Business in the front and, well, you know the rest.
Country music has seen its fair share of interesting trends over the years, but one look that has become synonymous with the genre is the mullet. The style started to gain traction in the 80s and really took off in the early 90s before becoming outdated in the 2000s. Recent years have seen the mullet make a comeback, however, so it’s only fitting to take a look at some of the best mullets to grace country music.
Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray might have the most iconic mullet not just in country music, but in all of entertainment. Billy Ray became known for the look following the massive success of “Achy Breaky Heart” In 1992, and he would rock the cut for the better part of his career. He even wrote a song dedicated to the look with 2006’s “I Want My Mullet Back.”
Joe Diffie
If Billy Ray holds the gold medal for 90s mullets, Joe Diffie holds the silver. This mullet fits Joe’s entire musical aesthetic so well. I can’t imagine anyone singing “Pickup Man” without rocking a luscious flow, and it was a staple of his look for years. The pencil ‘stache was the finishing touch to bring the entire vibe together.
Pairing the mustache with the mullet is an absolutely timeless combo. It takes the look from what can sometimes be a bit unkempt to a polished and put together style. Wavy mullets aren’t for everyone, but Alan’s blonde hair is perfect for rocking the curls. This is also exhibit A of how good a mullet looks under a cowboy hat.
When you cutting your hair is enough to make national headlines, you know you have an iconic look. Fans might’ve been upset with Morgan for cutting off the locks, but he does deserve the distinction of helping bring the look back into popularity in recent years.
Keith Whitley
If this isn’t one of the most perfectly 80s images ever, I don’t know what is. The tight, permed curls were everywhere during this era, and Keith rocked them to perfection. You don’t see a lot of guys try the mullet with the beard, but it worked for him. This is a look that would fit right in at any country concert today.
Blake Shelton
Blake isn’t the first person that comes to mind when you think of mullets, but he rocked the look when he first broke onto the scene in the early 2000s. Blake’s mullet falls in the sweet spot of being wavy without letting the curls completely take over, which is a necessity in order to have the length Blake had. He teased the idea of bringing the look back during the pandemic, but he’s since gone back to his more standard look.
Tracy Lawrence