Country Music Trivia: 25 Country Stars’ Real Names Revisited

Country Stars' Real Names

photo: Artist Facebook Pages

Taking on a stage name is not an unusual move in show business. Learn some of your favorite country stars' real names here!

Like many others in the spotlight, several popular country music artists have adopted ‘stage names’ to serve them in their careers. Some name makeovers have completely scrapped their original monikers, while others simply reshuffle or drop a name altogether. Stars opt for a name change due to a variety of reasons— privacy, pronunciation, to avoid confusion, to create a unique persona, or to stick out from the competition. Check out some of your favorite country stars’ real names below!

Country Stars’ Real Names: Stage Names and Birth Names

Tim McGraw-  Samuel Timothy Smith (His stepfather’s last name was ‘Smith’ and later learned Franks “Tug” McGraw was his biological father.)
Faith Hill-  Audrey Faith Perry (‘Hill’ is the surname of her first husband.)
Wynonna Judd- Christina Claire Ciminella
Kid Rock- Robert James Ritchie
Toby Keith- Toby Keith Covel
Eric Church– Kenneth Eric Church
Garth Brooks-  Troyal Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan–  Thomas Luther Bryan
Cole Swindell-  Colden Rainey Swindell (Yep, that’s his real name.)
Dierks Bentley- Frederick Dierks Bentley
Jason Aldean– Jason Aldine Williams (Jason Williams proved too common of a name…)
Shania Twain- Eileen Regina Edwards (No, “Shania” does not mean ‘I’m on my way’ in the Ojibwa language as often reported.)
Jake Owen- Joshua Ryan Owen
Patsy Cline- Virginia Patterson Hensley
Gary Allan- Gary Allan Herzberg
Craig Morgan- Craig Morgan Greer
Trace Adkins- Tracy Darrell Adkins
John Denver- John Henry Deutschendorf (That’s a mouthful…)
Lauren Alaina- Lauren Alaina Suddeth
Randy Houser- Shawn Randolph Houser
Kix Brooks- Leon Eric Brooks III
Randy Travis– Randy Traywick
Hank Williams Sr.- Hiram King Williams
Tammy Wynette- Virginia Wynette Pugh
Conway Twitty- Harold Lloyd Jenkins

No matter the reason behind the initial name change, the big switch worked out well for these big names. Be sure to share these country stars’ real names with other country music fans! 

Enjoy Sam and Audrey’s aka Tim and Faith’s “The Rest of Our Life” music video below!

“The Rest of Our Life” Lyrics

Sitting with you in a dark room
Warmed by a fireplace
You know there’s just something about you
You brighten my day
I got something to run past you
I just hope I say it right
So I take your hand and ask you
Have you made plans for the rest of your life?
There’s one thing I should be killing off and giving up now
And that’s worryin’ about life
Oh, I’ll be fine
If one gray hair shows, I’ll be fine
If my waistline grows, I’ll be fine
Even if time takes its toll
We’ll stay young for the rest of our lives
I’ve been making plans for children
Since I’ve been looking in your eyes
I even have names picked out for them
Daughter’d be Rose
Son it’d be Ryan
There’s one thing I should be killing off and giving up now
And that’s worrying about life
Oh, I’ll be fine
If one gray hair shows, I’ll be fine
If my waistline grows, I’ll be fine
Even if time takes its toll
We’ll stay young for the rest of our lives
I don’t really care about those storm clouds brewing
Oh, as long as you’re here by my side
Oh, we’ll be young, oh we’ll be young
Oh, we’ll be young, when we’re old
Oh, I’ll be fine
If my gray hair shows, I’ll be fine
If my waistline grows, I’ll be fine
Even when time takes its toll
I’ll stay young for the rest of my life
With you, I’ll stay young for the rest of my life
With you
We’ll stay young for the rest of our life

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