Johnny Cash once revealed the five country singers he admired most, saying he always remained a "traditionalist" when it came to country music.

In a 1994 interview with Rolling Stone, the late music icon was asked whether he still listened to modern country.

While Cash said he enjoyed "a little of both" country and rock, he admitted he was more found of the genre's early pioneers.

"I've always been a fan of a little of it. I'm a traditionalist. I like the old traditional country music," he said.

Cash then named George Jones, Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family, early Gene Autry and Hank Snow as the artists he admired most.

"That, to me, was the seminal country music, and to me, it's still the best," he added.

The singer also shared his thoughts on how country music had changed over the years.

"Country has gotten to, I think, the age now of electronic, push-button, TV, video and all that and special effects," he said.

He added that he no longer listened to much country music. "I don't listen to a lot of rock, either. I listen to a little of both. I listen to everything once."

Despite embracing newer music later in his career through his American albums with producer Rick Rubin, Cash never hid his love for traditional country.

The albums included covers of songs by artists such as Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode and Nick Cave, but Cash made it clear that the classic country stars who inspired him early on remained his favourites.