Each year we see a new class of stars appear on the country music horizon. Sometimes an artist will have a huge hit right off the bat, and other times it may take an album or two. The stars listed as the "Class of 2003" are those that made their first impact on country music in that year.
It may have taken a while for Rodney Atkins to finally get his album releases. Add to that several singles released that didn't quite click. But the title cut cinched it for him, earning him a Top 10, and a place on this list for the Class of 2003.
Jeff Bates, like several of our other members of the Class of 2003, went through some tough times prior to making his debut album. He had substance abuse problems, but turned it all around with his Top 10 single (it peaked at No. 8) "The Love Song."
Dierks Bentley is Capitol Nashville's newest star, and reached No. 1 with his very first single, "What Was I Thinkin'?" The song has created a fashion craze at Bentley's shows where you'll see many young female fans sporting a "little white tank top," as is mentioned in the song.
Billy Currington used his experiences in childhood, growing up with an alcoholic father and wrote the song "Walk a Little Straighter," which gave him his first Top 10 single (it peaked at No. 8), and his position on this list.
Pat Green's been around for quite some time, known mainly in the state of Texas, and had the starpower to sell out the Houston Astrodome. But, in a National campaign, with his second album "Wave on Wave," it was the title cut that touched everyone and gave Pat his first Top 5 song (it peaked at No. 3).
Buddy Jewell had been toiling in Nashville for 10 years as a demo singer, with vocal chops to die for, yet no one wanted to sign him, thinking him too old. That all changed when he auditioned for Nashville Star and won the contest, getting a record deal with Columbia Nashville, and Clint Black produced his first album. His debut single was one he sang several times on the show; one written for his daughter, "Help Pour Out The Rain (Lacey's Song)," which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard chart.
Aaron Lines was known in Canada before he released a record in the United States. His first single, the touching "You Can't Hide Beautiful" became his first Top 5 song, peaking at No. 4 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles.
It took a few singles for things to click for Lyric Street's Brian McComas. He released "Night Disappear With You" in 2001, which peaked at No. 41. In 2002, it was "I Can Never Love You Enough," (not to be confused with Chely Wright's song of the same name), which peaked at No. 46. But three times was the charm with "99.9% Sure (I've Never Been Here Before)" which went all the way to No. 10 on the chart.
When you hear Josh Turner's deep, sexy baritone on any song he sings, you'd think he sounded much older. The song "Long Black Train" has a gospel theme to it, and it's moving up the charts bit by bit.
Jimmy Wayne is another artist who took a troubled past, going from foster home to foster home and wrote about it. His first single was taken from his sister's divorce, when she told him that she'd be ok if her ex would just stay gone. Jimmy took the single "Stay Gone" all the way to No. 3.
