The Most Politically Outspoken Country Singers

Most country singers subscribe to one degree or another to the old notion of "shut up and sing," keeping their political beliefs separate from their public careers. But there are also quite a few country stars who are very, very vocal about their political views — even to the point of attacking other stars or fans online.

Not surprisingly, some of country music's older stars tended to lean to the right, including Charlie Daniels, who was very outspoken about his conservative views online, in interviews and in his songs.

The same is true of Hank Williams Jr. and the Oak Ridge Boys, among others, but Willie Nelson is a major exception; the country icon has been very open about his support for more liberal causes, including marijuana legalization, LGBTQ+ rights and more.

John Rich is perhaps the most politically outspoken country singer in the genre; his X feed features frequent barbs toward liberal politicians and their supporters, and the singer has even taken it upon himself to call out other country singers on occasion if he deems them too liberal.

There are plenty of examples of more progressive country singers, too, especially among the younger generation. Natalie Maines, Jason Isbell, Maren Morris and more are just a few of the country stars who are not shy about their support for liberal causes and candidates.

Scroll through the pictures below to see which country stars are the most outspoken about their views, and who they support.

Sterling Whitaker is a Senior Writer and Senior Editor for Taste of Country. He focuses on celebrity real estate, as well as coverage of Yellowstone and related shows like 1883 and 1923. He's interviewed cast members including Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Sam Elliott and Harrison Ford, and Whitaker is also known for his in-depth interviews with country legends including Don Henley, Rodney Crowell, Trace Adkins, Ronnie Milsap, Ricky Skaggs and more.