4 Country Music Legends Who Rarely Played an Instrument

If asked to picture a country singer, people would likely conjure a variety of images. Some would add cowboy hats and full Western wear. Others might go for jeans, t-shirts, and trucker hats. No matter what the imaginary artist is wearing, they’re likely holding or playing an acoustic guitar. The instrument goes with the genre like peanut butter goes with jelly. However, several country legends rarely, if ever, played an instrument.

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Most of country music’s legends are (or were) fully capable of playing multiple instruments. However, when they perform in front of an audience or step into a studio, they usually let session players or their backing bands play all of the instruments. This allows them to focus all of their energy on giving the best vocal performance possible.

[RELATED: 4 of the Oldest Living Country Legends Still Making Music Today]

1. Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn started writing songs not long after she started playing guitar. The country legend could play the instrument well, but rarely did so on her albums or during her live performances. Looking back at the liner notes of her albums, she usually provided lead vocals. Sometimes, overdubs would allow her to provide backing vocals. However, she allowed session players to provide the instrumentation for her recordings.

Videos of Lynn’s live performances are all over the internet. Most of them, especially those from the 1980s and beyond, see her focusing solely on vocals and allowing someone else to take guitar duties. However, clips from early in her career do feature her playing a custom acoustic guitar.

2. George Jones

George Jones is hailed as the greatest singer in country music history. While the country legend could play guitar, he rarely took up the instrument during recording sessions. Most of his albums featured some of the most accomplished session musicians in Nashville. So, he let them handle the instrumentation and focused on sharing his golden voice with the world.

Jones, like many other high-level country artists, usually wore an acoustic guitar during his concerts. Clips from his concerts show him strumming the instrument from time to time. However, it is buried in the mix and seems to be at least partially ornamental.

3. Alan Jackson

Living country legend Alan Jackson rarely takes up an instrument during recording sessions. He spent decades assembling the Strayhorns, his airtight band, so there is very little reason for him to do anything but sing. However, there is no doubt that Jackson can play guitar when he chooses to do so.

Jackson regularly wears an acoustic guitar during his concerts. However, his band usually takes up the bulk of the instrumentation, allowing him to strum a few chords while singing. In some performances, though, he will allow his band to take a backseat while he performs solo with the guitar.

4. Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire is a living legend and one of country music’s biggest stars, but she rarely plays an instrument. Most of her albums feature session musicians handling instrumentation while she prioritizes her vocal delivery. However, the Oklahoma native can play both guitar and piano.

McEntire rarely, if ever, plays an instrument during her live sets. Instead, the “Fancy” singer focuses on singing and giving her fans the most entertaining show possible.

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