American musician (born 1974)

Claude says:Ryan Adams carved out his corner of alt-country by refusing to stay in one place—restless, melodic, sometimes raw—and you've kept circling back to him since 2006, with his self-titled record becoming the anchor. There's something about his ability to make heartbreak sound like a conversation that keeps you returning, especially during those years when "Come Pick Me Up" and "Trouble" became necessary repeats.