Ted Nugent
Pat Boone
Charlie Daniels
Randy Travis

'nuff said.

Taylor Swift, whatever recent famous boy band we have. and maybe someone more well known among different generations like madonna.

Some of the older great ones are still alive, like B.B. King and Buddy Guy. Some of the great young ones are out there, like Susan Tedeschi and Rory Block. We have some wonderful symphonies and dance companies in this country as well. I don't care for country music, but what about some of the good ones from that genre, too? And you have forgotten other roots traditions, such as our folk music. Look to Appalachia, and places like the Old Town School of Folk music. There is a lot out there!

Jack White
Bruce Springsteen
Joe Walsh
Buddy Guy
The Black Keys
Bon Iver
The Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Foo Fighters

Were they all currently charting/popular/active artists? Or did they bring back a number of "classic" artists as well?

If that was happening, you would HAVE to include Motown artists:

Aretha Franklin
Smokey Robinson
Martha Reeves
The Temptations
The Four Tops
The Jackson Five (minus Michael of course)
Stevie Wonder

And I think it would be nice to include some contemporary or recent artists from other genres such as alternative rock/pop/rap/hiphop/r&B

Green Day
Sheryl Crow
Eminem
The Dave Matthews Band
Train
Linkin Park
The Blackeyed Peas
Outkast
Alicia Keys
Janet Jackson

Obviously, there won't be agreement on this sort of question by everyone. I think it's more of trying to select people that had a major influence. Whether you personally like them or not. Me, Eminem, I'd rather poke forks through my eardrums than listen to most of what he's done. But he had a major influence on the recording industry.

Jazz, Blues, Folk Music,

songs and music from american Films.

oh, and something michael jackson related also . although sadly in later years it seemed many foreigners appreciated him more than americans .