Country music stars aren’t immune to having unusual nicknames! Some you can probably name quickly— but others may surprise you! Take a look at this roundup of country music artists’ nicknames below.
Country Music Artists’ Nicknames
Blake Shelton aka “Toad”
Blake’s mother, Dorothy, is responsible for bestowing this moniker upon her son. As a child, the future star was all about bringing critters he found outside home and this tendency earned him his nickname!
Keith Urban aka “Suburban”
Keith’s father, Robert, dubbed his second son “Suburban” as a kid. Sub-Urban— get it?
Shania Twain aka “Woody”
Twain’s ex-husband, Robert John “Mutt” Lange, called his former wife “Woody” after the famous cartoon woodpecker. Why? Apparently one of her past hairstyles reminded him of the bird.
Taylor Swift aka “Tater Tot”
Former country music star Taylor Swift got this nickname from Brad Paisley. He dubbed the rising superstar “Tater Tot” back in 2007 when they were on tour together.
Eric Church aka “Chief”
The North Carolina native has his band to thank for this nickname. With his sunglasses, baseball cap, and onstage attitude— they felt he took on a new persona while performing live. Interestingly enough, Church’s grandfather carried the same pet name. The name stuck and the star has fully embraced being known as “Chief.”
Miranda Lambert aka “Ran”
This nickname is pulled straight from the star’s first name— MiRANda. The Texan uses this name shortcut a lot and loves her ‘Ran fans.’
George Strait aka “King George”
This country star has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. His certifications from the RIAA include 13 multi-platinum, 33 platinum, and 38 gold albums. According to the RIAA, the superstar is the 12th best-selling album recording artist in the United States overall. George Strait has certainly earned his royal title…
George Jones aka “Possum”
Radio DJs Ralph Emery and Tommy T. Cutrer bestowed this nickname on Jones for a simple reason— they thought the star resembled the nocturnal creature. Not exactly flattering, but Jones eventually grew to love the title.
Johnny Cash aka “The Man in Black”
Cash earned this moniker by donning all-black outfits while performing. Why did he favor this somber shade? It was a way for him to rebel against the status quo, remember the downtrodden, plus he thought it was his lucky color.
Willie Nelson aka “Shotgun Willie”
The Texan got this label when he found himself protecting his daughter and grandson from her abusive husband. When the police showed up to the scene, the country legend claimed his son-in-law drove over the bullet that popped one of his vehicle’s tires.
Merle Haggard aka “The Hag”
This name derives from simply shortening the icon’s last name. Despite it’s straightforward origin, it has come to mean a lot to the country music genre.
Hank Williams Jr. aka “Bocephus”
Hank Williams Jr.’s father, country legend Hank Williams, gave his young son this nickname after watching comedian and ventriloquist Rod Brasfield perform with his dummy dubbed ‘Bocephus.’
Kenny Rogers aka “The Gambler”
Kenny got his “The Gambler” label after he released his hit 1978 song by the same name.
Loretta Lynn aka “Coal Miner’s Daughter”
The Kentucky native’s father was a coal miner— so she literally is the coal miner’s daughter. The star has used this title for her 1969 song, her 1976 autobiography, and the 1980 film about her life.
