and “Bring on the Rain.”

Total #1s: 18

7. Keith Stegall

Arguably the greatest country music producer of all time, Stegall has worked with everyone from George Jones, Alan Jackson and Randy Travis to Zac Brown Band, Clay Walker and Ronnie Millsap. Beyond his Grammy, ACM and CMA Award wins, Stegall has scored 19 #1 hits throughout his career. These include Zac Brown Band’s “Chicken Fried,” “Toes” and “Colder Weather,” Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” and “It Must Be Love” as well as Clay Walker’s “She Won’t Be Lonely Long.”

Total #1s: 19

6. Kenny Chesney

The highest ranking artist on the list and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Kenny Chesney, has co-produced 20 #1 hits this century. These hits include career staples such as “When the Sun Goes Down” with Uncle Kracker, “You and Tequila” with Grace Potter, “I Go Back” and “The Good Stuff.”

Total #1s: 20

5. Buddy Cannon

Cannon’s career in Nashville has taken on many different forms. Beginning as a bass player for Mel Tillis, he would also serve as an A&R exec for Mercury Records Nashville, famously signing Billy Ray Cyrus. From a production standpoint, he’s worked with everyone from Kenny Chesney, George Jones and Sammy Kershaw to Willie Nelson, John Michael Montgomery and Merle Haggard. Cannon has scored 24 #1s in the 21st century including Chesney’s “There Goes My Life” and the aforementioned “The Good Stuff,” John Michael Montgomery’s “The Little Girl” and Joe Nichols’ “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off.”

Total #1s: 24

4. James Stroud

With 25 21st century #1s, James Stroud has co-produced some of the most iconic hits from the 2000s from the likes of Tim McGraw and Toby Keith. Being involved in everything from “I Wanna Talk About Me” and “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” to “My Next Thirty Years” and “Angry All the Time,” Stroud also co-produced Darryl Worth’s post-9/11 anthem, “Have You Forgotten,” which topped the charts for seven weeks in 2003.

Total #1s: 25

3. Byron Gallimore

After producing records in the ’90s for the likes of Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, Lee Ann Womack and Randy Travis, Gallimore took his career to new heights in the 2000s. Scoring hits with McGraw’s “Southern Voice” and “Humble and Kind,” Sugarland’s “Settlin'” and “Stay” and Hill’s standout, “Mississippi Girl,” he has amassed a monster 29 #1s over the past 25 years.

Total #1s: 29

2. Frank Rogers

A frequent collaborator with the likes of 2000s and 2010s staples, Brad Paisley, Josh Turner and Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers has scored 33 #1s since the turn of the century. Notable hits include Paisley’s “Mud on the Tires” and “Waitin’ on a Woman,” Turner’s “Your Man,” Rucker’s now-iconic cover of “Wagon Wheel,” Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This” and Darryl Worley’s aforementioned “Have You Forgotten.”

Total #1s: 33

1. Dann Huff

The undisputed king of #1 hits this century so far, Dann Huff has procured a mammoth 38 #1s on the Hot Country Songs chart. What makes Huff’s placement here so unique is undoubtedly the sheer number of artists he’s worked with and subsequently scored #1 hits with. The list of artists include but are not limited to Riley Green, Lonestar, Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Brett Young and Rascal Flatts.

It should be noted that a lot of these songs peaked during the peak of the pop-country era, with Huff’s biggest hits being “Die a Happy Man,” “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and “We Are Never Getting Back Together.” Regardless, it’s nothing short of impressive.

Total #1s: 39The post George Strait, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney & More Rank In Billboard’s Top 25 Country Producers Of The 21st Century first appeared on Whiskey Riff.