The four oldest country singers out there are (from oldest to youngest) :

1.  Sonny James (age 86)

Sonny James is known as the “Southern Gentleman.”  He is best known for his 1957 hit ‘Young Love,’ but has had sixteen Country hits that have gone straight to the number one spot in his career.  Sonny retired back in 1983.

This didn't stop the awards from coming his way, however.  In 1987, Sonny was inducted into Alabama's Music Hall of Fame.  Then in 2006, he was voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

2.  Lorretta Lynn (age 83)

Loretta Lynn is known as the “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” after her father’s real occupation.  Her music career had numerous hits over a span of 50 years. The following is a look at her award timeline, and says so much about her influence in Country music.

In 1972, Loretta Lynn was the first woman named “Entertainer of the Year” by the Country Music Association. She was the first female Country artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1977.  When 1980 came around, she was the only woman to be named “Artist of the Decade” for the 1970s by the Academy of Country Music.

Loretta was inducted into the Country Hall of Fame as well in 1988, followed by the Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999.   Lastly, in 1994, she received the Country Music Pioneer Award by the Academy of Country Music.

3.  Mel Tillis (age 82)

Mel Tillis had to overcome a speech impediment.  He contracted it as a side effect from malaria when he was a child.  Although he still stutters, it doesn't have an effect on his singing.  One of his children became a famous Country music star, Pam Tillis.  In August of this year, he will turn 83.

He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame only recently, in 2007. One of the reasons being: he has written over 1,000 songs!  However, many of them were sung and have been performed by other famous artists.  He has won the CMA Awards' “Entertainer of the Year,” title.  In 2012, President Barak Obama awarded him with the National Medal of Arts for his contributions.

4.  Willie Nelson (age 82)

Willie Nelson is a multifaceted man who is still performing after all these years. Not only is he a singer, songwriter and has acted in over 30 films, but he is known as one of the main figures of the Outlaw Country music genre. Further, he has co-authored several books, is actively involved in popularizing the use of biofuels, in conjunction with the legalization of marijuana.

Willie was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993.  He currently resides in Maui, Hawaii using solar energy in his household.  His neighbors include Woody Harrelson and Kris Kristopherson.

These four artists show us that you can have a long and creative lifestyle. There are many more Country singers who are in their seventies, but didn’t make the top four. Just missing their eighties, are 79-year-old Glen Campbell, Mickey Gilley, and Tom T. Hall. Do you know something about these artists that we don't know?  Do you know what the four show cased artists have in common?  Please leave comments below.

To see a full list of Country artists, alive or dead, please visit: Who's Alive and Who's Dead?